Holly Dupuis, PPS, MD

“Elms gave me the structure, guidance, and support that I needed to apply as a competitive applicant to allopathic medical schools. The personal attention and feedback that I received for my application essays and MCAT preparation were invaluable.”

Holly Dupuis
Postbaccalaureate Premedical Studies Certificate
Medical student, Hofstra School of Medicine

Pre-medical Postbaccalaureate Certificate Program

Our postbac premed program offers pre-dental, pre-PA, pre-pharmacy, pre-optometry, pre-podiatry, pre-veterinarian, pre-chiropractic,  pre-physical therapy, pre-occupational therapy, and pre-anesthesiologist assistant tracks, among others.

Elms College postbaccalaureate premedical studies certificate program enrolls 20-30 students each academic year from across the United States and around the world who have earned a B.A. or B.S. from an accredited college or university. The postbac program serves two populations of students:

  • Students who wish to improve their GPAs and prepare for standardized tests
  • Students who need to take prerequisite coursework for the first time in preparation for standardized tests and application to medical and other professional health programs

Program Features

  • Academic advising and application preparation are focused on readying students to enter medical school or the health professional school of their choice.
  • Elms College’s postbac premed program offers pre-PA, pre-pharmacy, pre-veterinarian, pre-chiropractic, pre-dental, pre-physical therapy, pre-occupational therapy, and pre-anesthesiologist assistant tracks, among others.
  • Plans of study meet the most current premedical prerequisite course requirements.
  • Thorough PCAT, DAT, OAT and GRE, and MCAT preparation.
  • Elms College offers discounted rates for standardized test preparation for medical school (MCAT), dental school (DAT), optometry school (OAT), pharmacy school (PCAT), and veterinary, PA, PT, OT, chiropractic, and other graduate schools (GRE).
  • Small class size.
  • Fall, spring, and summer enrollment options.
  • Highly diverse and international student body representing all states in the U.S. and U.S. territories (such as Guam and Puerto Rico), and countries around the world, including Brazil, Portugal, Turkey, China, Japan, Korea, Nigeria, Ghana, Angola, Spain, Iraq, Poland, and many others.

Individualized Approaches at Elms

Students work with the premed advisor to develop their program — all programs are individualized for the specific student’s needs and the programs to which they are applying.

1-Year or 2-Year Completion Options

Students who have already taken premedical prerequisite courses in chemistry can usually earn their certificates in 1 academic year (2 semesters). Students who have not taken prerequisites in chemistry or sufficient biology courses can usually finish the program in 2 academic years (4 semesters).

Premed Meetings and Development Sessions

  • Q&A events with M.D.s, D.O.s, P.A.s, and other healthcare professionals
  • Personal Statement Workshops
  • Mock Mini Multiple Interview Sessions
  • Mock Traditional Interview Sessions
  • Resume Development
  • Obtaining Letters of Recommendation
  • Application Assistance Forums
  • Financial Aid Discussion Sessions

Academic Support

  • Students can have a committee letter written on their behalf.
  • All courses offer tutoring options that include peer tutors and course tutors.
  • 24/7 online tutoring is available.

Affiliations, Linkages, Agreements

Located Close to Major Healthcare Centers

Elms College is ideally situated in a region populated with many hospitals, medical centers, clinics and other health professional offices offering a variety of job, and volunteering opportunities in nearby research and healthcare facilities.

Housing

Postbac premed students can take advantage of the completely renovated Living-Learning, Community and Cultural Center, which opened in February 2020. The newly redesigned building features classrooms and meeting spaces on the first floor, and residence rooms on the second and third floors. The ADA-compliant LLCCC can house up to 11 students, and includes a full kitchen, laundry facilities, energy efficient heating and cooling systems, smart desks, and other modern amenities.

Additional housing for postbac premed students is located near the college’s campus and is available for a limited number of enrolled students on a first-come, first-served basis. On campus residence hall housing options are available on a first-come, first-served basis as well. For more information, contact reslife@elms.edu.

Postbac Premed Tuition

  • Elms College offers discounted rates for standardized test preparation for medical school (MCAT), dental school (DAT), optometry school (OAT), pharmacy school (PCAT), and veterinary, PA, PT, OT, chiropractic, and other graduate schools (GRE).
  • Tuition information can be found here.

