When a student has produced inconsistent or poor grades, professional schools prefer to see at least two years (four long semesters) of heavy coursework with a cumulative and science GPA in line with acceptance rates. If this is an area of consideration for your bridge year, please make an appointment with a Pre-Health Professions Coach to discuss strategy. The following are some GPA options to consider:
- Post-Baccalaureate (Post-Bacc) Programs - these are programs already created to enhance a pre-health student's previous undergraduate GPA.
- Taking Courses at a Four-Year Institution - Post-Bacc work but on your own schedule, without using a structured program.
- Graduate School - attending an established Masters or Doctorate program.
Post-Baccalaureate (Post-Bacc) Programs
Post-bacc programs are specifically designed to increase readiness for professional school by providing students a second chance to show consistent and high-performing grades. These programs can have coursework at the undergraduate level, advanced undergraduate upper-level sciences, or graduate level science curriculum coursework. Some last a few semesters to a few years and have virtual and/or in-person options. In-person is strongly encouraged by Health Professions Schools. Some programs also offer additional prep or time for the potential retest of an admissions test (MCAT/DAT/GRE...etc.).
Selection criteria vary around the country. Most programs require at least a 3.0 GPA and some require a standardized exam (MCAT/DAT/GRE… etc.) minimum
What Different Post-Baccalaureate (Post-Bacc) Programs Are Available?
Basic Sciences: This type of program is for students who have not completed the basic
requirements for medical school. Generally this is for “career changers” who have decided to
pursue medicine. The coursework can be done in a formal post-bacc program or individually at a local university.
Advanced Sciences/GPA Boosters: This type of program is designed for students who were
science majors or have completed the basic science requirements. These are for students who:
- Want to stay academically engaged during a gap year while applying to medical or dental schools.
- Need to raise their GPA to become a more competitive medical school applicant.
Graduate Options: Designed for pre-health students for grade enhancement can be a year or two years in length and at times have names such as Master's of Medical Education or Master's of Biomedical Sciences. Although originally designed for pre-med students, many now accommodate other pre-health professions students such as pre-dent/physicians assistant/pharm...etc. These programs are often most beneficial for those students who need a pre-set structure to follow in an already established program to meet their academic goals.
Examples of Post-Bacc Programs
For more information about out of state, programs see: https://mec.aamc.org/postbac/#/index
Post-Bacc Programs in Texas
University of North Texas Health Science Center
Baylor University
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center – El Paso
Texas Tech School of Allied Health Services
UT Dallas
University of Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine
University of St. Thomas - Houston
UT Health San Antonio: Pre-Professional Graduate Certificate
UH - Graduate Certificate in Biomedical Sciences
Houston Christian Pre-Health Post-Baccalaureate
Texas A&M College of Dentistry Post-Baccalaureate
MD Anderson School of Health Professions
MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School
Taking (Additional) Courses at a Four-Year Institution
Another option is to enroll at a four-year university as a non-degree seeker. The best approach is to enroll in 14-15 hours per semester, with 9 of those hours in upper-division science courses. This is a great option for students who need to demonstrate academic readiness but do not necessarily need the structure of a program to meet that goal. This approach is a way of creating a “Post-Bacc” without formally applying to a set program.
Graduate Options - Masters, PhD, etc.
A student may choose to instead enroll in a science based masters or doctorate level program that was not created for or affiliated with pre-health professional pathways.