Pros and Cons of Postbaccalaureate Programs

Often seen as a stepping stone between an undergraduate and graduate program, postbaccalaureate programs can help prepare students for a new or different area of study. But a postbaccalaureate program can also be a major financial commitment. The average cost of a post-bacc program is $20,000 to $40,000 or more.

So, just what is this program, and how can it benefit students? Read on to learn the benefits, drawbacks, and financing behind a postbaccalaureate degree.

What Is a Postbaccalaureate Degree?

A postbaccalaureate degree or program is typically one or two years of study beyond a bachelor’s degree. Students may enroll in a postbaccalaureate program for a variety of reasons, including:

•   Completing a second bachelor’s degree.

•   Working towards a graduate certificate.

•   Taking prerequisite courses required for admission into a graduate program.

A postbaccalaureate program isn’t a graduate degree, but students may enroll in the one to two-year programs before heading off to a grad program.

Applying to a postbaccalaureate program will differ from school to school, but students can generally expect to submit their transcripts, as well as test scores, recommendations, and an essay.

Sometimes called post-bacc, these programs are popular among college graduates who hope to enroll in medical school. According to the American Association of Medical Colleges, postbaccalaureate medical programs focus on science, biology, and other subjects required before med school. They are used to enhance an applicant’s application and hopefully increase their chances of getting accepted.

Here’s why post-bacc programs might help a student hoping to apply to medical school:

•   It offers the appropriate prerequisites. If a student wasn’t on a pre-med track undergrad, but they decide they want to pursue a graduate program in medicine, a post-bacc program makes it easier to take all the required courses before applying to med school.

•   It gives them an opportunity to improve their grades. If a pre-med student graduated with a low GPA, they might elect to retake some of the courses in a post-bacc program to boost their numbers. It gives them not only a chance to review material they might’ve missed, but also a way to enhance their application with better grades.

•   It can help strengthen an application. If a student is reapplying to medical school, they might first attend a post-bacc program to get an edge up on the competition.

•   It can be a supporting supplement for students with weaker MCAT scores. If a student has taken the MCAT multiple times with borderline scores, getting strong marks in a post-bacc program can be a helpful ace up their sleeve in the application. It can show a commitment to the area of study, despite low test scores.

Going to a post-bacc program might be the right fit for some students looking to enter a medical graduate program, but is by no means a requirement.

Recommended: How Much Does Medical School Cost?

Pros of a Postbaccalaureate Program

A postbaccalaureate program can offer potential benefits for the right student. Here are some of the pros they might expect on their way to a graduate program:

•   Flexible studying. Postbaccalaureate students have a lot of flexibility in the program. They can usually choose to study full-time or part-time, based on their availability and schedule. Full-time programs are typically a year long and part-time programs take closer to two years.

•   Linkage programs. A number of postbaccalaureate programs are housed within a medical school. While participating in the school’s postbaccalaureate program won’t guarantee admission in its medical program, it could give a student a leg up in the application process.

•   MCAT prep. Some, but not all, postbaccalaureate programs include MCAT tutoring and prep in admission and pricing. For some students, this can be a great opportunity to raise test scores.

•   Networking and experience. In addition to courses, some postbaccalaureate programs will also offer speciality programming and networking opportunities for students. This can be an opportunity to learn more about medical specialties from events and network with fellow students.

•   An introduction, without the long term commitment. A postbaccalaureate program can give students a taste of what medical school might be like. However, instead of studying for years, it could be just a couple months or two years at most. If a student decides med school just isn’t for them during a postbaccalaureate program, it’s less time and money spent.

Cons of a Postbaccalaureate

While a post-bacc program will offer benefits, these programs do have their fair share of drawbacks. Consider these cons before attending a postbaccalaureate program:

•  Not all programs offer federal aid. Postbaccalaureate programs can be pricey, and when it comes to financial aid, some students will be on their own to find a way to pay.

Some, but not all, post-bacc programs will have federal aid packages for students to consider. Prospective students may need to rely on private student loans to pay for their program.

In addition, students may already have student loans to repay from their undergraduate degree. Depending on a student’s loan structure, some students may be expected to make loan payments while enrolled in a post-bacc program. If that’s the case, they may want to consider student loan refinancing, which could result in lower monthly loan payments if they qualify for a lower interest rate. However, it’s important to be aware that refinancing federal student loans makes them ineligible for federal benefits like income-driven repayment and forgiveness.

•  A post-bacc could be overkill. While postbaccalaureates can be a great refresher on subjects for students, the demanding curriculum could be too demanding academically and financially. In some cases, students might choose simply to take a few prerequisite courses at a community college instead of paying for a post-bacc program.

•  Losing out on experience. Postbaccalaureate programs offer their own benefits and experience, but enrolling could mean missing out on real-world experiences or work experiences.

•  Post-bacc programs aren’t all built the same. Students shouldn’t expect the same experience from every post-bacc program. Different schools will offer different focuses and programs. Some are more geared towards enhancing a student’s academic record, while others are actively seeking to engage economically disadvantaged or underrepresented students.

•  It doesn’t guarantee admission. Post-bacc medical programs can give students a leg up when it comes to boosting their GPAs and MCAT prep, but they are not a guarantee that a student will gain admission to medical school. If a student is considering enrolling in a postbaccalaureate program solely for admissions purposes, they might want to rethink their motivation.

Recommended: Refinancing Student Loans During Medical School

The Takeaway

Postbaccalaureate programs are completed after a student earns an undergraduate degree. They are often used as a stepping stone for people who are making a career transition or are interested in pursuing higher education, such as medical school.

The choice to enroll in a post-bacc program is deeply personal, just like how a student decides to pay for school. Whether or not a person chooses to head straight into a postbaccalaureate program immediately after undergrad or not, keeping an eye on their current student loans is important.

Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.

With SoFi, refinancing is fast, easy, and all online. We offer competitive fixed and variable rates.

FAQ

Is a postbaccalaureate a degree?

A postbaccalaureate is not a degree but rather a one- to two-year program students can enroll in after completing their undergraduate degree. These programs can be a transition for those interested in medical school or another professional type of school, or students who want to pursue a new career or area of study. A post-bacc might give students prerequisites they need, for example.

Is a postbaccalaureate higher than a bachelor’s degree?

A postbaccalaureate is a program and not a traditional degree. It is more advanced than a bachelor’s degree, however, because it’s taken after a student graduates with a bachelor’s degree and wants to pursue further education, such as medical school, or transition to a different career or area of study.

Is a post-bacc worth it?

Whether a post-bacc is worth it depends on the individual student and their goals. For someone hoping to get into medical school who needs certain prerequisites or to strengthen their grades, a post-bacc might be worth it. However, these programs can be expensive and they may not offer federal financial aid, so they aren’t right for everyone.

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