Bennington Postbac Premed Program

Here are some photos of post-bac students creating Dye Sensitized Solar Cells as part of the lab component of Chemistry III. A key aspect of the science curriculum here at Bennington is engagement with the classroom material through hands-on projects. Students learn to work as a part of a team and to think scientifically in order to prepare for a career in healthcare.

I recently got the chance to catch up with Hannah, Bennington Postbac ‘17, to chat about her experience in the program and what she’s up to in her glide year. Check out her thoughts below.

Liam - Postbac Admissions Counselor

What led to your decision to go to medical school, and why did you choose Bennington's Postbac program?

I don't really have a succinct "elevator pitch" for why I want to be a doctor, unfortunately. I became interested in health when I was working for housing nonprofits in New Orleans and spending a lot of time inside low income, elderly and disabled peoples' homes. After doing a lot of direct service work, I became really passionate about how people providing a service communicate with clients (especially when the clients are from traditionally marginalized groups) and healthcare seemed like a field where communication is especially important and frequently overlooked, if that makes sense? Working as a doctor is also a good fit for me for many practical reasons--I like jobs with a mix of hands-on work, talking to people and academic challenge, I like that there's a clear career path, etc,. I also wound up really liking science/the human body, but I didn't know that until I started taking science coursework! As far as Bennington goes--I looked mostly at programs with small class sizes and a liberal arts focus with high acceptance rates into medical school. I wound up picking Bennington over similar schools technically because of scholarship money/tuition difference. But I also liked that Bennington treated itself as more of a science program than a pre-med program--I figure I have the rest of my life to immerse myself in healthcare but just one year to take science classes! Some of the other programs were a little bit more structured and had a ton of required volunteer opportunities and MCAT prep and med school visits and it all sounded very overwhelming--I would rather do one thing well than a bunch of things half-ass. Bennington had many of the same opportunities in terms of advising/volunteering/etc., but it was individualized and a little less hand-holdey. It wound up being a good fit for me because I'm pretty independent and self-motivated and sought out volunteer opportunities and healthcare exposure once I was feeling confident in my ability to keep on top of work in addition to extracurriculars.

What was the best part of your year at Bennington?

I really loved living in a small town. It took a while to feel like I was a part of the community, but by the time I left I felt like I knew the town really well. It took some initiative to get involved in the community--I played in the (surprisingly great) community orchestra, shadowed at the hospital, volunteered at the hospice program, went to trivia at the tap house every week, took an EMT course at the rescue squad, spent a lot of time at South Street, and actively tried to make friends with people outside of the post-bacc program. Bennington is a really great, friendly place once you get to know it, and there are so many charming towns in the area to explore and great hikes just a short drive away. I also really loved the professors at Bennington, who seemed to have chosen Bennington because they were particularly passionate about teaching (as opposed to just their own academic pursuits).

Where are you in the medical school application process, and how are you spending your glide year?

I'm done with applying to 15 schools and I just had my first interview at my state school (LSU). I've scheduled interviews at three other schools and I'm waiting to hear back from the rest. Glide year wise--I moved back to New Orleans, where I had been living before the post-bacc program, and I'm working as a barista and enjoying having a low-stakes fun job that pays well for a year before jumping back into serious schooling. I'm also about to start doing HIV testing and counseling again as a volunteer and I'm very excited about that.

How did you prepare for the MCAT, and how did you feel about the experience of taking it?

I took a few practice tests during my final semester of the post-bacc program and read a few sections of the biology review guide concurrent with studying topics in our Animal Physiology course, but for the most part I focused on school work during the year hoping that learning for my courses would pay off on the exam. After school ended, I stuck around in Bennington and studied full time for a month using a variety of materials, and kept my sanity by volunteering with the hospice program, spending time with friends and hiking. Overall, I was glad the Bennington program shied away from treating pre-med coursework as MCAT prep. I found that the emphasis in all of our courses on reading and analyzing scientific journal articles was really valuable for the MCAT, which is a test mostly structured around reading and responding to passages. As for the experience of taking it--ugh, totally awful, of course. It's a 7 hour exam in a miserable little windowless room, and you get fingerprinted and patted down SO many times. I assumed I hadn't done too well afterwards, which I think is very typical, but I actually did even better than my "goal score" so I was eventually so happy that I didn't have to re-take! 

