Student Life - Premedicine Post-baccalaureate Certificate Program

Northwestern University School of Continuing Studies (SCS) boasts a remarkably supportive student body. Students often collaborate in study groups and readily share information and tips for success with one another. While students at SCS represent a broad diversity of backgrounds and experiences, Premedicine and Professional Health Careers Program students share similar ambitions and goals. Students understand the difficulty of balancing work and homelife with a rigorous academic program.

Nicole Lopez
Premedicine Program

"Even though I found work in my field of photography, it felt empty," says Nicole Lopez, a student in SCS's Premedicine Program. "I wanted to contribute more." The turning point for Lopez came when a family member died of cancer, just months after Lopez graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a major in photography. That was when Lopez set her sights on becoming a doctor.

The catch was that as an undergraduate Lopez had taken only a few science courses. She discovered that the SCS program offers all the premedical courses she needed, and she liked the program's flexible structure, which allows students to complete it in one to two years. She also qualified for financial aid.

Getting into the program was only the first hurdle. "The program is definitely challenging," says Lopez. "Even though I was used to focusing on a project, I had to change my approach to reading, problem-solving and studying." Having a support system made all the difference. "At Northwestern the instructors and advisers are there for you," says Lopez. "They want you to do well, and they're really accessible."

Lopez also relies on Northwestern University Pre-health Professionals (NUPP), a student support and networking group. "It's good to have a sense of community," says Lopez, who is vice president of the group. With input from Northwestern advisers, Lopez and her classmates share strategies for preparing for the MCAT and applying to medical school. In addition to her classes, Lopez is gaining hands-on experience by volunteering at a free medical clinic on Chicago's West Side.

"You couldn't ask for a better education than you receive at Northwestern," says Lopez, who dreams of someday volunteering for Doctors Without Borders. "I'm moving toward what I really want to be. It's given me a whole new level of confidence."

Northwestern University Pre-Health Professionals Group (NUPP)

Students' shared sense of purpose and support for one another is most obvious in the activities of the Northwestern University Pre-Health Professionals student group. The NUPP group is first and foremost a community dedicated to the successful admission of its members into programs that lead to careers in medicine, health, and veterinary practice. In addition, NUPP serves as a forum for the discussion and presentation of professional and academic experiences, as a collective resource of relevant information, as a social network and as a representative for the body of non-traditional pre-health students and their unique needs.

Clinical and Volunteer Experience

Medical schools and graduate programs are looking for applicants with experience in a clinical setting. Volunteering in one of Chicago's health services institutions is not only a great way to demonstrate your commitment to a medical career, it is a unique process for gaining experience, helping people and working with the general public. Most applicants to medical school have had some working experience in healthcare and laboratory settings. All students should consider being a volunteer as early as possible to fully realize the responsibility of a medical career. Also, experience in clinical and professional settings will make you a more competitive applicant for medical schools and graduate programs. Research the medical schools and graduate programs to which you plan to apply to see the application requirements for volunteer hours. It is recommended that students complete the bulk of their volunteering hours early in the program before the most difficult portion of the curriculum. Opportunities for such experiences are listed on the NUPP web site and are communicated to students via e-mail.