POSTBACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS
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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 medi-
cine 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 biol-
ogy 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 com-
mitment. 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 sub-
ject, 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 prepara-
tion 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
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