APPLICATION INFO

Deadlines for applications:
Fall – August 18
Spring – December 30
Summer – May 1

  • We offer rolling admissions: The earlier you apply and (if accepted) enroll, the earlier you will reserve your seat in the upcoming class.
  • Standardized test scores are NOT required for admission.
  • We accept students into our program who have had all, some, or none of the premed prerequisites.
  • We accept students who have or have not taken the MCAT or other standardized tests.
  • We accept recommendations from academic and non-academic (supervisors) sources.

Students who have not yet finished their bachelor’s degrees can still apply and be accepted to the program. Please send your final transcript indicating bachelor’s degree completion upon graduation (your final transcript will be required before matriculation into the postbac premed program).

Elms College Postbac Premed program completion students have been accepted to the following schools over the past 4 years:

*Students accepted to these programs have received a full tuition scholarship

Doctor of Allopathic Medicine (MD)

  • Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, PA
  • Georgetown School of Medicine, DC
  • Hofstra School of Medicine, NY
  • Howard University College of Medicine, DC
  • Indiana State University Medical School, IN
  • Medical College of South Carolina
  • Meharry Medical College, TN
  • NOVA Southeastern University College of Allopathic Medicine, FL
  • Penn State Medical College, Hershey PA
  • Rosalind Franklin College of Medicine, Chicago IL
  • St. Louis University Medical School, MO
  • SUNY Brooklyn, NYC
  • SUNY Upstate Syracuse School of Medicine, NY
  • Louisiana State Medical School Shreveport, LA
  • Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences Medical School, MD
  • University of Connecticut Medical School, CT
  • University of Massachusetts Medical School, MA
  • University of Massachusetts PURCH Program, MD/PhD Program, MA
  • University of Vermont Medical School, VT
  • University of North Carolina Medical School, Chapel Hill, NC
  • University of South Carolina College of Medicine, SC
  • Wayne State School of Medicine, MI
  • Wright State University, Boonshoft School of Medicine

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)

  • AT Still University of Osteopathic Medicine, AZ
  • Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, NM
  • Campbell University Osteopathic Medicine, SC
  • Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine, MO
  • Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), PA
  • NOVA Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine, FL
  • Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, PA
  • Purdue University College of Osteopathic Medicine, IN
  • Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, CO
  • Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, NY
  • University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNECOM), ME
  • University of the Incarnate Word, TX
  • West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, WV

Dental

Howard University College of Dental Medicine, DC
Touro College of Dental Medicine, NY
Temple University College of Dental Medicine, PA
Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Arizona, AZ
Tufts University Dental School, MA

Veterinary

  • Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine, CO
  • East Tennessee University of Veterinary Medicine, TN
  • Florida State College of Veterinary Medicine, FL
  • Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine, VA
  • Louisiana State University College of Veterinary Medicine, LA
  • Long Island University Veterinary, NY
  • Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine, AZ
  • Purdue Veterinary College, IN
  • Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, MA
  • University of Pennsylvania College of Veterinary Medicine, PA
  • University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, TN

Podiatric Medicine

  • Barry University College of Podiatric Medicine, FL
  • California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt University, CA
  • New York College of Podiatric Medicine, NY

Optometry

  • Indiana University College of Optometry, IN
  • New England College of Optometry, MA
  • Salus University, PA
  • SUNY College of Optometry, NY
  • Ohio State University College of Optometry, OH

Physician Assistant

  • Assumption University, Physician Assistant Program, MA
  • Baypath University Physician Assistant School, MA
  • Bridgeport University PA School, CT
  • Canisius College, Physician Assistant Program, NY
  • Case Western Reserve, Physician Assistant Program, OH
  • Emory & Henry PA School, VA
  • Johnson & Wales College of Physician Assistant, RI
  • MCPHS Physician Assistant School, MA
  • Massachusetts General Hospital PA School, MA
  • Pace University PA School, NY
  • Springfield College Physician Assistant School, MA
  • Stony Brook PA School, NY
  • Sullivan University PA School, KY
  • Temple University PA School, PA
  • Tufts University School of Physician Assistant, MA
  • University of Bridgeport Physician Assistant School, CT
  • University of St. Joseph Physician Assistant School, CT
  • Westfield State University Physician Assistant, MA
  • Yale University Online PA Program, CT