Is there any advice you would give to students beginning the Postbac research and application process? 

One of the first cell bio labs of the year - Postbacs collaborating with undergrads with the support of faculty Amie M and tech (wizard) David N. 

Hi Christina,There's necessarily a great deal of building and integration of material across semesters. Most of our classes are cumulative and refer back to earlier content, both within the same science and across others. Sometimes this cross-disciplinary integration is occurring simultaneously; for example, we worked on hemoglobin in animal physiology and biochemistry around the same time, taking it from somewhat different angles in each. I think you'd find a lot of this building and integration in any postbac premed program, but Bennington in particular goes further. We take chemistry 1 and 2 over the summer, with organic and general chemistry integrated from the start in an innovative approach created by our chemistry professors. It's hard to underemphasize the value in this, since taking them separately makes the content feel disjointed and like rote memorization, while taking them together allows you to apply important concepts from the get-go. Also, from then on all of our professors know our chemistry background and can incorporate references to chemical concepts into our teaching. Also, most programs will teach these concepts in a rote memorization fashion, while Bennington is always emphasizing comprehension over memorization. We spend much more time reading and interpreting scientific papers than taking tests on vocabulary words. This instills a more cohesive awareness of how science works, and in my opinion is also better prep for the MCAT than pure memorization, since MCAT questions ask you to interpret data and apply concepts, not to regurgitate facts.  -Christian, postbac ‘17

Nick is this week's Postbac in the Spotlight. 

Nick went to high school and college in Rhode Island, graduating from the University of Rhode Island in 2015 with a major in philosophy and a minor in political science. Originally interested in law, it wasn’t until the very end of his time as an undergraduate that Nick realized he might want to work in medicine. Like many people considering medical school, the process of becoming a physician was at first overwhelming and felt like an impossible barrier. But after shadowing various physicians and learning about one-year postbac programs, Nick decided to delve into the process of becoming a physician at Bennington College.

What made you change your mind from wanting to become a lawyer to becoming a physician? 

“During college, I was considering going into law and had an internship at a courthouse. That internship helped me to understand what the work of a lawyer is like, and ultimately I realized that I didn’t want to go into the legal field. As I was finishing my last semester in college, I started shadowing a primary care physician. I was able to compare the relationships between attorney and client and physician and patient, and I realized that the work of a physician suits my personality. Through shadowing, I came to really value the patient-physician relationship and the types of problems that physicians deal with daily.”

Even after you realized that you were interested in medicine, you were still hesitant to go back to school. What finally persuaded you to go for it? 

“I started to volunteer at a hospital and I quickly learned that I wanted to be in that type of environment regularly. The hospital felt exciting to me. I continued to shadow physicians and specifically shadowed a pediatrician. Witnessing how physicians can advocate for patients and how they manage various important relationships had an impact on me as well. All of these experiences helped me make up my mind and finally encouraged me to start the premed track.” 

Why did you choose the Bennington postbac program?

“Before deciding to do a postbac program, I was very hesitant because the process of becoming a physician felt overwhelming. I didn’t have a science background, and had specifically avoided science classes up until this point. I wanted to go somewhere that guaranteed me a seat in the classes that I needed, and I wanted to get all the prereq courses done in one year as a full-time student. Bennington was in the geographic radius I drew for myself, and as I learned more about the program I was attracted to the small class size and seminar style classes. My visit to Bennington’s campus helped seal the deal for me.”

What was your experience of visiting Bennington’s campus like?

