You have found a pre-med program your child likes. The website looks polished. There is a university name somewhere on the page, and the photos look reassuring. But before you pay, you want to know what sits behind all of that.
That is a reasonable question. A useful check is not just whether a program exists. You also need to know who will teach your child, what the fee buys and whether the promises match the experience being offered.
Jump to a section
- Why this question matters
- The five checks
- Good signs and warning signs
- A parent comparing two programs
- Questions to ask before you pay
- What to do if you are still unsure
- Ask us the same questions
- FAQ
Why this question matters
A real program can still be the wrong choice for your child. Perhaps the teaching is mostly recorded when your child needs conversation. Perhaps the work is too advanced. Or the main benefit is a campus visit, while you were expecting regular feedback on a project.
Those are questions about fit, not evidence of dishonesty. Keep that distinction in mind as you compare options.
If you are still deciding whether a program would help at all, start with whether it is worth doing a pre-med program before university. It is fine to decide that your child does not need one right now.
The five checks
Who teaches
Look past the university logo. Ask who your child will actually meet and what role those people have. A student mentor, a doctor and a university lecturer are different roles. None should be described as something they are not.
Ask whether the named person teaches the sessions or only appears in promotional material. Request a public profile where possible, and check that the role matches the program's description.
If a program says it is accredited or linked to a university, ask what that means. Who provides the accreditation? What does it cover? Is the university running the program, hosting it, or simply where a mentor studies?
Ask for the relevant organisation's own page confirming the relationship or claim. If you cannot find one, contact that organisation through its own website. A logo on the program's page is not enough on its own to explain the relationship.
Group size and mentor time
“Small group” is not a number. Ask how many students will be in your child's group and how many mentors will be present.
Then ask what happens in practice. Can students ask questions during the session? Who responds if your child gets stuck? Is individual feedback included, or does it cost extra?
A bigger group is not automatically a bad choice. It may work for a talk or a demonstration. But you should not pay for personal mentoring if the actual offer is a large lecture with little chance to speak.
What your child finishes with
Ask for a clear description of the work, not just a list of topics. Will your child produce something, practise a skill, explore a subject or mainly listen?
If there is a project, ask to see an anonymised example shared with permission. Find out what students do themselves and what help they receive. Ask how feedback works, too.
A certificate tells you that a certificate is offered. It does not, by itself, tell you what your child learned. There is nothing wrong with a program focused on exploration rather than a finished project, as long as that is clear before you pay.
What costs extra
Get a written list of what the fee includes. Ask about materials, optional mentoring, assessments and any charges needed to complete the advertised experience. For an in-person option, ask separately about travel, meals and accommodation.
Also ask what happens if your child cannot attend, the provider changes the dates or the program is cancelled. Read the cancellation and refund terms before making a payment.
Our pre-med summer program cost guide gives you more questions to use when comparing fees. A higher price does not answer the teaching or fit questions for you.
Claims that sound too good
No program can promise admission to any school.
Be cautious if an offer suggests that paying will secure a place at a medical school, guarantee an interview or give your child a special admissions route that cannot be independently checked.
University names need context here, too. Learning from someone who studies at a university is not the same as enrolling at that university or receiving its endorsement.
If a claim is unclear, ask the provider to explain it in plain words and put the answer in writing. An unclear answer is a reason to pause, not a reason to label every other part of the program false.
Good signs and warning signs
Use this as a conversation starter. A warning sign means you need a clearer answer; it is not proof that a program is fake.
| Check | A good sign | A warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Who teaches | Named teachers or mentors, with clear roles and profiles you can check | A university logo without an explanation of who actually teaches |
| Group size and mentor time | A stated group size and a clear description of questions and feedback | “Personal mentoring” with no explanation of access or group size |
| What your child finishes with | Concrete activities, realistic outcomes and examples where available | A certificate is the only outcome anyone can explain |
| What costs extra | Written inclusions, extra charges and cancellation terms | You cannot get the full cost or payment terms before paying |
| Claims that sound too good | Learning claims with clear limits and no admissions promises | Guaranteed admission or an unexplained special link to a school |
A parent comparing two programs
Questions to ask before you pay
You can copy these into an email. You do not need to apologise for asking.
- Who will teach my child, and where can I check their roles?
- How many students and mentors will be in the group?
- How can my child ask questions and receive feedback?
- What will my child do or finish, and can you show me an example?
- What is included in the fee, and what might cost extra?
- What are the cancellation and refund terms?
- What does your university link or accreditation claim mean, and where can I verify it independently?
Notice how the provider answers. Useful replies deal with your questions directly. A friendly call can help, but ask for important details in writing so you can compare them later.
If you are comparing different formats, our guide to pre-med programs versus summer science camps may help. For the wider choice, see what to look for in a pre-med program for high schoolers.
What to do if you are still unsure
Leave the payment for now. Write down which answers are missing, then ask for them. You do not have to decide during a call.
Where a trial or free session is available, it can help you see whether your child likes the teaching. It does not replace checking the paid offer's details. Ask your child what felt clear, whether they could ask questions and whether they would want to come back.
Keep the written offer and terms with your notes. If you still cannot explain what you are buying, waiting is a sensible choice.
Ask us the same questions
Future Doctors offers live online programs with Harvard student mentors and cohorts of 15 to 20 students. You can look at the programs, try a free masterclass or book a call. Ask us who teaches, what mentor access looks like, what your child will do and what the fee includes. The same checks should apply to us.
FAQ
How can I check who will actually teach my child?
Ask for the names and roles of the people teaching, not just the advisers shown on the website. Request public profiles where possible, check that the roles match the description, and ask whether those people will teach your child's group.
Does a university name mean the university runs the program?
Not necessarily. Ask whether the university runs the program, hosts it, or is simply where a mentor studies. Request a page from the university itself that confirms any claimed relationship. If the answer is unclear, contact the university through its own website.
What should I ask about accreditation?
Ask who provides it, what it covers and where you can check the claim with that organisation directly. Do not assume the word describes the whole program or a university qualification. If you cannot verify the explanation, pause before paying.
Can a pre-med program promise my child admission to medical school?
No program can promise admission to any school. Ask what learning and support the program actually offers. If an offer suggests that paying secures admission or an interview, ask for independently checkable evidence and do not rely on the promise when deciding.