How to choose a post-baccalaureate premedical program

If you are a student considering a career in medicine or another health profession, you have likely heard the term “post-baccalaureate” or “post-bacc” for short.

Pre-medicine and pre-health post-baccalaureate programs in the U.S. date back to the 1970s. These initial post-baccalaureate programs were developed to increase diversity in the physician workforce and among healthcare providers. Since their introduction, these programs have been a key component in the educational pipeline for our nation’s physicians and healthcare professionals. In recent years, the number of post-baccalaureate programs in the U.S. has tripled, increasing from less than 100 in 2009 to more than 279 in 2021.

Each year, more and more students are utilizing post-baccalaureate programs on their paths to a career in health or medicine. Here, we provide an overview of pre-medical and pre-health post-baccalaureate programs in the United States, including:

• their main purpose
• the types of programs available
• how to decide if a post-baccalaureate program is a good option for you
• how to select the best program to achieve your career goals

What is a post-baccalaureate?

Post-baccalaureate programs are specialized academic programs for students who have already earned an undergraduate degree. They are typically 1-2 years in length and are specifically designed to help students increase their chances of being admitted into graduate school or professional school by strengthening their application for admission.

There are post-baccalaureate programs geared towards a variety of academic disciplines and careers, including law, medicine, and many other professional and graduate-level studies. There are also some research-intensive or research-oriented science post-baccalaureate programs for students pursuing a career as either a physician scientist or Ph.D.-level research scientist.

What is a pre-medical post-baccalaureate?

Among the most common types of post-baccalaureate programs in the U.S. are those specifically designed for pre-medicine and pre-health professions. Applicants to these programs typically wish to improve their academic credentials or fulfill prerequisite coursework before applying to medical or health professions schools.

Types of post-bacc programs: career-changer vs record-enhancer

In the broadest sense, pre-medical and pre-health post-baccalaureate programs in the U.S. fall into 3 categories:

1. career-changer programs
2. academic record-enhancer programs
3. hybrid programs (combining features of both)

Career-changer post-baccalaureate programs

These programs are designed to offer students who are changing careers or who lack prerequisite undergraduate science coursework the opportunity to complete these required courses in an accelerated and focused manner. The vast majority of these students earned an undergraduate degree in a non-science major and need to complete undergraduate core science prerequisite coursework required for admission to health profession programs. Many of these students started off in a different career and decided to pursue a career in the health professions later on in life.

Academic record-enhancer post-baccalaureate programs

These programs are designed to offer students the opportunity to improve and enhance their academic record and credentials. This may be through undergraduate upper-level science coursework or graduate-level coursework with a professional certificate or master’s degree awarded upon completion.

Academic record-enhancer post-baccalaureate programs are generally less structured than career-changer post-baccalaureate programs. They mainly benefit students who either have a low undergraduate science GPA or some other deficiency in their academic background that is preventing them from being accepted into medical or health profession schools.

Some academic record-enhancer post-baccalaureate programs are specifically designed for economically and/or educationally disadvantaged students and minority students from population groups that are underrepresented in the health professions.

How to choose a pre-medical or pre-health post-bacc program

Identifying and selecting the perfect post-baccalaureate program for your particular background and situation can be a daunting task due to the vast number of programs available and their high degree of variation. Here, you’ll find the most important factors to consider during this process.

Program type

It is important that you choose a post-baccalaureate program that is appropriate for your personal and academic needs. Are you looking for an academic-record-enhancer program or a career-changer program? Make sure that you are investigating programs that are relevant to your academic background and career goals. Also note which type of health profession schools (e.g., medical school, veterinary school, dental school, etc.), if any, each program is specifically geared towards or if there is a broader focus on preparing students for any of the many health professions.

Cost

Cost is undoubtedly on nearly every student’s mind when comparing options for education. Cost may be even more important for comparing post-baccalaureate programs because most are relatively expensive – between $20,000 and $40,000 per year. One important factor that may influence whether or not you can afford a post-bacc program is whether the program offers students the option to use federal financial aid through Federal Direct Loans administered by the U.S. Department of Education. Many non-degree post-baccalaureate programs are ineligible to participate in federal student loan programs.

