Happy to answer any questions about Bryn Mawr...

[zuiikin]

Hi guys,

I just finished the Bryn Mawr PB program and am on summer break until August. I'd be happy to answer any questions about it if anyone is interested. Just thought I'd offer... Feel free to message me as well. I promise I'll try to be as honest as I can.

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[Bond00823]

HI I do have a few questions for you if you don't mind:

1.) What do you think is the average age of students in the program?


2.) Is it very cut throat?


3.) What sort of credentials does one need to have to be considered a competitive applicant?


4.) How many students choose to link?



Thanks for your help.

 

[zuiikin]

1.) What do you think is the average age of students in the program?

I would say that the average person has been out of school for around 2-3 years or so (So about 24-25), with a few just out of school and a few out of school for up to ten years. 2-3 years is definitely average, though.

2.) Is it very cut throat?

You are never competing against other post-bac students for a grade. Physics, Bio, and Chemistry are non-curved. In Orgo, you are graded against a curve that is set by the undergraduates. This was one of my favorite things about the program. Most students do well but work hard.

3.) What sort of credentials does one need to have to be considered a competitive applicant?

Here are a few things:
1) A good undergraduate GPA. It's my guess that about a 3.6 or so is average, with a 3.7 or 3.8 being even better. Generally, having taken more than about two pre-reqs will harm your application. If you've taken two or fewer pre-reqs and gotten B+'s or better in them, that should be OK, I think.

2) Good SAT scores. It is, again, my guess that the program looks for scores of around 1300 or above. Higher is better. If you have scores below this, it's definitely possible to take the GRE and they'll look at this in addition /instead.

3) I would recommend having about three months of weekly volunteer experience in a healthcare setting by the time you interview.

4) Apply early in the cycle and prepare thoroughly for the interview.

If you do all of the above, you should be a very competitive applicant, but still apply broadly! If you fall short in SATs or the GPA, apply anyway and see what happens, but also apply to a few other places just to be safe.

4.) How many students choose to link?

Generally, about 1/3 of students apply and matriculate through the linkage programs. Many students choose not to link, and some students apply but are not accepted or do not meet the MCAT minimums for their linkages (generally 9s or 10s in each section). Recently, our most popular linkage schools have been Rochester, Jefferson, and UPenn.

Hope this helps! Feel free to ask some more questions. 😀

 

[zuiikin]

now that its application time again.

I'm kind of on the busy side right now but if you have any questions that aren't answered above about Bryn Mawr, definitely ask away and I'll see if I can help.

 

[ivegotafever]

Hi Zuiikin,

I have a few Qs about Bryn Mawr post-bacc.
1. Were there any Canadians in your program?
2. Is it worth applying if my undergrad GPA is only 3.4, but my ECs are pretty strong?
3. Were you in classes with undergrads or exclusively post-bacc students?
4. Is MCAT preparation part of the program?

Thanks so much

 

[zuiikin]

1. Were there any Canadians in your program?
Yes, we had at least one, and they did very well, too (linking to Brown, if I remember).

2. Is it worth applying if my undergrad GPA is only 3.4, but my ECs are pretty strong?
Yeah I would definitely apply (especially if your SATs are good). If your SATs aren't great, you can always take the GRE and do well on that instead.
Make sure you have some good face to face time with patients for 3 months or more (for, say, 4 hours a week) included in your ECs - I think that really helps to show that you're comitted.

3. Were you in classes with undergrads or exclusively post-bacc students?
The General Chemistry, Physics, and Bio classes are pretty much just post-baccs. Orgo and any electives you take are with undergrads.
Most of the undergrads are pretty mature and fine to work with (I had one as a lab partner for a little bit).

4. Is MCAT preparation part of the program?
There is a minimal in-house course, but I think that most people did something else as well. I did lots of independent study with Examkrackers. Some took courses.

Unsolicited advice : don't ignore the verbal section - I worked through EK 101 passages and it really helped.

Hope this helps.

I worked really hard at Bryn Mawr but it paid off and I also made a few really good friends even though I wasn't quite expecting to.

Good luck!!

 

[dia009]

what did you get on the sat/gre or someone you know i guess, it doesn't have to be you.
if i get all my rec letter + apps + scores + transcripts etc in by nov 1.
would that be okay, well, not too late?

 

[zuiikin]

what did you get on the sat/gre or someone you know i guess, it doesn't have to be you.
if i get all my rec letter + apps + scores + transcripts etc in by nov 1.
would that be okay, well, not too late?

