Admission requirements
General requirements
All applicants must meet the following admission criteria.
- GPA
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
- Minimum math and science GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
- Official transcripts must be sent directly from the registrar to the program.
- Prerequisite coursework
- Minimum of 16 credit hours in chemistry. Organic chemistry must be included. Biochemistry is recommended.
- Minimum of 16 credit hours in biology. Microbiology and immunology must be included. Recommended courses include anatomy and physiology, genetics, cell biology, and applied/pathogenic microbiology.
- Minimum of one college-level mathematics course. Statistics is recommended.
- All prerequisite coursework must be complete before the program begins.
- Functional Expectations
- Functional use of the senses of smell, vison, and somatic sensation.
- Effective and efficient oral and written communication.
- Sufficient motor function to perform all tasks that are normally expected within the scope of practice for the practitioner in the workplace.
- Ability to comprehend calculate, reason, analyze, synthesize, integrate, and apply information.
- Emotional health allowing for the use of the student’s intellectual abilities.
- Professional demeanor and behavior.
- Ability to meet the academic expectations of the program.
- Students indicate their ability to meet functional expectations on the functional expectations form submitted with their application.
- Other program requirements
- Students accepted into the MLS program must successfully complete all WellSpan pre-employment activities, including a criminal background check, drug screen, health history, and immunization review.
- We are a tobacco-free workplace. You will be tested for nicotine as part of the drug screen.
- A student who fails the drug screen or criminal background check will not be allowed to enter the program.
Applicants with a bachelor’s degree
- Applicants who have earned a baccalaureate degree will also be considered if they meet the above requirements.
- Candidates who apply seven years or more after receiving their bachelor’s degree may be required to update their academic preparation to the approval of the program (2.5 or higher). Courses in microbiology, organic chemistry or biochemistry, and immunology are often used to ensure academic preparedness. The program director will determine the need for additional courses on a case-by-case basis. Prospective students may contact the program director at MLSprogram@wellspan.org for inquiries.
Applicants currently enrolled in a bachelor’s level undergraduate program
- Applicants who do not have a bachelor’s degree at the time of application may apply without all prerequisites complete but must complete all college requirements before entering the program.
- The courses taken at the college or university must meet the requirements of the college or university so that the student will be granted a bachelor’s degree by the college or university when the student completes the MLS program as a 3+1 option.
- Once accepted, the student must maintain a GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale in any outstanding college courses and prerequisites.
- The program may withdraw a student’s acceptance for failure to maintain the GPA minimum or for failure to successfully complete all required prerequisites.
- A final transcript of your performance will be sent after completion of the clinical year. Our program assigns grades for the clinical courses and presents a certificate of completion. Your school will grant credit and your bachelor’s degree.
Applicants with an international degree
- If an applicant has been awarded a degree from an education institution outside of the United States, he or she will be required to submit a transcript evaluation performed by an approved transcript evaluation agency.
- A course-by-course report, listing the United States equivalency for each credential and United States semester credits and grades for each course, is required.
- The complete evaluation should be sent directly from the approved agency to the program director.
- The program director can provide a list of approved agencies.
Affiliated colleges and universities
Students from one of our affiliated colleges or universities will receive preference in their application. Our affiliated colleges and universities include:
- Bloomsburg University
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- King’s College
- Lebanon Valley College
- Lycoming College
- Millersville University
- The Pennsylvania State University
- Shippensburg University
- York College of Pennsylvania
These affiliated schools ensure that students have completed the required courses and will receive college credit for our program.
You are still able to apply for our program if you attend a different college or university and have met the requirements for admission.
When to apply
- You can apply for our program after completing your sophomore year of college. Your application would be for our program starting in July of the following year (after your junior year).
- You can submit your application before your required course work is complete, but you cannot start our program until all requirements are met.
- Applications are accepted beginning in July and remain open through October. All application materials must be received by October 25.
Selection process
Our medical laboratory science program uses an Admission Committee to select students. This committee uses a point system to evaluate applications. It’s based on the cumulative grade point average (GPA), the science and math GPA, college affiliation, reference letters, and an interview rating by the committee.
A maximum of 100 points are possible Points are assigned using the following scale:
-
|
Cumulative GPA
|
Points
|
|
3.85 – 4.00
|
15
|
|
3.70 – 3.84
|
14
|
|
3.55 - 3.69
|
13
|
|
3.40 - 3.54
|
12
|
|
3.25 - 3.39
|
11
|
|
3.10 - 3.24
|
10
|
|
2.95 - 3.09
|
9
|
|
2.80 - 2.94
|
8
|
|
2.65 - 2.79
|
6
|
|
2.50 - 2.64
|
5
|
|
<2.5
|
0
|
|
Science GPA
|
Points
|
|
3.85 – 4.00
|
15
|
|
3.70 – 3.84
|
14
|
|
3.55 - 3.69
|
13
|
|
3.40 - 3.54
|
12
|
|
3.25 - 3.39
|
11
|
|
3.10 - 3.24
|
10
|
|
2.95 - 3.09
|
9
|
|
2.80 - 2.94
|
8
|
|
2.65 - 2.79
|
6
|
|
2.50 - 2.64
|
5
|
|
<2.5
|
0
|
|
Collage affiliate
|
Points
|
|
Affiliate
|
15
|
|
Transfer to affiliate
|
10 to 15
|
|
Non-affiliate
|
5
|
|
Reference forms (x2)
|
Points
|
|
Highly recommend
|
5
|
|
Recommend
|
10 to 15
|
|
Reserved recommend
|
5
|
|
Do not recommend
|
0
|
|
Interview rating (x3)
|
Points
|
|
Outstanding
|
15
|
|
Above average
|
10 to 14
|
|
Average
|
5 to 9
|
|
Below average
|
1 to 4
|
|
Unacceptable
|
0
|
- The Admission Committee tallies points for all qualified applicants. Those with the highest scores are offered class positions. The committee also ranks several alternates according to their scores if a student chooses not to accept admission.
- Class selections and notifications usually occur by the end of November.
Nondiscrimination admission policy
No one will be denied admission into our program on the basis of race, gender, gender identity, age, national origin, sexual orientation, religious preference, or marital status.
How to apply
All set now and ready to submit an application? Below are links to the forms and checklist you’ll need.