Eligibility

  • Do I need to be a community college student to engage with AvenueM?
  • AvenueM begins as an early outreach program for community college students and high school students who are intending to enroll at a partner California Community Colleges before transferring to a 4-year university.

    In order to apply for AvenueM you must be enrolled at one of our partner community colleges.
  • Which California Community Colleges are partners of AvenueM?
    • American River College
    • College of the Redwoods
    • College of the Siskiyous
    • Cosumnes River College
    • Folsom Lake College
    • Mendocino College
    • Sacramento City College
    • Shasta College
    • Woodland Community College
    • Yuba College
    • California Tribal College (starting Fall 2023)
    • Sierra College (starting Fall 2023)
    • Solano College (starting Fall 2023)
  • What if my community college is not listed as an AvenueM partner?

  • If your community college is not listed as a partner for AvenueM, you can check to see if it is a part of one of the other California Medicine Scholars RHHO programs: 

    https://californiamedicinescholarsprogram.org/regional-hubs-of-healthcare-opportunity/

    If your college is not listed, you can still email AvenueM for insight into resources available for you and/or general support questions about the UC Davis School of Medicine.

  • Who are the three 4-year university partner institutions for AvenueM?
  • UC Davis, Sacramento State, and Cal Poly Humboldt
  • Who is eligible to apply to AvenueM?
  • To be eligible to apply for the AvenueM cohort, students must:
    • - have completed or be in the process of completing a minimum of 12 units of transferable coursework (we recommend applying when you are 1-5-2 years away from transferring to a 4-year institution)
    • - have an overall 3.0 GPA
    • - be enrolled at one of our partner community college campuses
    • - intend to transfer to UC Davis, Sacramento State, and/or Cal Poly Humboldt
      - be working toward pre-medical requirements.  AvenueM does not have specific major requirements.  Students can major in any discipline, but prospective scholars must be working toward medical school prerequisite requirements.
  • Would a student who majors in the humanities instead of biological sciences qualify for the program?
  • Yes! Students from any major are eligible to apply for AvenueM.  Accepted students in the humanities will still need to complete pre-medical coursework for application to medical school and take the MCAT exam. 

    It is recommended that students to major in a Biological Sciences or other closely aligned major for pre-medical requirements​, but not required.
  • Are students already enrolled at the partner 4-year institutions eligible to apply?
  • Currently, program applications are only open for students currently enrolled at a partner community college.  It is a true community college pathway program that supports students through the transfer process to enter a 4-year at Junior level status.
  • Do I need to be a full-time student to apply for AvenueM?
  • You must have 12 units and be enrolled full or part time at one of our partner community college campuses.  Note, you may need to be enrolled full time to meet the transfer requirements to our 4-year partners. Learn more about transfer requirements for each of our partner university webpages below:
  • Does a student have to be in one of the mission aligned categories in order to apply for AvenueM?
  • No, students need not identify with the mission aligned categories, but they are considered in the application review process.  Missions aligned categories include:
    • - Economically, socially and/or educationally disadvantaged background
    • - English as a second language
    • - First-Generation
    • - Veteran
    • - Ties to the Northern California Region (e.g., attended high school in the region, place of birth, and/or parents’ residence, and/or applicant’s residence)
       
    • Any student who applies should be interested in pursuing medicine and supporting medically underserved communities in Northern California. 
  • What qualifies as first generation college student?
  • First Generation refers to students in which Parent(s) did not complete a 4-year college or university degree, regardless of other family member’s level of education (for example siblings and grandparents).
  • Are undocumented, AB540 students or DACA recipients eligible to apply for AvenueM?
  • Yes, students undocumented, AB540, and DACA recipients are eligible to apply.  There are no restrictions on status for students to apply.
  • What if I am interest in becoming a Physician Assistant? Is AvenueM the right program for me?

  • The Physician Assistant program is run out of the UC Davis School of Nursing and is thus ineligible for AvenueM.

    Here is some information on the UC Davis School of Nursing's PA program: https://health.ucdavis.edu/nursing/academics/programs/mhs-pa.html

  • Is Avenue M open to those who want to be a Specialist Physician or only those who want to be Family Medicine Physicians?

  • Any type of physician. Not limited to primary care. 

    Any student who applies should be interested in pursuing medicine and supporting medically underserved communities in Northern California.

  • I am not a traditional community college student.  I received a bachelor’s degree in the past and decided to go back to community college to complete medical school prerequisites and not to transfer. Is AvenueM still a viable option for me?

  • AvenueM is a community college pathway program for 1st time bachelor’s students.  If you are making a career change and working toward pre-med requirements, feel free to reach out to the UC Davis School of Medicine  who can answer your questions directly. Additional programing through the School of Medicine are available here: https://health.ucdavis.edu/diversity/

  • If I have received some credits from a university, but no longer attend and did not receive a bachelor’s degree, and am currently attending a partner community college with intent to transfer to a 4-year, am I still eligible to apply?

