Preparing for Medical School

While the vast majority of medical school applicants are college seniors, a small, yet increasingly significant, number consists of those with a postbaccalaureate premedical education. This group is made up of individuals who: (1) seek to change their present career, (2) have been uncommitted as to a career choice and now have decided on medicine as a profession, or (3) sought but failed to secure admission to medical school and are now trying to improve their chances upon reapplying.

A prerequisite for applying to all medical schools is to satisfactorily complete the required premedical courses, namely two years of chemistry and one year each of biology and of physics. Schools may have additional course requirements such as English, mathematics, or biochemistry. Even in the case of the few schools that do not formally require the basic sciences, these courses are needed in order for the student to do well on the MCAT. Students can elect to meet the requirements by enrolling in a structured postbaccalaureate program (see below), which usually requires a significant time commitment. On the other hand, for those with time constraints, a less structured approach is advisable. Before enrolling in a postbaccalaureate program, which is usually costly, it is important to determine its educational quality and the school's placement record. Premedical advisors at your local college may be able to provide guidance on this subject, or you can check with a medical school admissions office.

The following schools offer structured postbaccalaureate educational programs that provide a wide range of academic and nonacademic support. Programs extend for one or two years. Some are geared toward non-science majors, while others assist in preparation for the MCAT.

List of Postbaccalaureate Programs

Alabama

Postbaccalaureate Program

Springhill College

Department of Biology

4000 Dauphin Street

Mobile, AL 36608

(251) 380–3082

Arizona

Postbaccalaureate Program

Arizona State University

Main Graduate College

P O Box 871003

Tempe, AZ 85287

(602) 965–3521

Biomedical Sciences Program

Midwestern University

19555 N. 59th Avenue

Glendale, AZ 85308

(623) 572–3291

California

Reapplication Program

Office of Academic Enrichment and Outreach

13–154 Center of Health Sciences

Los Angeles, CA 90095

(310) 825–3575

Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program

University of Southern California

College Academic Services

Los Angeles, CA 90089

(213) 740–2534

Postbaccalaureate Program-Reapplicant

University of California — Irvine

Office of Admissions and Outreach

College of Medicine (125 Medical Surge I)

