The Hunter College Postbaccalaureate Prehealth Program has been an integral part of the Hunter Community for over twenty years.  As of spring 2009 the Program moved to a new format, offering a NYS Postbaccalaureate Certificate in Health Careers Preparation.  The Certificate is not required by medical schools; however, it does signify that a student has satisfactorily completed a premedical curriculum as recognized by Hunter College and the State of New York. The intent of the Postbaccalaureate Program is to provide students who completed their undergraduate education elsewhere an opportunity to earn an academic credential of achievement from Hunter College.  Students will be selected based on their academic record, their commitment to service, and their desire to have Hunter support their professional goals, especially through the health professions application process. 

There are two tracks within the Program, one for students with little or no science preparation (Postbaccalaureate Science Preparatory Program—PBSPT). The second track is for students who wish to enhance their academic record (Postbaccalaureate Science Enrichment Program – PBSET).  

The Prehealth Advisor can only see students who are currently enrolled at Hunter or who are Hunter alumni.  All other students with questions or concerns should attend one of the information sessions offered through Hunter's Welcome Center in 100 North.  The current schedule is posted on this website.

REQUIREMENTS:

  All students entering the Program must complete at least six lectures and six labs at Hunter College (other Hunter courses may substitute for labs) in order to earn the Certificate and be eligible for any of the linkage programs.*

  A competitive applicant should have a non-science GPA of at least 3.00 and a science GPA of at least 2.7. Lower GPA’s will be considered on a case by case basis.

  All students entering the program will be required to fulfill a fourteen hour per semester service obligation to Hunter College.  (one hour per week)

  The Prehealth Committee letter is an integral part of the qualification for the Certificate.  All students in the program must qualify for a Prehealth Committee letter from Hunter College in order to receive the Certificate.   

  A GPA of 3.00, as well as the completion of six lectures and six labs at Hunter College will be required of students in both Programs in order to receive the Certificate.*

The Certificate Program is open to US citizens and permanent residents (green card holders) only.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Your application to the postbaccalaureate program is a two-part endeavor. You must first make application through UAPC, the CUNY Processing Center for all students applying to Hunter College.  When applying to UAPC you will complete their online application and send all official transcripts to their office (address listed below).  Once you have completed the online application you should begin our supplemental application (see below).  With the supplemental application you must include your resume, your personal statement and a letter of recommendation as well as unofficial copies of all transcripts. We cannot make any decisions about your application until you have received an acceptance from UAPC.  Their acceptance letter will come to you via email.  You can then expect to hear from us within 2 weeks of hearing from UAPC. 

P.O. Box 359023

  Students apply through the CUNY online transfer application http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/prospectivestudents/ug_students/2degree.shtml. Our Program code is 0339.

  CUNY Deadline dates are March 15^th for entry into the Fall semester and October 1^st for Spring semester.* However, we have a rolling admissions process so students are encouraged to apply early as the Program is highly competitive and space is limited. Our suggested deadline dates are January 31st for the Fall and August 31st for the Spring.

  A supplemental application is required (click here).

*As of Ocotber 1^st, the review period for Spring 2010 applications is now CLOSED.  Students who have submitted their CUNY application and supplemental application after August 31st can be admitted to the Program but will NOT receive a guarantee of seats in their Spring 2010 courses.  We will ONLY send acceptances to students  if they've received an acceptance from CUNY.

Students who are currently enrolled at Hunter as second degree students in Program code 0337 will need to contact UAPC-CUNY (aonline@mail.cuny.edu) or call: 212-997-CUNY and ask that their application be reactivated to apply to the Postbaccalaureate Health Certificate code of 0339. No additional fees or transcripts will be required.

Students who are currently non-degree students at Hunter must follow the instructions for new second degree/transfer students entering for the first time.

All applicants should be sure to make Hunter their first choice on the CUNY application! 

  DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WITH THE SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATION 

- Recent resume
- A 750 word essay regarding your professional goals and your interest in the Program.
- Transcripts (un-official) from ALL universities ever attended (excluding foreign schools).  Please note that you would STILL need to provide OFFICIAL transcripts to CUNY's UAPC service for your transfer application. 
- A letter of recommendation:
          *A letter of support from someone in an academic (click here) , professional (click here) 
          or voluntary setting. 
          

ONCE ENROLLED

Most students who begin the Certificate program in the Fall term can expect to complete their coursework after two full academic years of study. In the third year, students may apply to their professional school programs and/or take advantage of research, volunteer or employment opportunities. Students may complete their coursework at their own pace on a part-time or full-time basis.  All students must complete their coursework within 36 months in order to qualify for the Certificate.  Meeting with the adviser to discuss schedules and progress towards the Certificate is required each semester.

