CAREER CHANGER Post Bacc Illinois OPINIONS?!

[eveb1501]

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Hey all!

I am a "career-changer" hoping to apply to a post-bacc program so that I can get my pre-requisites for dental school.

I am from Illinois, and I would like to stay in the Chicago region. That leaves me with 1) Northwester ,2) Dominican University, and 3) Loyola University which have post-bacc programs.

Did anyone go to any of these? Successes? Like, dislikes? I would love to get some opinions if possible!

I am shooting for Northwestern, but I don't know how good their program is...

Thanks!

 

[chicago_postbacc]

This is a late response to your post regarding Post-Bacc programs in Chicago. I have written this elsewhere but feel it is important to emphasize that the career changer post-bacc program at Loyola is in name only. I felt this program was primarily a money maker. The staff and administration do not invest significant time or resources into the program.

I am currently finishing the Post-Bacc Certificate program (NOT the MAMS...Masters in Medical Sciences) at Loyola and would NOT recommend it. This program is intended for students who do not have previous science credits and shouldn't be considered by students looking for a grade enhancement program. Alternatively, the MAMS program at Loyola is well known and very strong.

The Certificate program I participated in has no linkages, very little pre-health support (and the support that is offered is geared toward young, immature undergraduates, not career changers or older students), and classes with the standard undergraduate population. Be prepared for egocentric professors with little regard for their student composition. Your classes are large and impersonal. There are not really opportunities for research. At nearly 30, I can't tell you how many times I was called a 'kid' by a professor, talked down too, and generally disregarded by the institution.

The perk to the program is a composite letter from the pre-health committee. As the semesters went by this felt less and less worth it. If you're a career changer or an older applicant, I highly recommend looking for programs that specifically cater toward your needs. I don't think this program is the one for you.

 

[gooser]

This is a late response to your post regarding Post-Bacc programs in Chicago. I have written this elsewhere but feel it is important to emphasize that the career changer post-bacc program at Loyola is in name only. I felt this program was primarily a money maker. The staff and administration do not invest significant time or resources into the program.

I am currently finishing the Post-Bacc Certificate program (NOT the MAMS...Masters in Medical Sciences) at Loyola and would NOT recommend it. This program is intended for students who do not have previous science credits and shouldn't be considered by students looking for a grade enhancement program. Alternatively, the MAMS program at Loyola is well known and very strong.

The Certificate program I participated in has no linkages, very little pre-health support (and the support that is offered is geared toward young, immature undergraduates, not career changers or older students), and classes with the standard undergraduate population. Be prepared for egocentric professors with little regard for their student composition. Your classes are large and impersonal. There are not really opportunities for research. At nearly 30, I can't tell you how many times I was called a 'kid' by a professor, talked down too, and generally disregarded by the institution.

The perk to the program is a composite letter from the pre-health committee. As the semesters went by this felt less and less worth it. If you're a career changer or an older applicant, I highly recommend looking for programs that specifically cater toward your needs. I don't think this program is the one for you.

Roughly four years late 🙂

Regardless, your information is helpful. I'm an Illinois resident contemplating Northeastern Illinois University and the Science in the Evening program at UMD for a DIY Post-Bacc. I'm leaning toward the SIE program at UMD as it seems to have a bit more separation from the undergrad "gen pop" and better support.

Did you consider other Chicago/Illinois based programs before deciding on Loyola?

 

[lorian99]

Roughly four years late 🙂

Regardless, your information is helpful. I'm an Illinois resident contemplating Northeastern Illinois University and the Science in the Evening program at UMD for a DIY Post-Bacc. I'm leaning toward the SIE program at UMD as it seems to have a bit more separation from the undergrad "gen pop" and better support.

Did you consider other Chicago/Illinois based programs before deciding on Loyola?

In contrast to chicago_postbacc, I found Loyola's post-bacc program to be sufficient for completing prereqs as a non-trad. It's essentially an extension school where you take the prereqs on your own schedule with the perks of first-priority registration and access to their committee process.

I have considered other programs in Chicago and simply found Loyola to be the best fit -- class registration priority and significant support during the application process through a committee. Of the other programs in Chicago, I found Dominican too expensive and Northwestern too restrictive with available classes for post-baccs. I also considered taking classes a la carte as a student-at-large at cheaper public colleges like UIC and Northeastern, but the prospect of struggling to get a favorable class time and professor for the in-demand pre-med prereqs at Chicago's large universities was especially deterring.

If you prefer to take the prereqs only with other post-baccs, Loyola wouldn't be the place to go. Post-bacc students register for the same prereq courses as the general undergraduate population. From my experience, I found no issue with taking the prereqs with Loyola's undergrads.