The Scripps College Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program provides individuals with the opportunity to change the direction of their professional lives in order to pursue a career in medicine. By offering an intensive full-time or part-time curriculum of prerequisite science, the program enables returning students to prepare for admission to medical, dental, and veterinary school. The students in the Post-Baccalaureate Program comprise a diverse and interesting group of people who are characterized by their intelligence, motivation, maturity, and commitment to increasing their own knowledge and life possibilities. The program is not intended for students seeking to enhance an existing premedical record, nor is it designed for students who wish to retake the prerequisite science courses to strengthen their grade point average or MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) performance.
Curriculum and Schedule
Students may begin the program in May or September and can complete their necessary course as a full-time or part-time student. The most common track begins in mid-May and terminates in mid-May of the following year. Part-time students typically complete the program over two years. In addition to the required coursework, full-time students work or volunteer 6-8 hours per week and part-time students work or volunteer at least 20 hours per week to further develop their application to professional school. Students must have completed the math requirement before entering the program. The program a student follows is determined on a case-by-case basis.
The standard course sequence includes the following 9 courses:
Basic Principles of Chemistry CHEM 014L and CHEM 015L
Introductory Biology BIOL 043L
Vertebrate Physiology BIOL131 or Introductory Biology BIOL 044L
Principles of Physics PHYS 033L and PHYS 034L
Organic Chemistry CHEM 116L and CHEM 117L
Biochemistry for Pre-Health BIOL 110
Alternate courses that may be chosen in consultation with the Faculty Director and fulfill the 9-course requirement include:
Genetics
Introductory Psychology
English
Statistics
Timely completion of the core science courses is important to ensure proper preparation for the MCAT. Additional courses in calculus, upper division sciences, and humanities or social science electives require approval from the Faculty Director according to the appropriate course of study. All courses are taken with the undergraduate students of Scripps and Pitzer College.
Early Admission Agreements
Post-Baccalaureate students can enter the general applicant pool for medical school following completion of the program, or they may apply for early, provisional linkage admission to one of the following schools: Boston University in Boston, MA, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI; Hofstra Northshore LIJ School of Medicine in Long Island, NY, and Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pomona, California. The early decision programs allow currently enrolled Post-Baccalaureate students to directly enter medical school in the fall following the completion of their Post-Baccalaureate curriculum. The linkage programs are limited, and are only made available to students with superior qualifications. Selection is based upon a student’s qualifications before entering the program and a student’s academic and extracurricular record while enrolled in the Post- Baccalaureate Program. A linkage acceptance is contingent upon continued high academic achievement and performance on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
Advising and Support
The academic environment of the Department of Natural Sciences, while rigorous and challenging is also positive and supportive. Communication and curricular cooperation among faculty members in biology, chemistry, and physics are facilitated by the interdisciplinary nature of the department. The small size of the Post-Baccalaureate Program allows for personalized guidance for students throughout the transition back to school and the selection and completion of course work. Faculty members in the Department of Natural Sciences, as well as the program directors, work with Post-Baccalaureate students individually in advising and assessing performance and progress. Optional help sessions and tutoring are available and Post-Baccalaureate and undergraduate students are encouraged to work together in small study groups.
Students that complete the required coursework at Scripps and are in good standing within the community are eligible for a committee letter for their professional school application.
Eligibility
The Scripps Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program is open to individuals who have received a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution in a field other than science. A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 is required. Additional evidence of high achievement, such as appropriate standardized test scores (SAT, ACT, or GRE), is desirable. The ideal candidate will be strongly motivated and will have had sufficient experience in the medical field, either through volunteer work or previous employment, to serve as a basis for an informed, mature, and committed decision to enter the field of medicine.
Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program Academic Dismissal Policy
The Committee on Academic Review will monitor the academic progress of all Scripps Post-Baccalaureate students. Based on the admission requirements for professional school there is a restrictive policy for continued enrollment in the program. A post-baccalaureate student who receives a semester grade point average of below a 3.0 (B) in science and math courses required for professional school admission is subject to dismissal from the program. For summer courses if a student receives a grade below a B they will be placed on probation. This is regardless of whether the student has completed all courses required for the program.
In addition, if the Committee on Academic Review (CAR) judges that the student is making slower than normal progress toward completion of the program, the student may be dismissed. A student must complete the program in no more than two full calendar years, plus one leading summer session, and is able to take one leave of absence, which is not counted toward the total time to complete the program. A full-time load for a post-bac student is three to four courses and they would require permission from CAR to overload with five courses or more. During summer sessions, in the absence of CAR, the Scripps College Registrar, the Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Faculty Director and Director may jointly take similar action. Any request for an exception to the above policy will be handled by petition to the Committee on Academic Review. If a student is dismissed from the program a notation of the dismissal will be made to the transcript.
The Committee on Academic Review, under advisement from the Post-Baccalaureate Faculty Director, may establish specific probationary terms for any student, who in the judgment of the committee may be jeopardizing normal progress toward completion of the program.
Tuition
Tuition is charged on a per course basis. The 2024-2025 rate of tuition is $6,850 per course. Typically, students take 3 courses in the fall and spring term, bringing the tuition cost per term to $20,550. Chemistry 14, Chemistry 15, and Biology 43 are billed separately. The cost of Chemistry 14, Chemistry 15, and Biology 43 is $2,500 per course.
MISCELLANEOUS FEES AND CHARGES
Course Fee
Assessed for some courses to cover the costs of course materials, services and equipment repair. Amounts vary per course. See the course catalog for the specific amount for each course.
Monthly Payment Plan Fee
Assessed to each student electing to pay tuition and fees in accordance with the terms of the Monthly Payment Plan. Contact the Student Accounts Office to enroll in the Monthly Payment Plan and receive details regarding fees to use the plan.
Parking Permit
Students wishing to park on campus, whether living on campus or commuting, are required to purchase a parking permit.
For a list of additional miscellaneous fees and charges please see the course catalog.
Tuition and Fees Refund Policy
Dropping classes, taking a leave of absence or withdrawing from all classes may have financial implications. Students may find the published Tuition and Fees Refund policy on the Student Accounts website.
Post Bac Financial Aid
Federal Direct Loans are available to eligible students on a limited basis during their first 12-months of enrollment in the program. Students may borrow in each of the three terms in the program. Maximum loan amounts vary by semester based on demonstrated financial need and dependency status for federal student aid. In addition to Federal Direct Loans, students may borrow through any non-federal, private educational loan programs to help cover all or a part of their costs not covered by Federal Direct Loans.
Federal grants, state grants and Scripps College need-based grants are not available to students in the Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program.
Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans are not available to students in the Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program. This is because the program is not a graduate program of study, but rather a preparatory program for graduate study.
Eligible students may apply VA benefits toward tuition/fees for the Scripps Post Baccalaureate Premedical Program. Contact the School Certifying Official and / or the Office of Financial Aid to discuss your eligibility.
For more information, contact the Office of Financial Aid or visit our website at www.scrippscollege.edu/financialaid
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