How to Apply
To apply to Bryn Mawr’s Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program, please select our program in PostbacCAS.
Admission to the Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program is conducted on a rolling basis starting in the fall with decisions made throughout the admissions cycle. Applying early is recommended because there are many more qualified applicants than spaces.
To apply for the 2023-24 Class:
- Application Opens: Friday, August 12, 2022
- Early Action Admission Deadline: Monday, October 3, 2022 (11:59 pm PST) to receive an admission decision by December 22, 2022.
- Regular Admission Deadline: Wednesday, February 15, 2023 (11:59 pm PST)
"Deadline" refers to the date that your application must be submitted' supporting materials (e.g., letters of recommendation, transcripts) must arrive within two weeks of submission of your application.
Additional Info About Applying
Our program is designed for "career changers"–individuals who wish to take undergraduate-level premedical courses for the first time. Students in our program are generally new to science and have taken few, if any, premedical courses.
- Applicants who have taken the MCAT are not eligible for our program.
- Applicants seeking to enhance their academic record are not a good fit for our program.
For information about the types of postbaccalaureate programs nationwide, please see this reference from the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Admissions Criteria
- Strong academic record at both the high school and college levels (and graduate school, if applicable)
- At least a B+ (3.3) average at the college level, and standardized test scores (SAT/ACT) consistent with that level of academic performance
- Clearly articulated depth of motivation for going into medicine/dentistry
- Career history, volunteer activities, and any experience in health care
- Two strong letters of recommendation—no more than 3—and at least one must be written by a former professor, instructor, or advisor who is familiar with your academic abilities.
In addition to completing the PostbacCAS Personal, Academic, and Supporting Information sections, you will be asked to provide the following additional information in the Program Materials section. Please be assured that the Postbac Premed Admissions Committee also considers the varied backgrounds and experiences of applicants when reviewing applications.
- Supplemental Application Fee ($40): Payable through the PostbacCAS platform. This fee is in addition to processing fees charged by PostbacCAS.
- Second Letter of Recommendation: One letter must be written by a former professor, instructor, or advisor who is familiar with your academic abilities. We will accept a maximum of 3 letters total (and no more).
- CV/Résumé: Please detail your employment record and your medically related, community service, and/or extracurricular activities. This is in addition to the "Experiences" section of your application, and not a replacement for completing that section.
- Transcripts from all high schools attended: Copies of unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
- Official AND self-reported ACT and/or SAT scores
- You must self-report your ACT and/or SAT scores in the Standardized Test section of the application AND request an official score report to be sent directly to Bryn Mawr. (This is the only supporting material that is sent directly to Bryn Mawr; all other supporting materials go to PostbacCAS.)
- To order SAT scores, use code 2477 for the Bryn Mawr College Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program.
- To order ACT scores, use code 3526 for Bryn Mawr College.
- Archived ACT and/or SAT score reports must be ordered even if your high school transcript includes your scores.
- You may opt to order an official score report for just one ACT or SAT test date to be sent to Bryn Mawr. In this case, you can upload screenshots of additional test date score reports to “Test Score Reports” under Documents in PostbacCAS.
- Self-reporting AP and/or IB scores is optional.
- Other test scores (GRE, GMAT, LSAT, etc.) may be submitted as well, but not as a substitute for the ACT or SAT.
- If you have not taken the ACT or SAT, please provide an explanation in the space provided in the "Bryn Mawr Required Materials Verification" section.
- Additional Essay (Optional): Please feel free to write a second essay if there are further experiences you would like to share with the Admissions Committee that you have not included in the Personal Statement or elsewhere in your application (maximum of 5300 characters with spaces.
Extensive coursework or terminal degree from a non-U.S. institution
- Bryn Mawr requires that applicants use World Evaluations Services (WES) to have their transcript(s) processed and submitted to PostbacCAS. Within the “Academic History” section of your PostbacCAS application, please select “Order WES Evaluation” for all non-U.S. institutions you attended. You do not need to manually enter transcript information in the coursework section for courses completed at non-U.S. institutions.
Study Abroad semester(s) or summer
- U.S. institution overseas: In the case of 1-2 semesters, or a summer, of study overseas at a U.S. institution, or if your study abroad credits and grades appear on your home institution transcript, mark these courses as "Study Abroad" during Transcript Review in PostbacCAS, and arrange to have transcripts sent directly to PostbacCAS.
- Non-U.S. institution: In the case of 1-2 semesters, or a summer, of study overseas at a non-U.S. institution please report that you attended a foreign institution in the "Academic History" section of your application. Do not list courses taken. Coursework at a non-U.S. institution cannot be recorded in PostbacCAS. We do not require a transcript nor a foreign transcript evaluation service. In our program application we provide applicants an opportunity to include information about the grades they received during their study abroad experience.
If you have questions about the application process:
- Please call PostbacCAS Customer Service at (857) 304-2047 or email PostbacCASinfo@liaisoncas.com.
- Visit the PostbacCAS Students page or visit the PostbacCAS Applicant Help Center
For questions about your Bryn Mawr program-specific required materials, please see our Frequently Asked Questions about Admission or email postbac@brynmawr.edu.
Having trouble accessing the application? The preferred browsers are Google Chrome or Firefox.
Our program participates in the Postbaccalaureate Centralized Application Service (PostbacCAS). To evaluate your eligibility for the program, first, we review your PostbacCAS Bryn Mawr application and supporting materials. Following this initial screening, you may be invited to interview.
If you are invited to interview, we want to help you decide whether Bryn Mawr is the right choice for you. On your interview day, you’ll participate in an information session given by the director of the Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program and speak with current students. We will also provide you with a potential academic plan for classes, based on your academic history.
After your interview, our Admissions Committee will review your candidacy and make a decision about your admission to the program within four to six weeks. Our Admissions Committee members include representatives from the science faculty and the Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program office. Your application and interview help our Admissions Committee to determine whether your previous academic record and experiences, along with your goals and motivation, are consistent with the requirements of our program.
We appreciate your interest in the Bryn Mawr College Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program and look forward to working with you in the admissions process!