P O Box 4089

Irvine, CA 92697

(949) 824–5388

Postbaccalaureate Program

University of California — San Diego

Student Outreach Services

School of Medicine

9500 Gillman Drive

La Jolla, CA 92093

(858) 534–4170

Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program

Mills College

Office of Graduate Studies

5000 Mac Arthur Boulevard

Oakland, CA 94613

(510) 4430–2317

Health Professions Postbaccalaureate Advancement Program

California State University — Fullerton

Health Profession Office

800 North State College Boulevard

Fullerton, CA 92384

(714) 278–3980

Postbaccalaureate Reapplicant Program

University of California — Davis

Office of Medical Education

School of Medicine

1 Shields Avenue

Davis, CA 95616

(530) 752–8119

Postbaccalaureate Program

California State University — Dominguez Hills

1000 East Victoria Street

Carson, CA 90747

(310) 243–3388

Postbaccalaureate Premedical Certificate Program

Scripps College

W. M. Keck Science Center

925 North Mills Avenue

Claremont, CA 91711

(909) 621–8764

Postbaccalaureate Program

California State University — Hayward

Hayward, CA 94542

(510) 885–2741

Postbaccalaureate Program

Loyola Marymount University

1 LMU Drive

Los Angeles, CA 90045

(310) 338–5954

Postbaccalaureate Reapplicant Program

University of California — San Francisco

School of Medicine

1855 Folsom Street

Box 0409

San Francisco, CA 94143

(415) 476–5348

Biological Sciences

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA 95192

(408) 924–4900

Connecticut

Postbaccalaureate Program

University of Connecticut

School of Medicine

263 Farmington Avenue

Farmington, CT 06030

(203) 679–2152

District of Columbia

Postbaccalaureate Program

American University

Department of Chemistry

4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20016

(202) 885–1770

Georgetown Experimental Medical Studies Program

Georgetown University School of Medicine

Office of Programs for Minority Student Development

School of Medicine

3900 Reservoir Road NW

Washington, DC 20007

(202) 687–1406

Postbaccalaureate Premed Certificate Program

Trinity College

Office of the Dean of Faculty

125 Michigan Avenue NE

Washington, DC 20017

(202) 939–5000

Florida

Postbaccalaureate Program

Barry University

School of Natural and Health Sciences

11300 NE Second Avenue

Miami Shores, FL 33161

(305) 899–3541

Postbaccalaureate Bride Program

Florida State University

College of Medicine

Tallahassee, FL 32306

(904) 644–7678

Postbaccalaureate Program

Nova Southeastern University

Medical Sciences Admissions

3200 S University Drive

Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328

(954) 262–1101

Postbaccalaureate Program

Dean of Graduate School

University of Florida

Box 115515

Gainesville, FL 32611

(352) 392–1365

Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program

University of North Florida

4567 St. Johns Bluff Road South

Jacksonville, FL 32224

(904) 620–2608

Postbaccalaureate Program

University of Miami — Coral Gables

College of Arts and Sciences

P O Box 248004

Coral Gables, FL 33124

(305) 284–5176

Georgia

Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program for Women

Agnes Scott College

Office of Graduate Studies

141 E. College Avenue

Decatur, GA 30030

(404) 471–6361

Postbaccalaureate Program

Armstrong Atlantic State University

Savannah, GA 31419

(912) 927–5279

Illinois

Postbaccalaureate Program

Finch University Health Science/Chicago Medical School

Applied Physiology Program

3333 Green Bay Road

North Chicago, IL 60064

(847) 578–3209

Chicago Area Health and Medical Careers Program

Illinois Institute of Technology

3200 S. Wabash Avenue

Chicago, IL 60616

(312) 567–3890

Postbaccalaureate Program

Rosary College