Pharmacy

*Howard University Medical School College of Pharmacy, DC
LECOM College of Pharmacy, Bradenton, FL
Western New England University College of Pharmacy, MA

Master of Public Health

Temple University MPH, Philadelphia, PA
*Thomas Jefferson MPH, Philadelphia, PA

Chanaé Brown

Photo of Chanae Brown, a graduate of the postbaccalaureate premedical studies program

“Before attending Elms College I wasn’t accepted to any programs. After completing the postbaccalaureate premedical studies program, I was accepted to a master’s degree program that finally allowed me to achieve my professional goals.”

Chanaé completed the postbaccalaureate premedical studies program at Elms College and graduated from a master’s degree program 2 years later. After being accepted to eight pharmacy schools, Chanaé decided to attend Howard University because the scholarship she earned nearly covered her entire tuition. Chanaé credits Elms for opening doors on her career path.

Curriculum

Click to view course requirements for the Pre-Medical Program.

Students must take a minimum of 27 credits at Elms College and they must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA to earn the certificate.

In addition to required science courses, students are encouraged to take courses in English, philosophy, psychology, sociology, and other academic areas to enable them to be as competitive as possible when applying to medical school and other health professional schools.

The courses listed in the “Recommended Courses” table might be required or strongly recommended by different institutions. Many of these courses have content that will support preparation for standardized tests. Students should check with the programs to which they wish to apply (medical, veterinary, dental, pharmacy, physician assistant, etc.) to ensure that they have all the required courses needed for the program or contact the Elms College premedical advisor, Prof. Janet Williams, Ph.D., at williamsj@elms.edu.

The courses listed in the “Special Recommendation Courses” courses in this category fulfill requirements of many professional schools.

Graduate Courses

Please refer to the master’s in biomedical sciences program for additional courses.

Premedical Prerequisite Courses

Course #Course Name# of Credit Hours
BIO 1203/1203LGeneral Biology 1 Lecture and Lab3+1
BIO 1204/1204LGeneral Biology 2 Lecture and Lab3+1
CHE 1201/1201LGeneral Chemistry 1 Lecture and Lab3+1
CHE 1202/1202LGeneral Chemistry 2 Lecture and Lab3+1
CHE 2101/2101LOrganic Chemistry 1 Lecture and Lab3+1
CHE 2102/2102LOrganic Chemistry 2 Lecture and Lab3+1
PHY 1005/1005LGeneral Physics 1 Lecture and Lab3+1
PHY 1006/1006LGeneral Physics 2 Lecture and Lab3+1
BIO 4306/4306LBiochemistry Lecture and Lab3+1
MAT 1009Statistics3
MAT 1301Calculus 1 (Differential Equations)3
ENG XXXXWriting Composition3
ENG XXXXReading Comprehension3
PSY 1001General Psychology3
SOC 1001Introductory Sociology3
PSY 3009Social Psychology (alternative to PSY 1001 and SOC 1001)3

Recommended Courses

Course #Course Name# of Credit Hours
BIO 3001/3001LDevelopmental Biology Lecture and Lab3+1
BIO 3006Medical Terminology3
BIO 3103/3103LAnatomy & Physiology 1 Lecture and Lab3+1
BIO 3104/3104LAnatomy & Physiology 2 Lecture and Lab3+1
BIO 3106Cell Biology3
BIO 3201/3201LGenetics Lecture and Lab3+1
BIO 3206/3206LMolecular Biology Lecture and Lab3+1
BIO 3300/3300LMicrobiology Lecture and Lab3+1
BIO 3305Nutrition3
BIO 3400Immunology3
BIO 4306/4306LBiochemistry3+1
BIO 4009/4009AResearch & Independent Study2/1
BIO 4010Research Methods1-2
BIO 4011Research Experiences1-2

Additional Recommendations

Course #Course Name# of Credit Hours
BMH 3007Bioethics3
PHI 2408Healthcare Ethics3
BMH XXXXOther courses in Bioethics & Medical Humanities3+
BIO XXXXAdditional courses in biology and/or biotechnology3+
BMS XXXXAdditional courses in biomedical sciences3+