Hi,
I'm currently doing a DIY postbacc at a SUNY, so I though I'd chime in. I'm both a career changer and a GPA enhancer.
Kb1234 said
I'm planning on taking a post bacc pre med program in new york but I have having a hard time understanding exactly CUNY & SUNY schools. There's so many schools and it's absolutely confusing.
When you say "new york" do you mean NY
state or NY
city? Because there's a big difference between the two.
CUNY=City University of New York; several campuses, but only in NYC. I don't know much about them other than that they're intended (as far as I know) for people who are residents of NYC- I don't know if you are or not.
SUNY=State University of NY; several campuses, all across NY state. Not in NYC, though a couple are nearby.
All are solid, though some have better reputations for a particular department than others (ex. Purchase has a good Music program, Albany has a good pre-law program, etc. All are about equal in the sciences, as far as I've heard).
Which one is a better place to pick in terms of recognition, overall standing and "prestigious" factor. And which school under that is a good place to go. I've read that SUNY Stony Brooks is quite good. I know they're basically all the same but there has to be some difference. Compared to Columbia & NYC of course those are different since they're private but their tuition is crazy.
The only thing that makes any real difference between them is where they are located, which can translate into more money for the school. SUNY Stony Brook is on Long Island, the local community is high income and the school gets money from them, so the place looks newer and shinier- which makes some people say better. But I would say the quality of teaching is probably the same between all of them and none are markedly more or less prestigious.
I know some of the schools don't really have a post bacc program with the advisors and everything, and it's all just taking the classes yourself and I don't really want to ones like that.
I'm more of a career changer than a GPA enhancer. I've only taken one science class in undergrad studies which is General Chem for 1 semester.
If you're looking for a structured program
I would recommend doing a lot of research, as these are fairly uncommon in the sense I think you mean (something geared specifically for career changers to prep them for med school) A good place to start would be
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...ms-smps-postbacs-et-al-june-2009-list.640302/ Dr Midlife has a great post here which was a starting point for me when I was beginning this process a few years ago. As you haven't taken the pre-reqs, you'd be looking at Catagory 3 in her post.
You will have to take all the pre-reqs at the undergraduate level before applying the medical school, so grad school versions are not really an option for you.
Another option is the DIY version, even though you seem opposed. The way I'm doing it, which is working out quite well, is as a second bachelors (I may end up finishing the 2nd Bacc, for personal reasons, but it certainly would not be necessary) . This means I applied to the school, saying I wanted to do a second bacc and once I was accepted I had access to the advisors and structure that any other undergrad would, which has been very helpful. I have a regular advisor and a pre-health advisor, both of whom are familiar with my situation and are very helpful.
Other benefits: full time tuition is much cheaper than paying per class; being 2nd bacc gets me listed as a senior, so I get to register for classes before most other people which means there are very few scheduling conflicts; I tend to stand out from the sea of young undergrads, so my professors really know me and will write excellent LORs when I apply.
Good luck to you.