Dominican University

7900 W. Division Street

River Forest, IL 60305

(708) 524–6800

Postbaccalaureate Program

Midwestern University

Biomedical Sciences

555 31st Street

Downers Grove, IL 60515

(630) 515–6392

Postbaccalaureate Program

Roosevelt University

Department of Biology

430 S. Michigan

Chicago, IL 60605

(312) 341–3676

Medical — Dental Education Preparation Program

Southern Illinois University

Admission Coordinator

MEDPREP, Wheeler Hall

School of Medicine

Carbondale, IL 62901

(618) 452–1554

Postbaccalaureate Premedical Preparation Program

Mundelein College of Loyola

6525 North Sheridan Road

Chicago, IL 60626

(773) 508–6054

Indiana

Postbaccalaureate Program

Indiana University School of Medicine

Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology

635 Barnhill Drive, MS 446

Indianapolis, IN 46202

(317) 274–7772

Postbaccalaureate Program

Indiana University — Purdue University at Indiana

Biology Department

723 W. Michigan Street

Indianapolis, IN 46202

(317) 274–0589

Iowa

Postbaccalaureate Program

Iowa State University

102 Carrie Chapman Catt Hall

Ames, IA 50011

(515) 294–4831

Louisiana

Postbaccalaureate Program

Tulane University

Prehealth

106 Hebert Hall

New Orleans, LA 70118

(504) 865–5370

Maryland

Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program

The Johns Hopkins University

3400 N. Charles Street

Baltimore, MD 21218

(410) 516–7748

NIH Postbaccalaureate Training Program

National Institutes of Health

2 Center Drive, MSC 0240

Bethesda, MD 20892

(301) 402–1917

Postbaccalaureate Program

University of Maryland

College of Life Sciences

Mitchell Bldg. 1st Floor

College Park, MD 20742

(301) 314–3572

Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program

Goucher College

1201 Dulaney Valley Road

Baltimore, MD 21204

(800) 414–3437

Postbaccalaureate Premedical-Predental Program

Towson State University

Department of Biological Sciences

8000 York Road

Towson, MD 21252

(410) 830–3042

Massachusetts

Postbaccalaureate Program

American International College

1000 State Street

Springfield, MA 01109

(413) 747–6379

Medical Science Degree Program

Boston University School of Medicine

Division of Graduate Medical Science

715 Albany Street

Boston, MA 02118

Postbaccalaureate Certificate Program

Brandeis University

Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs

Kutz 108/MS001

Waltham, MA 02454

Postbaccalaureate Program

University of Massachusetts — Amherst

Premedical Office, N. 330 Mohill

Amherst, MA 01003

(413) 545–3674

Postbaccalaureate Program

University of Massachusetts — Boston

McCormack Hall, 3rd Floor

Boston, MA 02125

(617) 287–5519

Postbaccalaureate Program

Wellesley College

106 Central Street

Wellesley, MA 02181

(617) 283–2660

Postbaccalaureate Program

Worcester State College

Premedical Advisory Committee

486 Chandler Street

Worcester, MA 01602

(508) 793–8000

Health Careers Program

Harvard University Extension School

51 Brattle Street

Cambridge, MA 02138

(617) 495–2926

Postbaccalaureate Prehealth Program

Tufts University

Program Administrator

Office of Professional and Continuing Studies

419 Boston Avenue

Medford, MA 02155

(617) 627–2321

Postbaccalaureate Certificate Program

Assumption College

Division of Natural Sciences

500 Salisbury Street, P O Box 15005

Worchester, MA 01615

(508) 767–7545

Michigan

Advanced Baccalaureate Learning Experience Program

Michigan State University

A 254 Life Sciences Building

College of Human Medicine

East Lansing, MI 44824

(517) 355–2401

Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program

University of Michigan Medical School

Office of Student and Minority Affairs

1301 Catherine Road

5109C Medical Science I Bldg.

