Linkage Admission

The Postbac Premed Program schedules visits to most of its linkage schools each fall. While participating in these visits is not required, it is strongly encouraged—visiting schools is one of the best ways to learn about them--and to demonstrate to schools your interest.

Note: Some schools limit attendance at linkage visits to students who are currently eligible to pursue a linkage nomination. Students who are not yet eligible to pursue linkage but who would like to attend should check the details of the event listing.

Guidelines for Linkage Visits

• Show up on time
• Dress appropriately; It is not necessary to wear a suit or business attire, but jeans, sweatshirts, and sneakers should be eschewed in favor of business casual attire
• While linkage visits are not interviews, be mindful, and remain interested and engaged; for example, stay off your phone while a panel or presentation is in progress
• If you sign up for a linkage visit, but are unable to attend, be sure to cancel your registration by clicking on the cancellation link included in the registration confirmation you will receive
  • If the deadline to cancel has passed (or the cancellation link does not work), email [email protected]
  • If you must cancel on the day of the visit, please contact the linkage school's Office of Admissions.
• Don't be a no-show
• Many linkage visits are online. Most of the advice above still applies. Be sure to keep your camera on!

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility criteria for linkage programs tend to be more extensive than for traditional applicants. The minimum eligibility requirements an applicant must meet to apply for linkage include: 

• Enrollment in good standing in the Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program
• Status as an active Postbac Program student completing required science coursework during the fall and spring of the academic year in which linkage is pursued; candidates enrolled in Maintenance of Status, in elective coursework, or in other academic programs at Columbia or elsewhere are not eligible
• Enrollment in the Program for at least two (2) semesters prior to nomination
• Completion, by the end of the fall semester prior to nomination, of at least 15 points of required science coursework within the 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, many linkage schools require a higher grade point average
• Completion of a bachelor’s degree at 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
• Completion of all required premedical courses by the May prior to matriculating at the linkage school
• Concurrent enrollment in the Organic Chemistry and Contemporary Biology course sequences at Columbia (or an approved upper-division sequence) as a Postbac Premed student

In addition, to be eligible for linkage, students should:

• Not have taken any required premedical course at Columbia more than once
• Have no outstanding incompletes in Columbia coursework
• Take the MCAT by the date stipulated by the linkage school (March, April or May)
• Complete at least 90 hours of volunteer or paid research or clinical healthcare work by the end of December, and 120 by the end of the spring semester
• Not have previously applied to medical school
• Meet GPA and other pertinent requirements for the linkage school by the end of the fall semester prior to nomination; for example, if a school requires a 3.6, applicants to that program will not be nominated in January with less than a 3.6

Specific Program Requirements

In addition to the minimum eligibility requirements for linkage, applicants must also satisfy the specific program requirements of their chosen linkage schools, which may exceed the minimum requirements listed above. 

Note: Satisfaction of requirements makes a Postbac Premed student eligible to be considered for nomination, but does not guarantee nomination or ensure admission.

Students considering linkage should take the following steps:

• Attend the linkage program information session held by the Postbac Premed Program advisors in the spring semester before the orgo/bio year
• Speak with admissions deans and directors at the medical school fair in the spring before the orgo/bio year
• Visit linkage schools: speak with admissions officers, faculty, and medical students and (for in-person linkage visits) tour the school; the Premedical Office arranges for in-person or online visits to most of the linkage schools during the fall of the orgo/bio year
• Attend the Linkage Panel, featuring students who have been admitted through linkage, in the fall semester
• Consult with their advisor about their interest in linkage and the specific schools in which they are interested—premedical advisors will help determine whether a student is a plausible candidate for specific schools, and such consultations may increase the likelihood of nomination

Students wishing to pursue nomination for linkage should consult with their advisors and plan to conduct research into their linkage school options during the fall semester of the orgo/bio year.

Timeline

For specific dates and details, please consult the relevant timeline. Below is an overview of the timeline for applying for nomination.

Spring Semester before the Orgo/Bio Year

• Students interested in linkage should attend a linkage information session
• Students considering applying for nomination to a linkage program should research the linkage programs and meet with their advisor

Summer before the Orgo/Bio Year

• Prospective nominees should work on the internal application

Fall Semester of Orgo/Bio Year

• Prospective nominees must complete and submit the internal application by the date in September specified on the timeline
• Prospective nominees must request letters of recommendation from faculty for courses already completed, supervisors, their undergraduate college, and others who may be able to write insightfully about them
• By December 1, prospective nominees must submit the linkage school essay and the verification of clinical healthcare work; this is also the date by which letters of recommendation are due (with the exception of letters requested from fall-semester faculty)
• By December 1, prospective nominees must meet with their advisor for a portfolio review, unless otherwise indicated by the advisor

Spring Semester of Orgo/Bio Year

• At the beginning of the spring semester, after fall grades become available, the Premedical Committee will announce its nominations
• Nominees are then given their school's linkage application timeline, including deadline dates for AMCAS, the secondary application, MCAT, interview date, etc.
• Letters of recommendation from fall-semester faculty are due by the beginning of the spring semester

Nomination Decisions

Nominations are made at the discretion of the Premedical Committee. Decisions are non-negotiable and are not open to petition.

Nomination as a linkage applicant is not a guarantee of acceptance to the linkage school.

Students who accept a linkage nomination will complete the following steps during the spring semester:

• Work on their personal statement for AMCAS or AADSAS application in consultation with the Postbac Premed Program Office
• Submit the AMCAS or AADSAS and secondary applications according to the linkage school's application timeline
• Take the MCAT by the last date designated by the linkage school
• Interview at the linkage school, if invited to do so

The Premedical Committee will compose and submit committee letters for nominees by the linkage schools' deadlines.

Linkage is not an easy way to get into medical school. Reading through the linkage program requirements, visiting schools, attending the Linkage Information Session and the Linkage Panel, and communicating with your advisor are the best ways to determine if linkage is the right path for you.

From year to year, approximately 25 percent of eligible Postbac Premed students apply to a linkage program. Over the past several years, approximately 50 percent of students nominated for linkage have been accepted to their chosen school.