“If you have the opportunity, I would recommend visiting. I was able to sit in on a postbac class, talk to students, and overall, get a feel for the vibe of the program. I could tell that the students were happy and cohesive.” 

What have been the highlights of your postbac year?

“Academically, I am motivated by those around me and being part of the postbac group has been great. We have all done a good job of helping each other out. It is not a competitive environment—just the opposite in fact. I live close to Albany, so I have also enjoyed exploring upstate New York this year.”

What did you do during the winter Field Work Term?

“I worked at a medical group in Albany in the clinical quality department. The project I worked on gave me insight into the business of medicine, and public health. I think it was important to learn about the broader system that I’ll eventually be working in. The FWT was a great opportunity to gain further experience in healthcare, and I’m happy I took advantage of the time away from the classroom.” 

Any parting words of advice for those considering a postbac program?

Sabah is this week's Postbac in the Spotlight.

Sabah recently graduated from Emory University with a double major in international studies and psychology. During her time in undergrad, she discovered her strong desire to learn more about the biological underpinnings of psychology, which eventually led her to pursuing a postbac program. Sabah is passionate about working with international communities and hopes to do so as a physician. Below is some more information on Sabah’s background and how she came to choose the Bennington Postbac Premed Program.

Why did you choose to do a postbac premed program?

“When I started college, I thought I wanted to help others through becoming a lawyer, so I decided to major in international studies. Through many experiences, I came to realize the central importance of medicine. Specifically, during trips abroad to Kenya and Scotland, I was exposed to healthcare issues that piqued my interest. In addition, I worked in a clinical psychology lab for 2.5 years, where I was trained to administer neuropsychological evaluations to a diverse range of patients. I also worked in a prenatal clinic via the psychology lab, allowing me to gain hands-on clinical experience in a unique setting. I loved these experiences and the responsibilities they brought with them.  Through this work, I became more interested in the hard sciences behind psychology and eventually realized that my calling was to become a medical doctor. I chose to complete my psychology & IS degree before pursuing the premed courses.”

Why did you choose Bennington College for your postbac?

“I saw the primary advantages of Bennington as the small class size and the integration of the premed curriculum into a one-year program that doesn’t feel too rushed. I was able to visit campus prior to making my decision to attend and was able to sit in on a chemistry class, which was very helpful. I really appreciate how supportive the professors are and how much time they are willing to give to help students.”

What have been your favorite parts of the Bennington program?

“I really like my peers who make up the postbac class. It is a very supportive group and others are always willing to help. I’ve also enjoyed the labs, as they allow us to explore concepts of interest to us and apply what we’re learning in class. Field Work Term was a great, immersive experience, as well. I worked at a refugee clinic in Atlanta during FWT. I helped out by working as a scribe, translator, and by taking vital signs of patients and assisting with patient flow. This position helped confirm my decision to become a doctor and it encouraged my passion for working with communities outside of the US.”

Do you have any pearls of wisdom for other people looking at postbac programs?

“Explore all your options! Moving to a small and rural town was outside of my comfort zone - but I’ve come to enjoy the beauty of Bennington and I like the small community here. I think that the small class size of the program is key and can make a big difference in your learning. Finally, its good to start shadowing doctors even before entering a postbac program—it’s important to understand what the job of a physician is actually like before investing the time and resources.”

Stephanie is this week's Postbac in the Spotlight. 

Steph graduated from Colgate University in 2011 with a major in English and a minor in psychology. In the year proceeding college, Stephanie worked in clinical psychology research at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Following her research position, Stephanie returned to school and received a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from New York University. During her time at NYU, Stephanie’s interest in medicine deepened through her interactions with various physicians, eventually influencing her to pursue a career as a physician herself. Over this past year, Stephanie has dived head-first into the sciences at Bennington College. Below are some of her reflections on the Bennington Postbac Premed Program and recommendations for others considering attending Bennington. 

Why did you decide to switch your career focus from creative writing to medicine?