Ann Arbor, MI 48109

(313) 764–8185

Missouri

Postbaccalaureate Program

Rockhurst University

College of Arts and Sciences

1100 Rockhurst Road

Kansas City, MO 64110

(816) 501–3590

Graduate Experience in Medical Educational Program

Saint Louis University School of Medicine

1402 S. Grand Boulevard

St. Louis, MO 63104

(314) 268–5398

Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program

Avilla College

11901 Wornhall Road

Kansas City, MO (816) 501–3655

Nebraska

Postbaccalaureate Program

Creighton University School of Medicine

Medical Administration

2500 California Plaza

Omaha, NE 68178

(402) 280–2799

Postbaccalaureate Program

Creighton University School of Medicine

Department of Pharmacology

Omaha, NE 68178

(402) 280–3185

New Hampshire

Postbaccalaureate Program

Dartmouth Medical School

Center of Evaluative Clinical Sciences

Hinman Box 7252

Hanover, NH 03755

(603) 650–1782

New Jersey

Postbaccalaureate Program

Ramapo College of New Jersey

School of Theoretical and Applied Science

Mahway, NJ 07430

(201) 684–7727

Postbaccalaureate Certificate Program

Health Professions

JIM Leeds Road

Pomana, NJ 08240

(609) 652–4462

Postbaccalaureate Program for Prehealth Profession Studies

Rutgers University

35 College Avenue

New Brunswick, NJ 08903

(732) 932–7683

New Mexico

Cultural and Ethnic Programs

915 Camino de Salud, NE

Albuquerque, NM 87131

(505) 272–2728

New York

Postbaccalaureate Program

City College of New York/CUNY

Convent Avenue at 138th Street

New York, NY 10031

(212) 650–6622

Postbaccalaureate Program

Hofstra University Continuing Education

Hempstead, NY 11549

(516) 463–5016

Postbaccalaureate Program

Long Island University

Division of Science

University Plaza

Brooklyn, NY 11201

(718) 488–1209

Postbaccalaureate Program

Manhattanville College

Prehealth Advisory Committee

2900 Purchase Street

Purchase, NY 10577

(914) 694–2200

Postbaccalaureate Program

New York College of Osteopathic Medicine

P O Box 8000

Old Westburry, NY 11568

(516) 686–3800

Postbaccalaureate Program

New York Medical College

Basic Medical Science

Basic Sciences Building

Valhalla, NY 10595

(914) 594–4110

Postbaccalaureate Program

SUNY — Albany

School of Public Health

One University Place

Rensselaer, NY 12144

(518) 402–0333

Postbaccalaureate Program

SUNY — Stony Brook

Faculty Committee of Health Professions

Melville Library E. 2360

Stony Brook, NY 11794

(516) 632–7082

Postbaccalaureate Program

Syracuse University

Department of Bioengineering and Neuroscience

Institute of Sensory Research

621 Skytop Road

Syracuse, NY 13244

(315) 443–4164

Postbaccalaureate Program

Union College

Graduate Education

Lamont House Graduation Center

Schenectady, NY 12308

(518) 388–6239

Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program

Columbia University

Office of Preprofessional Programs

2970 Broadway

New York, NY 10027

(212) 854–2772

Postbaccalaureate Program

New York University, College of Arts and Sciences

Prehealth Advising Office, Main Bldg. Room 9L

100 Washington Square East

New York, NY 10003

(212) 998–8160

Postbaccalaureate Program

SUNY — Buffalo

Coordinator, Post-Bac Program

School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

3435 Main Street, 40 CFS Building

Buffalo, NY 14214

(716) 829–2802

North Carolina

Postbaccalaureate Program

Fayetteville State University

Department of Natural Science

1200 Murchison Road

Fayetteville, NC 28301

(910) 672–1691

Premedical and Predental Postbaccalaureate Program

University of North Carolina, Greensboro

P O Box 26170

Greensboro, NC 27402

(336) 256–0071

Postbaccalaureate Development Program

Wake Forest University, School of Medicine

Office of Minority Affairs

Medical Center Boulevard

Winston-Salem, NC 27157

(336) 716–4271

Ohio

Postbaccalaureate Program

Cleveland State University

Department of Health Sciences

2121 Euclid Avenue

Cleveland, OH 44115

(216) 687–3567

Postbaccalaureate Program

University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

Pathways Office

231 Albert Sabin Way

Cincinnati, OH 45267

(513) 558–7212

Postbaccalaureate Program

Ohio State University College of Medicine

MEDPATH Office

1072 Graves Hall

370 W. 9th Avenue

Columbus, OH 43210

(614) 292–3161

Postbaccalaureate Program

Ohio University, College of Osteopathic Medicine

Director, Center for Excellence

030 Grosvenor Hall

Athens, OH 45701

(740) 593–0898

Oregon

Postbaccalaureate Program

Portland State University, College of Liberal Arts and Science

P O Box 751

Portland, OR 97207

(503) 725–3514

Postbaccalaureate Program

University of Oregon

Academic Advisor

364 Oregon Hall

Eugene, OR 97403

(541) 346–3211

Pennsylvania

Postbaccalaureate Certificate Program

