University administration has recently announced the creation of a post-baccalaureate pre-med program (PBPMP) for those interested in pursuing a broad range of careers in the medical field. This program was created as an initiative by the Experience St. Lawrence Task Force that focuses on “institutional structure, policy, and planning (SLU Magazine Winter 2021). This task force was created in 2019 by the St. Lawrence Board of trustees in hopes of boosting St. Lawrence’s status as an all-inclusive liberal arts college that provides the ability to both focus on multi-field majors as well as preparing students for medical school or postgraduate education.
The PBPMP provides spots for prospective students who have completed a bachelor’s degree within the United States. It gives these students the ability to complete St. Lawrence’s Foundations of Medicine course, a variety of upper-level science courses and CNA training including 120 hours of on-site experiences in the surrounding St. Lawrence community. Within this program, students can opt to take the “Career Changer” program which provides those who have graduated in a non-stem related field to enroll as a two-year full-time student. Prospective students can also apply to enroll in the “Enhancer” program, where they can complete a more abbreviated program to bolster their medical school applications or take a few extra classes if they decide later in their undergraduate career to switch over to a pre-med track.
Ava Hartley ‘24, who is majoring in Biology on the pre-nursing track, weighed in on the new program, “The program definitely helps [St. Lawrence] because it provides a broader scope of interests at a liberal arts school rather than just the liberal arts education,” Hartley says. Hartley continued to note that it isn’t common for liberal arts schools to have strong pre-med/pre-nursing tracks or pre-med post-baccalaureate programs, so it will “increase the amount of people that will want to go here, [and] give more options [for students] to get a well-rounded education at an awesome school.” Having the PBPMP program gives SLU students the ability to stay at the same university for an additional 1-2 years to make adjustments to their undergraduate experience if they want to pivot to a medical career or postgraduate education. “Students that have not taken science courses during their time at SLU [or other schools] would be most appropriate for the career changer program,” says Academic Support Specialist Jane King. “Students that have taken many of the prerequisite courses for medical school would be most appropriate for our enhancer program,” she continued.
Though the ability to receive individualized aid for the PBPMP program may vary, the yearly cost of the program sits at $27,000, with no institutional aid or scholarships available. Additionally, while working part or full-time jobs during these programs is discouraged, students can choose to put their CNA credential into use to work night hours outside of classes. This year will be the first year that St. Lawrence will be running the program, with the application window spanning from March 1 to May 1, followed by interviews for selected candidates and an official release date for decisions by June 1.