Application Exceptions

Due to circumstances from the COVID-19 pandemic response, our programs have made exceptions to the application process and requirements.

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

• Accept all pass/fail/satisfactory coursework, regardless of whether your school required this, including prerequisite coursework. This coursework will be evaluated in the context of your entire academic history.
• Accept all online coursework, including laboratory courses.
• Review your application without all required laboratory coursework, if you can demonstrate that your institution was unable to provide these courses due to COVID-19. A letter from the registrar will suffice.
• Review your application in consideration for an interview prior to receiving your MCAT exam scores. Once we receive your MCAT exam scores we will take these into consideration for admission.
• Take into consideration that your health care experience hours and other extracurricular experiences may have been impacted by the pandemic.
• Continue to require a letter of recommendation from a physician, preferably a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Please see the rules for letters of recommendation in the Secondary Application Instructions. If you cannot provide a letter of recommendation from a physician, please provide us with a written statement explaining how COVID-19 has impacted your ability to obtain a letter of recommendation from a physician.

Doctor of Dental Medicine

• Online labs are NOT accepted – Due to COVID-19, online labs completed in the spring 2020 through spring 2022 semesters will be accepted.
• Pass/no pass credit is NOT accepted – Due to COVID-19, pass/no pass credit for prerequisite courses completed in the spring 2020 through spring 2022 semesters will be accepted.

Doctor of Dental Medicine-International

• In addition to the regular internet-based test, the TOEFL at home test will be accepted for the 2023 entering class.

Doctor of Podiatric Medicine

• Online prerequisite labs will be accepted for all labs completed in spring 2020 through summer 2021.
• Pass credit will be accepted for courses completed in spring 2020 through summer 2021.
• Online TOEFL is acceptable (when needed).
• While we prefer shadowing verification, or a letter of recommendation, a waiver request will be considered when there are extenuating circumstances. Complete the waiver request form and send to admissions@westernu.edu. A representative from the admissions committee will be in touch.

Doctor of Physical Therapy

• Online prerequisite labs will be accepted for all labs completed in 2020 and Spring 2021 if the on-campus lab they were enrolled in was converted to an online format.
• Pass credit has always been and will be accepted for lab courses. Credit/Pass will be accepted for courses taken in Spring 2020, Summer 2020, and Fall 2020. They will be counted as a “B” when calculating GPA.
• Pass credit will be accepted for one prerequisite and not counted when calculating GPAs.
• GRE is no longer required.
• PT experience is no longer required.
• One prerequisite may be taken on an advanced-placement, pass credit.

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

• The college is not requiring the GRE for the entering class of 2022.
• Online prerequisite labs will be accepted for all labs completed in 2020 and Spring 2021 if the on-campus lab they were enrolled in was converted to an online format.
• Pass credit will be accepted for courses and does not affect GPA.

Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences

• Online test scores are accepted for entering class of 2021.

Master of Science in Medical Sciences

• Online test scores are accepted for entering class of 2021.

Master of Science Physician Assistant

• Online prerequisite labs will be accepted for all labs completed in 2020, Spring 2021, and Summer 2021 if the on-campus lab they were enrolled in was converted to an online format.
• Pass credit will be accepted for those courses taken in Spring 2020, Summer 2020, and Fall 2020. They will be counted as a “B” when calculating GPA.
• Pass credit will not be accepted for prerequisites and counted as a “C” for non-prerequisite coursework when calculating GPAs.

Doctor of Optometry

• Online prerequisite labs will be accepted for all labs completed in spring 2020 through fall 2021.
• Pass credit will be accepted for courses completed in spring 2020 through summer 2021.
• The online TOEFL is acceptable (when needed).

Master of Science in Nursing – Entry

• Applicants may have one science course in progress at time of application.

Doctor of Pharmacy

• Applicants forced to move in progress prerequisites to Pass Credit grading system will be approved on a case by case basis.
• Lab courses that were cancelled due to COVID 19 will be waived.