Hello,
I did my undergraduate degree in computer science two years ago and hence I am a non-traditional medical school applicant.
I completed my master's, however, in health informatics from one of the top medical schools in the country and have taken some courses in public health. I have a publication in health informatics and currently work for a radiology based research organization.
I will also start clinical volunteering at a local hospital soon. I am passionate about pursuing medicine and I need to complete the prereqs to apply.
My stats: Undergrad GPA: 3.85, Masters GPA: 3.75
I was researching some formal postbacc programs for career changers and found some of them that I would be interested in applying to however I will have to move to another nearby city if classes are on campus in the summer or fall of 2021. I am also looking into DIY postbacc at local universities where I can complete the prereqs while working my regular job and staying at my current place.
I have a few questions while trying to decide between DIY postbacc and formal post bacc.
- I found out that there is a considerable difference in tuition fees for formal postbacc and DIY postbacc. Is the formal postbacc really worth it given the expensive tuition especially if there is not a medical school linkage associated with the program?
- Do admissions committees prefer formal postbacc over DIY postbacc especially for non-trad career changers?
- Does the prestige of the institution where you complete your pre-req courses matter?
Your help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!