For those interested in a career in health care, a Postbaccalaureate Premedical program offers a solid selection of pre-medical courses, clinical volunteer opportunities, study opportunities at top-ranked Washington University School of Medicine, MCAT preparation, one-on-one counseling, and a friendly, involved community. It also eliminates the need to retake core courses. Here are three benefits of postbaccalaureate premedical programs.
Postbacc premedical programs range in length from one to three years and are structured to provide you with the coursework and clinical experience you need for medical school. Many of these programs are linked to a medical school to guarantee conditional acceptance. To determine which ones are the right fit for you, search for a program with a high GPA and 3.6 or higher in your pre-health coursework. Once you have found the program that’s right for you, apply and enroll.
A postbacc program can help you complete the prerequisite courses for med school and improve your GPA. During this time, you may take additional courses to improve your application for medical school. And if your undergraduate education wasn’t the best one, a postbacc program can help you improve your academic profile. A low GPA doesn’t necessarily sink your application. But it may be worth a try.
While a postbacc program will not guarantee admission to med school, it can strengthen academic weaknesses and improve your chances of getting accepted. Online courses from Athabasca University and community colleges can fill in any gap in your premed coursework. Some postbacc programs also have volunteer opportunities. These programs are also better for networking than community colleges. You’ll meet more people in this environment, which may help you gain an edge over your competition.
The Goucher College Postbaccalaureate Premedical program combines courses in general chemistry, physics, statistics, and social and behavioral sciences. Students can complete the program in as little as one year. To complete the program, students must earn twenty credits, a total of eight graduate courses. These courses prepare students for entrance to medical school. In addition, they will also improve their career prospects.
While postbacc programs are generally restricted to US citizens, some accept non-US citizens. Some also prefer in-state students. Be sure to check the requirements of the school you’re applying to and the admission requirements for your chosen postbacc program. The AAMC portal and AMCAS both have useful information on the application process for postbacc programs. If you think you have a stellar academic record, a postbacc program might be an excellent choice for you.
Before deciding to enroll in a postbacc, be sure to determine whether you can improve your GPA through graduate courses. You may consider taking several graduate courses to boost your GPA before applying to medical school. The graduate courses in your chosen field may help you increase it further. If the graduate program is offered online, you will likely have more opportunities to increase your GPA through research. A postbacc will also help you get your undergraduate GPA higher.