I will have to respectfully disagree with you. The majority of the enrichment-oriented postbac SDNers are those who choose to enrich their undergraduate shortcomings--MCAT/DAT, gpa, ECs, etc.
Programs like G-town and Boston U boast acceptance rates of 60-65% during the program and 85-90% eventually. Many of these are US allo acceptances. If you do well and have a complete package, chances are you'll get in to a US medical school somewhere. Furthermore, those who perform among the top in the G-town SMP and Boston programs often gain acceptance into the medical schools there even if there's no formal guarantee.
Postbac programs take advantage of the fact that some unsuccessful applicants are desperate to get into med school, but how is that different from the modus operandi of a school like SGU or Ross? You give Ross/SGU/AUC what they want (money) and they give you what you want (the opportunity to be an excellent physician). Postbac enrichment programs and SGU/Ross/AUC/Saba exist for the same reason, to give an opportunity to unsuccessful US allopathic/osteopathic applicants so that they can realize their dreams. If you reason that postbac programs are just money makers, you could say the same thing about SGU.
FYI:
The rumor is that both Ross and SGU have been approached by the AAMC for accreditation. If I remember correctly, Ross would have to relocate (to the US) AND reduce its class size. Ross didn't think twice; the answer was an emphatic no. I can't verify this rumor, but economically it makes sense. SGU and Ross have huge student bodies. More student bodies = more money.
Some postbacs have linkages with guaranteed acceptances (rare). Other programs say, "There is no guarantee!" However, they still take a significant number of their postbac students into their med school. Other programs (e.g. Drexel IMS, Loyola MAMS) guarantee you an interview with a good performance:
http://www.drexel.edu/med/ims/faqs.asp Anyone that does a program like the Drexel IMS should realize that a guaranteed interview is NOT EQUAL to an acceptance, but there is a good possibility of acceptance into Drexel after completing the IMS (with a kick butt performance) and many are willing to take that risk.
Some people argue, "Postbac programs don't have guarantees and those programs are very difficult, just go to the Caribbean." This is circular logic. If a person doesn't have what it takes to perform well in a rigorous postbac to begin with, what are the chances that the person is gonna have what it takes to succeed in the Caribbean? Admission is easier to obtain, but the coursework and USMLEs will still require a great deal of effort.
If a person just wants to get on with his/her life for whatever reason (AND IS READY FOR MED SCHOOL), the Caribbean is a reasonable route. Many postbacs don't consider it and ultimately end up there anyway when it would have allowed them to accomplish their goals sooner.
SGU, Ross, and AUC are good choices for some (including my best friend). But going that route is not without its risks and complications. There are several examples such as a disadvantage in the match, hurricanes, and living conditions.
For whatever reason, many of us do not wish to go offshore (at least not if we can avoid it). And for that reason it is unfair for you to say that going for a postbac like Drexel is "wasting time." Our wishes, and yours, should be respected.
Good luck at SGU,
Phil