Beaver College

Glenside, PA 19038

(215) 572–2836

Medical Science Preparatory Program

Drexel University College of Medicine

245 N. 15th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19102

(215) 762–4692

Postbaccalaureate Program

Bryn Mawr College

101 N. Merion Avenue

Bryn Mawr, PA 19010

(215) 526–7350

(610) 526–7350

Postbaccalaureate Program

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

1858 W. Grandview Boulevard

Erie, PA 16509

(814) 866–8436

Postbaccalaureate Program

LaSalle University

Prehealth Professions

1900 W. Olney Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19141

(215) 951–1248

Postbaccalaureate Certificate Program

The Pennsylvania State University

213 Whitmore Laboratory

University Park, PA 16802

(814) 865–7620

Biomedical Science Program

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

4170 City Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19131

(800) 999–6998

Postbaccalaureate Program

Temple University

Prehealth Advice Center

Curtis Hall 113

1301 Montgomery Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19122

(215) 204–8669

Posbaccalaureate Program

West Chester University

Premedical Program

117 Schmucker Science Center South

West Chester, PA 19383

(610) 436–2978

Postbaccalaureate Premedical Linkage and Nonlinkage Programs

Duquesne University

Postbac Premedical Programs

B101-Bayer Learning Center

Pittsburgh, PA 15282

(412) 396–6335

Postbaccalaureate Program

Immaculate College

Department of Biology

1145 King Road

Immaculate, PA 19345

(215) 647–4400

Postbaccalaureate Premedical Programs

Pennsylvania State University

213 Whitmore Laboratory

University Park, PA 16802

(800) 778–8632

Postbaccalaureate Prehealth Program

University of Pennsylvania College of General Studies

Coordinator, Prehealth Programs

Philadelphia, PA 19104

(215) 596–8508

Postbaccalaureate Program

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

600 South 43rd Street

Philadelphia, PA 19104

(215) 596–8508

Rhode Island

Postbaccalaureate Program

Brown University

Brown Learning Committee

Box 1959

Providence, RI 02906

(401) 863–3452

Postbaccalaureate Program

Health Professions

A-129, Biological Science Center

100 Fleggs Road

Kingston, RI 02861

(401) 874–2670

Tennessee

Postbaccalaureate Program

Carson–Newman College

CNC Box 71992

Russell Avenue

Jefferson City, TN 27760

(865) 471–3257

Postbaccalaureate Program

East Tennessee State University

Fast Track Program

P O Box 70592

Johnson City, TN 37614

(423) 439–6903

Postbaccalaureate Program

Fisk University

UNF Premed Summer Institution

1000 17th Avenue N

Nashville, TN 37208

(615) 329–8796

Texas

Postbaccalaureate Program

Lamar University

Department of Biology

Beaumont, TX 77710

(409) 880–7970

Postbaccalaureate Program

Texas Christian University

Sid Richardson Bldg.

Forth Worth, TX 76129

(817) 257–6337

Postbaccalaureate Program

University of Houston

The University Studies Division

Student Service Center

Houston, TX 77204

(713) 743–8982

Postbaccalaureate Program

University of Texas — Arlington

Life Science Building

P O Box 19047

Arlington, TX 76019

(817) 273–2310

Postbaccalaureate Program

University of Texas Medical Branch

Director, Medical Student Recruitment

Ashbel Smith G120

Galveston, TX 77555

(409) 772–5256

Vermont

Postbaccalaureate Program

University of Vermont

Continuing Education

322 S. Prospect Street

Burlington, VT 05405

(800) 639–3210

Postbaccalaureate Premedical and Allied Health Sciences Program

Bennington College

Chief Health Science Advisor

Bennington, VT 05201

(802) 440–4320

Virginia

Postbaccalaureate Program

Eastern Virginia Medical School

Biomedical Science Program

Fairfax Hall

721 Fairfax Avenue

Norfolk, VA 23507

(757) 446–8480

Postbaccalaureate Program

Old Dominion University

OCNPS 133

Norfolk, VA 23529

(757) 683–5200

Postbaccalaureate Program

School of Graduate Studies

P O Box 843051

Richmond, VA 23298

(804) 828–6916

Medical Academic Advancement Program

University of Virginia School of Medicine

Office of Student Academic Support

Health Sciences Center, Box 446

Charlottesville, VA 22909

(804) 924–2189

Washington

Postbaccalaureate Program

Premed/Predent Department of Biology

Seattle, WA 98122

(206) 296–5486

West Virginia

Postbaccalaureate Program

Glenville College

Division of Science and Math

200 High Street

Glenville, WV 26351

(304) 462–4126

Wisconsin

Postbaccalaureate Program

University of Wisconsin — Madison

Graduate Education

1656 Linden Drive

Madison, WI 53706

(608) 263–1008

Postbaccalaureate Program

University of Wisconsin — Milwaukee

Certificate of Premed Studies

Holton Hall 130

Milwaukee, WI 53201

(414) 229–3922