About disability support services • About academic support services • For students
For faculty and staff • Interested in pre-health

Interested in pre-health?

Application instructions

HCESSS common application

VCU Acceleration and Alliance programs require two letters of recommendation and official transcripts from each college attended in order to complete the application process.

Mail all supplemental materials including application fee to:
HCE/SSS Pipeline Programs
1000 E. Marshall St.,
Room 203-b
P.O. Box 980124
Richmond, Virginia 23298

VCU Acceleration Program

“Where futures are bright in the health sciences careers”

The VCU Acceleration Program offers many unique and valuable learning experiences for students. Upon acceptance into the program the students will participate in the four-week Summer Health Sciences program, which exposes them to the math and science curriculum of health sciences. A stipend will be given to each student while participating in the summer programs. They also will do internships in various clinical health service provider settings. The fall semester of their freshman year, the students will be housed in a residential setting, which is unique and set up to hold classes and house learning communities. The VCU Acceleration students will be required to live on campus in the Living-Learning residence hall for the summer programs and their freshman year. The students also will take a specific set of courses together throughout the first year. The students will commit to 50 hours of volunteer work in various community health provider settings each year. Upon completion of the freshman year, the students will participate in a six-week Summer Health Sciences program that will expose them to a higher-level health science curriculum and internships. Students will be required to sign a commitment to the program.

Program highlights

• Students will live with other pre-health sciences students in a living-learning community.
• Students will learn about the different roles and responsibilities of various health care provider services in a holistic approach to patient care.
• Students will participate in internship experiences in various health care provider services.
• Study groups and one-on-one tutoring for academic support will be available.
• Students will have volunteer opportunities in and around the Richmond community.
• Students completing the program will be eligible for scholarships upon acceptance to health sciences programs on the MCV Campus.
• Juniors and seniors in the program will have the opportunity to serve as mentors or participate in leadership roles.

Acceleration photos and news

How to apply for the program

Any student who is a recent graduate from high school and is interested in pre-health sciences programs at VCU can apply. The student must be accepted for admission at VCU for the fall 2008 semester. The student must be eligible based upon the definition of disadvantaged established by the Division of Disadvantaged Assistance. The specific criteria to meet eligibility requirements are included in the application. Students must have an overall GPA of 2.5 from their secondary education institution, reside in on-campus housing during the freshman year, and be able to participate in the Summer Health Sciences program this coming summer. Applications, letters of recommendation and a copy of an official high school transcript must be provided at the time of submitting the applications.

The application deadline is May 15, 2008.

Applicants will be notified of their acceptance in early June and will receive more program-specific information at that time.

More information

Rachel Price
Program specialist
Division of Health Careers/Education and Special Services for Students
VCU Medical Center
Phone: (804) 828-9782 • TTY (804) 828-4608
Fax: (804) 828-4609
E-mail: hcesss@vcu.edu