Pre-Medical Post-Baccalaureate Program

John Carroll University’s Pre-Medical Post-Baccalaureate Program is designed for individuals who want to fulfill the course and experiential requirements for admission to medical school, dental school, physician assistant, and other healthcare professional schools and prepare for standardized exams such as the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and the Dental Admission Test (DAT). This program is suited to both career changers and those who are looking to improve their credentials. Such individuals can possess a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than biology or chemistry and have now decided to pursue a professional career in healthcare (e.g., medicine, dentistry).

The program is also appropriate for students who majored in chemistry or biology but struggled with the coursework as a traditional undergraduate, have not completed all the prerequisite courses for their desired health care program, or have not been enrolled in courses in these disciplines in over five years.

Application and Admission

Applications are processed on a rolling basis. All application materials for individuals who wish to be admitted to the program in the fall must be received by May 1 of the same calendar year. Under certain circumstances, students may begin in the summer session of the same calendar year; the application deadline for students who wish to start in the summer is April 1.

Application Criteria:

• An undergraduate degree from an accredited institution.

• A minimum 3.0 overall undergraduate grade point average.

• A statement of purpose.

• Two letters of recommendation.

• A current resume or curriculum vitae.

• A completed online application for Graduate Studies found at www.jcu.edu/graduate.

• Transcripts from all undergraduate institutions, and any graduate institutions they have attended, regardless of the number of courses completed.

Course of Study

The Pre-Medical Post-Baccalaureate Program requires a minimum of 34 semester credit hours, 26 of which must be completed at JCU. Each student’s academic plan is specific to that student’s needs and should be developed in consultation with an academic advisor. For a well-qualified student, it is possible to complete the program in a little over one year. A sample plan for a student who needs all of the prerequisites for medical school appears below (CH-Chemistry; BL-Biology, PH-Physics). Most students, especially those with little or no science background, take two years to complete the program. For students preparing for the MCAT, additional recommended courses include Genetics, Human Physiology, Statistics, Psychology, and Sociology. Additional information regarding coursework can be obtained by contacting the program administrator.

Requirements - Sample Plan for Accelerated Pre-Med Pathway

Summer Session I

Subtotal: 5

Summer Session II

Subtotal: 5

Fall

Subtotal: 12

Spring

Subtotal: 12

Summer Session III

Subtotal: 4

Program Notes

• As many healthcare professional programs require one or more college-level math courses, students are expected to complete math courses either before or during the program. One course in statistics is highly recommended and Calculus is required by some healthcare professional programs.

• Depending on a student’s prior coursework, alternative plans for a course of study can be developed in consultation with a program advisor.

• Electives may be taken in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Psychology, Sociology, Philosophy, Theology & Religious Studies, Spanish, and Political Science as a way to enhance your educational background, prepare for admission examinations, and improve your desirability as a candidate for admission to medical or other healthcare professional school.

• Many professional programs have specific requirements such as statistics, psychology, English composition, and human anatomy and physiology. Students should take classes that will prepare them to apply to a variety of schools.

• If pursuing dentistry, pharmacy, physician assistant/physician associate, physical or occupational therapy, or certified anesthesiologist assistant programs, check the prerequisites of the schools to which you plan to apply, as some schools have very specific requirements.

• Students are expected to interview with the Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC) in the semester before submitting applications to a health professional program. This is an interview preparation program that provides application, personal statement, and interview feedback to students and a committee letter of recommendation which is sent to the program of the student's choice. Please discuss this with the Director of the Pre-Health Professions Program in the first semester of the program.

• Students are expected to participate in activities that will enhance their application strength, such as clinical shadowing, volunteer experiences, research, and leadership activities. Students should discuss these opportunities with the Director of the Pre-Health Professions program in their first semester.

Certificate of Excellence Option

Students may earn a JCU Certificate of Excellence in Pre-Medical Studies   if they meet the following criteria:

• Complete a minimum of 26 credit hours at John Carroll University.

• Maintain a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 with no grade less than a B in courses taken at JCU.

Earning the JCU Certificate of Excellence in Pre-Medical Studies will confirm that the student completed a significant number of credits at John Carroll University and performed at an exemplary level. Students who complete this program with or without the certificate will be eligible to apply to a health professional program such as medical school or dental school.