It is a program specifically for college graduates who want to apply to medical school and need to fulfill prerequisites and/or raise their undergraduate GPA before applying.

• Academic Enhancers: Graduates who need to improve their GPA and have already completed their medical school prerequisites.
• Career Changers: Graduates transitioning to medicine who need to fulfill prerequisites and enhance their qualifications.
• Students preparing for or retaking the MCAT: Increase your MCAT testing score.
• Students interested in individual science courses: Enroll in specific courses as needed.
• Students seeking a structured experience: Join a cohort for comprehensive support and mentorship

When taking courses a la carte or in a cohort, all participants must have completed a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution. Although not required, a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.8 is highly recommended.

Students may fill out the inquiry form to initiate the process.

To become a student in the UCSC Premed Postbaccalaureate program:

1. Create your student account.
2. You must first enroll in a course such as a science class or MCAT preparation.

You are then officially considered a student in the program!

Interested in joining a UCSC Premed Postbacc cohort?

1. Submit your application.
2. Receive your acceptance.

If a cohort isn’t currently available

If you'd like to begin your journey now by taking individual science courses, start by filling out the inquiry form to express your interest.

UC science and MCAT prep courses in the Premed Postbacc program are conducted in a live-online or online format.

Cohort programs require some in-person participation. See program details.

For official students in the Postbacc program, there are shadowing, clinical research, and mentorship opportunities through our partners at the Permanente Medical Group.

In addition to a free pre-advising session, we provide one-on-one extended career counseling for a fee. See course details for more information.

Yes, we offer highly discounted MCAT prep via a partnership with Kaplan.

Yes. Our program is unique in that it provides flexible course scheduling so participants can work while attending the program.

Yes. We provide one-on-one extended career counseling.

Yes, we offer highly discounted MCAT prep via a partnership with Kaplan.

Yes. Our program is unique in that it provides flexible timing of courses so that participants can work while attending the program.

The program duration varies according to the individual needs of each student. Academic enhancers may take courses for up to a year, while career changers may need two to three years. Upon being accepted into a cohort, students will be informed about the expected duration of the cohort.

Structured cohort programs have application deadlines. Please see our website for application details.

Note:

• The application for the Silicon Valley Cohort starting in Summer 2025 will open in January.
• The application for the Fall 2025 Central Coast Cohort will open in April.

Yes. Extension courses are open to the general public. You do not have to be formally accepted into any program to enroll in other courses.

Cohort members benefit from structured schedules, a shared cohort experience dedicated support, and exclusive features such as mentorships, and medical school additional application support, career counseling is included.

It includes science courses, MCAT prep, a series of workshops, advising, and other opportunities. Refer to the cohort page for more information.

We have two cohorts starting in 2025.

• Silicon Valley Cohort
  In-Person/Remote
  Starts Summer 2025
  Applications open in January.
  
  
• Central Coast Cohort
  In-Person
  Starts Fall 2025
  Applications open in April.

While most of the courses—UC science and MCAT prep courses—in the Premed Postbacc program are conducted in a live-online or online format, the cohorts may require some in-person participation.

If you need only a few courses, a structured cohort program might not be for you. We invite you to sign up for individual courses.

Quarter 1: Science Courses and Postbacc Lecture Series

Quarter 2: MCAT Prep

Quarter 3: Science Courses and Medical School Application Workshop

Quarter 4: Science Courses and Completion Review

Subject to change. Refer to program for details.

Shadowing:

During the year-long program, you will also have the opportunity to participate in five days of shadowing through the Permanente Medical Group

By the time the program begins, you will need to have completed your bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution.

Though not required, we highly recommend a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.00 and a minimum science GPA of 3.00.

The Silicon Valley structured cohort program may be taken remotely. However, UNEX cannot sponsor F-1 visa students who plan to participate in the program in person.

Yes, please reach out to postbacc@ucsc.edu.

Students can expect to pay a $70 application fee.

If accepted, students can expect to pay a non-refundable $2,000 enrollment fee plus fees for individual courses, workshops, and the lecture series. Review key dates and deadlines for more details.

Response: Federal aid is not available. We recommend private loans such as Sallie Mae Smart Option Student Loan, or College Ave Career Loan.

While Extension students are not eligible for federal financial aid, there are several options spelled out on our Financial Assistance page such as private student loans.

Note: The Fall 2024 cohort will have 10 fully funded scholarships to qualifying individuals.

Select the option closest to Health Sciences or Premed Postbaccalaureate. This selection is simply for information purposes and will not influence the lender's provision for a loan.

Students may choose any loan lender to fund the program. We recommend our students choose the Sallie Mae Smart Option Student Loan for Undergraduates or the College Ave Career Loan. We encourage students to talk with loan lenders about the program and have them help select the best option.

The UC Santa Cruz School Code is 001321.

If you would like to learn more about whether this program would be a good fit for you, please email us at postbacc@ucsc.edu. We offer online information sessions so you can ask staff questions in real time. Register for an individualized Q&A.