Rocky Vista University – MSBS Admissions Information
Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences
Why kick-start your medical professional career at RVU?
The Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (MSBS) program at Rocky Vista University (RVU) is a Direct Pathway to RVU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine in Colorado or Utah. The direct pathway from MSBS to RVUCOM grants students admissions with:
- No Undergraduate Overall or Science GPA Minimum
- No MCAT Retake Needed
- No Additional Letters of Recommendation
- No Additional Prerequisites (including COM biochemistry requirement)
- No Interview (If 3.3+ MSBS GPA)
9
Months
Full time, in person
31
Total Credit Hours
$31,062
Tuition Total
98%
of 2024 class
accepted to healthcare professional programs (DO, MD, PA, or Other)*
Steps to a Medical Career
Application Requirements
To apply for the Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (MSBS) program, you must meet the following minimum requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
- Completion of all prerequisite coursework (see below) with a grade of ‘C’ or better:
- Biology with lab: 8 semester hours
- General chemistry with lab: 8 semester hours
- Organic chemistry with lab: 8 semester hours
- Physics with lab: 8 semester hours
- English composition or Literature: 6 semester hours
- Social or behavioral sciences: 6 semester hours
- An overall cumulative and science GPA of 2.6 or higher (on a 4.0 scale)
- Official standardized test scores: MCAT, GRE, PCAT, or DAT (There is no time limit for the standardized test score, and other standardized tests may be potentially approved upon request)
- Completed application via PostBacCAS
- Resume including all relevant volunteer and paid work experience, along with service and leadership activities
- Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to your suitability to attend a graduate program in biomedical sciences.
- Appropriate references include healthcare professionals, pre-health advisors, basic science faculty members, and employment supervisors.
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to include letters from multiple categories (e.g., one letter from a health care provider and another from a basic science faculty member). Please refrain from requesting letters from family members or friends.
- MSBS will consider international applicants. Demonstrated English language proficiency is required; preference will be given to applicants who have previously attended a regionally-accredited college or university in the U.S.
Admissions Timing
Rocky Vista University will only consider applications submitted via PostBacCAS, the centralized application service for Post Bac programs. The application opens September 1st, with rolling admissions through July 26th, prior to the start of the academic year.
Required Materials
All application materials including transcripts and letters of recommendation are to be submitted directly through PostBacCAS. You will be given the opportunity to select campus preference (Colorado, Southern Utah or No Preference) on the application.
Completed files will be processed and reviewed on a rolling basis as long as there are seats available in the class. Early application is encouraged.
What to Expect upon Acceptance
Upon acceptance of an offer of placement within any program within RVU, all candidates are required to complete a criminal background check and a 10-panel drug screening. This screening must meet the RVU standards, be conducted by an agency approved by RVU, and occur prior to the date specified in the matriculation agreement. Please note: though marijuana is legal in the state of Colorado, RVU adheres to federal regulations regarding recreational drug use. As such, any marijuana use is prohibited by RVU students.
An applicant who has a deficiency or abnormality discovered on either screening will be referred to the MSBS Student Performance Committee (SPC) for further investigation.The MSBS SPC will make a recommendation to the MSBS Program Director as to whether the offer of admission should be maintained or withdrawn. The MSBS Program Director will make the final determination regarding the applicant’s status. Failure to complete a Criminal Background Check by the required deadline could affect the ability to matriculate or engage in RVU educational experiences.
Student Success Stories
98% of the 2024 MSBS class graduates were accepted to healthcare professional programs (DO, MD, PA, or Other)*.
The faculty and staff were outstanding and so supportive was the best decision I could have made to prepare for medical school.
I think it is important to have classes that teach both basic biomedical principles and, more importantly, clinically relevant cases. The MSBS program at RVU incorporated both. I know that having this exposure and wealth of information will contribute to my success in the COM.
The MSBS program has helped me learn how to be a better test-taker, which has always been one of my biggest weaknesses. I have always struggled with doing well on standardized tests like the ACT or the MCAT. This program has helped me identify specific weaknesses in this area and find different strategies to address those weaknesses.
My favorite part about the program is that I already feel like I am in medical school. I am challenged, I learn from the same professors as the medical school, I learn about actual medical topics, and I even get to interact with standardized patients.
The MSBS program prepared me for the COM in ways that I could not have even anticipated. The program gave me a strong foundation of knowledge, but more than anything, it taught me how to problem solve and think about information in a clinical and applied manor. My time in the program allowed me to not only be surviving medical school, but to be thriving!
