formal post bac program vs nonformal

[DavidC]

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is there a difference between taking a formal post bacc program such as the one offered by USC or just taking classes on your own at a university? I started taking some classes this past semester and just found out about these post bac programs.
I would really like to go to the USC post bac premed program and eventually end up at a school in california, however, its too late to apply now for the fall semester at USC and I think taking next semester off just so I don't go past the maximum allowed classes is kind of silly.

just seeking some advice from people.

thanks
david

 

[braluk]

is there a difference between taking a formal post bacc program such as the one offered by USC or just taking classes on your own at a university? I started taking some classes this past semester and just found out about these post bac programs.
I would really like to go to the USC post bac premed program and eventually end up at a school in california, however, its too late to apply now for the fall semester at USC and I think taking next semester off just so I don't go past the maximum allowed classes is kind of silly.

just seeking some advice from people.

thanks
david

It depends, you need to provide us a little more information. Are you someone who has been out of college for a while, and looking to get into medicine, so you need to take the prereqs to get into med school? Are you someone who hasn't finished all their requirements in college for medical school, and looking to finsh the requirements post-graduation. Or are you someone who has most or all of their requirements done, but needs a better GPA, or academic enhancer in order to be a competitive applicant to medical school?

The best, ideal method is to basically take the classes on your own in college (if you are already in college- it seems to me like you are a senior or a junior) and do well in them, without having to do a postbac. Im sure there is a difference when it comes to taking postbacs, in terms of what adcoms see. Postbacs are typically for students who need to make their record more competitive, or needs to fulfill the reqs to get into medical school. If you make it to a med school interview, the questions of "why didnt you just take the classes at your university instead of taking them in a postbac" will surely come up. It depends on your reasons i guess. Hope that helps.;

 

[DavidC]

i graduated in dec 2004 with a bachelors in information systems and basically out of school for a year. i just started taking classes this past spring 2006 at the school I graduated from (Univ of Maryland Baltimore County). I originally started with intentions of pharmacy but now I'm leaning toward medical school. My GPA was a 3.14 when I graduated and now I'm just taking classes at the undergraduate level to fulfill the pre-reqs.

are there post bac programs out there that "automatically" accept you into their medical school if you complete their program meeting certain conditions?

the USC program seems to enhance your chances of getting into their schools or other UC schools. Maybe its just cause of the name.

thanks

 

[silkworm]

Those "automatic" acceptance programs tends to be for career-changers who hasn't taken the pre-reqs such as biology and organic chem. So if you want to get into them, you shouldn't be taking the pre-reqs in other schools. They tend to be pretty selective though. I suggest to go to the AAMC website and browse through the comprehensive list of programs.

 

[mshheaddoc]

blast, I had a post all typed and the server ate it. Anywho, I just said that if you are in MD then there are programs in your area. You don't need to move all the way across the country for it. Additionally many people take their prereqs on their own or enroll in a 2nd degree in biology/chemistry related areas in order to take the prereqs and boost their GPA.

With your gpa I would suggest taking the prereqs as well as upper level coursework and doing well in all the classes. Formal post-baccs are nice but can be expensive. They do have linkage programs but usually they are highly selective and most only provide you with an interview, not a guarenteed spot. Still, they are nice to have.

Look around at various post-bacc programs in your areas. I know a few that aren't probably listed on the website that you were referred to so look at various colleges in your area. I thought UMD-BC had a post-bacc program, so look into that. Good luck.

 

[DavidC]

I havent really taken cost of any programs into account. i dont want that to be part of my decision.

I just looked up UMBC and they didnt have a post bacc program for medical stuff. It seems all the deadlines for acceptance into fall semester are past except for UPenn.

The thing giving me trouble in deciding basically is that most schools only allow very little course work to be completed if you are applying into their program, which is totally understandable. But since the deadlines for this upcoming fall semester are already past. Is it a good idea to not take any classes this semester in order to apply to these post bacc programs?

What I don't want to happen is that I take a semester break in the fall so I can meet the requirements for these post bacc program and not get in. That would leave me even further behind.

Thanks for the help!