The Post-Bac Guidebook for Getting Into Medical School
by
Jason Spears
SMASHWORDS EDITION
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PUBLISHED BY:
Jason Spears at Smashwords
The Post-Bac Guidebook for Getting Into Medical School
Copyright © 2010 by Jason Spears
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Becoming a Doctor in a Perfect World
Types of Post-Baccalaureate Programs
Academic-Record Enhancer
Duquesne University Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Program (PBPMP)
Temple University School of Medicine Post Baccalaureate Program - ACMS
Univ. of California, Davis School of Medicine Post Baccalaureate Program
Univ. of California, Irvine School of Medicine Post Baccalaureate Program
Univ. of California, San Diego School of Medicine Post Baccalaureate Program
Univ. of California, San Francisco School of Medicine Post Baccalaureate Program
University of Connecticut Post Baccalaureate Program
Career-Changer
Agnes Scott College - Post Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Program
Bryn Mawr College Post Baccalaureate Premedical Program
Charles Drew University Post Baccalaureate Certificate Program
Columbia University Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program
Goucher College Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program
Johns Hopkins Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program
Mills College - Post Baccalaureate Program
Temple University School of Medicine Post Baccalaureate Premedical Program - BCMS
University of Maryland - Science in the Evening Program
University of Pennsylvania - Special Sciences Program
Groups Underrepresented in Medicine
Drexel University - Drexel Pathway to Medical School (DPMS)
Georgetown Univ. School of Medicine - Georgetown Experimental Medical Studies (GEMS)
Indiana University School of Medicine - M.S. in Medical Sciences (MSMS)
Michigan State University - Advanced Baccalaureate Learning Experience (ABLE)
Southern Illinois University - Medical/Dental Educational Program (MEDPREP)
University of California, Los Angeles - Re-Applicant Program (RAP)
University of Connecticut Post Baccalaureate Program - Minority
Master Programs
Barry University - Master in Biomedical Science
Boston University Medical School - M.A. in Medical Science
Colorado State University Masters B (MS-b) - Biomedical Science
Georgetown University -Special Masters’ Program in Physiology (SMP)
Loyola University, Chicago - Master of Arts in Medical Sciences (MAMS)
Midwestern University - Master of Arts in Biomedical Science
Rosalind Franklin - Master of Science in Biomedical Science
Tufts University School of Medicine - M.S. in Biomedical Sciences (MBS)
Tulane University - Master of Biomedical Science
University of Cincinnati - Master’s Program in Physiology
Introduction
Dear Post-Baccalaureate Student,
Welcome to The Post Bac Guidebook for Getting into Medical School which contains an overview of becoming a doctor, the four categories of post-baccalaureate programs, and many of the most prominent post bac programs throughout the United States.
I wrote this book because there is a void when it comes to nontraditional medical school applicants. I am sure you can easily find information on medical and graduate schools, but there is minimal information on programs that will prepare you for a career in medicine.
This book aims to address this issue and direct you to appropriate post bacs that will get you where you need to be—admitted to medical school.
Since not everyone is familiar with the path to becoming a doctor I begin with outlining the process in enough detail so you know what to expect but not to the point where you are left with more questions than answers.
With everyone understanding what it takes to become a doctor I write to address your needs as a nontraditional medical school applicant. Nontraditional in this sense is someone who is not applying directly to medical school from their undergraduate premedical program.
Obviously, this leaves a broad range of nontraditional premedical students who have unique and diverse needs in satisfying medical school entry requirements. In-order to put you on the appropriate path to finding your ideal post bac I begin by discussing the four main categories of post bac programs available to you.
After covering these categories I direct your attention to the most prominent post bacs throughout the country. The listing of programs is not exhaustive but it is an excellent starting point to learn about: eligibility, the curriculum, application deadlines, and program focus, etc.
Finally you have a post bac guidebook that was written to address your needs as you pursue a career in medicine.
Best of Luck,
Jason Spears
Important Notice
In this publication I have attempted to be as thorough and comprehensive in detailing the specifics to help you find an appropriate academic program to facilitate your entry into medical school.
Please be aware that although deadlines, eligibility requirements, and curriculums have been included they were compiled using the latest available information and in certain instances individual programs were contacted to confirm, verify, and/or receive clarification.
As such, facts and values written at the time of this publication may be subject to change, modification, and/or correction with or without notice.
If you have any questions or concerns outside the scope or purview of this publication please consult a premedical advisor or contact the individual academic program to receive their official word as it pertains to the subject matter in question.
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The Post-Bac Guidebook for Getting Into Medical School
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Becoming a Doctor in a Perfect World
In a perfect world you would become a doctor 8 years after graduating from high school.
After high school you attend college and declare you want to go to medical school. Meaning you can still major in whatever academic program interests you the most, but you also take the four required premed courses:
Inorganic chemistry
Introductory biology
Organic chemistry
Physics
Each course must include the associated laboratory.
Give yourself three years to complete the above courses, so by the time you’re a junior in college you’ll be ready to take the biggest test of your career: the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)!
