USC Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program

My past two years in the program has been extremely challenging as I’ve tried to balance school, research, volunteering and working while still adjusting to a new lifestyle and career change. However, they have also been filled with immense growth in knowledge and pedagogical skills, not only relating to the field of medicine but also internal reflection on what kind of physician I want to be. I strongly believe that USC’s program has been, and will be, the best preparedness tool I could have hoped for during my journey to medical school.

Completing the Post-Baccalaureate program at USC allowed me to develop valuable skills in the pursuit for medical school….Dr. Chi Mak, now the director of the program, was my professor in Biochemistry during the wildfires and was very accommodating and supportive. Additionally, his class challenged me to reassess my study methods and advance my critical thinking skills, which was paramount towards my success on the MCAT…I am grateful to have attended this program and extremely happy with my overall experience. I have gained the knowledge, confidence, and skills necessary to prepare for medical school while also building lifelong friendships along the way.

Take advantage of the relatively smaller size of the program and keep in touch with your classmates and administrators. The resources that are allotted allow you to tailor your experience in the program and receive one-on-one advisement that will benefit you beyond the coursework.

I chose USC for several reasons. The first reason was the organized nature of the program. I am someone who needs an organized and structured learning environment. The USC Postbaccalaureate Premed Program formulates a plan for each student to complete all the sciences based on their needs, preferences, and individual timelines. The second reason was their focus on students who had little to no experience with the sciences or, in other words, career changers. This gave me the confidence knowing that they understand the unique needs of career changers. The third reason was the opportunity to receive a world-class education. USC is a top-tier university where I knew I would be challenged academically and have access to some of the leaders in their respective fields. I knew USC would prepare me for a future in medicine from the MCAT and beyond. The fourth reason is the location. Having played [in the NBA] in Los Angeles for the past two years, I knew how special Los Angeles is. The weather is unparalleled, and there is an endless number of things to do no matter your interests.

My advice [for postbacc students] would be to start out by developing good habits early on in terms of how you study and your utilization of the resources that are available to you. I never really took advantage of professors’ office hours during undergrad, but now I’ve realized just how valuable they can be
both in cultivating a relationship with the professor and to better understand the material. I would also say that you need to set aside time to still engage in the activities and interests that you have outside of classes because it’s a long (but rewarding!) journey.

My glide year has been coming along nicely. I spent the first portion of it continuing to work as an EMT… Between my interview phase and hearing back I volunteered at a nursing home in Costa Rica to get some extra volunteering in and to work on my medical Spanish. I am pleased to announce that upon my return I was accepted into my first pick, Eastern Virginia Medical School.