Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Program

The University of Virginia Post Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Program offers a collaborative environment and structured experience for career-changers with a strong undergraduate record who have not completed the medical school prerequisites.

In 11 months, UVA Post Bacc Pre-Med students take required science courses while being guided by dedicated advisors in the preparation of medical school application materials. Students have the opportunity to gain clinical exposure through shadowing and volunteering at the UVA Health System and other regional sites and attend a weekly seminar taught by a physician focusing on the US healthcare system, professionalism, and bioethics.

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Students who have successfully completed this rigorous program have had a 94 percent acceptance rate to medical school. Prepare for a future in medicine by joining the UVA Post Bacc Pre-Med program!

Key Takeaways

• One year to complete
• Full time, in-person program in Charlottesville, VA
• 94 percent medical school acceptance rate 
• Small class sizes with individualized support
• Expert guidance for medical school applications and interviews
• Access to comprehensive, structured and self-paced MCAT preparation material

What You Will Learn

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Students take classes in biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and physics along with associated labs. All coursework is offered through the University of Virginia's College of Arts and Sciences by faculty with extensive experience preparing students for medical school. The program also includes a course specifically designed for Post Bacc Pre-Med students on the structure, financing, and ethics of the U.S. Health Care System taught by a medical doctor.

Standard Course Schedule

Summer Term
Chemistry 1410 Lecture
Chemistry 1411 Lab     
Chemistry 1420 Lecture
Chemistry 1421 Lab           

Fall Term
Biology 2100 (includes Lab)    
Organic Chemistry 2410 Lecture
Organic Chemistry 2311 Lab
Physics 2010 Lecture
Physics 2030 Lab           
PSHP 2040 US Health Care

Spring Term
Biochemistry 4410 Lecture  
Biology 2200 (includes Lab) 
Organic Chemistry 2420 Lecture 
Organic Chemistry 2321 Lab       
Physics 2020 Lecture            
Physics 2040 Lab                               
PSHP 2041 US Health Care

Note: Students who are accepted to the program with one of the pre-medical requirements already completed will be given a customized academic schedule that may include an upper-level biology, social science, calculus, or statistics course.

Note: About one-third of U.S. medical schools require one or two semesters of math (several specifying calculus), and approximately two-thirds require one or two English courses. Accordingly, students should review their undergraduate mathematics and English courses in light of specific medical school admission criteria. Students who require additional courses should take them prior to or following the program.

Academic Schedule

The PBPM Program begins in early June as students take two semesters of general chemistry with labs in Summer Sessions II & III. In the fall, students move on to biology, organic chemistry, and physics with labs. Students complete their biology, organic chemistry, physics, and biochemistry requirements in the spring semester. In addition to these science courses, students attend the U.S. Healthcare course on a weekly basis.

Students prepare for the MCAT during the spring and are encouraged to take the MCAT in mid to late May. In early June, they submit AMCAS applications for the next year’s medical school entering class.

During the ensuing glide year, Post Bacc Pre-Med staff and faculty will continue to be available to offer guidance and support.

Extracurricular Activities

The program’s focus is the comprehensive preparation for medical school and a career in medicine. Students also take a course on the U.S. health care system, taught by the program's medical director Dr. Bob Powers. The program facilitates volunteer and shadowing opportunities for students at UVA Health Systems, Charlottesville Free Clinic, or UVA Population Health.

Throughout the year, advisors present workshops and host one-on-one advising sessions on various aspects of preparing for the medical school application process and planning for the glide year. Students may also participate in suturing clinics and visits to the Medical Simulation Center and the Gross Anatomy Lab at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Additional outings and activities are generated by their peer-elected Student Council Social Activities Chairs. 

Application & Tuition Information

Tuition & Fees

• Estimated cost: In-State: $38,426 and Out-of-State: $44,071
• There is a $70 secondary, non-refundable application fee for the UVA post-bacc program which is submitted through PostBacCAS once you’re ready to apply
• Financial aid, scholarships and payment plans are available
• Federal Direct loans may be available to individuals demonstrating financial need. To apply students should follow the instructions at https://sfs.virginia.edu/pre-med.
• Additional fees may apply, including course materials.
• Tuition rates adjusted annually.

Tuition and Financial Aid Details

Scholarships

Dishner Rural Healthcare Scholarship

The Paul F. Dishner Rural Healthcare Loan/Scholarship Program provides need-based financial support to students in the Post Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Program. Applicants who have been accepted to the PBPM program are encouraged to apply for Dishner funds if they intend to practice medicine in the underserved rural areas of Appalachia, including Southwest Virginia, Eastern Kentucky, and Northern Tennessee. Once a PBPM graduate has entered the practice of medicine and fulfilled the donor’s requirements to practice in the Appalachian region, the loans become scholarship and there is no repayment required.

One of seven children born in 1925 to a poor but respected and hard-working family in Duffield, Va., Dr. Dishner knew he wanted to be a doctor from the age of 9. His desire was inspired in part by his mother, Sibyl Miller Dishner, who served the Duffield community as a lay midwife at a time when the scarcity of doctors in Scott County meant she both delivered babies and tended to other health concerns of her neighbors.  Throughout his career, Dr. Dishner maintained a lifelong interest in Southern Appalachia and by establishing this fund at his death, he hoped to improve the quality of health care in the region.

For more information, please contact Susan Salko at 434.982.5288 or sms2dg@virginia.edu.

Interested in supporting scholarships for the Post Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Program? Explore giving opportunities, or contact our Director of Development Jessica Robertson.

Admission Requirements & Deadlines

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• Excellent academic record

Deadlines

• Application deadline: March 1

How to Apply

All Post Bacc Pre-Med applicants are required to apply for admission through PostBacCAS, an online common application service which collects all application materials and allows applicants to check on the status of their application in real-time.

What You Need to Apply

The online PostBacCAS application provides you with all the details necessary to complete an application for admission. Application materials should not be sent to the University of Virginia. All application materials must be collected by PostBacCAS. 

To be considered for admission, applicants must submit the following materials directly to PostBacCAS:

• Letters of Reference: Minimum of 1, preferably faculty reference highlighting the applicant's academic abilities or a work-related or volunteer reference
• Official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and/or universities, demonstrating excellent academic performance
  • Send transcripts to: 
    PostBacCAS Transcript Processing Center
    PO Box 9209
    Watertown, MA 02471
• Self-reported SAT, ACT, or GRE scores (If you did not take the SAT or ACT in high school for whatever reason, we strongly recommend that you sit for the GRE exam as early as possible in the application process)
• Statement describing "How have your experiences contributed to your decision to pursue a career in health care?"
• A current resume reflecting education as well as work and volunteer experiences
• Application for Virginia In-State Education Privileges, if seeking in-state tuition eligibility
• UVA Honor Code

Begin Your Application

Application Fee

• There is a $70 secondary application fee for the UVA post-bacc program which is submitted through PostBacCAS.
• PBPM Application Fee Refund Policy
  The PBPM Application Fee is non-refundable.

If You Need Assistance

Should you need assistance with your PostBacCAS application, please contact the Liaison customer service and technical support team at 857.304.2047 or PostBacCASinfo@liaisoncas.com.

Privacy Policy
The Post Bacc Pre-Med Program at the School of Continuing and Professional Studies is strongly committed to maintaining the privacy and security of confidential personal information and other highly sensitive data that it collects. The Program and School are governed by the University of Virginia’s Privacy Policy.

* The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only. The Undergraduate Record and Graduate Record represent the official repository for academic program requirements.

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