  • Yes, you are eligible if you meet the 12 credit units and 3.0 GPA requirement.

Courses and Units

  • What if I am currently enrolled in my first 12 community college units, can I still apply?
  • If based on your education plan you are on track to transfer to a 4-year institution  in 1.5-2 years you are able to apply for AvenueM.

    If you are currently in process of taking 12 units and are conditionally accepted into AvenueM, you will need to provide your transcripts to the AvenueM team for review at the end of the semester for verification of completing the minimum 12 units and maintaining a 3.0 GPA.
  • Do the 12 units needed to apply to AvenueM have to be taken in a particular discipline (i.e. biology?)
  • No, the 12 units can come from any coursework. 
  • Do AP courses count towards the 12 unit requirement to apply for AvenueM?
  • If your AP coursework has been accepted by your community college as transferable credit it will count toward the 12 unit requirement.
  • For the 12 unit requirement, if my units are split across 2 community colleges do they all count towards the requirement, or do they all need be at one college?
  • As long as the units appear as transferable credit on your transcript and you are currently enrolled at one of the partner community college campuses, the 12 units will count towards the application eligibility requirement.
  • Which specific courses do I need to take to meet pre-med requirements and maintain eligibility in AvenueM?
  • Each student’s education plan will look a little different depending on your major and which 4-year institution you are intending to transfer to.  It will be important to meet with your counselor at least once a semester to ensure you are enrolling in the best courses for transfer AND to adequately prepare you for the MCAT exam and medical school curriculum.
  • AvenueM has a 12 unit requirement, but I still need to work toward the 60 units to transfer toward a 4-year institution right?
  • Yes, students must still meet the upper division transfer admission requirements for their desired 4-year institution.  The 12 units required for AvenueM are to engage with the program and not a replacement for transfer requirements. 

    It will be important to meet with your counselor at least once a semester to ensure you are enrolling in the best courses for transfer AND to adequately prepare you for the medical school curriculum and MCAT exam.

Application Questions

  • When should I apply to AvenueM?
  • Students who are approximately 1.5-2 years from transfer are encouraged to apply for the program.

    For the AvenueM application cycle in Fall 2022, students who are projecting they will transfer in Fall 2024 are encouraged to apply.
  • Is there a workshop to guide students through filling out the AvenueM application?
  • Yes, you can view a recorded information session that talks through the application process on our website: https://avenuem.ucdavis.edu/apply

    Look on the right hand side for “View an Information Session Recording”
  • What are the prompts for the open-ended questions in the AvenueM application?
  • In the AvenueM application you will be asked to answer these three prompts in 250 words or less.

    - What experiences have led you to pursue considering a career as a physician? Are there other healthcare careers you are considering?

    - What kind of physician do you want to be and where do you want to practice? 

    - What characteristics/skills do you possess and/or how will you demonstrate commitment and leadership to positively impact underserved communities? Please include if you have any personal experience with rural or urban underserved communities. 

    TIP: Thoughtfully review and prepare your response to the question prompts ahead of time.  We recommend you type these responses in a separate document (Word or Google docs) and copy and paste into your application form.
  • If I am planning to transfer to a 4-year university in the Fall of 2023, do I qualify for the program?

  • For the current application cycle (Fall deadline: December 15, 2022 and Spring deadline: March 31, 2023) we are encouraging students who intend to transfer in Fall 2024 to apply.

  • I am transferring in Fall 2025, should I wait to submit my AvenueM Application?
  • Students who are 1.5-2 years from transfer are encouraged to apply for the program. 

    You can submit the interest form now to get connected to AvenueM activities and Apply for AvenueM in Fall 2023.

    You can find the interest form here: https://avenuem.ucdavis.edu/form/avenuem-interest-form-
  • Can I apply for fall consideration and if not accepted can I reapply spring for AvenueM?
  • Yes, students are welcome to reapply if they still meet eligibility criteria. 

    Tip: If you apply and are not accepted be sure to review your application with a trusted mentor or advisor to see if you can improve your open-ended question responses when you reapply.
  • Why should I apply for the program 2 years before I intend to transfer to a 4-year University?
  • AvenueM is a cohort-based program that provides student supports like course advising and maps, career exploration, clinical internship and research experiences, transfer application support, and scholar awards to assist students while they are enrolled at a community college through transfer to one of our 4-year partners and on to medical school.
  • If I am planning to transfer in the next academic year, is it too late to apply for AvenueM?
  • For the current application cycle (Fall deadline: December 15, 2022 and Spring deadline: March 31, 2023) we are encouraging students who intend to transfer in Fall 2024 to apply.
  • Do you offer rolling admission for the AvenueM program?
  • No, there is a Fall and Spring Cycle and all applications are reviewed and considered after the application deadline for each cycle.
  • What if I am not sure which 4-year university I’d like to transfer to and am considering other schools outside of the AvenueM partnership, but am interested in medicine, should I still apply?
  • Yes, you can still apply and receive benefits of the program while you are enrolled at the community college if accepted into the program. 

