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Frequently Asked Questions

General Postbac Information

What is a postbac program?
There are two kinds of post-bac programs generally discussed in terms of preparation for admission to a health professions school, such as medical school.

The first is an academic record enhancer program, which is designed for students who have already taken their pre-medical prerequisite courses, and need to take additional advanced science courses to become competitive applicants for medical or other health professions schools.  Two programs in the Boston area for academic record enhancer programs are Boston University School of Medicine's Master of Arts in Medical Sciences degree, and the new Tufts University School of Medicine's Master of Science in Biomedical Science.

Brandeis University's program is a career changer program, which is designed for students who have not taken their pre-medical prerequisite coures, and need to begin from the basics in order to complete the prerequisite courses for application to medical or other health professions schools.

To explore your options in either area, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) offers an online search engine to locate postbac programs.

Admissions

How do I apply to the program?
It’s preferred that you apply online.  All applications are through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.  You may reach them at 781-736-3410, gradschool@brandeis.edu or http://www.brandeis.edu/gsas/.  All application materials should be sent to the Graduate School.

What’s the deadline for application?
The program has rolling admissions, which means we’ll make decisions on applicants as we receive applications, and we will stop accepting students when we feel the class is full enough.  For Summer admission, we generally accept applications from October through March; for Fall, October through June.  Earlier is generally better.

How many students do you accept each year?
We don’t have a cap on the number of students we admit.  Our program is very small.  Last year we received about 80 applications and we accepted a little under half.  There are currently 10 students enrolled in the program.

How do I know if I’m a good candidate?
The Admissions Committee is examining your candidacy in for four general areas:

• Potential for success in a rigorous science curriculum.
• Motivation for a career in the health professions.
• Strong support from faculty/mentors in letters of recommendation.
• "Intangible" qualities, such as strong communication skills, maturity, leadership ability, etc.

What’s the success rate of students who apply to schools after the post-bac program?
Six students applied to medical, dental, and osteopathic schools for 2005 admission, and all were accepted.  Four applied to medical and vet schools for 2004 admission and all were accepted.  Final stats aren’t yet in on the 2006 applicants.  In recent years, Postbacs have attended allopathic med schools including George Washington, U Mass, Albany.

I’ve taken some science courses, may I still apply to the program?
The program is not remedial.  Therefore if you were a science major and looking to increase your GPA, then this program is not for you.  It is generally okay to apply if you taken a few science courses.  In order to earn the certificate, you must complete 7 courses in residence.  At Brandeis, each lecture course counts as one class.  The labs generally are counted as ½ course.

You require an SAT or GRE.  I have an old copy of my SAT score, can I mail it to you?
We will accept SAT scores from official high school transcripts; otherwise, you must contact ETS and have an official score sent to Brandeis.

I took the SAT so many years ago that I can't access my score. What should I do?
A standardized test score is helpful for us in evaluating your academic readiness for the program. SAT score waivers may be granted on an individual basis, but the more evidence of potential for academic success, the stronger your application will be.  You might consider taking the GRE if you don't have a recent SAT score (e.g., within the past 10 years).

Will you accept MCAT scores instead of SAT or GRE?
If you have taken the MCAT, you almost certainly have taken more science courses than would be expected of a student in our program, and should look for "academic record enhancer" post-bac programs rather than those like the Brandeis program, designed for students who have not completed their pre-requisite course work.

What’s the average GPA/test score for an accepted applicant?
We’re mainly concerned with being able to tell that you’ll be able to succeed in a rigorous science curriculum, which is reflected in your grades, test scores, and recommendations.  There’s no set minimum GPA or test score for acceptance to the program.  If your grades are less competitive, you might consider taking the GRE to have a more recent indicator of your academic ability.

I’ve been out of school for a number of years and I’m not in touch with my old professors.  Can I use employer recommendations?
Our admissions committee would like to see letters of recommendation written by individuals who can comment on the applicant's potential for success in a rigorous academic program.  However, we do understand that some applicants have been out of school for a while and will consider employer’s letters.

