Linkage Programs

The Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program maintains admission linkage programs with thirteen medical schools. Linkage programs allow highly qualified students with a strong interest in one of these schools to accelerate the admissions process by applying in the spring for admission that same fall.

Applying for Nomination to a Linkage Program
Early in the fall term, the Premedical Office holds a linkage program information session and arranges for visits to several linkage schools. Students must submit an application and accompanying forms to the Premedical Office in the late fall to be considered for nomination for linkage.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements
The minimum eligibility requirements an applicant must meet to apply for Linkage include:

• Current enrollment and good standing in the Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program of the School of General Studies at Columbia University.
• Enrollment in the Postbac Program for at least two (2) semesters prior to nomination.
• Completion, by the end of the fall semester prior to nomination, at least 15 credits of required science course work as a part of the Postbac Program with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 and with no individual grades below C. NOTE: While a minimum grade point average of 3.2 within the program is required for students applying for nomination, several of the linkage schools require that students have at least a 3.5 grade point average.
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university; in the case of students with degrees from foreign universities, the degree must be deemed equally acceptable by the linkage school. Some schools may specify other requirements.
• Complete all of the required premed courses by the May prior to beginning the Linkage Program.
• Take the Orgo/Bio sequences concurrently (or an approved upper division sequence) as Postbac Premed student.
• Must not have taken any required premedical course at Columbia more than once.
• Have no outstanding incompletes.
• Take the MCAT by April or May (depending on the school’s requirement).
• Complete of at least 90 hours of volunteer or paid research or clinical healthcare work by the end of December; and 120 by the end of spring term.
• Not have previously applied to an U.S. or Canadian medical school.
• Meet the GPA and other pertinent requirements for the linkage school by the end of the fall semester. For example, if a school requires a 3.6, you will not be nominated in January with less than a 3.6.

Linkage Schools and Specific Requirements
Below are the list of linkage program agreements with Columbia Unviersity Postbac Premed Program. For specific requirements, please click on the individual links listed below.

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
(Medical School for International Health in collaboration with Columbia University Medical Center)
Drexel University College of Medicine
Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
National University of Ireland, University College, Cork
New Jersey Medical School (UMDNJ)
New York Medical College
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (UMDNJ)
State University of New York at Brooklyn School of Medicine (Downstate)
Stony Brook School of Medicine
Temple University School of Medicine
Trinity College School of Medicine (Dublin, Ireland)
The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University