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Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Programs Some students take “time off” before medical school for a very simple reason: because they did not complete the requisite pre-medical courses during their undergraduate years.Those who come to the decision to pursue medical school either toward the end of their college career or after finishing college can enroll in special post-baccalaureate (“post-bac”) programs to take the pre-med requirements. These programs provide a way of completing the courses students need to apply to medical school.There are dozens of post-bacprograms out there, and all offer the same basic courses, but there are variations between them. Some are one-year programs, while others can take two years to complete. At some schools, post-bac students take classes with undergraduates, while at others the post-bac students take classes separately. As you investigate various programs, keep the following considerations in mind: Pacing In taking post-bac courses, you must carry a course load that is rigorous enough to show the medical schools that you can handle a difficult science-laden curriculum. By the same token, though, you don’t want to overload yourself and fail to do your best work. Taking just one pre-med course each semester will not impress the medical schools. At the same time, taking three science courses (with labs) each term may be too much, especially if you will be holding down a job. Go to a post-bac program that will allow you to take the courses at a pace that works for you. Advising It is critical that you have access to a pre-med advisor while completing your post-bac work. All programs offer advising, but not all advisors make themselves available to students. As you investigate programs, pay special attention to how accessible the advisor is and try to speak with current students who can vouch for the quality of the advising services Reputation Obviously, you want to take your pre-med courses at a well-respected institution.In general, the academic reputation of a school’s post-bac program follows the reputation of its undergraduate programs.This does not mean, however, that you need to do an “Ivy League” post-bac.But you will want to confine yourself to schools that have a national reputation for giving students a high-quality education. Linkages Many post-bacprograms have “linkages” - connections to specific medical schools. Students can apply to medical school through these linkages while they are finishing their post-work; in this way, students can avoid the “lag year” that otherwise would exist between the time they complete their post-bac studies and the time they enter medical school. Size Some post-bac programs are big, with literally hundreds of students, and the pre-med courses offered are similarly large and impersonal. Other programs are smaller and provide a more intimate learning environment. For a directory of post-baccalaureate programs, try consulting the AAMC web site.
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