When I look back at my undergraduate experience, I feel like the MSBS program here at RVU has done a great job in preparing me to be successful in medical school. This program has filled a knowledge gap that I had after finishing my undergrad. In addition to gaining knowledge, I have learned to be a responsible and disciplined student. I now prioritize things and focus on the most important ones. My experience in MSBS program not only has shaped my life and made me an active member of the society due to several team projects and services in the community, but has also given me a step ahead here in medical school. As a physician in training and a future doctor, I will continue to be grateful for the decision I made to attend the RVU MSBS program before entering medical school.
The MSBS program gave me so much more than I could have ever asked for. It afforded me time to sort out study habits, testing and time management skills. The program provided a time and place for me to make mistakes, learn from those mistakes and become a better person through them. I knew that someday I would make it into a COM however this program took me from being able to survive in medical school to being able to thrive.
Although the 9 months in the MSBS program were quite challenging, both physically and mentally, I can’t emphasize enough how much it has helped me during my first year of medical school. Additionally, the small class size enabled me to form invaluable connections with each of the professors, who teach in both the MSBS program and the COM. Overall, doing the MSBS program was the best decision I’ve ever made.
Rocky Vista’s MSBS program helped me develop great study, communication and leadership skills that prepared me not only for first year of medical school, but for the rest of my life as a physician. I am so thankful for the program and the faculty at RVU that challenged and supported me throughout the rigorous 9-month program and made me realize what I am truly capable of. I would not be where I am today without the MSBS program.
The MSBS program has more than prepared me for the demands of the COM. Although the program was challenging, choosing RVU was one of the best decisions of my life. The faculty at RVU truly care about your education and the student body is very supportive, which makes for an amazing community. The MSBS program has allowed me to make professional strides, gain confidence in my ability to succeed, and make friends that will last a lifetime.
I knew I wanted to do some kind of post-baccalaureate degree before going into medical school because I didn’t feel like my study skills were good enough to be successful. I decided to come to RVU specifically because of the culture here. The faculty are so incredibly supportive and genuinely want you to succeed in whatever it is you aspire to do. They provide you with the resources to grow as a student, and they view you individually and holistically. You are more than just GPA or test scores. In addition, the curriculum gives you the foundation for what you need to know in a professional medical career so you’re not spending time learning a lot of information that may or may not be relevant to you later.
As a career changer, my academic history looks quite different from “typical” medical school applicants, I knew that I needed a structured program to prepare for the rigors of medical education. After lengthy conversation, it was clear to me that the program faculty would invest as much into me as I would invest in the program and they genuinely wanted to help me reach my goals.
Upon graduating from Baylor, my MCAT was not the best. I knew that I needed to work on improving my score; however, I did not want to take a gap year. I knew that attending a post baccalaureate program was a great option to improve as a student without taking a gap. I chose RVU because of the supportive atmosphere, as well as the many resources available to all students. I appreciated how the school focused on the student overall, regardless of their test scores. The faculty works diligently to make all students feel comfortable, while simultaneously preparing them for the rigors of many healthcare professions.
The MSBS Program is a very rigorous program, so it is crucial that you work hard from day one and don’t fall behind. Everyone has a different way of learning, so take the time to find something that works for you beforehand, and don’t be afraid to make adjustments as the year progresses. While attending RVU, I felt that RVU has provided me the resources necessary to help me succeed in both academic and professional development. In addition, I chose RVU’s MSBS program because of the strong foundation the curriculum provides for continued success in medical school.
Pursue your MSBS in Colorado or Utah
Colorado Campus
Colorado Campus
Rocky Vista University Colorado location is located in a small town called Parker, just 20 miles southeast of Denver, which is a place rooted in history and heritage. The spirit of the west that lives here is matched in character only by our embrace of forward-thinking innovation. This rare balance offers experiences that are unique even for Colorado, making Parker the ideal one-day getaway. The community is known for its excellent school system, extensive biking and jogging trails, recreational facilities, dining, and entertainment, as well as a wide variety of arts and community events held throughout the year.
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Utah Campus
Utah Campus
Our Utah campus is located in Ivins, UT, approximately 15 minutes from downtown St. George. The City of Ivins is a known as beneath the Big Red Mountain, which is where the campus is located. The weather is beautiful and sunny most of the year which makes it a great place for outdoor recreation, hiking, boating, camping, kayaking to name a few. There are several National Parks which are close to the campus; Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Grand Canyon National Park. Snow Canyon State Park is located just 5 minutes from campus which offers a beautiful landscape of red and white rocks.
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meeting you!
*Based on internal data as of 08/13/2024