formal v informal

[adpitan]

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I'm still floundering and still filling out applications and will obviously attend who accepts me, unless I am blessed with multiple acceptance letters 😀 But in reality I am wondering if a formal is better than an informal program? I'm sure there are many opinions and I'm dying to hear them. Is there more structure in a formal program? Is an informal program looked at less favorably than a formal? 😕 😕 I would love to hear from both groups of people if we have them here.

Thanks!

 

[N1DERL&]

I'm in a formal.

I like it because there's structure. I don't feel alone because there is a postbacc "community". I like knowing that there is an advisor who specializes in post bacc students, rather than having an advisor that only knows best for premed students. I don't have to worry too much about getting into a class, although the lab I get into isn't my primary choice.

It's really preference. I hope you get into your first choice!

 

[adpitan]

Thanks, you both seem to have good experiences with your choices. Thinking out loud but feel free to jump in. 🙂 I suppose now it goes down to thinking about a timeline , if I do the informal it will probably take 2 years, if I do the formal it could only take 1 year. If I do the 2 years plus a glide year, I wouldn't enter med school until I am 29 which means I won't be done with med school & the specialty until my late 30's...is this a bad thing? If I did the formal and hopefully one with a linkage then I would enter when I am 27 and be done with everything in the mid-thirties....If I did the 2 years then I could really take my time with each course and make sure I understood it fully, appreciated it and did really, really well. If I did the 1 year then I might not have the time to fully appreciate what I am learning. Is it possible to do a 2 year program, apply to med school at the end of your 1st year and do the mcats in april of the year you will be attending? Are there any two years with linkages that I am missing?

Hmm...thanks!

 

[adpitan]

Thanks for that docgirl, I needed that. So now, I'm going to be nosey, did you already have your BA & then do the post bac thing? Where did you go? When you did all your pre-reqs did you work? Did you volunteer or do nothing but eat,sleep & breathe science.

I did my undergrad in Criminal Justice and had a blast, no regrets about it but it's a longer story as to why I didn't square away premed at my undergrad school. I just want to go to school and not have to deal with the BS of working while I'm learning the base of my craft. 😀

I shared half my wardrobe with my mother and refuse to go back to that place, the gym is my friend just like human anatomy is.

Thanks again.

 

[r_salis]

I did a DIY postbacc, but I didn't have the registration problems that docgirl ran into because I took my classes at the same university I went to for my BA. It worked out great because I had so many credits that I was always the first to register.

It took me 1-1/2 years to finish my pre-reqs, so a formal would have been faster. It worked out with my timeline, though, so I'm very happy with how it went.

 

[Moniker]

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[adpitan]

My goal is to get through as quickly as possible so that I can enjoy my career but also to learn as much and enjoy as much as I can. I know we don't like to beat a dead horse but I'm new to the group and like to hear fresh responses as peoples opinions may have changed.

 

[r_salis]

My goal is to get through as quickly as possible so that I can enjoy my career but also to learn as much and enjoy as much as I can. I know we don't like to beat a dead horse but I'm new to the group and like to hear fresh responses as peoples opinions may have changed.

I realize for some people there is no economic choice but to "get through" school quickly -- but on the other hand it's really important to enjoy the ride, no matter which part of the process you are in.

 

[adpitan]

I realize for some people there is no economic choice but to "get through" school quickly -- but on the other hand it's really important to enjoy the ride, no matter which part of the process you are in.

It's not necessarily about money because I know regardless of my choice I will be taking out loans/getting aid wherever I can, it's about getting to my ultimate goal so I can enjoy it. I have already decided I am going to be in debt due to med school and taking these additional courses but it is what it is, you know? I just want to enjoy my career choice.

 

[N1DERL&]

Can you get financial aid for a diy post bacc?

 

[adpitan]

Adpitan,

I already graduated and worked for a couple of years before quitting to do the premed thing full-time.

I went to a CA state school, where I have come back to do my informal post-bacc.

That's so great to hear you graduated and did all that, I know I'm not the only one but when you're the only in your group of friends doing it it feels like you are the only one to have done something like this. THANK YOU! Which CA state school did you go to? I graduated from Sac State and am looking at both SFSU and SJSU and trying to get feed back.

The ppl on this board are full of information and extremely helpful. As far as neglecting my friends for studies, they already do get negelcted from me the last two weeks of the month due to my job so this would be nothing new to them. It's such a great feeling to have support from ppl who are going through the same thing, even if you don't know them and one day we could be working side by side.

Thanks again. That did help.

 

[Moniker]

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[adpitan]

Moniker, that was very, very well put and actually I think you're statement helped me decide the informal would be the best route for me. Thank you. The search function would have been an idea to and I can still utilize it but like I said ppl tend to change their opinions about things.

If I do the informal as you said I could tailor it to me, I can repair my yucky science grades and prove they truly were a one time thing. I was leaning more towards the informal as it is closer to home, the move wouldn't break my bank and while I would still need loans they may be easier to obtain as I would be attending either SJSU or SFSU, most likely it will be SFSU.

Which one are you/did you attend?