    If you do transfer to a 4-year university outside of the AvenueM partnership, you will no longer receive the benefits of the wraparound services offered by AvenueM. We will do our best to connect you with other resources as we are able.
  • How can I show proof of a student education plan for my AvenueM application?
  • When you meet with a counselor at your community college you should receive a PDF copy of your student education plan that you can upload with your AvenueM Application.

    If you don’t have a copy of your education plan, reach out to your counselor to obtain a digital copy.
  • If I currently have an education plan for one of the eligible 4-year institutions but am considering another eligible one (ex. Sacramento State vs UC Davis), is it okay to change this plan after being accepted by AvenueM, or are we bound to the institution we expressed interest in transferring to within our application?
  • You are not bound to the institution in which you initially indicated interest.

    You can express interest to all three institutions.

    It will be important to meet with your counselor at least once a semester to ensure you are enrolling in the best courses for transfer AND to adequately prepare you for the medical school application process and MCAT exam.  If you end up prioritizing a different university than your current education plan, meet with your counselor to update and ensure you are meeting transfer requirements for that institution.
  • What happens if I lose the page to input my student transcript and student education plan after submitting the application form?
  • You will automatically be sent an email to access the Dropbox page after the application form is submitted. 

AvenueM Programming

  • What are the next steps after acceptance to AvenueM?
  • Students accepted into the AvenueM cohort will participate in a program orientation with their fellow cohort members over Zoom.  This orientation will outline minimum expectations while you are enrolled at the community college through transfer.
  • Which Summer is the 2 week MCAT Prep Course?

  • The MCAT Prep course is during the summer before your last year or semester/quarter at the 4-year institution.

  • What is the AvenueM Scholar Award? Is that a tuition waiver?

  • The AvenueM Scholar Award isn’t specifically a tuition waiver.  Students who are accepted into AvenueM and apply and are selected for a scholar award in their last year at community college will have the award disbursed to them directly from their community college.  The Scholar Award should be used for academic needs such as books, fees, tuition, etc.

  • If I am accepted into AvenueM and end up staying at my community college longer than 1.5-2 year will I be able to remain in the program?

  • Yes, you will be able to remain in the program and continue to receive supports and services through AvenueM and for your transfer preparation.  However, if your time is extended and you already received a scholar award while at community college from AvenueM, you will not be able to receive it multiple times. 

  • How much time should a student dedicate to this program if they are in community college?
  • You can see an outline in minimum requirements here: https://avenuem.ucdavis.edu/student

General Questions

  • What is the difference between the Interest form and the Application? When should I complete each?
  • The Interest Form allows you to get engaged early in events and activities.

    Interested students should complete the Interest Form early to be kept in the loop on program offerings and events.

    The Application Form is a formal process for students to apply to become a member of the AvenueM cohort.  Interested students should submit the Application form when they are approximately 1.5-2 years from transfer to a 4-year university. 

    See “Who is eligible to apply to AvenueM?” for more detail.
  • How many students are selected into the cohort each year?
  • The cohort will serve up to 50 students per academic year across our community college partners.
  • Is there one cohort per year?
  • There will be multiple acceptance periods across the academic year for at least Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 Application cycles.  However, all scholars will be in one cohort once accepted each academic year.
    TBD if there are multiple acceptance periods beyond Spring 2023.
  • Is the first AvenueM cohort transferring in 2024?
  • If you are interested in transfer to UC Davis and applying for the first AvenueM cohort, students should intend to transfer in Fall 2024.

    If you are interested in transfer to Sacramento State or Cal Poly Humboldt and applying for the first AvenueM cohort, students should intent to transfer in either Spring 2024 or Fall 2024.
  • AvenueM supports students through medical school at UC Davis School of Medicine, is there any priority based on the 4-year university I transfer to?
  • No preference or priority is given to undergraduate degrees from any specific institution when reviewing applications for medical school.
  • Can a student participate in both AvenueM and one of the sister pathways programs at UC Davis like AvenueE or AvenueB?
  • Each of the Avenue Programs (AvenueE – Engineering, AvenueB – Biological Sciences, and AvenueM – Medicine) are distinct programs.  A student may be able to apply to more than one program but can only participate in one of them. 

