Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP)

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Scholars are required to be employed by a UW-Madison mentor to be part of Badger PREP. This means scholars must find a UW-Madison mentor and secure a job offer (verbal or written job offer letter) before applying to Badger PREP

There are various ways to find a mentor:

  • Check this job board for open positions at the Research Intern level.
  • Search Jobs at UW for open positions.  Any UW-Madison faculty member is eligible to be a PREP mentor, so please feel free to search boardly for a position.
  • Check our list of PREP faculty.  If there is a faculty who’s work particularly interests you, you can contact that faculty for that to inquire about open positions.

**In your cover letter, we recommend mentioning your interest in participating in Badger PREP. (*Any UW faculty can become Badger PREP affiliated once they hire an eligible scholar and apply to the program.

How do I apply to Badger PREP?

Click the “Apply Now” tab on this website and you will be taken to the application. You can preview the application here.

Once I start the application, can I save my progress and resume later?

Yes, you can start the application and return to it to complete it later as long as cookies are enabled on your computer. However, after a period of time, the application will time out and you will need to start over. We have an application preview available to view questions before starting an application.

What makes a strong PREP Applicant? How can I show this in my application?

    • Intellectual curiosity and drive
      • Clear commitment and enthusiasm for research and science
      • Demonstrate a desire to learn or grow
    • Self-awareness about how the applicant wants to grow from the program
      • Acknowledgement of gaps in research/academic background that PREP can help fill
      • Specific aspects of PREP that will help you reach your education/career goals
    • Work ethic, initiative and resiliency
      • Identification of an obstacle or barrier that you have experienced and how it was overcome
      • Sought out experiences 
      • Leadership and community engagement  
    • Program fit
      • Intend to apply to a doctoral graduate program and pursue a career in the biomedical sciences
      • Faculty that align with your research interests or in an area of research you want to transition into
      • Enthusiasm about the  University of Wisconsin/City of Madison

 

When does the program start?

The programming begins in August 2026. However, there is flexibility and scholars can enter into program at different timepoints during the year depending on when they are hired.

Does the program provide housing?

No, scholars are responsible for arranging their own housing. We are able to offer scholars higher priority to receive housing at Eagle Heights University Apartments (housing at Eagle Heights is not guaranteed).

 

I see there is a list of mentors on the Badger PREP website that I might have the opportunity to work with during my time as a Badger PREP scholar. Do I need to select my desired mentor before applying to the program?

Yes. Scholars must be a full-time employee in the lab of a UW-Madison Badger PREP Mentor.

Potential mentors are listed on the website for your information who have expressed interest in mentoring a Badger PREP scholar. Their presence on the faculty mentor page does not indicate that they are currently looking for a scholar.

What if I am interested in working with a specific faculty member that is not listed as a current Badger PREP mentor?

Mentors can apply to be a Badger PREP mentor. Mentor applications can be found here: https://uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cu3hcQINMlY6pnw

While my coursework demonstrates a strong scientific background in biological, chemical, and physical science as well as mathematics, I struggled in one or two of these courses.  Should I still apply for the program?

Yes, you should still apply! The goal of Badger PREP is to support our scholars in addressing areas that would impact their ability to be accepted into competitive graduate programs. Your statements provide an opportunity to discuss circumstances that may have resulted in poor grades.

My GPA is below 3.0, should I still apply? 

Yes, you should still apply. Badger PREP does not have a GPA requirement.

I want to pursue an MD/PhD program. Is Badger PREP a good fit for me?

Maybe. Our program curriculum is 1-year in length and can help prepare for the PhD portion of the MD/PhD. The timing of MD/PhD applications is not ideal with a 1-year program unless individuals have already started the application process before entering our program (taken the MCAT, identified programs, working on statements, etc). We currently do not have MCAT preparation or clinical experience/shadowing as part of our program.

Additionally, Badger PREP is not the right fit for individuals seeking Medical School. Our focus is on preparation for research-focused careers.

Here are resources for post-baccalaureate programs that might be good for MD or MD/PhD applicants wanting a 2-year experience.

Premedical Post-baccalaureate programs: https://students-residents.aamc.org/medical-student-well-being/considering-postbaccalaureate-premedical-program

Novartis Post-baccalaureate program: https://www.novartis.com/careers/early-careers/us-biomedical-research-internship-programs

I am uncertain if I would like to do research as a future career. Is Badger PREP a good program to enable me to explore research as a future career?

Badger PREP is for scholars who have already decided to pursue a future career in research and who need more support, development, and training to have a competitive application to graduate school.