 The Certificate is officially conferred only once a year, coinciding with Hunter College’s spring commencement ceremony.  However, eligible students may finish the Program in any semester.

ADVISING AND SUPPORT SERVICES

Postbaccalaureate students take classes along with Hunter undergrads.  All students receive individual guidance from the advisers on course selection, on volunteer and research opportunities, test prep programs, and on the application process.  The Prehealth Advisory Committee provides students with a composite letter of recommendation for their application to health professions schools as well.  Students are encouraged to become active on campus and the Prehealth Office has several initiatives for students to form study groups, community service programs such as CPR training, and tutoring. 

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Most students complete the premedical curriculum within two years. Once a student matriculates, a minimum of six of the required eight courses needed to apply to most schools of the health professions must be completed at Hunter. The following courses comprise the premedical curriculum and must all be completed for a letter grade of C or better with a semester average of at least 3.00:                                                                                    

• One year of college English, or the equivalent. (Most postbaccalaureate students have completed this requirement as undergraduates and may not need to take English at Hunter.)
• One year of college mathematics beyond pre-calculus, including at least one term of calculus. Statistics or a first semester computer programming course is recommended as the second mathematics course.
• One year of general physics, including labs (phys.110 and 120 or calculus –based physics 111 and 121)
• One year of general chemistry, including laboratory.(chem.102, 104 and 106 Lab)
• One year of organic chemistry, including laboratory. (chem.222 and 224 and 223 /225 Labs )
• One year of biology, including labs (biology 100 and 102)
• Students in the enrichment program will take a variety of courses--some of them will be as repeats of the courses above.  However, professional schools will wish to see new coursework completed.  Below are suggested upper division courses that will enhance one's application to any health professions school. (These courses will require prior approval by the department).
  

1. biochemistry
2. anatomy and physiology
3. immunology
4.  developmental biology
5. molecular evolution
6. cancer biology
7. neurobiology
8. cell and molecular biology
9. microbiology
10. statistics
11. biophysics
12. cell proliferation
13. Current topics in bio science
14. Endocrinology
15. Physiology of the nervous system
    

• All students entering the program will be required to fulfill a fourteen hour per semester service obligation (unpaid or paid) to Hunter College.  This obligation can be met through our study-buddy program, tutoring, club activities, teaching assistantships, or other community service activities on campus.
  
  

  Service Obligation Suggestion Postbaccalaureate students must participate in a community service activity at Hunter.  Below are suggested ways in which students may fulfill this requirement.  This list is not comprehensive but should be used as a guide.  If you have other ideas that you would like to discuss please feel free to contact my office! Dr. Alaie's courses -- biology 100 and 102 need tutors and study buddies.  Potential tutors should contact my office and we will assign a student to you.  You may also be currently enrolled in biology and would be willing to have a study session once a week with an undergraduate in the same course.  Again, please contact my office and I will match you with an undergraduate in your section.

Students enhancing their academic credentials can expect to take upper division courses in biology, chemistry and physics.  All students should meet with the advisors to ascertain the best courses for their individual needs.  Courses in immunology, genetics, biochemistry, neurobiology and biophysics are some examples of upper division courses available at Hunter.

LINKAGE PROGRAMS

The Postbaccalaureate Health Careers Preparation Program has a linkage program with Weill Cornell Medical School, Stonybrook College of Medicine, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, with plans for new collaborations in the very near future.

Only students in the Science Preparatory Program are eligible for Cornell’s linkage.  The linkage programs with Stonybrook, NYCOM and Touro are available to qualified students in both tracks. 

Students interested in linkage programs should meet with the adviser as soon as they arrive on campus.

CAMPUS COMMUNITY

Hunter has an active premed community.  There are a myriad of undergraduate clubs dedicated to the prehealth professions, including The American Medical Student Association, The Student National Medical Association-- Minority Association of Pre-medical Students, Global Brigades, as well as our official Premedinfo-L listserv: http://hunter.listserv.cuny.edu which will send pertinent information from Hunter’s administrative offices as well as postings for internships, jobs and other activities. 

Additionally, the postbaccalaureate students at Hunter have their own listserv and website.  This is a student run site, providing valuable information and resources.  To join the yahoo listserv follow this link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PreHealthPostBacc .  Visit their website at: http://www.geocities.com/hunter_postbacprehealth/index.html.  Students are encouraged to join BOTH Listservs as information from Premedinfo-L will not automatically go out to the yahoo group. 

