I've just completed the Penn post-bacc program as a Core student, and got linkage with PCOM. I'll try to share as much relevant info and observations. First, if anyone's curious, my stats: cGPA = 3.31, sGPA = 3.53 (that's with DO grade replacement, it would be lower now), MCAT = 510 (130/126/128/126).
Second, my views are mainly relevant for the Core program - most of the postbaccs at Penn are 'specialized students', taking advanced science classes to boost their GPA. From what I understand it's not the same as an SMP, although I think Penn does have masters programs. There are quite a few pre-dental and pre-vet students in the program; pre-vets will be in the Core program. I've only really met pre-dental and specialized students at post-bacc parties, lol.
Broadly I would echo many of the pros and cons that people have mentioned before. The biggest strength of the Penn program is the many opportunities for volunteer and clinical research, with CHOP, HUP and Penn Presby all right next door. Penn has an Academics Associates research program which gives you a full year of involvement with clinical research (right now they focus on emergency medicine), Ironically I didn't do any clinical research, for various reasons, but I did volunteer at Penn Presby.
Financially it's incredibly expensive - I was only able to do it by moving back in with my parents. But if you can get a full time job at Penn, you can get free tuition. Some Core and many Specialized do work full time. University City, where Penn is located, is a lot nicer than 20 years ago, but you won't have much time to enjoy it, lol.
The people in the program are great, and tend to be very supportive of each other. No sabotage in labs that I know of! I've given and received a lot of help from my classmates. Of course, in a sense we are competing with each other, but as much as competition can be positive, I think it's the case here.
Getting good grades (3.5+) is a real challenge. In particular, gen chem and orgo are very tough (gen chem may be harder than orgo, relatively speaking). Penn has a huge undergrad premed contingent, and it's clear as day they use chemistry to weed people out. Whether intentionally or not, post-baccs suffer the same fate: I know several people who had to withdraw from gen chem / the program because of how hard chem is. Even the 'premed' chem 1 class goes deep into the Schrodinger equation! Chem and orgo are strictly curved, which actually can be an advantage if everyone does badly! The good news is that both gen chem and orgo are 2-credit classes, with labs counted as separate 1-credit classes, and easier to do well b/c the curve is more forgiving. To do well, you need to get As in physics and bio, which are 3 credits each with labs integrated. They're not as hard, and the curve is less strict/non existent. I will say they do a good job preparing you for the MCAT - never took bio before, but it touched on everything tested.
As for linkage, it's definitely possible - at least one other student contemporary with me got linkage at an MD school. Penn has fewer linkage programs than it used to, as Jefferson and Drexel now reserve linkage spots for their own post-baccs. The eligibility requirements are extremely high (~3.6 - 3.7 cGPA and post-bacc GPA), but for Penn's linkage you don't have to take the MCAT; you do need to have some recent standardized test score.
Overall, I would say Penn's Core Studies program is best for recent grads who did very well in college but took few if any basic prereqs. Most students get really good ECs through the program, and as long as you can survive chemistry you'll do really well. I finished in 2 years - started summer 2015, took classes that summer and last - but my grades suffered as a result, so I would not recommend taking more than 2 lab science classes at a time, which means that it will be 3 years from starting the program to starting med school.
If anyone has further questions, let me know and I'll be happy to answer them!
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EDIT: Here are the linkage programs. Specialized students are eligible for a few:
- George Washington University School of Medicine
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine
- The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
(Dental - specialized and core)
- Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine
- The University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
Specialized Studies students are eligible for linkages to:
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine
Penn Vet allows for linkage with post-bacc pre-vets.