The Post Bac program is a one year or two year course of study that enables students who have an undergraduate degree in any field to take the required courses for application to  medical school, veterinary school, or any number of other health professions. One-year students attend a summer session where they do two semesters of  chemistry and one semester of introductory biology. The next year students take two more semesters of chemistry, two semesters of physics, animal physiology, biochemistry, other biology electives, and calculus. During the Field Work Term (January-February) students can volunteer with local organizations, do internships at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, work with faculty on current research or do internships anywhere in the country or abroad.

The summer chemistry and biology classes are just Post Bac students while the other classes are integrated with Bennington undergraduates. Our classes stress cooperative approaches to learning and a hands on approach to doing science. Our Post Bac students have great success getting into medical school and many comment that our problem solving approach helps them understand the material they learn in medical school.

In the past few years our students have attended the following medical schools:

    As part of our program we try to insure that students get experience in the medical/hospital setting. Our agreement with Southwestern Vermont Medical Center enables students to volunteer in the Emergency Room and shadow doctors both in the hospital and in their private practices. During our Field Work Term (usually from the Christmas holiday until the end of Ferbuary) students have another opportunity to do internships. Students can choose to work in a lab setting or do medical volunteer work in another area of the country or outside the country. This year we have had students go to Guatemala, China, and Thailand for Field Work Term experiences. Other students work with Bennington faculty on research topics. Some chemical topics students have worked on are: Photophysical and biological properties of gold(I) compounds and Luminescent Rhenium Compounds.

Medical School Advising

    We work with students from the beginning of the program to develop lists of their choices for medical school. Advising sessions discuss the application process, the MCAT, and the interview experience. A Premed committee reference letter is written for each student who successfully completes the program. This is kept on file along with other reference letters for the application process.  As a member of the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions I have access to the latest information and advice for students about the Medical School Admissions process.