I began my search for the “perfect” post-baccalaureate program the summer before my senior year of undergrad (2016) and completed it in September/October 2018. This may seem quite lengthy, but I took ample breaks within that time to focus on more immediate academic and personal goals. So realistically, I probably had a year of dedicated time performing searches, picking apart every program that vaguely reflected what I was looking for, and contacting admissions offices for more information. It was tedious at times, but I believe it yielded the results I needed. It also opened my eyes to all the different options I didn’t know I had. That’s why I decided to write about this experience and provide you all with some tips on how to find the program that best suits you. Below are listed some key factors I considered when completing a search for a post-bacc program, in no particular order. It’s a bit lengthy but definitely worth the read!
Name of school and location
I admittedly did not place much weight on this part of the process. I was an eager pre-med student and knew I just needed a post-bacc to prove I was capable. The location and school name did not matter as much to me. As long as the program was credible, I felt I needed to keep an open mind so I wouldn’t miss out on a great opportunity. However, I know for some of my friends it did matter, so you’ll really have to reflect on this and see what works best for you.
Would I do it differently now that I’ve been through the process?
Probably not, because keeping an open mind is what landed me where I am today. Otherwise, I likely would have chased what I thought I wanted and ignored the program that popped up as I scrolled through Instagram (true story).
Cost
Oh man, where does one begin when it comes to talking about cost in relation to a medical education here in the States. Let’s just say: Unless you come from an affluent family or miraculously find a sponsor or get a full-tuition/all-expenses paid scholarship, medical education is going to cost you a LOT of money. Therefore in looking at post-baccs, try to find ones that are relatively cheaper (or free!) so that your overall loans at the end of your medical education aren’t ridiculously high.
My goal was to stay on the lower end and spend as little as possible. It was fine if I had to pay for a post-bacc, but I was not going to destroy myself financially so I can get a seat in a class. With that being said I have a story…
I remember getting rejected by a program I at the time considered my #2. They then referred me to a longer program at their university which would put me an additional $100K in debt at the end of the program. To put it into context, that’s more than I owed in loans after 4 academic years and 3 summers of undergrad!! Before medical school loans, y’all!!! Can you imagine?! And because I was eager to resume my education and I was afraid I would get rejected from my #1 program, I ACTUALLY CONSIDERED IT!!!! But thank God for guidance because I shared my news with a doctor I was working with and they put it into perspective for me. These were her words: “For that amount of money, you could probably build an orphanage and get into medical school that way.” I was like whoa, you might be onto something….(And no I did not build an orphanage lol).
Moral of the story: Don’t let fear and desperation be the driving force when making decisions in this journey. Especially when money’s involved. Slow down. Take your time and consider all your options before you decide on a program, because there’s no guarantee that the amount the program wants you to pay will be well spent. So, please, play it smart!
Master’s or certificate/non-degree-granting post-bacc
Honestly, this was probably one of my biggest internal struggles when going through my process and narrowing down my options. I went back and forth with myself; did I want a Master’s degree or was I okay walking away from a post-bacc with no degree or, sometimes depending on the program, not even a certificate. Initially, I was all about the degree. There was no way a school was going to take my money (really, the government’s money) without handing me a diploma!
In the end, I did what most of us are often afraid to do and just asked! I approached a handful of medical doctors with and without Master’s degrees and asked about their experiences. In ranking residents for their programs, did they favor applicants that had a Master’s vs those that didn’t? If the physician held this degree, did they feel it made a difference in their medical practice? And of course, did they feel like having a Master’s helped increase their pay in residency or when they became attendings? I had a resounding no for these questions, with one individual mentioning that it only affects pay if you have additional duties as a physician where you’re directly using your Master’s degree. But not if your only role is to be a physician.
Long story short, I felt I had heard enough to make my decision, so I finally broke down my personal belief that I needed a Master’s and became more open-minded to accepting a spot in a post-bacc program that didn’t grant even a certificate.
If you’re like me and were struggling with this decision for any of the above reasons, I hope this provides some clarity and makes your decision-making process a little easier. There is absolutely nothing wrong with getting a Master’s or feeling like you need a degree if you’re going to spend money on courses! But as I’ve been saying, play it smart and think for yourself. And if you can save yourself a few thousands of dollars by going for a non-degree granting program that you will learn from and will help you get to medical school, don’t shut that door so quickly.
That’s it for Part I. Stay tuned for Part II next week… 🙂