ACCEPTANCES INTO HEALTH PROFESSIONS SCHOOLS

Hunter’s postbaccalaureate students have entered some of the most prestigious medical and dental schools in the country: Weill Cornell, Albert Einstein, Columbia, NYU, UCLA, Mt. Sinai, Stonybrook, Rochester and many others.  Students have also successfully entered schools for physical therapy, schools of veterinary medicine, of optometry and podiatry, pharmacy and physician assistant programs.  Acceptance rates to medical and dental schools are over 70% for successful applicants.

INFORMATION SESSIONS

Hunter's Welcome Center offers Information Sessions (100 Hunter North).  Please contact them in advance so that we might have a representative from the Program available for questions. The schedule for these sessions can be found at the following link http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/ugprospects/pressroom/announcements/campus-tours.  Our office is unable to see potential students.  Please email us at: prehealth@cuny.edu  if you have additional questions or concerns.

FINANCIAL AID:  Federal Stafford loans are available for second-degree students ONLY. Private educational loans are available to all students. Payment plans are also available.

 Students have the option of attempting to enter Hunter as non-degree students.  However, non-degree students register last and the availability of courses is therefore extremely limited.  Students are discouraged from taking this approach as not getting courses can be frustrating and there is absolutely nothing our office can do to assist in this endeavor.  Any courses one is able to acquire at Hunter as a non-degree student will certainly be counted towards the participation requirements if you are later accepted into the Certificate Program.  Non-degree students are not eligible for the linkage programs or for Committee letter support when they apply to health professions schools.

SUGGESTED TIMETABLES (Students may adjust this according to their needs.)

Timetable 1

Timetable 2

Timetable 3

*Occasionally one can take Chemistry 104 or 222 in summer.  But this is NOT always offered

  
DESCRIPTION OF COURSES

BIOL 100 Principles of Biology I: 7 hrs (3 lec, 3 lab 1 disc), 4.5 cr. Offered Fall only. The chemical basis of life; basic structure and function of pro- and eukaryotic cells; bioenergetics; Mundelein and molecular genetics; development and mechanisms of control of gene expression at all levels; population genetics and evolution. Note: this course has a materials fee.

 BIOL 102 Principles of Biology II: 7 hrs (3 lec, 3 lab 1 disc), 4.5 cr Offered Spring only. Taxonomy; homeostasis; internal transport and gas exchange in plants and animals; plant hormones; osmoregulation; mechanisms of action in the muscular, nervous, and neuroendrocrine systems; the senses, behavior; ecology. Note: this course has a materials fee.

 CHEM 102 General Chemistry I: 3 hrs, 3 cr. Coreq: CHEM 103; strongly recommended: completion of 11th yr algebra or MATH 121. This includes in-depth introduction to stoichiometric calculations, thermodynamics, redox reactions, electrochemistry, and chemical equilibrium. CHEM 102-105 or CHEM 111-113 are primarily for pre-med, medical laboratory technician, and science majors. 

 CHEM 104 General Chemistry II: 3 hrs, 3 cr. Prereq: CHEM 102 and 103, or CHEM 100 with perm chair; coreq: CHEM 105. This includes in-depth introduction to atomic and molecular structure and chemical bonding. CHEM 102-105 or CHEM 111-113 are primarily for pre-med, medical laboratory technician, and science majors.

 CHEM 106 General Chemistry Laboratory: 8 hrs (6 lab, 2 rec), 3 cr. Pre- or Coreq: CHEM 104. Experiments designed to illustrate the fundamental laws of chemistry. The course is equivalent to CHEM 103 and CHEM 105 and constitutes one year of general chemistry laboratory. A working understanding of the material which was covered in CHEM 102 and which is being covered in CHEM 104 is expected.

 * Physics 110: This is the first semester of the two-semester Introductory College Physics sequence based on college algebra. The subjects include mechanics, waves, sound, and heat. 7 hours per week (3 lecture, 3 laboratory, 1 recitation), 4.5 credits.

 * Physics 120: Prereq: PHYS 110 or PHYS 111.  This is the second semester of the two-semester Introductory College Physics sequence based on college algebra. The subjects include electricity and magnetism, light, and atomic physics. 7 hours per week (3 lecture, 3 laboratory, 1 recitation), 4.5 credits.

*Students may opt to take physics 111 and 121 if they have calculus I and II completed.

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