It is a program specifically for college graduates who want to apply to medical school and need to fulfill prerequisites and/or raise their undergraduate GPA before applying.

UC Santa Cruz Extension has an unmatched reputation for excellence. We are the professional education branch of the University of California, Santa Cruz, one of the finest public research institutions in the U.S. Our campus-approved academic curricula and industry-savvy instructors are widely respected and contribute to your successful completion of a high-caliber course of study.

• Students who want to improve their GPA and make their application stand out in the medical school admissions process
• Students interested in Primary Care careers
• Students preparing for the MCAT or retaking the MCAT
• Students wanting to study with a flexible schedule (part-time, full-time, evenings)
• Students interested in taking individual courses.

Yes. We provide one-on-one extended career counseling.

Yes, we offer highly discounted MCAT prep via a partnership with Kaplan.

Yes. Our program is unique in that it provides flexible timing of courses so that participants can work while attending the program.

Our courses are taught in various formats and schedules. We have some evening workshops as well as live-online and online, self-paced formats. A new cohort starting in Fall 2024 will also require in-person participation in the Monterey Bay area.

Because our program is geared to the individual needs of each student, the duration varies from student to student. Academic enhancers may take courses for a year while career changes may need two to three times longer to update their skills.

No. Extension courses are open to the general public, so you do not have to be formally accepted into a program to enroll in courses.

One exception is for the Fall 2024 cohort which will meet in-person in the Monterey Bay area. That program will be by application only.

While Extension students are not eligible for federal financial aid, there are several options spelled out on our Financial Assistance page such as private student loans.

Note: The Fall 2024 cohort will have 10 fully funded scholarships to qualifying individuals.

Select the option closest to Health Sciences or Premed Postbaccalaureate. This selection is simply for information purposes and will not influence the lender's provision for a loan.

Students may choose any loan lender to fund the program. We recommend our students choose the Sallie Mae Smart Option Student Loan for Undergraduates or the College Ave Career Loan. We encourage students to talk with loan lenders about the program and have them help select the best option.

The UC Santa Cruz School Code is 001321.

If you would like to learn more about whether this program would be a good fit for you, please email us at postbacc@ucsc.edu. We offer online information sessions so you can ask staff questions in real time. Register for an individualized Q&A.