Career Changer Post Bac Advice

[Eti188]

Hi everyone! Hope all is going well with you and your family! I am a career changer looking for post bac programs. Currently I have an offer from NYU. I am reaching out as I feel very undecided given the concerns below. Any tips you have I would really really really appreciate!!

1. I am not sure if starting in fall/spring matter, Fall 2020 is my only option if I want to start ASAP, but that means I can't apply to other smaller and more prestigious programs like Georgetown, JHU or Bryn Mawr. On the other hand, I am not sure if it's worth the wait, especially an offer will not be guaranteed next year.
2. My undergrad GPA was 3.9+ at a top 20 college, no bio/chem background. I've heard people saying no need to do expensive programs like NYU, but I wonder if the prestige and structured program will help me to achieve my goal of becoming a MD. Also, Fall 2020 will likely be online courses, and therefore I am not sure if it will be worth the money.
3. Any program recommendations from you? Or easily neglected aspects of those programs that you think are actually important?

I sincerely wish to have your advice! Anything from choosing between community college or private school post bac, program recommendations, and starting semester recommendations! Thank you very much! 🙂

 

[2020NonTrad]

For what it's worth, I did a DIY post-bacc at a podunk state school. I came into it with a criminology degree and no science background. I had 6 T20 acceptances this cycle and never once did my decision of doing a cheap DIY post-bacc at a state school come up in interviews.

 

[mintydaisy13!]

For what it's worth, I did a DIY post-bacc at a podunk state school. I came into it with a criminology degree and no science background. I had 6 T20 acceptances this cycle and never once did my decision of doing a cheap DIY post-bacc at a state school come up in interviews.

I'm also a career changer with a high undergrad GPA. Can you talk about your post bacc experience and how you went about planning your coursework?

 

[2020NonTrad]

I'm also a career changer with a high undergrad GPA. Can you talk about your post bacc experience and how you went about planning your coursework?

Sure. I was still working more than 40 hours a week and had to commute about 90 miles to the closest university, so I only did 2 courses and 2 labs per semester. I did it like this:

Semester 1 (was a spring semester):
Gen Chem 1 and Lab
Physics 1 and Lab
Summer: Started research in a lab - continued the research in the coming semesters
Semester 2:
Gen Chem 2 and Lab
Physics 2 and Lab
Semester 3:
Organic Chem 1 and Lab
Bio 1 and Lab
Semester 4:
Biochemistry
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Winter break: Took MCAT
Semester 5:
Organic Chem 2 and Lab
Statistics
Summer: Applied to med school.

It could definitely be done in less time if you're able to take more classes than I did. Between full-time work, research, and school, I didn't want to push myself. I was never questioned during interviews on why I only took 2 courses at a time. Overall, I enjoyed the post-bacc and would do it again, but it was very time-consuming.

 

[mblumes]

Sure. I was still working more than 40 hours a week and had to commute about 90 miles to the closest university, so I only did 2 courses and 2 labs per semester. I did it like this:

Semester 1 (was a spring semester):
Gen Chem 1 and Lab
Physics 1 and Lab
Summer: Started research in a lab - continued the research in the coming semesters
Semester 2:
Gen Chem 2 and Lab
Physics 2 and Lab
Semester 3:
Organic Chem 1 and Lab
Bio 1 and Lab
Semester 4:
Biochemistry
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Winter break: Took MCAT
Semester 5:
Organic Chem 2 and Lab
Statistics
Summer: Applied to med school.

It could definitely be done in less time if you're able to take more classes than I did. Between full-time work, research, and school, I didn't want to push myself. I was never questioned during interviews on why I only took 2 courses at a time. Overall, I enjoyed the post-bacc and would do it again, but it was very time-consuming.

How were your cGPA and sGPA before and after your DIY post-bacc?

How did you obtain a research position?

Thank you!

 

[2020NonTrad]

How were your cGPA and sGPA before and after your DIY post-bacc?

How did you obtain a research position?

Thank you!

My cGPA was like 3.6x prior to my post-bacc and my sGPA was like 3.8x but I only took a couple of BCPM courses prior to my post-bacc. I thought it was a 4.0 prior to AMCAS but then they considered an online criminology statistics course that I got a B in as BCPM. At the end of my post-bacc, my cGPA was just under a 3.8 and my sGPA was a bit over 3.9.

As for research, I just checked out my university's website that listed various labs. I looked into a few of them and then sent the PI of one an email asking to get involved in research at his lab. He had me send him my resume and I met with him at a poster presentation. After the meeting he scheduled an interview for a summer internship and then I continued to do research in the lab after the summer was over.

 

[mintydaisy13!]

thank y

Sure. I was still working more than 40 hours a week and had to commute about 90 miles to the closest university, so I only did 2 courses and 2 labs per semester. I did it like this:

Semester 1 (was a spring semester):
Gen Chem 1 and Lab
Physics 1 and Lab
Summer: Started research in a lab - continued the research in the coming semesters
Semester 2:
Gen Chem 2 and Lab
Physics 2 and Lab
Semester 3:
Organic Chem 1 and Lab
Bio 1 and Lab
Semester 4:
Biochemistry
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Winter break: Took MCAT
Semester 5:
Organic Chem 2 and Lab
Statistics
Summer: Applied to med school.

It could definitely be done in less time if you're able to take more classes than I did. Between full-time work, research, and school, I didn't want to push myself. I was never questioned during interviews on why I only took 2 courses at a time. Overall, I enjoyed the post-bacc and would do it again, but it was very time-consuming.

Thank you for responding. it's comforting to know that this is still doable without a formal post bac program