The MCAT is a requirement for getting into medical school, think of it as doing the same as the SAT/ACT for college entry. I consider standardized exams to be the great equalizer because it allows for apples to apples and oranges to oranges comparisons of applicants who come from different grading systems and various colleges.
Again, in our perfect world you will take the MCAT during the spring of your junior year of college. Then all the fun begins.
You’ll begin applying to medical schools in June.
Throughout the summer you will receive secondary applications from the medical schools you applied to. Complete your secondaries in a timely manner and get them back to the specific medical school so the medical school admissions committee may begin to review your complete application.
A complete application shows excellence in the following areas:
MCAT/GPA
Personal Statement
Extracurricular Activities
Letters of Recommendation.
If you have what a medical school is looking for in perspective students then begin to prepare for interviews which take place during the fall and winter of your senior year of college.
The goal of the medical school interview is to determine if you are actually who you say you are on paper and for you and the admissions committee to see if you would be a good fit for the particular medical school.
Actually, it’s the admissions committee who is going to make this decision about whether you’re a good fit, but you can do your part by interviewing well and showcasing you would be a great asset to their medical school and medicine in general.
Notifications for medical school acceptance will start in the fall and can carry through to late March. But those who are wait-listed may even get a notification of acceptance up to the very first day of class.
Once you are accepted be sure to keep up with your school work and find time to relax before medical school begins.
The start date for medical school varies from institution to institution and in most cases it will be August. Just be aware there are a number of medical schools that have classes beginning in July or even September.
Medical School
The first two years of medical school are classroom based where you are in lectures or in small groups learning the basic sciences for medicine:
Anatomy
Doctor/Patient Relationship
Biochemistry
Pathology
Pharmacology
Physiology, etc.
The final two years of medical school take place in the hospital where you are responsible for the care of patients. Here you will rotate through a number of the core medical specialties to gain a better understanding of your options as a doctor.
Finally, in your fourth and final year of medical school you will go through the match process.
The match is designed to assign you to a specific program in the specialty of your choice where you will train during your residency to become a specialist:
Anesthesiologist
Internal Medicine
OB/GYN
Radiologist
Surgeon, etc.
Residency
You graduate from medical school in the spring or early summer with the Medical Doctor degree. Then in July you will begin your residency in the specialty where you matched. This first year of residency is commonly referred to as your internship year.
Internship is to give you a solid foundation in the general aspects of being a doctor before you move onto the upper years of your residency where you will focus solely on your specialty.
Residencies can last anywhere from three to six years depending on your specialty choice. And if you are really ambitious you can do a fellowship afterwards to become a true expert on a specific aspect of medicine.
In a nutshell this is the path to becoming a doctor in a perfect world.
I am sure many of you are thinking well that’s nice to know but it won’t help me as a nontraditional applicant to medical school.
You’re still in luck though.
I thought it appropriate to begin with the straightforward path of becoming a doctor so you have a basic understanding of the process first. Once this was established I would address your specific needs by detailing post baccalaureate programs which may be of interest to you.
The remainder of this book is dedicated to helping you get to where you need to be regardless if you need to strengthen your academic record for medical school entry or if you are new to medicine (career-changer).
Let’s begin…
Types of Post-Baccalaureate Programs
Post bac or post-baccalaureate (can be used interchangeably) programs are an excellent option for those seeking entry to medical school and fall outside of the scope of being a traditional medical school applicant (premed in college for the first time).
There are post-baccalaureate programs to meet a number of needs:
Never taken premed classes
Need to improve academic record
Re-applicants to medical school
Determine if medical school is of true interest.
With so many needs to be met, post bac programs are classified into four main categories:
Academic-Record Enhancer
Career-Changer
Groups Underrepresented in Medicine
Master Programs
I will go into more detail about each category but let’s cover the basics first.
Formal/Structured vs. Informal/Unstructured
Knowing the structure of a post baccalaureate program makes a big difference in the learning environment and probably will affect your comfort level too.
Some post bacs are designated as formal/structured and this is where there is a predetermined curriculum in place.
Here you will have what is referred to as a post baccalaureate community where everyone will have the same lectures at the same time and will have similar schedules.
On the other hand…
If you take up an informal/unstructured post bac things will be entirely different. You will pick only the specific courses you need and take them at a time convenient for you.
In this type of environment you may find you are the only nontraditional student in some of your classes and there will be less of a connection with your classmates because everyone has differing class schedules and agendas.
These are some of the aspects you need to be aware of when deciding between what will be the ideal post bac to prepare for a career in medicine.
For instance, if you are a working adult it may be impossible to stop working entirely and you will need an informal post baccalaureate where classes are offered in the evenings. This will allow you to take only the courses you need and at a time which fits your schedule.
Those who have minimal family obligations and can forego working may find they like being in a structured environment where everyone is in the “same boat.”
I am confident you know which post baccalaureate program will meet your needs the best but I wanted to make you aware of the differences before delving deep into the topic of post-baccalaureate programs.
