As the clock winds down for medical school admission decisions, many applicants are wondering what’s next. Post-baccalaureate programs can be a great way to strengthen a future application, as well as to take advantage of dedicated professional development opportunities. However, you’ll need to act fast if you hope to join a program this year. Here are a dozen post-baccalaureate programs that are still accepting applications. (Last updated: March 19, 2020)
1. Johns Hopkins immersive Health Sciences Intensive Program provides training in every aspect of medical school preparation, including advising/counseling, MCAT prep, application assistance, etc. I’ve had several clients graduate from this program and go on to top tier medical schools. A 3.0 GPA or above is required.
2. Tulane offers six programs covering different aspects of medicine, all of which earn a master’s degree and all geared toward different aspects of medical school preparation.
• Tulane Cell and Molecular Biology One Year Masters (deadline 6/30)
• Tulane One Year Master’s in Medical Genetics and Genomics (deadline April 2020)
• Tulane One Year Master’s Program in Physiology
• Tulane One-Year Master’s Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (applications reviewed on a rolling basis)
• Tulane One Year Master’s in Pharmacology Program (deadline 7/31)
• Tulane One-Year Master’s Program in Microbiology and Immunology (deadline 8/14 or until program is full)
Courses are taught by Tulane School of Medicine faculty members and in some cases (e.g., pharmacology), students will be in classes with medical students. The programs are all geared toward professional development as well, offering optional MCAT preparation and advising. All have a minimum GPA of 3.0 for admittance, but the average accepted rates range from 3.29-3.4. Where not indicated, the programs have a rolling deadline but encourage early application.
3. Tufts MS in Biomedical Sciences was designed to strengthen applicants’ academic credentials. They claim that 90% of their graduates go on to health professions schools and the majority go to medical school. There is no minimum MCAT or GPA; all applications are considered holistically. The average GPA of accepted students is 3.3 and average MCAT is 508. Admissions are rolling but the deadline for all submissions is July 1st.
4. Boston University MS in Medical Sciences has a very good reputation and is therefore quite competitive. It is located within the medical school, and while the program only “facilitates” admission to medical school, several dozen graduates are accepted to the extremely competitive BU SOM each year. There is a 3.0 minimum GPA requirement and while applicants are considered on a rolling basis, it’s strongly encouraged to apply before June 1st. (Note: While this program can be completed in one year, it is a full 12-month program so students planning to matriculate to medical school immediately following the program should submit their AMCAS application prior to beginning the program in September. Some students do a laboratory thesis and complete the MS in two years.)
5. Loyola MA in Medical Sciences claims an impressive 96% acceptance rate to medical school for their graduates. If you’re interested in learning about the Jesuit curas personalis approach to medicine, this program would give you a strong foundation to apply to those medical schools. It also offers strong links to a variety of Chicago-area hospitals, individualized support for medical school applications, and guaranteed interview with Stritch if certain program requirements are met. A cumulative 3.0 GPA and an MCAT score of 500 (new test) is required. The deadline is July 1st, but earlier submission is strongly advised.
6. Icahn Mt. Sinai MS in Biomedical Sciences is also very strong, especially if you’re interested in incorporating research into your medical career. It’s within the medical school and classes are taught by SOM faculty. The program is generally completed in two years; it is possible to complete in one year, but there is a significant research component so it can be challenging. Priority deadlins is January 15th and the final application deadline for applications is June 1st.
7. Drexel is another school with multiple programs to address a candidate’s targeted areas. There are two one-year programs: Drexel Pathway to Medical School (April 28th deadline) and Drexel Interdepartmental Medical Science (IMS, rolling admissions), both of which provide extensive advising and support for your future application. The Pathway program is designed for students who are underrepresented in health professions or come from disadvantaged backgrounds. There is no minimum GPA for the Pathway Program but a 2.9 cumulative and science GPA is recommended. The IMS program requires a 3.0 GPA and MCAT scores of 27 or higher with no section less than 8 under the old system. New standards are being developed for the new system, but generally applicants should be in the top 70th percentile. Medical school admission is not guaranteed for either of these programs, but strong candidates will receive an interview at Drexel University College of Medicine.
8. East Virginia Medical Master’s Program is an academic enhancement program that can be taken in either one or two years. In both tracks, students attend classes with medical students. Although there is no guaranteed admission, they claim that 85-90% of graduates go on to attend allopathic medical schools. The one-year program requires a 2.75 minimum GPA and 27 (old) or 503 (new) minimum MCAT; its deadline is June 30th. The two-year program requires MCAT scores of 23 (old) or 496 (new) and is especially designed for students with little clinical shadowing and volunteer work; its deadline is June 1st.
9. Geisinger Commonwealth Master of Biomedical Sciences has a 70% placement rate at professional colleges (as of 2017, the last year for which data was available) with a guaranteed interview at Geisinger Commonwealth (formerly TCMC) for graduates in good standing. This program puts a strong emphasis on professional development/advising and offers optional MCAT preparation alongside teaching in medical sciences. The MBS applications open August and are reviewed on a rolling basis until the class is full.
10. Case Western Reserve University offers an MS in Medical Physiology and The Physiology program offers intensive study in human physiology over two years, as well as opportunities for shadowing, clinical volunteer work, and research. All applicants are evaluated holistically and there are no absolute minimum GPA and MCAT scores required for admission. The deadline for completion of applications is July 15th.
11. Case Western Reserve also offers an MA in Bioethics (rolling deadline). Bioethics is a hot topic in medical schools at the moment, and part of the curriculum includes practicums in clinical bioethics. Although there is no official linkage with their medical school, students are taught by SOM faculty and the program notes that outstanding students are brought to the attention of the SOM admissions committee.
12. George2. This program has garnered attention, and not just for its catchy name. It’s a partnership between George Mason University and the SOM at Georgetown University. Although not a master’s level program, completion with a 3.0 GPA results in automatic entry to GU’s MS in Physiology in the second year. This would make you a very competitive candidate for medical school, if you have the time to invest. A 3.0 GPA is required; no MCAT scores are required, and the program includes an MCAT preparatory course. Admissions are rolling but the deadline for all submissions is July 15th.
13. University of South Florida MS in Medical Sciences offers a Pre-Professional track, a Medical Anatomy track, both within the Morsani College of Medicine. Both programs aim to strengthen applicants’ science skills through an interdisciplinary perspective. Although there is no official link with the medical school, program graduates make up about 13% of the USF medical school class. In addition, a student mentorship program is offered through partnerships with MS graduates now attending Morsani. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required for this program, along with scores above the 50th percentile on the MCAT, GRE or DAT taken in the last five years. (USF also offers a 100% online MS degree. However, one of the advantages of a post-baccalaureate is often the opportunity to be immersed in a medical school’s campus, which you would not have access to as an online student.) Applications are accepted through June 1st.
A post-baccalaureate program can make a big difference in your reapplication to medical school, not only shoring up your science foundation but also demonstrating your commitment to this career. Work with an admissions expert to create a winning postbac application.
A former fellowship admissions committee member and administrator at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Cydney Foote has successfully advised healthcare applicants, including those applying to medical school, dental school, nursing and PA programs, veterinary school, public health and hospital administration programs, post-baccalaureate medical programs, residencies and fellowships. Since 2001, she has brought her marketing and writing expertise to help science-focused students communicate their strengths. Want Cyd to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
Related Resources:
• The A-Z of Applying to Postbac Programs, a free guide
• Researching Postbac Programs
• Top Three Tips for Your Postbac Essay