“I don’t think that pursuing medicine and writing are mutually exclusive. In my writing, I have always been drawn to exploring medical conflicts in characters. I learned further about the medical field by meeting some physicians while I was working on my MFA, and through these interactions I realized my desire to work as a doctor. I believe that physicians are able to give people freedom through healthcare. Doctors can help individuals live independent and free lives on the most basic level. Observing the powerful ways that physicians are able to help others has impressed upon me that practicing medicine is such a critical and awesome career path.” 

How did you choose Bennington College for your postbac program?

“I know an alumnus of the program who loved Bennington and loves what he now does. He gave such a strong recommendation that I actually didn’t look into other programs. I’ve been really happy with the culture of the postbac cohort at Bennington, which is to make connections with what we’re learning in class to our everyday lives. Learning really continues outside of the classroom here.”

What have been your favorite things about the postbac year so far?

“I love the beauty of this area; nothing beats watching a good Bennington sunset over the mountaintops with my dog, Piper. All of the Bennington staff are also wonderful. I have found a community here, and the maintenance and security staff have been especially supportive and helpful in my daily life. And although we don’t have many undergraduates in our classes, I really enjoy the perspectives of those that are in our courses.”

What did you do over the Field Work Term?

“I took an EMT class in Bennington and I am now working at the Bennington Rescue Squad. I loved the course because it was a very hands-on and patient-specific learning experience, and much of the material that I had learned in my Bennington courses directly related. It’s been a great experience to apply what I’ve learned at school into a real-life context. Working on the Rescue Squad has also been a nice way to get involved with the local Bennington community outside of the College.” 

What do you know now that you wish you had known at the beginning of your postbac year?

Comparative Animal Physiology Lab

“Having been in this position, the quick answer is that you takeout non-federal loans to cover the difference, and take out enough to coverliving expenses and anything else that could come up so you don't have todepend on another source of income while you're in school. I've actually hadsurprisingly positive experiences across the board with VSAC, Vermont'sstate-run non-profit student loan organization.

“People occasionally have a side job, which is fine so long asit doesn't interfere too much, and could be additionally worthwhile if it addsto your med school resume. For example, I recently began work part-time as anEMT at the local rescue squad (thanks to an accelerated EMT course offered herein town over Bennington's Field Work Term), which is giving me importantpractical medical experience. However, school comes first, and some who triedto start jobs couldn't maintain them given how intensely time-consuming thisprogram gets. So to answer your second question, it can be done but this is avery intense program and everyone handles it differently, so don't depend onit!

“The debt incurred for a program like this (presuming you don'thave the tuition money lying around) can be scary, but the premise is that youare investing in your future, and it should become manageable once your medicalcareer is up and running.”

-Christian, ‘17

 “Figuring out how to pay for apostbac program is definitely a key consideration in the application process.The Bennington program is not inexpensive, but the good news is that it'ssignificantly less expensive than other competitive one-year postbac programs.I had saved money from working after college and before starting the postbacprogram, and have put the bulk of my savings towards my tuition this year. Thecourse work is very time consuming and in an effort to do my best academic workthis year, I did not get a full-time job. The summer term is especially busyand I would certainly not recommend doing anything else but study chemistryduring the summer. Depending on your abilities and work style, it may befeasible to get a part-time job during the fall and spring semesters, but thathas not been the norm for our class. Doing well in classes is the mostimportant thing you can do for getting into med school, and the workload is notlight. I think most students have relied on savings, externalsupport, and/or loans to get them through the year financially—as has beentrue for me.”

Postbac in the Spotlight

Charlotte is this week's Postbac in the Spotlight. Charlotte grew up in France, attended high school in the US, and spent several years traveling the world and working in South America before moving to Bennington. With a love for people and a passion for the sciences, Charlotte has decided that a career as a physician is the right path for her. Here are details on Charlotte’s journey to Bennington, her experience so far in the postbac program, and some wisdom for others considering a similar trajectory.

