CSUEB vs SFSU formal postbacc! HELP please!!!!!

[rafi07]

Hey GUYS!

Im really interested in knowing the main differences between the two formal postbacc programs at CSUEB vs SFSU for career changers!!! Ive heard a mix of things from both...i really want to go to MD school so which programs has the most students that get into actual MD schools?

I am currently attending CSUEBs formal postbacc but am getting so many diff reviews abou the program and about SFSU and now i am a little confused. Would it be worth it to switch over at all to SFSU?

Does attending one over the other have a huge advantage or is it the same result at both schools for career changers??

THANK YOU!!!

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[AntonFreeman]

I am at CSU Eastbay postbac right now as an academic enhancer. SFSU postbac has been around for longer so I think they have better track record of putting people in to medical school or dental school. But neither program has any linkage to medical school. If you already started as a postbac at CSU Eastbay, I don't think it's worth it to switch over to SFSU.

 

[hsk013]

i got into fall 2013 career changer program at csu east bay.
(i live in pleasanton, which is much closer to hayward than san francisco)

i was initially thinking about applying to sfsu's career changer postbac, but now not sure anymore.

is there a big brand difference between csu east bay and sfsu's postbac program?

although i havent talked to anyone in either program, it seems to me (based on what i read here) that sfsu's program is more well structured and recognized than csu east bay's.

can someone please give me more insight about the program as a student?

 

[huskydock]

SFSU vs. CSUEB

The main difference: quarter system vs. semester system.
At East Bay, it's $383 a unit (each quarter class = 4 units)
At SFSU, it's $500 a unit (each semester class = 3 units)

At East Bay, you're *required* to take 10-12 classes in the academic enhancer track.
Career changers are required to take at least 87-95 units.

At SFSU, career changers take 44-62 units and academic enhancers typically take 33 units per year.

If you do the math:
Career changers (at the least number of units possible): $33,321 total at CSUEB and $22,000 total at SFSU
Academic enhancers: $15,320 at CSUEB and $16,500 at SFSU

Of course, you have to account for living cost and transportation. I find most of my fellow students at SFSU are commuting in from East Bay, so they probably save a bit on rent, but pay a bunch for BART. I heard from a CSUEB post-bacc student that rent in Hayward isn't exactly cheap, unless you choose to live in the more questionable neighborhoods.

So for a career changer, you'd save a whopping $10,000 by going to SFSU over CSUEB. Academic enhancer costs vary a lot because at SFSU, you're free to take as many or as little classes as you want (and can afford).

THAT is the biggest difference.

Here's what I can speak to about SFSU (and not about CSUEB, since I don't have any direct experience):
- 5 advisers who constantly have office hours to help you plan for your app cycle, class schedule, etc...
- Guaranteed seats in all classes (no wait lists and no delays, unless you're going through open U)
- Generally good quality of professors
- VERY good success rate for Academic enhancers getting accepted into dental and medical schools. There is statistical evidence and tons of anecdotal evidence.
- Being in San Francisco vs. being in Hayward/Concord

Hope this was helpful!

 

[Mika252]

So sorry if I'm a bit late in posting...but...what Husky said. But I can speak on behalf of CSUEB a bit and compare and contrast to SFSU because I got into both, and decided to go into CSUEB.

Beforehand, I just want to say that a postbac, first and foremost, is what you make of it. Husky is spot on with the price differences, now in terms of advising, I'll discuss what I know about CSUEB.

We have around three or four advisers, all with their own office hours. You are not assigned a personal adviser, you need to email them for an appointment or sign up for one on their door. They generally dispense good advice and there are always the peer advisers as well.

The biggest difference is in terms of structure. CSUEB is still relatively new compared to SFSU. The program reflects this. Getting into classes is still a nightmare at times, with waitlists galore. CSUEB is less structured, it's a more of a go after it yourself type of program but there is support, don't get me wrong. Your peers are awesome, our facebook page reflects that. But in my opinion it's not as close knit as SFSU and there's less support overall.

So in the end it depends on what you want. Do you want a very structured, small, close knit program, or a slightly more flexible but less structured and slightly chaotic program? For me, I chose CSUEB in the end really because of the cost. I come from the south bay, so commuting up to SF is a lot harder than Hayward and if I were to move to SF, the cost of living, rent, it was just too much for me and my savings to handle. And I can handle not a structured programs because I have a very clear idea of what I need to do to get into medical school, so CSUEB was just a bit more ideal for me.

 

[kevizzle]

For career changers, CC won't do any harm for you and it will save you tons of $.