You can consider private student loans, which may be easier to obtain as a non-degree-seeking student, but these often have higher interest rates and come without loan forgiveness options.

Other aspects of cost that you should consider when researching post-baccalaureate programs is the availability of institution-specific or program-specific scholarships, whether the post-baccalaureate program is at a private or public institution, and whether you qualify for in-state tuition or discounted out-of-state tuition via reciprocity agreements with nearby states.

Coursework level

Post-baccalaureate programs vary in the level and type of coursework they offer. Some programs offer only undergraduate upper-level science coursework in an intensive manner and are thus non-degree-granting. Other programs offer graduate-level coursework and may be non-certificate/degree-granting or may award a graduate certificate or graduate degree (master’s degree) upon completion.

The graduate-level post-baccalaureate programs also vary in the coursework that they offer. Some programs, known as “special master’s programs”, are in fact a Master of Science (M.S.) in a particular field of medical science. These post-baccalaureate programs are designed for students who have already completed undergraduate core science courses. Some specifically incorporate first-year medical school or health professions coursework into the curriculum.

Other graduate-level post-baccalaureate programs offer a graduate or professional certificate. These programs generally incorporate graduate-level science coursework but come without the high credit requirements of an M.S. Be sure to consider the level of coursework each program offers, and which level is most suitable for you.

Curriculum: structured vs. unstructured

Career-changer post-baccalaureate programs that offer undergraduate core science prerequisite coursework in an accelerated format generally have a highly structured curriculum with little room for individualizing course selection. Many of the graduate-level programs are less structured and offer students flexibility.

Post-bacc programs with a highly structured curriculum generally admit students via cohorts, meaning that you will be taking classes and advancing through the program with the same students. There are advantages and disadvantages to being in a cohort versus independently progressing. Keep in mind your learning style and which scenario is most likely to help you succeed.

Professional school affiliation/collaborative agreement

Certain post-baccalaureate programs have a formal collaborative agreement or direct affiliation with the medical school or a health professions school within the same institution. This can guarantee students who successfully complete the program either an interview, or in rare cases, admission or early admission. Although these post-baccalaureate programs are highly desirable, they are also highly selective and likely will require a certain GPA and standardized test score as prerequisites for admission.

Pursuing one of these programs, which are also called “linkage” post-baccalaureate programs, is particularly advantageous for students who have a preference for attending the specific health professions school that the post-baccalaureate program is affiliated with. These linkage programs offer promising benefits upon completion, but you should first assess your academic background, personal preferences, and other aspects of your situation before deciding to pursue one.

Admissions criteria

Although the admissions requirements for all post-baccalaureate programs include having earned an undergraduate degree, there are several other requirements that can vary between programs. For example, some post-baccalaureate programs require applicants to have previously completed science prerequisite coursework and/or lab components, whereas some require that you have no previous core science coursework.

Furthermore, some programs accept only students with citizenship status in the U.S., whereas others accept foreign students and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students (i.e., undocumented students). Other admissions criteria can include minimum scores for standardized tests, such as the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), Graduate Record Examination General Test (GRE), Dental Admission Test (DAT), Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT).

Finally, some post-baccalaureate programs require applicants to have previously applied to a health professions school and been unsuccessful.

Other factors to consider

The following are other important factors to consider when choosing between different post-bacc pre-medical programs or pre-health programs.

Closing remarks

Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that you should view a post-bacc as an investment in yourself and the long-term career goals you are working hard to attain.

If becoming a physician, veterinarian, dentist, physical therapist, or other advanced practice healthcare provider is your vocation, then spending the time, effort, and money on a post-baccalaureate program is a relatively small price to pay. Be confident in the decisions you make along your journey into a health professions career, and may you have the best of luck as you strive to achieve your goals.