Questions about linkage programs.

[CaraCares]

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To preface all of this: I'm currently a graduate student in audiology, but I've decided that I want to go to medical school after completing my graduate program. But because I don't have the prerequisites for medical school, I've been looking into applying to post-bacc programs to get the prerequisites I need. I'm looking for a program that has linkage into a medical school, but I'm not quite sure what the benefits of linkage programs are.

Specifically, here are my questions:

• From what I understand, linkage programs are sort of like a "fast tracked" application process or something. The post-bacc program has a linkage to multiple medical schools, but you can only apply to one of the linked schools. Is this correct?
• If so, are you allowed to apply to other medical schools that do not have linkage with the post-bacc program as well? Or are you only allowed to apply to one school for that application cycle?
• If you are not allowed to apply to other medical schools at that time, is it even worth looking for a program that has linkage? Or should I just find a good program and apply to medical schools on my own? (I would like to skip a gap year, since I will already have an audiology doctorate degree that I have spent four years on, on top of undergrad.)

I've been doing a lot of research on my own, but I figured I'd see if anyone has any input, since I don't know anyone who is going through or has gone through this process. Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Philly145]

The main advantage to linking is that you get to skip the traditional gap year it takes to apply. You'll finish the post-bacc program in ~May, then start Med school in ~August of that same year. Linking is the only way this is possible.

Another advantage is that some linkages (not many) will let you skip the MCAT if you meet the (very high) stat requirements for that school.

From what I understand, linkage programs are sort of like a "fast tracked" application process or something. The post-bacc program has a linkage to multiple medical schools, but you can only apply to one of the linked schools. Is this correct?

Correct, if there are multiple linkages you only get to apply to 1.

If so, are you allowed to apply to other medical schools that do not have linkage with the post-bacc program as well? Or are you only allowed to apply to one school for that application cycle?

If you try to link and are unsuccessful, then you take the gap year to apply to as many places as you want.

I'm currently in a career change post bacc and am going through this process now.

 

[CaraCares]

Thank you! That helps a lot. So, I'm guessing it's pretty unheard of/practically impossible to skip the glide year without doing a linkage program? That's about what I expected.