Information for Post-Baccalaureate Students

The information provided below is intended to assist prospective medical school applicants who have already completed a bachelor's degree. You may also find it helpful to consult with other medical schools.

Applying To The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

The following admissions requirements must be completed by all applicants to the School of Medicine:

• A bachelor's degree is necessary. For graduates of foreign universities, a year or more of course work at an approved U.S. university is generally required.
• The requisite premedical courses necessary to enroll at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine include a full academic year of biology, general chemistry and physics, with laboratory; one academic year of organic chemistry, with laboratory; 24 semester hours in the humanities, social sciences, and/or behavorial sciences; and one year of calculus or statistics (AP credit may be used to satisfy the calculus and physics requirements if credit was given to you as noted on a college transcript. Also, one semester of biochemistry may be substituted for one semester of the organic chemistry requirement).
• The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is required for all applicants to The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
• Letters of recommendation are required to document each major component of your education and experience. This provides us valuable information from individuals who have known you as a student and employee, if applicable. If you attended a college that has a premedical advisor or committee, a letter from the advisor or committee is required. If a premedical advisor or committee letter is unavailable, a letter of explanation and a listing of individuals who will be writing recommendations should be included with your application. If the college you attended did not have a premedical advisor or committee, two separate letters from senior science faculty familiar with your academic work are required.

Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English.

It is highly recommended that students have a working knowledge of computers for communications and retrieving information. Individuals who have completed their studies in biology 4 years prior to their application are strongly advised to take one semester of advanced mammalian biology.

Completing Premedical Requirements

Many colleges and universities have designated premedical advisors and committees that assist students as they prepare to apply to medical school. Premedical advising services include:

• Guidance in selecting and scheduling courses to complete premedical course requirements.
• Compiling letters of recommendation from faculty and, perhaps, employers.
• Often premedical advisors or committee members will provide their own assessment of the applicant's suitability for a medical career.
• Providing information to help premedical students prepare for the MCAT exam, completing application forms, and deciding where to apply.
• If the college you attended has a premedical advisor, you may find a telephone call or appointment to be helpful for initial advice and the possibility of on-going advisement.

If you need to take additional premedical courses and are limited to a specific geographic area, you can collect information from colleges in your vicinity. A starting point for your information gathering may include the following questions:

• Does the college have a premedical advisor or committee and are these services available to post-baccalaureate students?
• Does the college graduate a number of premedical students every year?
• Is flexible scheduling of premedical courses available for students who are employed or have other responsibilities?
• Other considerations such as the rigor of the academic program, tuition costs, and the time needed to complete premedical course work may be important factors in deciding where to go.

Ideally you will be able to attend a school that will enable you to have access to an advisor who is knowledgeable about premedical preparation. For continuity in your premedical program, it is recommended that you take as much course work as possible in a single college.

Post-Baccalaureate Programs

There are a number of programs throughout the United States that are specifically designed to accommodate the post-baccalaureate student. Some required full-time attendance, others have more flexibility for part-time students, and many have competitive entrance standards.

For more information regarding post-baccalaureate programs, contact the:

Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
Section for Student Services, Office of Applicant Relations
2450 N Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20037-1126
Phone: 202-828-0600

General Advice

Before committing yourself to post-baccalaureate preparation, become informed of the demands, including the expense and time involved with medical education and residency training.

Your entire academic history is likely to be scrutinized when you apply to medical school. If your baccalaureate degree was weak, even a strong post-baccalaureate performance may not be sufficient to overcome past performance given the highly competitive nature of medical school admissions.

Non-academic experience such as employment should be well-documented on your application. Medical schools may be interested in knowing if there is a relationship between this experience and your motivation for a career in medicine.

After having your transcripts and experience reviewed by a premedical advisor, we encourage you to follow the advice you receive.

We appreciate the interest you have expressed in a medical career, and we wish you well in your pursuit of this goal.

Application

Apply on-line: www.aamc.org

American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS)
Association of American Medical Colleges
2501 M Street, NW, Lobby-26
Washington, D.C. 20037-1300
Phone: 202-828-0600