Formal or Informal Postbacc, does it matter??

[IWannaBe-A-Dr]

What are your takes on doing informal vs. formal post baccs? Say you can't get into a particular formal postbacc program due to you not being considered "disadvantaged"...will it affect you any differently if you just sign up for classes through open university and take all the classes you wouldve been taking anyway?

all thoughts and opinions on this topic are greatly appreciated.

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[relentless11]

What are your takes on doing informal vs. formal post baccs? Say you can't get into a particular formal postbacc program due to you not being considered "disadvantaged"...will it affect you any differently if you just sign up for classes through open university and take all the classes you wouldve been taking anyway?

all thoughts and opinions on this topic are greatly appreciated.

No it does not matter aslong as you are not looking for something which also teaches you learning skills and MCAT test taking skills. Some post-baccs have that component during the summer. Aslong as it is an accredited school, and you are taking upper division classes, it does not matter.

 

[Law2Doc]

What are your takes on doing informal vs. formal post baccs? Say you can't get into a particular formal postbacc program due to you not being considered "disadvantaged"...will it affect you any differently if you just sign up for classes through open university and take all the classes you wouldve been taking anyway?

all thoughts and opinions on this topic are greatly appreciated.

I know nothing about this "disadvantaged" comment I see on SDN from time to time.
But, in addition to the MCAT prep relentless mentioned, formal programs tend to make sure you meet all the deadlines, give you good premed advising, offer mock interviews, have faculty that is more attuned to LOR writing, and the directors tend to go to med school deans and market their candidates, sometimes very effectively. Some formal postbac programs have linkages or other agreements with med schools that facilitate acceptance. The names of the formal programs also tend to carry a bit more weight than just taking courses at an open university. And since the formal programs tend to screen their admittees pretty carefully, they tend to be able to boast 90+% acceptance rates to med school.
So there are actually definite advantages. But plenty of people get in via both routes, and as with all steps in this career path, it is going to depend on you, your abilities, grades, MCAT, etc. more than anything.

 

[relentless11]

Oh yea, some of the post-baccs with linkages have some different requirements as well. I have seen a few that will not take anyone who has already taken the MCAT. Scripps for example was intended for those that changed careers. But yea, as Law2Doc said, doing well in either program will get you into a school. It does indeed make one feel better that there is some guarantee with the programs with a linkage. But hey people get into med school the other way too so whatever.