Premedical Postbaccalaureate Program (Postbacc Certificate)
If medical school admission has been a challenge, the Premedical Postbaccalaureate Program may be a perfect option for you. This program will help you strengthen your credentials and skills to better prepare you for the rigors of medical school. Additionally, you will be granted a guaranteed interview with Creighton University School of Medicine.
When you pursue a postbaccalaureate certificate in premedicine, you’ll be part of a 4-semester, 13-month experience that combines academic coursework with exam preparation, mentoring and clinical skills training, as well as a prematriculation session.
Premedical Postbaccalaureate Program Details
Successful postbaccalaureate students will be prepared to enter into medical school by:
- Meeting or exceeding minimum standards on the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)
- Excelling in the classroom with enhanced academic skills
- Being a positive influence on his or her peers
- Exhibiting professionalism and interpersonal skills
- Participating in learning outside the classroom, through volunteerism and clinical or mentoring opportunities
A laptop is provided upon admission into the program.
Session Schedule
Students will complete the program in four semesters:
Diagnostic Summer Session
June–July
- Academic skills assessment
- Curricular review sessions in biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics and English
- Training in study skills, test taking, time management, library resources and personal wellness
- Computer skills training
Academic Year Session
Fall Session: August–December
Spring Session: January–May
- Intensive coursework in biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics and English (writing and analytical reading)
- MCAT preparation course
Prematriculation Summer Session
June–July
- Medical school curricular review sessions in anatomy, molecular and cell biology (genetics and biochemistry), host defense, microbiology, pharmacology, neurosciences and academic excellence
Admission Requirements
Application opens: September 1
Application deadline: February 15
Seats in the program are limited.
An applicant to the Creighton University Premedical Postbaccalaureate Program must:
- Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or foreign national with a visa permitting permanent residence in the United States
- Possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution within the United States that reflects a significant focus on the sciences
- Have applied to and been denied entry into an accredited medical school
- Not have been previously accepted to an accredited medical school
- Not be currently enrolled in medical school
In addition, students are expected to meet the responsibility of the program fees which include tuition fees and living expenses. Financial assistance is available through FAFSA, Creighton University Monthly Electronic Payment Plan and Alternative Loans. Eligibility applies with the Monthly Electronic Payment Plan.
An application will not be evaluated until it is complete and includes the following:
- Premedical Postbaccalaureate Program application
- Verified American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) application
- Three letters of recommendation
- Official transcripts for all post-secondary schools attended - transcripts sent to AMCAS do not fulfill this requirement
Technical Standards (Question 16): Please review the School of Medicine Technical Standards. After you have read and understand fully the Technical Standards, complete Question 16 on the application form. If you have questions about these standards, please email our office at: postbac.appl@creighton.edu.
Background Check (Question 17): Please see the School of Medicine’s Background Check Policy. After you have read and understand the background check policy, complete Question 17 on the application form. If you have questions about this policy, please email our office at: postbac.appl@creighton.edu.
Personal Statement (Question 19): The personal statement should provide the admissions committee with:
- Information about your future goals as they relate to the Premedical Postbaccalaureate Program and your career in medicine
- Information on how other impactful experiences may have kept you from meeting your educational goals
AMCAS Application
Applicants are asked to submit a copy of their current and verified AMCAS Application report to medical school.
Letters of Recommendation
Three letters of reference from professors and/or community leaders are required for admission. Please request that the letters address the following:
- Commitment to the study of medicine
- Potential for academic success in the Premedical Postbaccalaureate Program
- Evidence of demonstrated empathy and compassion for humankind
- Rationale for applicant’s lack of success to date, in gaining entry to the study of medicine
Please have letters of recommendation mailed to the same address as your transcripts (below), or emailed to: jonathansaffold@creighton.edu.
Transcripts
We are aware that AMCAS has already received your transcripts; however, Creighton University also needs to receive official copies. Therefore, all applicants are to submit official transcripts of all academic work. If you have earned a degree from an institution, the transcript must reflect that status. If you are currently enrolled in a degree program we ask that you submit a transcript and then request that a transcript be sent after the posting of your grades/degree.
Official Transcripts can be emailed to jonathansaffold@creighton.edu or mailed to:
Premedical Postbaccalaureate Program
Attn: Jonathan Saffold
Creighton University
Eppley Building, B11
2500 California Plaza
Omaha, NE 68178
Complete Applications
You will be notified by email when your file is complete. If you do not receive an email notification within 10 days, please contact Zmarak Daud at postbac.appl@creighton.edu. Your file cannot receive consideration by the Postbaccalaureate Admissions Committee until it is complete.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Applicants to the Premedical Postbaccalaureate Program who wish to be considered for federal student aid will need to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Due to the costs of the program and limited federal loan funds, many students opt for an alternative loan to help cover the costs of this program. Admitted students will need to provide a copy of the alternative loan approval (or other satisfactory payment arrangement) along with their acceptance letter.
Premedical Postbaccalaureate Student Outcomes
Since 2000, 86% of our students have matriculated into medical school. A number of premedical postbaccalaureate students have enrolled into Creighton University School of Medicine, while other students have enrolled at various allopathic schools, colleges of osteopathic medicine, PhD and DNP Programs. Since 2000, our students have gone on to earn a variety of degrees:
- 86% graduated with MD
- 7% graduated with DO
- 5% graduated with PhD
- 2% graduated DNP program
If my AMCAS application is online with Creighton, do I still need to send all required documents?
- Yes, you are required to submit the necessary documentation.
What is an LCME-accredited school?
- The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) is the nationally recognized accrediting authority for medical education programs leading to the MD degree in the United States and Canada. The LCME is sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Medical Association.
If I apply/get accepted to the postbaccalaureate program will I have to withdraw my medical school application?
- Yes, all medical school applications must be withdrawn by the start of the program.
Is your program a career-changer?
- No, it is an academic-enhancer program for students previously denied admission to medical school.
Can I postpone my acceptance until next year due to circumstances beyond my control?
- Unfortunately, there is no deferment for the program. If you are accepted for admission and choose not to enroll, you will need to reapply next year.
Does completion of this program guarantee a spot in the Creighton School of Medicine?
- No, but you will be granted a guaranteed interview with Creighton University School of Medicine.
Where have students who have completed your program placed?
- The goal of the Premedical Postbaccalaureate Program is to assist students in becoming more competitive applicants to medical school. When looking into medical school, it is important to review the process holistically, ensuring that the environment has adequate resources to fulfill your professional and academic endeavors as well as focus on your personal well-being. Graduates of the Premedical Postbaccalaureate Program have successfully attended medical schools around the globe, including:
- Creighton University
- Duke University
- University of North Carolina
- Saint Louis University School of Medicine
- University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
- Medical College of Georgia
- Johns Hopkins University
- University of Texas
- Ohio State University
- Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
- University of Minnesota
- University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Ross University
“The postbaccalaureate program gets you in the right mindset, so you know what it takes to succeed in medical school.”
Joshua Ulanday, MD’20
