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Featured Article
What Exactly is a Pre-Med "Post Bac"?
March 21, 2008
Learn about a recent Cal graduate's experiences with finding
a program that addressed her needs and helped her present her strongest
application to medical school.
Many grads want or need additional science coursework before applying to medical school and enroll in a one or two year Post Bac program. Bahar Mojgani ('01) graduated from Berkeley with a double major in Economics and MCB-Neurobiology and entered a Post Baccalaureate Program before entering medical school. Her advice? Ask a lot of questions to see if the program you are considering will meet your specific goals and needs. Career Center (CC): Tell us about your Post Bac Program. Bahar Mojgani (BM): Last year I was a student at the Special Master's in Physiology (SMP) Program at Georgetown University. I completed my Master's Degree in June of 2002. I am currently a first year medical student at Georgetown. CC: What are your main responsibilities as a student in this program? BM:Work hard! That's about all the responsibility you have. I took a large portion of the medical school courses from the first year medical student load at Georgetown. In addition, I attended a few graduate courses from the Physiology Department. Once the year's courses were complete, I also submitted a short research paper. CC: In what ways did your undergraduate degree prepare you for your work load in medical school? BM: I think that by the end of my undergraduate years at Berkeley, I had managed to learn how to study (or at least get by fairly well). I also had a lot of confidence that there were at least two fields that I could further explore in a graduate program. Most of all, Berkeley courses and interaction with faculty and TA's helped me to develop a paradigm of thinking about various topics--within or outside of my majors. The most direct preparation was simply the solid science exposure I had through my Pre-med courses such as Physics 8A/B, Chem 3A/3B, Bio 1A, and Biochemistry 102. Once I began medical school I realized just how thorough the curriculum at Cal is. CC: What other experiences/training were important in getting you to where you are in your career path? BM: At Berkeley, I spent little time doing research or
exploring the medical field. Working in the ER at Alta Bates as
a junior volunteer was enough to keep me excited about becoming
a physician. The only experience that seriously impacted my decision
to go to medical school was studying for the MCATs. Everyone is
aware of how challenging it is to study for such an important exam
for a very long period of time. But the process confirmed to me
that I was willing to put in a lot of time to become a doctor. I believe most students have the capacity to study to be a physician. What really prepares you for medical school is knowing enough about your priorities and desires from life so that you can work with all your heart in medical school. CC: What did you like about the post bac program you chose at Georgetown? BM: On a practical level, I was drawn to the SMP program
because it was only one year long and focussed mainly on medical
school curriculum. I wanted to quickly prove to myself and medical
school admissions committees that I could succeed in the courses
at a competitive school. I cannot emphasize enough how supportive and friendly people are in both the SMP Program and the School of Medicine at Georgetown. The faculty and staff make sure that the students have social events that they can participate in while studying so intensely. It makes all the difference to have this kind of support. Also, in comparison to the Berkeley MCB environment, the SMP program was not very competitive and kept the group of Master's students united through the entire year. It was great because I felt as though the other students were feeling my ups and downs and could be my confidants through it all. CC: Do you feel that there are any drawbacks to taking a post bac program before going to medical school? BM: For me, not at all. In fact, it just gave me an extra year to learn medical school curriculum more thoroughly and to acquaint myself with all the aspects of medical school life. For some other students, the post bac program helped them decide that they really did not want to practice medicine or that they wanted to do research. This type of program is ideal for students who do not want to stray from the medical/biological studying that they enjoy. CC: Do you feel that your post bac program adequately prepared you for medical school? BM: I could not have asked for a whole lot more than what the SMP program offered. For some other people, more research or clinical exposure is important and maybe the SMP program wouldn't be the way to go. Again, make sure that you know what you desire out of a program and investigate your choices thoroughly. CC: Do you have any tips regarding what Cal undergraduates should consider if they are unsure about attending a post bac or trying to go to medical school straight from Cal? BM: I think that anyone considering medicine should make a huge effort to speak to people in the post bac and medical school programs. It is key to know how much of an investment of time, money, and energy you are committing to, since once you are in the program it is often too late to change your mind. Remember that in a big school such as Cal, you do not get spoon-fed all the information on how to pursue the career path that you desire. On top of that, there is no medical school on campus so there are fewer individuals nearby to chat with about their career paths. Other students who apply might have this kind of advantage over Cal students, so be aware of it. That is why it is really up to you to contact other campuses and ask to speak to students or just go online and dig up individuals' names who might shed light on what each program has to offer. I always tell my younger brother who is now a sophomore at Berkeley to follow this same advice. Best of luck to you all! *********************************** Wondering if a Post Baccalaureate program is for you? Follow this successful Cal grad's advice and talk with people from post-bac programs and medical schools during Career Week. Plan to attend the following events: Post Bac Experiences for Pre-Med Students Tuesday, April 8 5:30pm-7:00 pm in 101 Moffitt Career Café: Coffee With the Decision Makers Friday, April 11 11am-2pm at the Golden Bear Café Make plans now to attend the Graduate School Fair in October 2003. Check out which medical schools and Post-Bac programs attended this past October. Different types of Post Bacs Not all Cal students have the same needs between earning their degree at UC Berkeley and strengthening their application to medical school. For instance, there are a number of students who do not complete the pre-requisite science courses here at UC Berkeley and there are Post Bac programs that serve these students. Some programs focus on those underrepresented in medicine. Others help students demonstrate their intellectual capacity and address weaknesses in one's academic history. Have more questions? Make an appointment to see a counselor at the Career Center, or check out our Ask the Counselor archives. |
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