Length of Program
One of the biggest factors affecting the length of your program is whether you are a full-time or part-time student. It goes without saying, those who are full-time will finish much sooner than a part-time student.
Typically the formal programs are full-time and can last anywhere from one to two years, while a part-time informal program will generally be completed within 36 months.
There’s a caveat…
How many classes you need to take will significantly affect the length of your post bac. I already discussed you will need to complete four required premed courses and if you are extremely ambitious and are able to commit to a full-time study schedule you can complete all of your requirements in one calendar year.
Now will this be easy? Nope, but it can be done by taking summer classes and then a full course load during the regular academic year.
If this seems like it may be too much there are other options available.
You can take two of your premed classes during the regular academic year over a period of two years and this will lighten your course load but it will take longer and works out well if you are not in an absolute rush to begin applying to medical school.
Linkage Programs
Knowing your timeframe for applying to medical school is very important and was one of the reasons why this book began by outlining becoming a doctor in a perfect world.
In the scenario outlined, I explained you will apply to medical school during the summer following your junior year of college and will interview during the fall of your senior year with an admission decision coming anytime thereafter.
As you can tell, it takes a year to apply to medical school.
This year of applying is typically referred to as your glide/lag year if you are enrolled in a post-baccalaureate program.
I am mentioning the glide year issue because in most instances you will complete your post bac and only then begin applying to medical school. Leading to the concern about how you will spend your year-off (waiting to hear from medical schools) so to speak.
Most applicants will engage in research, work, travel, volunteer, etc because it is their last year of “freedom” before matriculating to medical school.
This is all good in many respects, but there are some individuals who would prefer not to have a year off and want to begin medical school immediately. This is where the linkage agreement comes into play.
If you attend a post bac that has a linkage program with a medical school you can bypass your lag year.
These medical schools have an agreement where you can apply to their schools and be fast tracked into their entering first year class if you meet a particular set of standards outlined at the beginning of your post-baccalaureate program.
Instead of completing your post bac program and having a glide year, life moves at a new pace.
It speeds up…
You complete your post bac in spring/early summer and can begin medical school that fall.
Academic-Record Enhancer
As the name implies this type of post-baccalaureate program is for individuals who need to improve their academics (GPA) in-order to become a competitive applicant for medical school admission.
If you have already completed most or all of your premedical classes but having an opportunity to show you can perform at a higher level of scholastic achievement then an academic-record enhancer program may meet all of your needs.
The focus of these post bac programs are to provide you with an opportunity to strengthen your credentials and show admissions committees that you can perform in a medical school environment.
If you have a grade of “C-” or lower in a required course for medical school then you will definitely want to retake that course.
Medical schools will consider a grade this low equivalent to “F” and not give you credit for it as part of your minimum medical school entry requirements.
Otherwise, DO NOT repeat courses!!!
You were already enrolled in the course before and when retaking it medical school admissions officers will expect nothing less than an “A.” They figure you have already seen the material before and simply retaking a course does little to show you can handle the rigors of a medical school setting.
What should you do?
Instead of repeating courses, plan on taking upper-level undergraduate courses in the sciences that build on the basic courses required for medical school. This may include enrolling in:
Biochemistry
Neurobiology
Physiology
Molecular Biology.
Focus on building a stellar academic profile and always be aware of how the classes you take now can affect your medical school admissions chances in the future.
The understanding for everyone considering an academic-record enhancer post bac is that you have an undergraduate GPA which needs to be improved.
Therefore, it makes no sense in most instances to take graduate level courses because they are calculated separately on your medical school application. The goal is to remedy the deficiency and the best way to do this is through upper-division science courses that will be calculated into your undergraduate grade point average.
Even if you already graduated from undergrad you can still go back to college and take upper-division science courses and have them factored into your undergraduate GPA on your medical school application.
Taking a lot of graduate level courses will not help if your undergraduate GPA is significantly low. Medical school admissions officers will see your undergraduate GPA separately from the grad coursework so spend the time improving in this area (If you have a semi-high undergraduate GPA which is still questionable for medical school entry then I would advise looking into a Master degree program).
The minimum cutoff can hurt…
Your application may not be reviewed because some medical schools use a computer to initially screen applications and this means they have a minimum GPA cutoff that you must be above if your application is to be read by a human.
This covers the reasoning of why you want to take a particular set of courses at a certain level, but let’s talk about how you can benefit from an academic-record enhancer post-baccalaureate program.
This may sound obvious but you have a second chance to gain the requisite skills and knowledge to be successful as a premed and ultimately get admitted to medical school.
You need to take your academics extremely seriously and learn from your past mistakes because if you fail to perform well here this very well may be the end of your medical career.
My advice is to utilize all of the advisors and resources at your disposal while enrolled in an academic-record enhancer post bac program.
What you tried before did not work out so be open to their advice and suggestions because these advisors only have your best interest at mind. You have nothing to lose but everything to gain at this point.