Are international students eligible for the program?
If you’ve completed an undergrad degree in the US, then yes.  Most med schools require applicants to have completed at least 90 credits of course work in the US, so if your degree is from a foreign institution, you’ll need more course work than our Postbac program can provide for you.  International students should be aware of the difficulty in gaining seats in US medical schools, however. There is an exception for Canadian students with Canadian degrees, who are seen in a different light by some US medical schools.

Academics

What courses are included in the program?
The program consists of the courses required for medical school:

Chemistry – 2 semesters, plus the labs
Biology – 2 semesters, plus the labs
Organic Chemistry – 2 semesters, plus the labs
Physics – 2 semesters, plus the labs

The main focus is on these courses, but students who have completed some basic science as undergrads can work with Dean Fukawa-Connelly to explore more advanced courses, such as calculus, human anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, etc.  Post-bac students are allowed to take any courses in which they're interested (and have the pre-requisites for) within the undergraduate curriculum. Again, it is expected that the focus will be on the basic sciences.

How long does it take to complete the program?
The minimum time it will take if you have no science background is basically six semesters.  If you start in the summer, you can finish in two summers plus the school year in between, since you do two semesters each summer.  If you start in the Fall, it’ll take Fall, Spring, two summer terms, and the subsequent Fall and Spring.  There’s no way to start the program in the Spring, based on when courses are offered at Brandeis.  If you’ve taken some science classes, you can work with the Dean to determine the timeline that makes the best sense based on your situation.

Can I work full time and complete this program?
No, Brandeis’ program is intense!  Many of post bacc students hold part-time, flexible jobs, and spend time volunteering at local hospitals.  There are many hospitals in the area accessible by car or public transportation.

Can I take the classes at night?
For the most part, classes are scheduled during the daytime.  Some labs may meet in the evenings, but they are all connected to lecture courses that are only offered during the day.

Do Postbac students take classes with other postbacs only, or with undergrads?
Post-bacs take courses alongside the undergraduate students, and are graded on the same scale.  Post-bacs are welcomed into these courses, and faculty tend to enjoy working with post-bac students, as they tend to be very focused students, with a level of experience in the classroom that undergraduates have not yet developed.  Post-bacs have been invited to become Teaching Assistants for some of the classes, and are generally well-regarded on our campus.

How big are the classes?
Lectures range from about 70 to close to 200 students. The larger courses often have opportunities for smaller recitation/discussion group sessions led by graduate student Teaching Assistants once a week.  The labs are between 20 and 50 students each. Faculty are available in office hours for individual questions.

How much does the program cost?
Currently, the tuition for the 2008-2009 academic year $4,515 per course, per term.  In general, our laboratory courses are considered ½ courses at a cost of $2,258.  The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences adjusts this amount each year.  Courses taken during the summer are approximately $1,840 for the lecture course, and $1,155 for the lab class.  Again, these costs will fluctuate each year.

I’m planning to go to veterinary school.  Should I still apply to this program?
Our program supports students planning to attend vet, dental, med school as well as a range other health profession programs.  Your science requirements may be somewhat different than a traditional premed courses, and you’ll work with the Dean to plan your program.  Students considering vet school may have to take a couple of their courses at other institutions, since we do not offer every course that is required for every vet school; for example, some schools require an Animal Nutrition course, or a Microbiology lab.  We recommend that you research schools you might be interested in applying to, to find out what their prerequisite courses are.  We can then work with you to determine which of those courses might not be offered at Brandeis.

More Information

I’m going to be in the Boston area.  Do you offer interviews and how can I arrange a tour of the campus?
You are welcome to visit us!  We do not have a formal interview process, but you should feel free to schedule an appointment and meet with the Dean, who will answer any questions you may have, and may be able to set up a chance for you to meet with current Postbac students as well, depending on their schedules.  However, your visit will have no bearing on the admissions committee review of your application.  Our office does not offer tours of the campus, but the Undergraduate Admissions Office at 781-736-3500 or 800-622-0622 (outside of MA) has student-guided tours on a regular basis.

Can you send me a brochure about the program?
All of our information is posted on this website.  If you have further questions, you are welcome to contact Judith Hudson, Director of Pre-Health Advising.