Review the Revised SDN Guide to Postbacs and Special Masters Programs

[Mr.Smile12]

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I am drafting a new online SDN Guide to Postbacs and Special Masters Programs and want your feedback! We have other guides on getting into dental school, occupational therapy, optometry, and physical therapy programs, and we want to be sure this new guide includes innovations implemented since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

1) Please review this page. Again, it is a draft.

2) For general impressions, comment publicly as part of this thread. Is the information valuable for those seeking a postbac opportunity? How much does this information reflect one's experiences with postbac/SMPs, especially the contemporary experience?

3) For corrections or concerns, send me a direct message or conversation with the specific changes requested. This includes discovering broken links or including programs or resources (with links).

4) We would be happy to insert testimonials that corroborate the advice (indicated as "BOX" in the draft). Send me a message with a quote we can use and the nature of attributing you (forum avatar or real name, program represented, or your characterization, etc.).

I'm hoping to announce the final copy of this Guide by the start of August 2024.

Thanks!

How to Choose a Post-Bacc or SMP | SDN

We break down what you should look for when choosing a post-bacc or special masters program (SMP) to further your health professional career.

www.studentdoctor.net

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I'm reading it now!

Thank you so much for this guide. I actually just started the process of seeking Postbac programs (mainly the ones in California) a few days ago.

I have been trying to find guides or even a list of Postbac programs that are geared towards Predental students but I couldn't find any so I started writing up my own guide for myself, however having a well written and updated guide like this is very helpful to students like me. This is a gem.

There are the few predental postbac programs I know of that are associated with some dental schools (I think there are 10?), but many other postbac programs have also expanded to consider predental students who need similar support.

If you have a listing of some of them (other than the ones I mention: Rutgers, Barry (which sends a lot of predental postbacs despite not having a dental school), SFSU, Cal East Bay, Texas-San Antonio, Boston U... I know there are a few more) and you think I should include them, let me know so I can set up as another sidebar.

There is one postbac program set up for pre-veterinary med students that I'm aware of (UIllinois), and I'm looking for others in that category.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I'm mainly looking for academic enhancers when it comes to postbac programs but it is difficult to find any that are associated with dental schools. I live in the Los Angeles area so I'm sad to see that there aren't many (or any) postbac programs that are near me and that work for predents. I'm still researching all the different programs but hope I'm not forced to move to a new city for a year. I guess I could use some help finding all postbac opportunities for predents in Los Angeles.

I'll be sure to mention any schools that should be added! Perhaps WesternU's MSMS program could count since it has a linkage with their dental school? Another could be UCSF's Post-Bac program that guarantees an interview at their dental school. UCLA also had a postbac program that either got you admission or an interview for their dental school but I hear that program has been on hold since 2022. That's about all I know for Postbac programs in California that offer interviews or linkage, the rest of the programs I've found are just normal postbacs that offer a good list of science courses, and one-on-one advising for your dental school application.

I get it. The California Postbac Consortium may help, but they are primarily associated with medical schools.
California Postbaccalaureate Consortium . I'm surprised if the UCLA postbac program has been suspended, but you are closer to the ground. Admissions & Prerequisites | UCLA Dentistry . Anyway, I'll see how to add Western's program: Master of Science in Medical Sciences | College of Health Sciences .