What experiences led you to wanting to become a medical doctor? “I have always found medicine interesting and as a child thought I might want to be a doctor (as well as an Olympic gymnast and a Nobel Peace Prize winner). I took lots of science courses in high school, and had my first medical experiences on medical missions abroad and volunteering at a free clinic. I initially planned on following the premed track in college and spent time working at a hospital in Germany and teaching wilderness first aid; I then became very interested in international affairs and ended up focusing on political science. I spent the years after graduation exploring the world and different careers, which led to me circling back to medicine. It's such a unique combination of science and humanism.”

Where did you go to college and what did you do after graduating? “I attended Princeton and majored in politics with a focus on comparative politics, and a minor in Near Eastern studies. After college, I taught French and Spanish at boarding schools in Massachusetts and California for three years. I went traveling for a year in South America, and eventually settled in Peru and worked there for a year and a half.”

Why did you choose the Bennington postbac program? “After researching several programs, I chose Bennington for its small class size as well as its focus on learning science for its own sake, not just as a hoop to jump through to get into medical school. I appreciate that scientific curiosity is genuinely encouraged at Bennington.”

What have been the highlights of your postbac year thus far? “The summer session was a great transition period. I was nervous about being back in school after such a long break, and was grateful that the professors who taught us this summer offered lots of support and extra help.

“I have also been working as a pharmacy tech at a pharmacy in Bennington. I’ve learned a lot about the role of the pharmacy in delivering health care, about insurance in the US, and about the Bennington community and the health issues that broadly affect the area.

“I've also really enjoyed my time shadowing at the local hospital in the emergency and OB-GYN departments. The doctors there are very enthusiastic about having students shadow, encourage me to ask questions, and will even print out journal articles for me to take home and read. I've learned a lot from them.”

What did you do over the Field Work Term? “During FWT, I stayed in Bennington and continued working at the pharmacy, and also worked at the Hawthorn Recovery Center, which provides medication-assisted treatment for patients seeking recovery from opioid addiction. Working at Hawthorn was an eye-opening experience for me, so much so that I'll be continuing to work there during this spring term. It is one thing to read about the phenomenon of opioid addiction in the US in the news, and another entirely to confront the issue directly. I really admire the staff at Hawthorn, and working there has been a formative experience for me in terms of practicing non-judgment and compassion in a medical setting.”

What advice can you offer to others considering a postbac program? “I'd say to try to make the most of this year as a valuable experience in its own right, and not just a slog to get through the prereqs to apply to med school. Being involved in the community has made my year much richer, and I'd certainly encourage others starting a postbac to find a few activities of interest outside the classroom.”

Blizzard of 2017

Sabah, Bennington postbac '17, writes about her Field Work Term experience in Georgia this winter:

“Over FWT, I volunteered at the Clarkston Community Health Center, a free clinic in Clarkston, GA. Clarkston is a major hub for immigrants and refugees coming into Georgia, making it the wonderfully diverse city it is. Working at the clinic was an eye-opening experience, as 100% of the patients being served had no insurance or were underinsured, unable to afford healthcare elsewhere. As a relatively new free clinic, CCHC is run entirely by volunteers and is only open on the weekends. As you can imagine, it gets quite busy during its appointment and walk-in hours. As a volunteer, I took patient vitals, helped with patient flow (check-in, check-out), and was able to shadow the physicians working each day. I learned to scribe using the Practice-fusion software, which helped me distill and organize information quickly during check ups. Additionally, I acted as a translator between patients who only spoke Urdu/Hindi and the physician on staff, giving me more opportunities to connect with patients and help them understand their treatment plans.

