Penn’s Pre-Health Post-Baccalaureate Programs

Penn’s Pre-Health Post-Baccalaureate Program Students in class

Prepare for health professional school success with Ivy League academics and individualized support

In the University of Pennsylvania’s Pre-Health Post-Baccalaureate Programs, you receive Ivy League preparation for demanding health professional schools. Our world-class faculty and dedicated program staff help you prepare to excel in your field. We also offer key admissions support as you prepare applications for medical, dental, or veterinary school.

  • Enroll in Pre-Health Core Studies if you do not have a background in the sciences and are seeking the fundamental groundwork for your future health profession
  • Enroll in Pre-Health Specialized Studies if you have a significant science background and want to bolster your academic credentials and update your knowledge of advanced topics

Many of our students don't fit neatly into either track, and students with some prior science coursework may qualify to start in the summer term and complete the program in one year. Our expert advising team helps you develop a personalized profile of classes.

All of our Pre-Health students can:

  • Gain clinical, research, and service experience in the Penn Health Network and the Greater Philadelphia community
  • Receive one-on-one advising and committee letter support
  • Take advantage of standardized test preparation and discounts
  • Join a variety of health-related student interest groups
  • Participate in special guest lectures and seminars
  • Connect with a close-knit community of peers
Tre Colbert

Pre-Health Specialized Studies ’21
University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago Campus ’26—expected

"I was a biology major, but I still hadn't taken many of the courses that were offered in the Pre-Health Program. Those same courses are part of the reason my MCAT score went up significantly. My bio-chem professor made me love hard science. She brought the class together around collaboratively conquering biochemistry, and I left with a confidence that added to my MCAT improvement.”

Samantha Fox

Pre-Health Core Studies '23

"I chose a career path when I was 18 and I no longer felt like it was the right one for me. So, I took a step back to consider my interests and ways that I could explore them."