Did you go into debt doing a post-bacc program?

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I'm considering doing a post-bacc program, but it's sooooo expensive!!!! Should I just take some more courses at a local university and save money, or go with the post-bacc?

 

[Depakote]

I went into about $35-40K doing my post-bac. I've been working some of it off over the past year while I reapply.

Honestly, I figure it'll be a drop in the bucket when I add it to the total expense of my medical education. I think it was worth it.

 

[jbrice1639]

i did my post-bacc at loyola and it was quite affordable. classes run about $400 an hour (so $1200-$1600 per class). i was really happy with the program and my most expensive semesters were still only about $6000.

edit: i did this on a part-time basis over two years, so i was working while going to class and covered almost the entire cost by working...hence my label of "affordable."

 

[gafft]

I borrowed over 100K to do an ivy league postbacc program. It took three years full time and I will be attending an ivy league med school. To me, it was worth it to make the switch from corporate marketer to doctor.

 

[Jonesie]

I'm considering doing a post-bacc program, but it's sooooo expensive!!!! Should I just take some more courses at a local university and save money, or go with the post-bacc?

I went to Loyola and spent about $17,500 total over the course of several years...but then again, I was working full-time. I also took a job that offered partial tuition reimbursement, so that helped to defray some of the costs.

Many people want to get their post-bacc program done in a shorter period of time than I did, but the longer timeline worked out well for me. It actually took me a few years to get good clinical experience, be certain of my career choice, and get in a good financial position (ie: good credit and no consumer debt) for med school. Everything is doable, you just need to find a way to make it work.

 

[Sophie]

I did an informal post-bac at UC San Diego. They labelled me as a non-degree graduate student, so I paid graduate student fees (roughly $2,300 per quarter), and could take whatever classes I wanted. Being a grad student I got priority registration, and was able to get every class I needed and thus finish all of the med school pre-reqs in 1 year. I went roughly $20,000 in debt (subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford, plus private loan), but that covered tuition, books, and all living expenses for the whole year.

Since it was an informal program, they didn't hold my hand, or offer any guidance, so it's not perfect for everyone. You do have access to the undergrad pre-med advisors, though, so that was enough for me.

 

[notdeadyet]

If you're a career changer and need every edge you can get, I think a formal postbac from a well-reputed program is worth it. I borrowed about $35K to do one and am glad I did.

If you're an already competitive applicant (recent grad with good grades, background in the sciences, lots of good ECs), I wouldn't bother. If you're just looking to knock out a few prereqs, go for the local college.

 

[prana_md]

I borrowed about 20K to go to Mills College's post-bac in Oakland, CA. I had to do all of my pre-reqs, so for me it was where I could get the most done the fastest. Their formal program allowed me to borrow Stafford loans, so I didn't have to balance full-time work with school. (I still worked about 15 hours a week.) I cut my costs the second year by being a TA, which paid for about half of my tuition. My parents are very debt-averse, and were really angry that I did it. I had a lot of guilt about borrowing, but I think I did the right thing. Now that I'm looking at what medical school is going to cost, 20K is, as another post said, a drop in the bucket.

 

[TCIrish03]

I looked at all the top post-bacc programs and was a bit hesitant. Then I decided doing mine at Pitt (my hometown) and cost me just under $9,000 for I believe 39 credits. So good thing for state schools.

 

[mshheaddoc]

I took prereqs at a local university/CC and I'm going to be doing a MS at a med school hopefully. Money isn't an object at this point if you want to get in ...

 

[cdngirl80]

I was wondering is it better to do a formal or an informal post-bacc if you have all the prereq's its just that you did poorly in undergrad.

 

[sidewalkman]

It's all about how you define 'local university'. If that happens to be UCSD or Pitt, then that's fine, but if it's some no-name school, you may want to look elsewhere.

 

[mshheaddoc]

I disagree with the above poster ... (sorry man 😉 ) If someone is trying to improve and can't really move all around the country then going to a local college is fine. If they want ivy or top 20, then sure school might matter. But lots of peopel from small schools get into med schools. Name doesn't mean much.

 

[karma_radio]

I borrowed over 100K to do an ivy league postbacc program. It took three years full time and I will be attending an ivy league med school. To me, it was worth it to make the switch from corporate marketer to doctor.

Hi gafft, I read some of your posts and am very impressed by the fact that you have been accepted to P&S, could you share with us how you manage to do it even with your modest GPA?