figuring things out

[202149]

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First off, I want to thank anyone who responds in advance. I really appreciate all the advice I've gotten from my couple of posts within the past few months while trying to figure out my post-bac situation. Also, a disclaimer: reading this post over to myself, this reads more like a journal of what I've been trying to work out over the past few months. Again, thank you very much in advance for reading through this.

I posted about two weeks ago asking if it would be a smart move to delay post-bac classes in order to build up an extra-curricular resume with which I can use to apply and maybe get into Goucher or Bryn Mawr either June 2009 or June 2010. Today I just got accepted to a post-bac program at Stony Brook (a SUNY on Long Island). I know that SB would be a great fit for several reasons.
1. very good reputation with the sciences
2. med school is on campus, which means research and volunteering opportunities
3. low cost
4. I've been in Boston as an undergrad for the past four years, and I think it would be nice to live near the family again, plus Boston is great but I could use a change of scenery (aka, no Harvard Extension for me)

Here's where I've been running in circles. Several reasons why in the recent past I've even considered holding off on classes for a shot at Goucher or Bryn Mawr:
1. smaller classes - this could translate into more attention/a better relationship with professors which could also help with recommendations in the future.
2. programs have a very good track record
3. pre-formed study group and laid out schedule seems like it could provide good structure and be conducive to maintaining my motivation.

HOWEVER: Now that I've actually gotten into Stony Brook, I'm heavily leaning toward just beginning my post-bac experience this September on Long Island and forgetting about Bryn Mawr or Goucher. Reasons:
1. I've been seriously considering doing post-bac for the past year while finishing up my undergraduate coursework. Delaying post-bac for longer so that I can maybe possibly get into another program is beginning to seem counter-intuitive to me. Post-bac is a preparation for med school. I'd basically be spending the next 1 or 2 years preparing for post-bac.
----- I think I should just take the plunge.
2. The only way I will ever know if medicine is the right path for me is if I begin taking classes.
3. EVERY post-bac program must have its pros and cons. In the end, as long as you're taking your classes at a somewhat reputable school with decent teachers, the only factor that will tip the balance in your favor is your own hard work.

On a separate and final note, now that I've pretty much decided on Stony Brook there are two things that still concern me, and any advice would help:
1. I find that I'm a little intimidated by what I hear about these class sizes. It's a state school, which means it has low tuition, which translates into a lot of undergraduate students.
2. I'm a little nervous about the competition. I hear that sciences at Stony Brook are taken very seriously. BUT I'm sure that competition is fairly intense in most pre-med environments. On this kind of academic track, I'm guessing you just need to tough it out and do your best.
3. I've been thinking a lot about applying to do either Americorps or Peace Corps around this point in my life. I realize I pretty much answered my own question a paragraph ago, but should I wait on this kind of experience until after a post-bac (2 years from now), or should I do this before post-bac?

Sorry for the length of this post. I'll be very impressed and very appreciative if I get any responses. 🙂

 

[Vince86]

I went to SUNY Binghamton and it is true that the class sizes are large at a public school. A large class size isn't anything to worry about. You will learn the same information and the professors are available for office hours. Occasionally, you get the professor who is very busy, but you are not totally on your own; there are TAs around to help too. I'm not sure about Stony Brook professors, but they should be the same. Everything is doable.
I didn't really see any pre-med competition at Binghamton. Intro- and Higher- level classes didn't have any competition at all, meaning everyone was willing to help everyone else if you ask.
If you are going to the peace corps, you should do it before your post-bac. I believe it is a 2 year thing, so if you did do it after your post-bac, you might forget what you learned. If u plan on taking your MCAT after the peace corps, you might have to re-learn everything. Your MCAT score if only good for 3 years, so keep this in mind on when you plan on taking it and going off to peace corps.

Overall, small class or big class, doesn't matter, you will learn just the same. It is just a preference on which one you feel more comfortable in. The relationship you build with professors are what you make of it, in a big class or small class. Bigger class means you will just have to go to the professor, not to say a small class size wouldn't be the same. In the end, as long as you aren't in a community college, all you need are A's in your pre-med classes and that's it. Recommendations from most professors are pre-formatted, so they have a pre-written rec for you, all they do is write your name, how you did GPA wise, and maybe a sentence or two of comments. That is, unless you are really close with them.

 

[202149]

Thanks for the response and reassurance.