MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Qualified Rhodes College students now have a guaranteed interview slot at the Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University under a new agreement between the two schools, opening another in-state path to medical school from one end of Tennessee to the other.
The Guaranteed Interview Agreement covers current Rhodes students and Rhodes graduates within the last two years. To qualify, applicants need at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA and a 3.5 science GPA and an MCAT score of 505 or higher.
They must also submit an application with official transcripts through the American Medical College Application Service no later than Aug. 1. That date matches the close of the early decision window Quillen runs each year from June 1 to Aug. 1.
Applicants also need clinical experience that fits Quillen’s mission, such as volunteer or paid work in primary care, service to underserved populations, or work in clinical settings focused on rural communities.
The deal guarantees an interview, not a seat. Quillen’s admissions committee still screens every verified application for residency, academic preparation and MCAT scores, and applications with MCAT scores below 497 are not considered competitive.
Rhodes health professions advising director Melissa Campbell said in the college’s announcement that Quillen’s focus on rural and underserved communities lines up with the experiences and goals of many Rhodes students. Provost Timothy S. Huebner said the partnership gives students a clear pathway to medical study in Tennessee.
Rhodes already has a similar interview agreement with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. More than 330 Rhodes students have been accepted into post-graduate health programs in the past five years.
