Pre-Health Post-Bac Program

Health-Related Opportunities

• Program Information
• Curriculum
• Admission
• Tuition
• Establishing Residency in Oregon
• Financial Aid
• Housing
• MCAT Preparation
• Health-Related Opportunities
• Pre-Health Advising
• Contact Information
• FAQs

Program Information

The University of Oregon offers you the opportunity to complete an individualized course of study based on your previous coursework and experience. This flexible program is appropriate, and most common, for students in preparation for medical school, however, it is also designed for students to prepare for additional professional programs, such as, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine. The program is for those who have completed no science courses, as well as students wishing to strengthen their academic record.

The basic requirements include year-long sequences of general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, and physics. All of our science sequences begin fall term, and several of the sequences are also offered as intensive summer courses. For this reason, many students begin this program in the summer or the fall.

An accelerated postbaccalaureate program could begin in the summer with the 11-week General Chemistry sequence. During the following academic year, you would complete Organic Chemistry and Biology and additional math courses, as needed. One year of General Physics could be finished the next summer as you prepare for the August MCAT or other pre-preprofessional admissions exams.

Curriculum

Summer:

Comments:

1. General Chemistry (CH221) requires prior experience in high school chemistry. MATH 111 & 112 are required as pre- or co- requisites.
2. BI 251-253 requires prerequisite or concurrent enrollment in organic chemistry, CH 331, 335, 336.
3. Students may choose from CH 461-463 to meet the biochemistry requirement. Consult with the chemistry department.
4. Upper division genetics courses are highly recommended for medical school. OHSU requires one course in genetics and one course in biochemistry for admission. Foundation Biology (BI 251-253) from UO may meet one of these requirements, but not both.

The University of Oregon offers an impressive range of science courses you may take to complement your pre-health curriculum. Our science departments engage students with award-winning faculty, cutting-edge research facilities, and a timely environmental consciousness in the laboratory. Professor Ken Doxsee and Assistant Professor Jim Hutchinson have developed the green organic chemistry laboratory, where the focus is as much on environmental consciousness as it is on chemical reactions and processes. Professor of Biology Frank Stahl was co-creator of the Meselson-Stahl experiment, which is described in major genetics textbooks and demonstrates how DNA replicates. At the UO you will find outstanding faculty and wonderful opportunities for laboratory research. Check out these websites for more information about the University of Oregon science departments:

Biology: http://biology.uoregon.edu;
Chemistry: http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~chem/;
General Science: http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~gensci/;
Human Physiology: http://www.uoregon.edu/%7Ehphy/;
Physics: http://physics.uoregon.edu/

Admission

To be eligible for the postbaccalaureate program, you must have successfully completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Please submit an application for admission for nongraduate postbaccalaureate status (this classification will assure you of undergraduate tuition rates). You must also submit a $50 nonrefundable application fee, a statement of purpose, and official transcripts. Your completed application should be submitted no fewer than 30 days before the beginning of the term in which you request admission. If possible, we recommend that you submit the application in March for summer admission or in April for fall admission. If you have additional questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Admissions (800) 232-3825 or (541) 346-3201.

Tuition

Tuition is based on resident or non-resident status. As a nongraduate postbacc, students pay undergraduate tuition rates. Tuition rates are on the Registrar's website at http://registrar.uoregon.edu/common/tuition/tuitionrates.htm. Please keep in mind there are fees in addition to tuition charges, so please read the Registrar's website carefully. Summer sessions are extremely economical for non-resident students because there is very little difference between resident and non-resident tuition. Summer session information can be found at http://uosummer.uoregon.edu/index.asp.

Establishing Residency in Oregon

Students interested in establishing residency in Oregon must be aware that there are strict rules governing how residency is determined. Students must be able to show that their primary purpose for living in Oregon is other than for school. Some of the basic guidelines include financial independence, establishing and maintaining residence in Oregon for at least 12 months and, if enrolled in classes, enrollment in 8 or fewer credits per term during those 12 months. More information can be found on the Admissions website at http://admissions.uoregon.edu/apply/resid.htm. Remember that the state of residency will be an important factor when applying to medical school or other professional schools. Make sure to seriously consider all factors before making decisions that will affect residency status.

Financial Aid

Postbaccalaureate students who are enrolled in a degree-seeking program may apply for federal financial aid http://financialaid.uoregon.edu/. Pre-med at the UO is considered a professional objective, not an academic major. Many postbaccalaureate students plan to pursue a second bachelor’s degree in a science major (biology, chemistry, general science, human physiology) with pre-med as their professional objective.

Housing

Students can access housing information at http://housing.uoregon.edu/.

