As a current student in the program, there's a lot of this that doesn't ring true to me. Most people here are not "ultra super stars" (whatever that means?), and just seem like normal people to me. Is there a certain amount of baseline academic prowess you have to have to get into the program? Yes definitely. They're not going to accept someone who has a sub-3.0 GPA, because that person has little chance of getting into med school regardless of how they perform in post bacc. To let them into the program would be a disservice to them in terms of time and money spent.
I'm not also sure what "too non-trad" means. We have people here from all over the place, from 22 year olds just out of college to mid 30-somethings who are married and have advanced degrees in other areas, or who have just been working other jobs for 5 or 10 years. I would definitely say that most people are between 0-5 years out of school (as I'd imagine that the number of people wanting to completely change careers and upend their lives decreases as people get older). I think the program would never reject you because you were non-trad. If anything, that's a huge asset in your candidacy. So I would agree with you that they're aren't a ton of students over the age of 31 or 32, but that because most applicants to our program are under that age. Someone with more life experience, if anything, will have an advantage coming in. Jodi (and everyone in the program) loves the experience older post-baccs bring to the process.
I've explained earlier why I think BM is an awesome program, and I'm happy to do so again. If anyone has any questions (including you j lin), I'd be happy to answer them.
Word to this. There's plenty of both Brooks Brothers and quirkiness in both of our programs. Also agree with the subjectivity of admissions. Stats are a part of it, but probably an over-exaggerated part. BM (and Goucher presumably) are looking for people who they can help succeed in getting into med school. That encompasses grades, but almost more important are personality, drive, and passion for medicine. This is harder to measure, but is a huge part in the selection process at BM. They want people with a genuine passion for the career they're pursuing. They don't want a bunch of pre-med robots here. And if you think this process is a little bit subjective, just wait until you get to med school admissions, where basically nothing makes any sense!
Thanks for the kind words Goucher2013. Postbaccs looking out for postbaccs.
I would never try to contradict your first-hand experience. If you look on the pages about students that completed their PBPM, a lot of them have stuff that's more on the superstar side of things. It's an expensive program with a great reputation, but I know a number of great candidates that didn't get accepted. That's of course purely anecdotal.
People have to be careful with their money, especially nowadays. Even application fees add up. I, for one, would not be a low gpa applicant. I am, however, wondering how many nurses were accepted into their program. I'm talking about those with the desireable GPAs, etc. I'm talking about those with very strong clinical experience as well?
At any rate, as indicated earlier, it's an excellent program. Seems that most that go through it are more than pleased.
The truth, however, is that if a program can be more exclusive, it may well be exclusive, adding of course a certain percentage of UR for "good measure." People that are "very" non-traditional, that means over 40 or the like, don't care about all the fuss. They just want to get into medical school; but many of the same don't want to waste much more money than they have to in the process. So, if you have a good GPA and scores, but you haven't started a clinic in India after getting a MBA plus a Phd in whatever else, and if you haven't written a best seller or great American novel or composed a neoclassical piece and performed at the Met, you just might choose to put the application money elsewhere.
Many non-trads are/were busy in all their commitments in life, which tend to have accomulated over time. They could include being a person that is working hard and functioning well as one of the sandwhich generation--this is quite a struggle. The number of days in life are limited, and responsibilities very easily begin to grow into this snowball, that continues to grow by way of many of lifes unexpected complications and developments. Many "very" non-trads have this change of direction on their career path of life, but they have all the demands of a non-trad that many that aren't just don't. Helping close loved ones through endless months of cancer that keeps the person constantly bouncing in and out of the hospital, while helping another with major surgery and rehab for many months, while raising children and doing the plethora of other things that you just can't abandon. You can't abandom these things b/c you are an ethical and dedicated person. So these demands might get in the way of starting or helping develop that clnic in India, or getting on Jeopardy, or writing that amazing book, or involvement in peer-reviewed and systematically reviewed literature. As John Lennon said, ""Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans. "
For those people, the application money may be better spend on programs that understand the sacrifices and commitments in the lives of the those that are perhaps
more than a tad, nontraditional. These folks don't have time to be superstars, b/c they are using all their time, energy, and money on being superstars in their own lives with those around them. What is that important saying? Charity begins at home. Yet, this is not something one can easily measure as compared to those that receive a lot of fanfare and press or accolades for the great accomplishments for which they were free to pursue.
And really, why should anyone necessarily have to be a superstar to be a physician? Please don't misunderstand me. I am NOT against anyone who is! That's truly great, and the best to them! Sincerely. But it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with being an excellent physician that has yet many years to offer in service.
