About the Program

Established in 1972, the Bryn Mawr Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program is one of the oldest, most respected, and most successful in the nation. It is designed for highly-motivated individuals who want to pursue a career in medicine but have not taken the required premedical courses as undergraduates.

Our program is both rigorous and rewarding. Over a 12-month period of intensive, full-time study in the classroom, our students are thoroughly prepared for the challenges of medical school. After completing our program, virtually all students who apply—over 98 percent—are accepted to medical school.

Medical School Linkages

An exciting feature of our program is the strong links we have formed with many medical schools that offer conditional early acceptance to our students. Bryn Mawr offers the largest selection of linkage medical schools, and we have some of the longest standing relationships with these schools.

You may apply to one of these schools during the postbac program. If qualified, you will be accepted on a conditional basis and will begin medical school immediately after completing Bryn Mawr’s one-year program.

Highly Selective, Highly Supportive

What distinguishes our program is its ideal size (65-70 students)—small enough to give you individual attention and support, yet large enough to offer a tight-knit community of diverse individuals with a shared goal of becoming a physician. As a result, you enjoy full access to members of the Bryn Mawr College faculty, who work closely with you in an academic environment that emphasizes learning by mentoring, collaboration, and hands-on experience.

Our program is housed within the Health Professions Advising Office. Our dedicated program staff get to know you as an individual and provide the support, counsel, and resources that meet all your unique interests and needs, from selecting courses to choosing the medical school that is right for you. We will guide you in setting career goals, advise you on preparing for the MCAT, write a personalized letter of recommendation, and continue to support you throughout your glide year, if that is what you decide to do.

A Special Community

You will find that your fellow postbac students at Bryn Mawr are one of the strongest assets of our program. Coming from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, they form an interactive and supportive community that shares a common goal—becoming a physician.

Our postbac students take the initiative to form interest groups devoted to medical topics, sponsor special events and lectures by guest speakers, organize study groups and journal clubs to keep up on medical advances, and pursue other self-directed learning opportunities. They also know how to relax, have fun, and socialize with their fellow students. In addition, they participate in intramural sports and volunteer as assistant coaches of College sports teams, attend the many cultural events held on campus and in Philadelphia, and form close friendships that endure long after their time at Bryn Mawr.

Learning by Serving

Bryn Mawr encourages and supports off-campus community service by offering a database of volunteer and internship opportunities, partial transportation reimbursement, and other resources. You will have many opportunities to volunteer in a variety of medically related programs and activities, which will take you out of the classroom and into the real world.

In Bryn Mawr’s local area are five schools of medicine, one school of veterinary medicine, two dental schools, 24 teaching hospitals, 115 hospitals, and numerous clinics and social-service organizations dedicated to underserved populations, where you can work side-by-side with health care professionals, residents, and medical students. Through your volunteer experiences, you will gain a hands-on perspective of the health care profession and a fresh reminder of why you want to become a physician.

Since 1972, the Bryn Mawr Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program has been known for its tradition of success. We have helped hundreds of smart, motivated, and committed women and men to pursue their true calling as physicians.