Students living in campus housing must be enrolled full-time (at least 12 credits per term). The Housing site includes a link to Privately Owned Housing through the ASUO Housing Database. Students may also want to search the Register Guard, which is the local Eugene paper, at http://www.registerguard.com/ or try Eugene Rentals at http://www.eugenerentals.com.

MCAT Preparation

There are two MCAT review courses taught in Eugene – Kaplan http://www.kaptest.com/ and UO Academic Learning Services (ALS) http://als.uoregon.edu/services/testprep/testprep.html. The ALS review course is taught during winter term by UO professors. This review course is offered for less than half the cost of the Kaplan course.

Health-Related Opportunities

Asklepiads, the premedical society, offers students a variety of opportunities to get involved. This student-run group coordinates a medical preceptorship program each year matching premedical students with physicians in the Eugene-Springfield area. Through this program, students have the opportunity to shadow a physician for one or two academic terms. This group also brings in a variety of guest speakers addressing health-related issues and coordinates community service opportunities. Click on their name above for more information.

Eugene-Springfield is home to two major hospitals (Sacred Heart and McKenzie-Willamette) and an array of social service agencies, which provide a variety of volunteer opportunities for students. For example, the Volunteers in Medicine Clinic (VIM) is a non-profit, community-based organization dedicated to meeting the primary health needs of the uninsured. Many UO students have found their volunteer work at VIM to be extremely rewarding and in the process have learned a great deal about the health care system in the United States. For more resources, go to Health-Related Opportunities.

Premedical Advising

You will work closely with a pre-health adviser in the Office of Academic Advising to create an individualized academic plan and to assist as you prepare to apply for professional school. There are regular workshops throughout the year including an “Applying to Medical School” series. You will be provided with an overview of the application process, and will have the opportunity to ask questions of Admissions and Student Services personnel from Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine. Advising assistance is also provided as you prepare your personal statement, select schools, and prepare for interviews. See our pre-health pamphlets for information and resources.

Contact Information

There are two primary pre-health advisers in the Office of Academic Advising at (541) 346-3211.

Karen Cooper, Pre-Health Sciences Coordinator, karenc@uoregon.edu
Lori Manson, Pre-Health Adviser, loric@uoregon.edu

FAQs

1. How long does it take to complete the program?
   
   The length of the program varies based on your preparation and needs. If you have not previously completed any of the science course work, the program will last between 15 months and two years. Please keep in mind that the medical school application process will also last approximately one year. Application timelines for other professional programs will vary.
   
   
   
2. What are the requirements for admission?
   
   Please see our Admission section above and go to http://admissions.uoregon.edu/returning.html#postbac for an application.
   
   
3. What is a typical course load?
   
   Students typically complete 12-18 credits per term while participating in the program. You may also take classes on a part-time basis.
   
   
4. I have already completed some of the course work. Can I complete the remaining requirements through the UO Postbaccalaureate Program?
   
   Yes. Our program is set up to meet your individual needs. Contact the pre-health advisers in the Office of Academic Advising at (541) 346-3211 to discuss your academic plan.
   
   
5. I completed the premedical requirements as an undergraduate. Can I take additional science course work through the UO Postbaccalaureate Program to improve my chances for admission to medical school?
   
   Yes. Although the postbaccalaureate courses will not replace your previous science course work, strong performance in a postbaccalaureate program such as ours should improve your chances for medical school admission.
   
   
6. How many students are in the program?
   
   There are typically between 10 and 20 postbaccalaureate premedical students enrolled in the program each term.
   
   
7. Who will be in my classes?
   
   You will enroll in undergraduate classes with undergraduates as well as postbaccalaureate students.
   
   
8. What kind of financial assistance is provided for postbaccalaureate students?
   
   Please see the Financial Aid section above for information.
   
   
9. Do you have consortial agreements with medical schools?
   
   We do not have a consortial agreement with medical schools. The medical school in Oregon (OHSU) does not participate in consortial agreements with schools.
   
   
10. How much does the program cost?
    
    The program cost will vary depending on your residency status, number of credits for which you register, and the length of time in the program. Current tuition figures for the academic year are available at http://registrar.uoregon.edu/common/tuition/tuitionrates.php. For Summer Session fees, please see http://uosummer.uoregon.edu. The intensive year-long classes that are offered in the summer session (General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics) are 18 credits.
    
    
11. Who prepares letters of recommendation?
    
    The University of Oregon faculty is your best source for letters of recommendation and they are more than willing to assist you in applying to medical school. The University of Oregon does not have a Health Committee and does not prepare composite letters of reference.
    
    
12. Who do I contact for additional information?
    
    If you have additional questions about the postbaccalaureate program or have difficulty downloading the postbaccalaureate application, contact the Pre-Health Science Coordinator, Karen Cooper at karenc@uoregon.edu or (541) 346-3211.