Which post-baccalaureate program should you do?

If you are a post-baccalaureate because you are a career changer, this is the right place for you. You are basically a “nontraditional” applicant because you are not applying right out of college. It’s okay, though. Admissions committees like nontraditional students because they bring a wealth of experience that traditional applicants don’t possess.

Formal Programs

First, there are formal post baccalaureate programs at private institutions. These are very costly, but they are perfect for students who have a degree not in science and are changing careers. Some of these programs offer certificates or degrees and some offer preparation for the MCAT, while others don’t. You need to investigate and find which program is the best one for you because there are many programs all over the United States. These types of postbacc programs have a good support group and counselors/advisers to help you along the way. These postbac programs last from 1-2 years and they are very intense.

Informal Programs

Second, there are informal post-baccalaureate programs, where you take classes as a “postbac” student or as a student trying to get their second bachelors degree.. These programs are good for those who need to boost their academic records/grades. You can do such programs on your own at any institution. I must warn you though, that it’s better to take classes at a four-year institution versus a community college. Admissions committees like to see students taking it a four-year institution because the courses there tend to be more rigorous. Make sure you take rigorous science course work and not the “Science for Poets 101” course. It’s true that it’s easier to get an A, but at the same time you want to be challenged because medical school is so much harder. During your postbac, you will want to learn study skills that will help you to succeed in medical school. Getting into medical school is not the hard part, graduating and doing well is the hard part!

A Special Masters Program is basically a year long masters program that allows you to take classes with other first year medical students. This for students who have completed their pre-req science courses, but need to enhance their academic credentials (ie. low GPA). In my opinion, a SMP is useful if you maxed out on all the possible upper division biology courses and can't take anything else. In that case, doing a SMP would be more useful since you'll still be challenged and have a chance to prove that you can handle rigorous coursework. The downside is that these programs are very pricey, but can be worth it if you do well. These programs are intense and cost approximately $40,000 for the whole program. You can immediately matriculate into medical school after you finish a SMP as they allow you to apply while you're in the program. For most programs, there is a 50% chance that you will get into medical school after completing the program.

Some schools that have such programs are:

• Colorado State University: Master's B Program in Biomedical Sciences
• Dartmouth Medical School: The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice
• Drexel University College of Medicine: Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Professional Education
• Eastern Virginia Medical School: Medical Masters Program
• Georgetown University: MS Physiology & Biophysics - Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM) Program
• Hampton University: Medical Science Program
• Indiana University School of Medicine: Master of Science in Medical Science Program
• Loyola University Chicago: Master of Arts in Medical Sciences- One Year Program
• Midwestern University: Master of Arts in Biomedical Science
• Mississippi College: Master of Medical Science
• New York Medical College: Basic Medical Sciences
Interdisciplinary Program Accelerated Track
• Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine: Biomedical Sciences Program
• Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science: Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences
• University of Cincinnati: Master of Science in Physiology (12 Month Premedical Program)
• University of North Texas Health Science Center: Post-baccalaureate Precertification in Medical Science
• University of Toledo - Health Science Campus: MSBS in Medical Sciences

The link below provides a list of comprehensive post bacc programs that will help you get into med school. Just follow the instructions. It's pretty straight forward. Good luck on your postbacc!

Click here for a list of Post Baccalaureate Programs

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