Financial Aid Eligibility Policies for Medical Students
Every student has a specific time limit to complete the program of study at the Drexel University College of Medicine. The period is as follows:
- Doctor of Medicine (MD)
- Standard: four years
- Maximum: seven years
- Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Dual Degree Program
- Standard: seven years
- Maximum: nine years
For transfer students, the total number of years for completing the degree includes time spent at the previous institution, to the extent that credit hours are transferred and applied toward the degree objectives at Drexel University College of Medicine. A student may be granted the status of Independent Study when he or she is pursuing either a special course of remediation or a full-time research fellowship.
A student may be granted a leave of absence for a variety of reasons. The time for which the student has been approved a leave of absence is included in the maximum time in which the student may complete the program.
The time period for which a student is registered to pursue a full-time research fellowship is included in the maximum time in which the student may complete the program.
At the end of each academic year, the Promotions Committee reviews each student's qualitative assessment of performance, which is given by the faculty member for each course in which the student is enrolled. It may be a grade, a pass or fail, or another form of evaluation. A student who does not satisfactorily complete all course requirements may be permitted to remediate. In that case, the student is assigned a schedule that deviates from the norm. The student is required to earn satisfactory qualitative assessment in all courses for which he or she is enrolled.
Grade Requirements
The College of Medicine does not measure academic progress by means of a cumulative grade point average. Students are required to complete courses with an "S" grade or better. Therefore, grade performance as a measure of satisfactory academic progress must be reviewed in the context of each course for which the student is registered.
The following standards have been established:
Completion of the first year and second year of enrollment. The student must have earned an "S" grade or higher in each required course. The student must also satisfactorily pass Step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination® to progress to the third year.
Completion of the third year of enrollment. The student must have earned an "S" or higher in each required course.
Completion of the fourth year of enrollment. The student must have earned an "S" or higher in each required course and satisfy all requirements for graduation, including a passing grade on the United States Medical Licensing Examination®, Step 2.
As part of a review for remediation the Promotions Committee will also review appeals for students failing Satisfactory Academic Progress. If approved the student will be placed on financial aid probation and continue receiving financial aid while on probation as long as he or she meets the requirements for remediation stated by the Promotions Committee.
A student who does not meet the requirements for remediation as stated by the Promotions Committee is dropped from the rolls.
Reinstatement
A student will be reinstated in good academic standing when he or she has successfully completed his or her remediation. It is the student's responsibility to present evidence to the Promotions Committee at the time he or she has met the minimum requirements for reinstatement.