While they are completely separate programs, the most significant difference is that the LKSOM Pre-Medical Postbaccalaureate Advanced Core (ACMS) Program includes a conditional acceptance into LKSOM on successful completion, without a growth year.
The CST Postbaccalaureate Pre-Health Program is for applicants who wish to apply more broadly to a variety of medical schools, to link to one of our linkage partners, or apply early decision to the school of their choice. Our program does not include a conditional acceptance to LKSOM.
The CST Postbaccalaureate Pre-Health Program has linkages with three medical schools.
Applying to our ACHS program has no impact (negative or positive) on an application to LKSOM's ACMS program. BUT PLEASE NOTE: we do no share an applicant pool, which means that you need to complete an application for EACH program that you want to be considered by. We are unable to speak on behalf of the LKSOM admissions process in any official capacity, nor can they speak on behalf of ours.
The Basic Core of Medical Sciences (BCMS) Career Changer program at LKSOM is no longer being offered. However, the CST BCHS program is still being offered.
The Postbaccalaureate Pre-Health Program is an undergraduate-level non-degree-granting Postbaccalaureate program for college graduates interested in applying to various health professions, including medicine, dentistry, physician assistant, physical therapy, and/or podiatry. We offer both a Career Changer (BCHS) path and an Academic Enhancer (ACHS) path. We off only in-person, daytime courses.
The career changer track (BCHS) is for students who took only a few or no science prerequisites when completing their baccalaureate degrees; they take the required core undergraduate science courses to prepare for standardized tests (MCAT, DAT, or GRE).
The academic enhancement track (ACHS) is for students who have taken science prerequisites but who would like to enhance their academic profiles by doing additional science coursework to strengthen their science GPAs and prepare for standardized tests (MCAT, DAT, or GRE); they take upper-level undergraduate biology courses to enhance their academic profiles.
All tracks offer a structured course of study with pre-health-tailored courses and labs, recitations, academic support, and standardized test preparation. Students attend all classes, labs, and recitations as a cohort. Pre-Med, Pre-Dent, and Pre-Podiatry students attend postbacc exclusive courses; Pre-PA, Pre-pharmacy, and Pre-PT students do take 1-2 courses with other undergraduate students. We off only in-person, daytime courses.
Our program also provides assistance with all the elements of the professional school application process, including both group & one-on-one advising opportunities.
Academically, all of our courses are coded at the undergraduate level so that all A's earned in the program are boosting your cumulative Undergraduate GPA and Science GPA.
For the purposes of financial aid, our program's students are considered 5th year undergraduates in a non-degree year.
We have a Summer start for our BCHS programs, which last a full 12 months (4 semesters: Summer 1, Summer 2, Fall and Spring).
We have a Fall start for our ACHS programs, which last a standard academic year (two semesters, Fall and Spring.)
All programs follow Temple's Undergraduate Academic Calendar regarding holidays, final exam schedules, etc.
We do offer volunteering opportunities through our student organization. However, we will expect you to have already obtained some of this experience before admission in order to demonstrate that you are making an informed choice in pursuing a health profession.
Successful applicants to our program typically have an average cumulative GPA of 3.0, a documented history of service, knowledge of the health career profession, and strong letters of recommendation. They also exhibit professionalism, resilience, compassion, integrity, dedication, accountability, and respect for others.
No, but you must report what standardized test scores you already have when you apply so that the Admissions Committee can gauge how much the program can help your investment of time, money, and effort into the program pay off.
Please note: some of our Linkage partners do have standardized test requirements beyond what our policies are.
Please do NOT take the MCAT or DAT to improve your candidacy for a postbacc program. There is no such thing as a postbacc entrance exam. The only reason to sit for either of these tests is because one is confident that they will earn a score that is competitive for professional school. These tests ARE NOT like the SAT; the more times you have to sit for the MCAT or DAT, the more you are compromising you professional school application.
No. However, successful applicants to our program typically have an average cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above.
Yes. Two (2) letters of recommendation are required. We prefer letter writers submit letters directly to PostBacCAS, however, letters can also be submitted via Interfolio to pbdocs@temple.edu.
Letters from the following categories are common: health professions advisors, science professors, professors in other disciplines, healthcare professionals, coaches, employers, supervisors, and/or volunteer coordinators.
SGPA is calculated via PostBacCAS using biology, chemistry, math, and physics courses. For more information, visit the AMCAS Course Classification Guide.
Please refer to our application in PostBacCAS for specific dates.
Applicants typically receive invitations to interviews within 2-3 weeks after their application has been verified by PostBacCAS and decisions regarding acceptance 2-3 weeks after interviews. Decisions are communicated via email and sent to the email address listed on the application.
Class selection is made on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to complete your application at your earliest convenience, to be considered.
Yes. The College of Science and Technology (CST) Postbaccalaureate Pre-Health Program typically begins interviewing in October and continues until the cohorts are filled—typically in March for BCHS and June for ACHS.
Interviews are by invitation only.
Depending on the track, students will take a full course load (3-4 courses) for the academic year. BCHS students and pre-PT students take General Chemistry in the summer.
Learn more about our tracks
Our program offers classes exclusively for our pre-med, pre-dent, and pre-PA postbacc students, with a customized curriculum that is mapped to include the topics covered in standardized tests. Pre-PA students do take 1-2 classes with other undergraduate students.
It depends on multiple variables, such as how many courses you have taken, when you took the course(s), what grade(s) you received. These variables will be evaluated after your application has been submitted and verified. Once you apply, we will review your entire portfolio to make a decision.
Yes indeed! Our advising curriculum focuses on learning skills, studying techniques, time-management approaches, test-taking strategies, and other useful advice on top of all of the pre-professional advising we do throughout the year.
Our program offers expert standardized test preparation at no additional cost to students.
A linkage agreement is a formal contract between a Postbaccalaureate program and a health professions school that allows exceptional students with a strong interest in that school to accelerate the application process.
Each of our linkage agreements allows the program to nominate for you an interview if you meet the professional school guidelines. You will work closely with your postbaccalaureate advisor to determine whether you qualify and the best time to apply.
Students who are part of our program typically have a transitional year, generally referred to as the gap or the glide year, between completion of the program and the time they begin health professional schools.
The growth year is a very useful and productive period for students who have completed this program because it allows time for medical, research, or employment opportunities that help students enhance their applications to health professional school.