Georgetown & Penn: Help Deciding on Post Bac

[HankHill1]

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Hey, everyone--I'm trying to make a final decision on which post-bacc program to start this summer. I've been accepted to both Penn and Georgetown's premedical post-bacc programs (the ones for career-changers), and I do not qualify for most linkages at Penn (3.55 undergrad GPA). I'm also interviewing at Bryn Mawr soon, and that would be an obvious game-changer if I got in, but I am not completely confident I'll make it in there.

Does anyone have information about the linkage program at Georgetown? That would make a major difference in my decision. I'm not super concerned about the difference between Penn being two years versus one year at Georgetown, but the prospect of rubbing shoulders with Perelman faculty and potentially applying there with a letter of rec from one of the doctors there is very exciting.

 

[HankHill1]

Moved here: Which Post-Bac: Georgetown & Penn

 

[yogidoc19]

I don’t know much about the GTWN program but I know someone who did an SMP there and has no Med school acceptance to show for it 2 years later.

I did my post bacc at penn not for the career changers but still and I can say that even the people not getting a linkage like myself and many of my friends have done very well this cycle.
The classes are hard- it’s penn but the opportunities are great. I think they boast an acceptance rate to Med school after the program at like 70-80% and that seems fair given the number of people I know that have gotten in both last cycle and this cycle.

Penn is expensive af but if you can manage that then I think it is a great program. I will say you really need to be motivated- this is not the type of school/program where they will hold your hand but they will support you and get you to your goal.

Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions.

 

[hamiltonnyc]

For these comparison posts, I always find it helpful when an op does a pros and cons list of the factors they've researched on both schools.

It shows what kind of preconceptions you have as well as what you value.

 

[HankHill1]

Thanks so much for the replies!

@hamiltonnyc here's a brief rundown of my pros and cons:
Georgetown
Pros:
-I qualify for linkage to the GU SoM (no glide year if things go well)
-It's a one-year program
Cons:
-Cost of living in the Georgetown area
-Classes with undergrads (graded on the same curve as gunners, greater risk of lab sabotage, etc.)

Penn
Pros:
-Affiliation with Penn SoM (prospects for getting a letter of rec from Perelman faculty)
-Post bacc-only classes
-Better "vibe" from my communications: much faster to reply, more forthright, etc.
Cons:
-Two-year program (obviously not a deal-breaker, but it'd be three years in a best-case scenario for matriculating into medical school)
-My undergrad GPA disqualifies me from linkage (less security)

I should probably clarify that linkage is pretty important to me on the basis of security of choice and time. I'm not certain that I would even have a shot at getting into Perelman, which would essentially be the gamble I'm taking in going to Penn.

 

[hamiltonnyc]

Yeah sorry I don't have any first hand knowledge on Georgetown's linkage.But it doesn't seem like it's a lot of schools, even with its own medical school connection. I think if you're really into linkage and you get into Bryn Mar, you should go for that.

But between the 2, I don't think Georgetown's linkage is great, especially if you have a non-stellar GPA. I looked at their timeline, and looks like you'd end up in the same boat (3 years) since their classes drag onto the summer.