Do you have a passion for primary care and giving back to your community? The AAMC predicts that by 2034, there will be a shortage between 17,800 - 48,000 primary care physicians (e.g. family medicine, general pediatrics, geriatric medicine) in the workforce. Ohio State’s three-year Primary Care Track (OSU-PCT) medical school program will prepare you to be successful in a career in primary care, with collaborative faculty mentorship, advising, early-and-often clinical learning experiences in family medicine offices and a cultivated learning community dedicated to support and helping you succeed.
In addition to a tuition scholarship off some portion of in-state tuition for all enrolled time, there is a cost-savings of one year’s tuition and also one year of earnings by completing medical school in three years. Students are also eligible to apply for additional scholarships and Ohio-specific grants. Upon meeting the academic and professional standards for graduation from Ohio State University College of Medicine, should you choose to rank us, you would be positioned to match at the OSU FCM Residency Program through the National Resident Matching Program.
How to apply and requirements
- First, designate The Ohio State University on the electronic AMCAS application, and select Regular MD as the application type.
- Next, complete and submit the Specialty Track Selection form.
- Please note that you will not be considered an applicant to the OSU-PCT program until you have informed The Ohio State University College of Medicine of your interest in this program through submission and approval of this form. You will receive an email confirming your eligibility to be considered for the PCT program within 5-7 business days of form submission.
- Do not submit a Secondary Application until the change to PCT is confirmed. Your application type cannot be changed once you have submitted a Secondary Application to OSUCOM.
- Your application to the Primary Care Track is complete once we have received all your application materials, including: your AMCAS primary application, the specialty selection track form, the secondary application, all transcripts, all letters of recommendation, and official, valid MCAT scores. All materials must be submitted no later than November 16, 2026 for the 2027 application cycle.
- Qualified applicants are invited for interviews, which take place from September to January. You will complete a two-part virtual interview: One day with the College of Medicine MD program and one interview day with the OSU-PCT and residency representatives.
- Admissions decisions will be released and monitored separately from the Regular MD program timeline.
If you have any questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Admissions at medicine@osu.edu.
- Application for this program opens May 5 via the AAMC American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS).
- Criteria for selection include demonstrated interest in family medicine and primary care through experiences, interests and/or understanding of the field. Applicants will complete an additional application that will give them an opportunity to discuss their interest and understanding of family medicine. Applicants should demonstrate academic credentials predictive of success in an accelerated, three-year curriculum.
- Applicants to The Ohio State University College of Medicine will not be permitted to apply to both the standard 4-year MD program AND the Primary Care Track MD Program.
- An accelerated curriculum leading to the MD degree in three years instead of four
- Core curricular objectives that are identical to the college’s four-year track, the Lead.Serve.Inspire. curriculum
- Family medicine mentoring over three years
- Support and engagement from the PCT faculty, residency faculty and residency program
- Tutoring and exam preparation
- Tuition scholarship, covering up to 50% of in-state tuition all three years
- Students will progress into the OSU Family and Community Medicine Residency Program assuming all requirements are completed and students wish to remain at Ohio State
- Completion of medical school and residency training in family medicine in six years
Frequently Asked Questions
Once students matriculate into the PCT program, they may apply for a transfer to the Ohio State College of Medicine’s four-year program if they wish to pursue a different path. However, please note that transfer requests are not guaranteed approval.
The AMCAS application deadline is Nov. 1. The secondary application deadline is Nov. 14.
The OSU-PCT starts in mid-July with a course called “Primed for Practice” to ensure students are ready to participate in clinical care from week one of medical school.
Yes, financial aid is given with the same requirements as per federal standards.
No, dual degrees can’t be completed in the OSU-PCT due to the accelerated nature of the OSU-PCT program.

