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You don't need the porgram, just do it DIY.Hello,
I graduated a few months ago in May 2019 with a computer science degree, but since I was also a Biology minor I completed a lot of the premed prerequisite courses as well. The only prereqs I still have to take are Biochem, Ochem 2 lab, and maybe sociology? I'm also considering retaking Ochem 2 because I got a C in it, but I also don't want to risk getting an even worse grade. My cumulative GPA was 3.8+, and my BCPM GPA was also 3.8+.
Anyway, I just got accepted into a premed post bacc certificate program for Spring 2020 at the same school I went to for undergrad. The downside is that the program requires a minimum of 24 credit hours to complete, and since I don't need that many classes it would be difficult to justify spending that kind of time/money just to complete the program. However, the program gives you a committee letter once you've completed it, has a linkage agreement with a med school that I want to go to, and all the students who've completed the program have been accepted to med school. Not to mention, I didn't really form relationships with my science professors during undergrad, so right now I wouldn't have anyone to write a letter for me. But if I go through this program I'll be able to suck up to my science profs and hopefully get letters from them.
My other option is to take the classes as a non degree student at that same university. Obviously that'd be way cheaper, but the downside is that I wouldn't have the guidance or the committee letter that I'd get from the formal post bacc program.
So my question is: Formal post-bacc or DIY post-bacc? Also, if I were to start the formal post-bacc, take the classes I need, and then drop out after a semester or two, will med schools know/care about this? Or can I just list the classes that I took in the formal post-bacc as non-degree classes and not even mention that they were originally for the post bacc program? I'm kind of leaning towards the "take the formal post bacc and then drop out once I get the classes I need" option because at least then I'll have guidance/advisers while I'm taking the classes. Please let me know what you guys think.
You don't need the porgram, just do it DIY.
No MCAT required???Even with the med school linkage? Why pass up on that?
Oh, there is an MCAT required for the linkage. You have to have a good gpa and an MCAT of around 514+. But apparently you can still do the linkage with an MCAT a few points under a 514 but only if your gpa is really really goodNo MCAT required???
The program gives you a committee letter once you've completed it, has a linkage agreement with a med school that I want to go to, and all the students who've completed the program have been accepted to med school
Is this worth the tuition? Only you can answer that.
Linkages usually aren't guaranteed. You can meet all the requirements, get the interview, and still be rejected.
Temple's ACMS has a guaranteed linkage as long as you get in, & meet minimum GPA/MCAT requirements.