"Being culturally sensitive and aware was a vital part of maintaining patient satisfaction and helping patients address their needs comfortably. Due to finite resources and time, it was sometimes difficult to assuage the concerns of crowds of patients waiting to see a doctor. Although it was challenging at times, this experience made me a more aware, confident, and medically knowledgeable person. Seeing the lack of access to health care many immigrants and refugees have has reinforced my decision to become a doctor in order to help underserved populations at home and abroad!”

https://www.clarkstonhealth.org/

Bennington Postbac Field Work Term 2017

It’s the first day of classes for the spring term! Here's a look back at how some postbac students spent the winter Field Work Term.

The Bennington winter Field Work Term gives students the opportunity to spend seven weeks away from the classroom in real-world settings of their choosing. Students immerse themselves in new areas of science and medicine or add to previous experience while building their resumes for the medical school application. Our students value this time to acquire concentrated hands-on experience in the middle of a rigorous year of study. Students also use this time to prepare for the MCAT, work on their medical-school applications, and visit medical schools before the start of the spring term.

This year, several postbac students opted to stay in the area to further their medical training and improve the delivery of care in different settings. 

Stephanie: “FWT has been great so far! Here’s what I’ve been up to: (fellow postbacs) Hannah and Christian, and I are enrolled in an EMT course run by the Bennington Rescue Squad. We’ve been gearing up for the national certification exam and, if all goes well, we will be certified EMTs soon. I plan to continue volunteering or working part time with the squad after the course is over. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know everyone involved in the course including fellow students, instructors, and members of the squad, and I feel more connected than ever to the town of Bennington and the local community. We’ve been learning a lot! EMT training includes a crash course in body systems and anatomy, mechanisms of illness and injury, and life-saving interventions that we will put to use in the field. In addition to in-class learning, our course also includes 40+ hours of shadowing on ambulance calls and in the emergency room at SVMC. The pre-hospital care skills I have learned and the understanding of emergency medical services I have developed will be extremely useful resources for my future.”

Christian: “I’m in the middle of my EMT course, which I’m doing alongside Steph and Hannah. Between 40-hour weeks of class time, ambulance ride-alongs, and ER time, we’re learning a lot fast, much of which will be applicable to our studies next semester and beyond. I look forward to applying it as an EMT in the near future! “I’ve been able to join a winter choir run by a Bennington undergrad as part of his FWT project, so that’s been a fun pastime alongside my EMT studies. We’ve also kept up our Tap House trivia night habit over Field Work Term, inviting friends from Bennington and elsewhere to be part of our team. We even won last week!”

Nick: “Over Field Work Term, I have spent a lot of my time working as an intern at CapitalCare Medical Group. CapitalCare is a physician-owned organization with primary care and specialty services in Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga, and Rensselaer Counties (in New York). I am working in the Clinical Quality Initiatives department. One of the main projects that I have been involved with is related to the Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) program. This program is meant to restructure aspects of healthcare delivery in New York State with a primary goal of reducing avoidable hospital use by 25% over five years. So, specific Performing Provider Systems (PPS) in New York choose particular projects in DSRIP that are aimed at achieving this goal. CapitalCare is associated with two of these PPSs. “One of the many projects in the DSRIP program is the integration of behavioral health services into primary care settings. I have been helping to develop a model of integrating behavioral health services into the primary care practices of CapitalCare. This has involved research on my part into other health systems around the country that already integrate primary care and behavioral health, and trying to determine how to best implement some of these practices into CapitalCare’s infrastructure. In addition to this, I have assisted with other administrative ad-hoc tasks for the Clinical Quality Initiatives department. “I will be at CapitalCare right up until classes start again, so I expect to work on a few other projects before leaving.”

Charlotte: “During Field Work Term, I’ve been working about 30 hours a week as a pharmacy tech at CVS pharmacy here in the town of Bennington. I’ve been working there part time since July, and have learned a lot about the pharmacy side of healthcare in the U.S. It’s been a good primer on how insurance coverage affects treatment options and compliance, a great way to get a feel for the population of the Bennington area, and, of course, I’ve learned a lot about medications and pharmacy regulations. Working there has also been a great way to step out of the college bubble and meet other members of the Bennington community.