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RHOP

Medicine

Options

The Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP) currently has options in clinical laboratory science (medical techology), dental hygiene, dentistry, medial technology, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, and radiography. The information contained on this page pertains only to medicine. For information on the other options, make a new selection from the Health Professions options page, call 888-293-2293, or email hpoffice@csc.edu.

Who Can Apply

To be eligible for RHOP, the applicant MUST:

1. Be a rural Nebraska resident (Omaha and Lincoln areas are excluded).
2. Be a Nebraska high school graduate.
3. Apply to only the Chadron State College OR Wayne State College RHOP program.
4. Be committed to practice in a rural Nebraska area.
5. Be enrolled at CSC for the entirety of their discipline guidelines.
6. If a nontraditional student: must be willing to begin their work at CSC as a freshman, regardless of previous education.

December 1 Deadline

Applications must be completed on-line, printed & together with three letters of recommendation, a copy of ACT scores, and transcripts submitted via mail to the Chadron State College Health Professions Office. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify a complete application prior to the December 1 deadline. Click here for an application.

Program Characteristics

Four Years of study at Chadron, resulting in the participant earning a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Human Biology, followed by four years of medicine education at UNMC College of Medicine are required. Upon successful completion of medical school, UNMC will award the student the MD degree.
The application of college credit earned through previous college work, CLEP or high school courses for college credit under an Advanced Placement curriculum will be determined on an individual basis.

Selection Guidelines

Numerous factors are a part of the selection process. For the Rural Health Opportunities Program, special consideration will be given to applicants who:

• Want to become physicians.
• Demonstrate academic potential.
• Are from rural areas of Nebraska.
• Are committed to returning to rural areas of Nebraska to practice.

Interviews

Interviews will be approximately 20-30 minutes, informal and conducted by faculty from UNMC, CSC. The interviewers are interested in learning as much about the interviewee as possible, and in answering any questions they may have regarding CSC, UNMC or RHOP. The interviews will be held on the CSC campus. Each person being interviewed will receive a letter stating the specific time and location for the interview.

Final Selection

RHOP Positions: Three applicants will be selected to fill the positions in the program for the next class.

Alternate Positions: Up to three applicants will be selected as alternates. Only alternates will be allowed to fill any vacancies that may develop in this class. Those students receiving alternate status will maintain this status as long as they enroll at CSC, maintain the standards set forth in the RHOP guidelines and follow the prescribed curriculum.

All applicants will be notified of their status as soon as possible.

Career Promotional Activities

Exposure to the world of medicine and rural health care is an important objective of the pre-medicine studies at CSC or WSC. The following are some activities in which each student will participate:

• Attend credit and non-credit UNMC conducted videoconferences and classes.
• Develop a professional association with one or more practicing physicians in the Chadron or Wayne areas.
• Visiting the University of Nebraska Medical Center for tours, seminars, and workshops.
• Visit, work, or volunteer to help with patient care in hospitals, clinics, or nursing homes.
• Attend classes with dental hygiene students at the UNMC College of Dentistry.
• Participate in on-campus activities for health professions students.
• Attend class and work with medical students at UNMC.

Progress Evaluation

Course Work

• Follow the specific curriculum designed for this program.
• Complete courses in a timely manner in order to enter the professional program as scheduled.
• Complete the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) before or during the fall semester of the senior year at CSC with a minimum score of 24.

Program Standards

• Each student must earn a C or better in each course and maintain a GPA of 3.5 or better.
• Should a student earn a "D" or an "F" in any course he/she must immediately meet with the RHOP medicine academic advisor. The problems or areas of weakness will be identified and a program to eliminate the problem will be initiated. The major objective is to help the student achieve success.
• Should the student’s GPA drop below 3.5, the student must immediately meet with the RHOP medicine academic advisor. The student and the advisor will determine a remedial program. At this point, the student is considered at academic risk and will be placed on one year probation. Should their GPA remain below the required minimum at the end of the year of probation, the student will be dropped from the program.

Journal

Each student is required to keep a journal of his or her professional activities and experiences at CSC. The journals will be turned in to the CSC Health Professions Office at the end of each semester.

Benefits of the Program

If selected as a participant in the program, each student will:

• Receive early acceptance to the College of Medicine at UNMC, as they begin the pre-medicine curriculum at CSC.
• Follow a special curriculum at CSC , which will prepare them for medical school at UNMC.
• Have recognition of their desire to become a physician.

For course work requirements while at CSC please see the degree programs page.