Student Spotlight: Francisco Cordero

Undergraduate: San Francisco State University
Major: Cell and Molecular Biology
Program Track: EMT
Future Health Profession: Medical Doctor
Health Profession School: University of Vermont Larner School of Medicine

When Francisco Cordero began thinking about applying to medical school, he knew he needed to increase his GPA in order to be a more competitive applicant. He chose the UC Davis Health Professions Post-Baccalaureate Program because of UC Davis’ reputation and the opportunity it would give him to connect with professors who understand the challenges of pursuing a career in medicine. He completed the program with a 3.87 GPA and received five total acceptance letters, choosing to attend University of Vermont Larner School of Medicine.

What were your goals going into the post-bac and how did the program help you achieve them?

My goal was to get very good grades. The program helped me achieve this by providing support and check-in services. My advisor Bryelle was an excellent resource in helping me choose classes that would be challenging but also be of interest to me, allowing me to excel.  

Both the advising and test preparation services were great. Doug teaches you the material but also helps you understand how the test itself works. Advising was amazing. Appointments could be easily made and Bryelle was incredibly knowledgeable on all questions I had no matter how difficult they were.  

What did you find most valuable about the program?

The mentorship was most valuable, as was the composite letter because many schools prefer this method for letters of recommendation. I also appreciated the program structure and support during applications.  

How did your experience in the EMT Track help you?

The EMT course was challenging, but it also allowed me to grow as a person. It provided me with foundational medical skills, which I hope to build upon in medical school. Learning about something and doing it is very different, and during the EMT track I realized that I get nervous when having to perform a skill. Realizing this now, rather than for the first time in a clinical during medical school, allowed me to address this and become more comfortable applying the skills.  

Would you recommend the UC Davis Post-Bac?

I highly recommend it. The test preparation is excellent. The connections you make with professors in touch with medical schools around the state and country are also very useful. Most importantly, the mentorship and guidance you receive from your advisors during this challenging process are incredible. They are with you from your first day of class all the way until you enter through those medical school doors, which is very comforting.  

What advice would you give to others considering pursuing a health profession post-bac?

I would advise them to work hard to get as close to a 4.0 as possible and follow their test preparer's plan closely, as it will help them map out their studies. I would also advise them to become better at studying and learn what works for them—I realized my weaknesses as a student and was able to improve upon them.  

Where do you hope to see yourself in the next 5-10 years?

In five years, I hope to be starting an emergency medicine residency or an internal medicine residency with the intent of doing an infectious disease fellowship. In 10 years, I hope to be working in my field of choice and use my ability to speak Spanish to help Latino communities in need, such as undocumented workers.