Trevor McDonald studied math in college and worked in digital marketing before realizing that practicing medicine was what he wanted all along.
After graduating from college in 2015, he returned to school in 2017 when he enrolled in UVM’s Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program. Two years after completing the program, McDonald is now a medical student at the UVM Larner College of Medicine.
“Going to UVM’s post-baccalaureate pre-med program was a big switch for me,” says McDonald, who grew up in southern Vermont. “I studied math at Bowdoin College but didn’t have any long-term plans back then. One of the reasons I was drawn to math was because of its puzzle aspect and using whatever equations and tools I needed to find an answer. Being drawn to puzzles and problem-solving helped me realize that working in medicine was something I wanted to do with my life.”
Students in the UVM program are typically recent college graduates and individuals who have an established career and are now looking to change career paths or enhance their current credentials.
The 12 to 24-month program offers specialized tracks to help students pursue a background in a specific medical field of interest. The Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program helps students pursue medical, dental, veterinary, pharmacy, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, physical therapy, and other health professions.
UVM’s proximity to an academic medical center and the program’s high acceptance rate for students headed to medical schools and health professional schools also gives post-bacc premedical students a significant advantage.
The UVM post bacc pre med program is designed for students who:
- Have a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.2 or higher and a strong academic record.
- Need science and math courses required for admission into medical school and other healthcare professional programs.
- Want personalized advising and support.
McDonald enrolled in the program’s pre-medical track, which curriculum ranges from general chemistry and physics to medical biology and genetics. McDonald, who started medical school this fall, is waiting to see what he’ll specialize in, although he is interested in pediatrics and working with children.
“For me, the post-bacc program worked out great,” he says. “There’s a medical center right here on UVM’s campus, so that meant I could go straight from class to go volunteer at the hospital and get to know people—staff, medical students, patients, and doctors. It was such a positive experience.”
Learn more about UVM’s Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program
