The Medical Post-Baccalaureate Experience – An Indirect Route to Medical School

By Matt Fox, Career Counselor, UCLA Career Center

Not everyone will get accepted to medical school the first time they apply. Should being turned down dissuade you from reaching your goals? No! Do opportunities exist to improve your chances the next time you apply? Yes! Medical Post-Baccalaureate programs provide this opportunity. These programs are typically one-year programs that focus on lab work and the science classes. Below is the story of Kristin Terich (UCLA graduate, '03) who continued on to a post-baccalaureate program and has just been accepted to George Washington Medical School .

MF: Can you start by telling us a little about your UCLA experience? What was your major, when did you graduate, what clubs/activities were you involved in? 

KT: I graduated in Spring 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology with College of Letters and Science Honors, Departmental Honors, and Cum Laude Latin Honors. While at UCLA, I was involved in many activities, including the Care Extender Internship Program for over two years, during which I was also on the Program Staff. I know it can be a tough program to get into, but persevere and re-apply (I had to and I eventually ended up on Executive Staff) because in my opinion, it was the greatest experience of my life thus far. I also was involved in the SRP Program, which lead to my senior thesis research project in Molecular Biology. Outside of school I was employed as a UCLA Housing and Hospitality Services employee for three years during which I was a Sunset Front Desk Attendant and later Team Leader. For a short period of time I also worked for UCLA Athletic Tutorials, tutoring NCAA athletes in Psychology and Statistics.

MF: Did you know while at UCLA that you wanted to attend medical school?

KT: I have known since my junior year of high school that I wanted to become a physician and so I chose activities and courses at UCLA that I knew would help complete the pre-med requirements while at the same time choosing courses that would help me to gain a greater understanding of the world around me.

MF: Did you apply to medical school? 

KT: In the summer of 2003, I began the process of applying to medical school. I turned in my primary application in early July and had completed all of my secondary applications by early September; however, as a result of my low MCAT score, it was necessary for me to re-take the exam in August 2003 and so my applications were all placed on hold until late October, when the scores became available. I was fortunate enough to interview at three of the schools I applied to, but was unfortunately placed on the wait list at all three. In early January, after being placed on two wait lists, I knew I was going to have to be realistic about the future and that is when I began researching what my alternative options would be if I would not be taken off a wait list.

MF: How did you learn about Post-bac programs in general?

KT: I was fortunate to have a close friend who upon graduating from UCLA in 1999 and was in a situation very similar to the one I was in early last year. I spoke to her about what her options at the time were and she told me that she had completed a one-year Masters’ degree at Rosalind Franklin University and found in very helpful the following year when she entered the first year medical class at RFU. After hearing this, I wanted to learn more about post-bac programs as an alternative if I was not accepted to medical school after my first application. On the AAMC web site, I found a plethora of programs both degree-granting and non-degree granting and made the decision that the best route for me would be to complete a one-year Masters’ degree in a field which would benefit me in my preparation for medical school.

MF: How did you learn about Georgetown, specifically?

KT: I learned about the Georgetown Special Masters’ Program from the AAMC web site which then linked me to the program web site where I was able to learn about the curricula, objectives, and read testimonials of former students.

MF: What other programs did you look into/apply to?

KT: Since my friend had completed the Rosalind Franklin one-year Masters’ and was successful in gaining admission to their medical school, I also applied to RFU and was later accepted.

MF: How did you eventually decide on Georgetown?

KT: After much research, the decision to attend Georgetown was based on a number of important issues. First, my friend had felt that RFU did not help her in the medical school admissions process during the year she was completing her Masters’; however, I had read testimonials that Georgetown faculty and the program directors are very involved in the application process and eager to help out their students. Another factor was that while RFU has a cut-off GPA for automatically entering their first year class, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to attend RFU for medical school and so I figured that by attending Georgetown, while not guaranteed admission, I might have a better chance at gaining admission to another school with the support of my program staff and directors. Another reason I chose to attend Georgetown was because the medical school courses are graded on the curve set by the medical students and the Masters’ students are not factored in. While this may seem counterintuitive, I wanted to be in a program where there was not fierce competition among the students and I could learn in a collaborative environment. While it may seem that the averages would then be higher since our grades are based on the med students' average, most of the time the Masters’ average is less than 1% different than the medical average.

MF: Has your experience been at Georgetown? Best part?  Most frustrating part?

KT: My experience at Georgetown had been wonderful. I have had the chance to take three first year medical school courses and will have completed three more by the time I graduate in June 2005. I have been very impressed with the faculty at Georgetown and the quality of education. I would say the best part has been the support from the faculty, directors, and new friends I have made while at Georgetown. It has been reassuring to be in a program with 150 other people who are in the exact same boat as you are; we can be there to support each other not only through this rigorous Masters’ program, but also through the reapplication process. Perhaps the most frustrating part has been adjusting to a new life 3000 miles away from everything I have known my whole life!! But, I have survived (and played in) the snow and made new friends and really enjoyed my time here.

MF: How academically challenging is it compared to your undergraduate experience?

KT: I thought I was prepared for the challenge of this Masters’ program coming from a very rigorous and competitive undergraduate institute, and while I have done very well I have had to work harder that I ever have in my life. At UCLA I studied maybe ten hours a week, 20 hours during midterms, but now I have to commit five hours per day and even more on weekends, just to get A's in my graduate courses and B's in my medical school courses. But that doesn’t mean all that I do is study. I still find time to workout and spend time with friends!

MF: Is your goal still medical school?

KT: If anything, my goal is even more solidified as I get to take a “sneak-peek” into the first year of medical school!! I began the re-application process in early July and had completed all secondary applications by mid-August. Unfortunately, I had to re-take the MCAT this August 2004 , but fortunately I scored three points higher than the first time!! I received an interview from George Washington University in November and found out I was accepted in late December. I have been offered five more interviews, but declined them all because my heart is set on GW where I will begin my medical school journey this August!!

MF: What advice would you have for students interested in Post-bac programs?

KT: The best piece of advice I would give students who are interested in post-bac programs is to make sure you are ready for the extremely demanding course load you will be placing on yourself and make sure it is the right time in your life. If you are burnt out after college, then I would suggest taking some time off before you begin. But otherwise, choose a program which best fits your needs for improving your application to medical school and have fun!!!