Through hands-on clinical education in the heart of a rapidly evolving city, the Wayne State University School of Medicine provides a distinct experiential advantage that sets you apart from your peers at other colleges, especially when applying for residency programs. Whether in our partner hospitals or in surrounding communities, you can put your knowledge to work treating patients in Detroit one of the most dynamic urban environments in the world.

The Post Baccalaureate Program was established by Charles F. Whitten, M.D., in 1969 as the first program of its kind in the country. It is a non-degree-granting program for qualified, low-income students seeking admission to medical school. The program encourages diversity in health care professions by increasing the number of physicians from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds.

For more information, please contact Dr. Jason Brooks at jrbrooks@med.wayne.edu or 313.577.3431. 

For more information about applying to medical school please contact Deborah Holland at dholland@med.wayne.edu. or 313.577.3153

To assist your application process the application is avaliable as PDF to review before hand here.

Application Link: https://waynestate.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a9RxF5FxVdlGdkG

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Post Baccalaureate Program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. Must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, Canadian citizen, or any student who has completed a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree at Wayne State University regardless of citizenship.
2. Must be a Michigan resident.
   1. Preference will be given to first-generation college graduates. 
3. Have received a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution by June of the year for which admission is requested.
4. A minimum MCAT score of 491is required. 
   1. The MCAT must have been taken within the past 3 years at time of application and no more than 2 times in the last year. 
   2. Maximum of six (6) total attempts on the MCAT prior to applying. 
5. Three (3) letters of recommendation (see Letters of Recommendation Policy).
6. Minimum undergraduate total cumulative GPA of 2.75
7. Completion of medical school prerequisites (see Premedical Coursework Policy).
   1. Have a combined biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics GPA of 2.5
8. A current, complete application with American Medical College Application Service® AMCAS
9. Must meet the Technical, Non-Academic Standards

Application and Selection

Students must submit an electronic application (available annually in March), three (3) letters of recommendation, and all MCAT scores by the posted deadline.  If the MCAT is scheduled for March, upload the test reservation receipt as a PDF.  Applications will be selected with a receipt of a March test date.  

A secondary application may be requested and reviewed during the month of April.  Selected students will be interviewed in May and June.  Interviews will be conducted by the Post Baccalaureate Selection Committee, which consists of physicians, faculty, and DEI staff. The Post Baccalaureate Selection Committee is chaired by the Vice Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. A maximum of 16 students are accepted each year.  

Upon completion of the certificate program, students shall be assessed to determine if they have met the program requirements and if they will be recommended to the Admissions Committee for admission to the medical school, as the final responsibility for accepting students rests with Admissions Committee. 

Frequently asked questions

• AMCAS Application 
• 2 Semesters of General Biology
• 2 Semesters of General/Inorganic Chemistry
• 2 Semesters of Physics
• Semester of Writing
• Semesters of Organic Chemistry or 1 Semester of Organic Chemistry and 1 Semester of Biochemistry
• A minimum of 1 semester of laboratory coursework (in chemistry, physics, and/or biology)
• Recommended: Biochemistry Statistics Medical ethics Mathematics Social science
• Upper-level biology

• Learning assessment(s)
• Academic assessment (based on course work)
• Non-cognitive assessment
• Professionalism assessment

• Biochemistry
• Embryology
• Gross Anatomy
• Histology
• Physiology

Is this a degree granting program?
No, the Post Baccalaureate Program is not a degree granting program.

Is this a certificate granting program?
Yes, the Premedical Post Baccalaureate Program is a certificate program through the Wayne State University Office of Executive and Professional Development. Students who successfully complete the program with the required instructional hours will receive a certficiate at the end of the program year.

Is there a tuition charge for this program?
All program fees for accepted participants are funded by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. There are no additional course fees for participants. As a reminder, the Post Baccalaureate Program is limited to low-income residents in Michigan who meet program criteria and are selected for the program through a holistic application review and interview process.

How long is the program?
The in-person program begins at the end of August and runs through June of the following year.

Do program participants qualify for financial aid?
No, program participants do not qualify for financial aid because all program fees are paid for by the School of Medicine's Office of Diversity and Inclusion. In addition, program participants receive a living stipend during their year in the program. There are no additional program expenses and therefore, participants are not eligible for financial aid.