Post-Baccalaureate Programs
WHAT ARE POSTBACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS?
For many students, the decision to pursue a career in medicine is made after a Bachelor's Degree has already been earned. Other students need to improve their credentials, such as GPA and test scores, before applying to medical school. Frequently these candidates must complete additional course work in the sciences before they are ready to apply to medical school. For these reasons, many schools are now offering formal non-degree programs designed to assist students in preparing for medical school.
Hopefully you have approached the application process realistically and have options as well as a "Plan B". A self-inventory of your strengths and weaknesses as an applicant is certainly timely; further, it is recommended that you meet with Dr. Hess as well as set up an interview with an admissions representative from one of the health professions schools where you applied. Many college graduates find that they need to improve their academic credentials before making a successful application. Post-baccalaureate work consists of academic study undertaken after earning a bachelor's degree; it can be toward a graduate degree, another bachelor's degree, certification in some specialty, or course work that does not result in a certificate or a degree. You should assess very carefully your past record, areas for improvement, and a post-baccalaureate option which will satisfy that need.
Postbaccalaureate programs are numerous and exist in every part of the country. Some provide a one- to two-year package of courses and health-related experiences for the individual who wishes to prepare on a half- or full-time schedule. Other programs are less structured and permit individuals to take premedical courses at their own pace while continuing employment. Any U.S. medical school can provide the names of colleges and universities in the area that offer postbacclaureate programs.
ADVICE FOR POSTBACCALAUREATE STUDENTS
Before applying, it is necessary to complete the premedical course requirements by taking or repeating the specific science and other course requirements that medical schools require of all applicants.
To complete premedical courses, postbaccalaureate students may choose between a structured program, which offers the opportunity to complete courses within one to two years, and a less structured approach, where courses are taken one at a time while the individual continues to work. Students are encouraged to investigate both types of programs, obtain information about the placement record of each, and weigh the pluses and minuses of each program with respect to their own personal needs. Health Professions advisors are available on most campuses, and postbaccalaureate students are encouraged to consult these individuals and to make use of the services provided by their offices.
Many schools will allow students to enroll as postbaccalaureate premedical candidates, even if they do not have a formal program. If you would like to attend a school without a formal program (see the links above for lists of schools with formal programs), do not hesitate to contact their office of Premedical Advising or Career Counseling Offices for information on whether you can be admitted as a non-degree student and what options the school might offer students in this category.
Postbaccalaureate students can expect their applications to be reviewed in competition with the entire applicant pool, with consideration given to both personal and academic qualifications. Admissions committees are interested in the process and experience that led to the applicant's choice of medicine as a career goal.