    Since AvenueM accepts students into a cohort early in community college, if accepted you would not be able to apply for AvenueE or AvenueB. 
  • What if I am an AvenueM scholar and don’t end up transferring to one of the partner 4-year Universities?
  • If you transfer to a 4-year university outside of the AvenueM partnership, you will no longer receive the benefits of the wraparound services offered by AvenueM. We will do our best to connect you with other resources as we are able.
  • I am a parent of a student interested in pursuing medicine, what should my child do to get involved?
  • The first step for students to hear about programming and opportunities is to complete the interest form: https://avenuem.ucdavis.edu/form/avenuem-interest-form-

High School Student Questions

  • Are high school students, taking partner community college coursework (dual enrollment) able to participate in AvenueM or do they need to be high school graduates, taking classes at the community college after high school graduation.
  • If high school students are dually enrolled and have 12 units of transferrable coursework (AP scores count if they are recognized by their partner community college as transferrable units on their transcript) and are intending to enroll at the partner community college post-graduation, they are eligible to apply.

    If a student is planning to apply straight to a 4-year institution and enter as a freshman, this program isn’t the right option for that path. It is a true community college pathway program that supports students through the transfer process to enter a 4-year at Junior level status.
  • I am a high school student, and if I am admitted into a partner 4-year university through regular(non-transfer) admission, and I have community college coursework completed, would I be able to participate in AvenueM?
  • Unfortunately, no.  AvenueM is at its core a community college pathway program for students who enter 4-year institutions as a junior level transfer student. We are not currently able to support non-transfer students.  However, if you send us an email at  avenuem@ucdavis.edu we are happy to connect you to other opportunities on campus as available.
  • If I am a high school student, what should my first step be the get involved with AvenueM?
  • Submit an Interest form on our website - https://avenuem.ucdavis.edu/form/avenuem-interest-form-
  • After doing the interest form for High School students, is the next step is to finish 12 units of community college?
  • Yes, whether you are dually enrolled while in high school or enroll in a community college post high school graduation you will need 12 units of transferable coursework at a community college campus before applying  as a transfer student for AvenueM.

Transfer Questions

  • Is a Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) required if I am interested in transferring to UC Davis?
  • The TAG is not required for students applying to transfer to UC Davis, however depending on your major it may be recommended if the program you are interested in is impacted or if it has selective review. 

    Students should meet with their community college counselor regularly to ensure they are working towards transfer requirements for their top priority institution.
  • Is an Associate’s Degree for Transfer (ADT) required if I am interested in transferring to Sacramento State or Cal Poly Humboldt?
  • An ADT is not required for students applying to transfer to Sacramento State or Cal Poly Humboldt, however depending on your major it may be recommended if the program you are interested in is impacted or if it has selective review. 

    Students should meet with their community college counselor regularly to ensure they are working towards transfer requirements for their top priority institution.
  • When are transfer applications due to the 4-year partner universities?
  • Transfer Applications for UC Davis, Sacramento State, and Cal Poly Humboldt are due November 30th the year before transfer for Fall Admission and August 31st for Spring Admission (Sacramento State and Cal Poly Humboldt Only).

    If you are applying for a TAG or ADT you will need to also submit materials for those deadlines as well. TAG applications for UC Davis are due September 30th the year prior to transfer.  ADTs are indicated in your application when you apply for transfer to Sacramento State or Cal Poly Humboldt but must be verified.

    Students submitting an ADT to Cal Poly Humboldt must confirm their ADT is in-progress by the deadlines identified here.
     

    Students submitting an ADT to Sacramento State must confirm their ADT is in-progress by the deadlines identified here.

Medical School

  • What does priority application review at the UC Davis school of Medicine mean? Am I guaranteed a spot in medical school if I participate in Avenue?

  • UC Davis School of Medicine receives over 8,000 applications per year.  As an Avenue M Scholar, you’ll have a priority admissions consideration in our admission process which means you are guaranteed a second  review of your application by the admissions committee before a decision is made.

  • Do you have general resources related to the UC Davis School of Medicine?
  • Click the link below to see the School of Medicine Calendar of events: https://health.ucdavis.edu/diversity/calendar-osrd.html

    Join a virtual tour of the School of Medicine here: https://health.ucdavis.edu/diversity/tours.html
  • Even if a student is accepted to the Avenue M Program, will they still have to pay for medical school tuition?

  • Students from AvenueM who are ultimately accepted into medical school at UC Davis School of Medicine will not have guaranteed tuition coverage, but will be eligible for consideration of a needs and merit-based scholarship. Additionally, accepted students may apply for one of our community health scholars programs that have varying degrees of tuition assistance.

    Learn more about community health programs here: https://health.ucdavis.edu/mdprogram/UC-Davis-PRIME/index.html