Inside a candle lit reception room at the Columbia Faculty House, Dean of the School of General Studies Peter Awn led a celebration of a newly-formed partnership with the Columbia Postbaccalaureate Premedical program and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
The agreement will allow qualified students to skip over the glide year following the postbaccalaureate program—typically used to prepare medical school applications—and expedite the application process to medical school. The “post-bac” year is typically a bridge program for students interested in medical school but who have not taken all the requisite science courses in their undergraduate studies.
Before now, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons had not offered linkage opportunities with any postbaccalaureate premedical program, though the Columbia Postbaccalaureate Premedical program does include similar opportunities with 11 other medical schools.
GS Associate Dean Victoria Rosner, CC ’90, who coordinates academic affairs, pioneered the linkage agreement.
“I noticed both that students frequently applied to Columbia Physicians and Surgeons and that Columbia Physicians and Surgeons historically has accepted post-baccalaureate students at a rate higher than the conventional admissions rate,” she said.
“I hope it is valuable to Columbia Physicians and Surgeons to know they can recruit and retain some of our best graduates.” Rosner added.
Stephen Nicholas, associate dean for admissions at Columbia Physicians and Surgeons, praised the existing post-bac program. “The Columbia Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program is one of the best if not the best program in the country. The linkage agreement is beneficial for Physicians and Surgeons because it gives us the ability to recruit the strongest students from the best program.”
Postbaccalaureate students who attended the reception were enthusiastic about the new opportunity.
“The linkage with Columbia Physicians and Surgeons shows how strong the Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program is,” said Margo Lederhandler, a GS student in her second year of the postbaccalaureate program and Vice President of the Premedical Association said. “It is evidence to the high caliber of students that come out of the program.”
“I think it’s a positive thing for everyone involved, especially for the students because they now have an additional option,” said Nick Shea, CC ’09 and a current postbaccalaureate student in his second year.
Professors in attendance said they were also eager to see the linkage put into place.
Chemistry professor James Valentini, who teaches both undergraduate and postbaccalaureate students, affirmed the high quality of the students in the Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program.
“The Postbaccalaureate program has a high fraction of extraordinary students with incomparable intellectual ability,” he said. “It’s a real pleasure to teach them.”
But Rosner stressed that the linkage agreement wasn’t for everyone.
“Many qualified students chose not to apply to linkage because they are have the pressure to maintain a high GPA in demanding course work, take the MCAT sooner, and prepare their application all in the same year,” Rosner said. “Many students appreciate the glide year, so they can focus on the application process."
And academic achievement, medical experience, and impressive MCAT scores still can’t guarantee admission into the medical school. Rosner said that students must be internally nominated by the Postbaccalaureate office “to be sure the applicants are the kind the medical school are eager to receive.”
On Dec. 8, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons will host a tour of the medical school for students in the Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program interested in pursuing the linkage.
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