A Full-Time, One-Year Program

The Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical (PBPM) Program is a full-time, one-year certificate program designed for college graduates with strong academic records who have made a late decision to pursue a career in medicine. It provides the science courses students need to be eligible for medical school admission.

Note:  The program is not remedial. It is not intended for individuals who wish to strengthen a weak academic record.

A Rigorous Academic Experience

The coursework in biology, chemistry, and physics is offered through the University of Virginia’s College of Arts and Sciences by faculty with extensive experience preparing students for medical school. The University is consistently ranked as one of the top two public universities in the United States, and the University's academic medical center is a “Top 100 Hospital” and a designated Level One Trauma Center.  

Prepare for the Practice of Medicine

Students in the PBPM Program prepare for the practice of medicine by shadowing physicians and volunteering at the University Medical Center and in other community clinical settings.

Students will also take a special course on the structure and financing of the U.S. health care system taught by the program’s medical director. This course describes the history of health care in the U.S. and outlines how the evolution of the system will affect a student’s career as a physician.

Through these experiences and others, students gain insights into the patient-physician relationship and exposure to common ethical dilemmas that arise in the course of clinical care.  Students also gain a realistic understanding of how physicians care for patients and the physician’s broader role in the community.

Support for Medical School Admissions

Our director has 22 years of experience in medical school admissions and provides students with expert, individualized guidance throughout the medical school application and interview process. An intensive MCAT prep course is included in the cost of tuition.

Student Success

Our total acceptance rate for the first six cohorts is 92 percent. Individuals who have completed our PBPM Program have received acceptances at a wide variety of private and public medical schools including Case Western, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Tulane, Wake Forest, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Pittsburgh, and University of Virginia.  

Completion of the PBPM Program does not guarantee admission to medical school. However, it is anticipated that students who have done well in our program and on the MCAT will achieve success in applying to medical school. 

Contact Us 

Our Director Beth Bailey is available by phone 434.982.5288 Call: 434.982.5288 or by email bab7g@virginia.edu to answer your questions and provide more details about the program.  You can also Request Information using our online form.