I applied with a 1470 SAT, but like I said, I believe there is a pretty wide range.

I think November should definitely be ok -- that's actually when I applied.

 

[NewmansOwn]

what did you get on the sat/gre or someone you know i guess, it doesn't have to be you.
if i get all my rec letter + apps + scores + transcripts etc in by nov 1.
would that be okay, well, not too late?

Current BM postbac. Did similar to Z on the SATs.

But I wanted to add that there was a severe lull last year around Thanksgiving -- I was accepted right before the holiday and I know there was at least a 3 week gap before anyone else was accepted after that. So it behooves you to interview as early as possible so you'll hopefully get an acceptance as early as possible.

 

[dia009]

never mind

 

[runner1323]

I realize that I'm maybe invading territory where I shouldn't, but you should consider some of the other programs out there as well. Getting into these programs, some say, is more difficult than getting into medical school. And while you may be just as qualified as the next applicant, it's all really a crap-shoot, especially when admissions rates to these post-bac programs is 10-20%.

I am currently in the Goucher post-bac program and would highly recommend it. And the other program that's frequently mentioned among the top programs (in addition to BM and Goucher) is Scripps.

 

[NewmansOwn]

i have an inkling that i will bomb the writing section on the gre on Sat now, maybe i'm just a little nervous
so..... just wondering.
i have most of my package ready to go.
one more thing, how many programs did you guys apply to.

BM and Goucher.

 

[zuiikin]

i have an inkling that i will bomb the writing section on the gre on Sat now, maybe i'm just a little nervous
so..... just wondering.
i have most of my package ready to go.
one more thing, how many programs did you guys apply to.

I applied to Bryn Mawr, Goucher, Penn, Scripps, Hopkins, and Harvard. My feeling was that it wasn't too much extra effort to apply conservatively, and I just withdrew my other apps when I got into my first choice.

Good luck!

 

[tunafishsandwic]

Hi, I was wondering how many hours of medically-related ECs you did during your time at BM. Where and what did you do?

Thanks!

 

[dia009]

I applied with a 1470 SAT, but like I said, I believe there is a pretty wide range.

I think November should definitely be ok -- that's actually when I applied.

bleh... 1430 on gre today.
i'm just one of those hyperventilating types i guess.

 

[zuiikin]

Hi, I was wondering how many hours of medically-related ECs you did during your time at BM. Where and what did you do?

Thanks!

I volunteered at the Bryn Mawr Hospital for about 3 hours a week. They have opportunities in Surgery, the ED, and also Radiology. It was definitely interesting and also very convenient to my apartment (a big plus).

 

[zuiikin]

I'll just bump this one final time since I'm on winter break and have a bit of time to answer more questions for you guys about Bryn Mawr (or about adjusting to Med School from the program). Feel free to ask away if something isn't mentioned above! Hope everyone is having good luck with the application process! 🙂

 

[Teal08]

Zuiikin, what is the grading system like at Bryn Mawr? Is there a curve and how do post bacs normally do? I was reading about a system that allows you to schedule your own tests but was unclear as to what was meant by this. Is it to your advantage or disadvantage?

What do you think of the program size at Bryn Mawr. It's has one of the largest classes of those that I'm looking at. I can't tell if that's a good or bad thing.

Also, do you have any advice for the interview besides "be yourself'? What can I expect?

Is there any part of the program that you would want to improve? What do you consider the strongest part of the program?

Thanks for all your help

 

[NewmansOwn]

Zuiikin, what is the grading system like at Bryn Mawr? Is there a curve and how do post bacs normally do? I was reading about a system that allows you to schedule your own tests but was unclear as to what was meant by this. Is it to your advantage or disadvantage?

What do you think of the program size at Bryn Mawr. It's has one of the largest classes of those that I'm looking at. I can't tell if that's a good or bad thing.

Also, do you have any advice for the interview besides "be yourself'? What can I expect?

Is there any part of the program that you would want to improve? What do you consider the strongest part of the program?

Thanks for all your help

Zuiikin can answer your others questions, but I thought I'd weigh in on the class size. 75 is really not that big. It feels big for the first few weeks, but it's actually extremely small. I don't know how my brothers and sisters at Goucher do it with only 25. With the amount of classes, labs and just general work you have to do with (or at least in close proximity to) one another, it can be easy to get sick of the same people day in and day out.

