What is MERP?
The Medical Education Readiness Program (MERP) is a 15-week medical school preparatory program offered to students who have been granted conditional acceptance to AUC. It's designed to provide students with additional academic preparation to foster medical school success. Although MERP is a separate program from AUC, for AUC applicants who are referred to MERP, we view it as your first step in the AUC journey.
AUC MERP Program
- The MERP program is held online
- Three sessions are held each year, commencing in April, August, and December, to allow students who successfully complete the program to matriculate into the next entering class at AUC.
- Students cannot apply directly to MERP. Students must be granted conditional acceptance to AUC and be referred to MERP in order to participate in the program.
How Could MERP Benefit You?
MERP is designed to prepare students to succeed at AUC by:
- Helping students build a strong foundation of medical sciences
- Helping students adjust to the demands of medical school and develop the study and learning techniques critical to succeeding at AUC
- Providing students with an opportunity to build strong social networks among fellow students that contribute to their success at AUC
Enrollment in MERP
Students applying to AUC will have their files reviewed by the school's Admissions Committee as part of the application process.
The Admissions Committee may grant an applicant conditional acceptance to the university, contingent upon the student's successful completion of MERP if the Admissions Committee believes that an applicant might benefit from strengthening his or her foundation in the medical sciences before starting as a first-semester AUC medical student.
Upcoming MERP Session Dates
MERP offers a 15-week preparatory course that provides customized academic assessment and study plans. Find out when the next session starts.
MERP Graduate Profiles
Fall 2017 MERP graduates receive their white coats at the AUC White Coat Ceremony in January 2018.
Want to learn more about how MERP prepares students for academic success in medical school? Explore the graduate profiles below for a deeper, more personal look at the MERP experience.
“The harder you work in MERP, the easier medical school will be for you. You’ll get out of it what you put into it. I recommend it to anyone.”
"Honestly, I don’t think I could’ve had the success that I’ve had without MERP. It’s a great way to build up your foundation so when you get into medical school it’s not the fire-hose effect with all the information. At the time, I didn’t really know what to expect, but I thought, OK, if it doesn’t work out, then I’m just back where I started. And now here I am with an MD, in residency, doing my chosen specialty."
"In the first few semesters at AUC, there was a significant amount of material that I recognized from MERP. Seeing the material for the second time, I could build on it faster and understand it better. I think that’s one of the great benefits of MERP."
Comments on MERP From AUC Students
Check out testimonials from past MERP students.
"To be honest, when I got accepted to MERP, I was fairly disappointed, knowing I would have to jump through an extra hoop just to get my acceptance into AUC. However, after starting the program in Toronto, it really gave me a glimpse into the workload that medical school was going to throw at me. Being close to home while attending MERP allowed me to get used to the workload so by the time I moved to St. Maarten, I was doing well in school and I only had the “island life” to get used to. In addition, MERP gave me a boost with several courses because I had already seen some of the information before, so nothing was foreign to me."
"MERP was a challenging program that gave me a head start on the material we would be exposed to at AUC. Mostly, MERP helped me discover the best study style for me and allowed me to prepare myself mentally for the Medical Sciences curriculum. Having been exposed to material before my classes also allowed me to have the freedom to be more involved in extracurricular activities. Because of the time management skills I gained in MERP, I was able to be Student Government President during my third and fourth semesters as well as have leadership roles in various other student organizations. I always say that being “MERP-ed” is the best thing that ever happened to me, because it gave me exposure to material and allowed me to fulfill my goal of being inducted in the Honor and Service Society during my fifth semester."
"When I was first accepted to the MERP program, I wasn’t overly excited, as it was another obstacle I needed to overcome to begin medical school. However, after going through MERP and now a couple of semesters at AUC, I can honestly say it was a blessing in disguise. The rigors of MERP definitely prepare you for what’s ahead and provide a solid foundation you can build on. MERP also gives you the opportunity to figure out study habits and what works for you before you get to medical school."