SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Medicine (Upstate) has an Accelerated Scholars Program agreement with SUNY Poly that allows admitted SUNY Poly students seeking a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree to be guaranteed acceptance into Upstate’s Doctor of Medicine (MD) program if they satisfy the following eligibility requirements:

Pre-College Eligibility Requirements

• An excellent high school record with a minimum average of 90% or a 3.5 GPA.
• Extra-curricular activities that clearly document experience in a healthcare setting and a commitment to community service or volunteer work.
• An SAT test score of 1200 or better (combined Critical Reading & Mathematics) or ACT test score of 25 or better (Composite).

SUNY Polytechnic Institute Eligibility Requirements  

Students accepted to the Accelerated Scholars Program at SUNY Poly must comply with the following in order to maintain their eligibility in the program:

• Completion of all SUNY Poly graduation requirements for their specific BS or BA degree program.
• Completion of medical school prerequisite courses with grades of “B” or better:  Biology I and II, General Chemistry I and II, Organic Chemistry I, General Physics I and II, Biochemistry, (all science courses must include an in-person laboratory component), English Composition or Writing Course, English Elective, and Statistics.
  • Additional recommended undergraduate coursework: Genetics, Physiology, Cell Biology, Social Sciences
• Carry a minimum of twelve (12) credit hours each semester.
• Maintain a 3.5 cumulative GPA and a 3.5 GPA in the sciences each semester.
• Completion of 40 hours of volunteer service during their undergraduate studies.

The MCAT requirement for admission into Upstate’s MD program is waived for individuals who are accepted into the program.

Application Process

• Students applying for first-year admission at SUNY Poly should indicate interest in the Accelerated Scholars Program (ASP) with Upstate on the Common Application or on the SUNY Application.
• Students must be accepted to a BS or BA program at SUNY Poly to be considered for the ASP. Please note that acceptance into SUNY Poly does not guarantee acceptance to the ASP with Upstate.
• The SUNY Poly ASP Nomination Committee will evaluate students admitted to SUNY Poly for eligibility for the ASP on a rolling basis. Students must meet the minimum pre-college eligibility requirements as detailed above to be considered for the ASP. The Nomination Committee will then make recommendations for program consideration to Upstate. Students will be informed by a representative from SUNY Upstate if they have been recommended for consideration into the ASP.
• Upstate will screen candidates recommended by SUNY Poly for the ASP and determine which students will be invited to interview. Upstate will notify students invited to interview and coordinate accordingly.
• Upstate will inform students of their admissions decisions for the ASP and provide a conditional acceptance letter to the students selected. A cohort of up to five (5) students may be admitted each academic year.
• Accepted students will be required to meet with their SUNY Poly undergraduate academic advisor and their SUNY Poly pre-med advisor for the ASP to craft a course schedule that meets the high academic science/general and major requirements for program participants. Unofficial transcripts will be sent to Upstate at the end of each semester.
• Acceptance into the ASP is binding. Students who apply to other medical schools after being accepted into Upstate will be immediately withdrawn from the ASP.

Please note that SUNY Poly has a rolling admission process, but students who plan to apply for the Accelerated Scholars Program must apply by November 1. A complete application including the additional ASP Questionnaire must be submitted by November 15. Students are required to complete the application process and commit to SUNY Poly by May 1 if they intend to enroll.

This program is only open to incoming first-year students. Currently matriculated students and transfer students at SUNY Poly are not eligible for consideration.

One of the primary goals of this program is to encourage diversity and to provide a pathway to medical school from a variety of academic backgrounds. Students applying to any academic program at SUNY Poly leading to a BS or BA degree are eligible to also apply for the ASP, although the program chosen should contain enough flexibility in the curriculum to incorporate the required medical school prerequisites within four years.

Questions? View the Upstate Accelerated Scholars FAQs.

For additional information regarding the application process and curriculum requirements, please contact Gina Liscio, Director of Admissions: gina.liscio@sunypoly.edu, 315-792-7500 or
Jeffrey Albright, Admissions Advisor: albrigj@sunypoly.edu, 315-792-7216.