And the self-scheduled exam thing is kind of misleading. For the fall semester that just ended, we only had one exam we could "self-schedule" (out of 3) and all that really meant was we got to pick the day we took it, then picked up an exam and took it at a prescribed time of day in a prescribed location with a proctor. We do, however, have a few lab take-home exams. The honor code is all very nice in theory, but come on -- it's not like they actually trust you.

 

[Rooni]

The honor code is all very nice in theory, but come on -- it's not like they actually trust you.

Lol! That's great. I'd been wondering about the whole "honor code" thing and how all of that talk played out in actuality.


And, if you don't mind some more questions...

What's the living situation like at Bryn Mawr? Do most post-bacc students live on campus, or off? What are housing prices like?

What's the ratio of men to women in the program? I know BM itself is a women's college, but the post-bacc program is co-ed, right?

How supportive is the environment? How much pre-med advisory support (MCAT & interview prep, etc.) do you get?

 

[NewmansOwn]

Bryn Mawr proper is the providence of old money white folks who are not particularly fond of the students. That being said, housing is readily available and can be quite nice (no one lives on campus, except a few during the summer session). Apartment complexes are plentiful, cheap and mediocre. Several properties are handed down from each class to folks in the incoming year -- these are larger, group-oriented living situations. That has its downsides in terms of privacy, but you'll also be centrally located at the go-to party house, which can be fulfilling...Housing prices are reasonable, even in Bryn Mawr proper -- especially for someone coming from Berkeley.

Yes, the program is co-ed. There are more women in the postbac program than men, but it's not terribly lopsided. The undergraduate women tend to very much like having the postbac men around, though I must say, it can be a bit uncomfortable feeling as though you're crashing the "sisterhood" every day when you step on campus.

The environment is very supportive. All the little things you might have to worry about if you were doing it on your own are taken care of for you by a very talented and hard-working support staff. You're automatically registered for classes and labs, the postbac dean will liaison to any office in the college on your behalf (if you're late making a tuition payment, for instance), you'll have your own contact in the financial aid office, you'll have more TAs than you know what to do with, you'll do many a mock interview, you'll have the option to take an in-house MCAT class, you'll meet one-on-one with the dean probably more than you'd like to...etc, etc, etc.

Feel free to shoot a PM if you have any more questions -- I'll try to check this thread again soon, as well.

Lol! That's great. I'd been wondering about the whole "honor code" thing and how all of that talk played out in actuality.


And, if you don't mind some more questions...

What's the living situation like at Bryn Mawr? Do most post-bacc students live on campus, or off? What are housing prices like?

What's the ratio of men to women in the program? I know BM itself is a women's college, but the post-bacc program is co-ed, right?

How supportive is the environment? How much pre-med advisory support (MCAT & interview prep, etc.) do you get?

 

[sharona1121]

For the current BM students and program alums... what do you think your overall expense (tuition, living, parking) is/was? Is it fair to say that one can expect to spend around 40K?

 

[NewmansOwn]

For the current BM students and program alums... what do you think your overall expense (tuition, living, parking) is/was? Is it fair to say that one can expect to spend around 40K?

Close to that, I suppose. 40k seems a bit high, but different people have different lifestyles. I'd say closer to 30-35k if you truly live like a student.

 

[Rooni]

Thanks, man. I appreciate the info! BM sounds like a great program; it'll probably be at the top of my list when I apply in the fall.

Bryn Mawr proper is the providence of old money white folks who are not particularly fond of the students. That being said, housing is readily available and can be quite nice (no one lives on campus, except a few during the summer session). Apartment complexes are plentiful, cheap and mediocre. Several properties are handed down from each class to folks in the incoming year -- these are larger, group-oriented living situations. That has its downsides in terms of privacy, but you'll also be centrally located at the go-to party house, which can be fulfilling...Housing prices are reasonable, even in Bryn Mawr proper -- especially for someone coming from Berkeley.

Yes, the program is co-ed. There are more women in the postbac program than men, but it's not terribly lopsided. The undergraduate women tend to very much like having the postbac men around, though I must say, it can be a bit uncomfortable feeling as though you're crashing the "sisterhood" every day when you step on campus.

The environment is very supportive. All the little things you might have to worry about if you were doing it on your own are taken care of for you by a very talented and hard-working support staff. You're automatically registered for classes and labs, the postbac dean will liaison to any office in the college on your behalf (if you're late making a tuition payment, for instance), you'll have your own contact in the financial aid office, you'll have more TAs than you know what to do with, you'll do many a mock interview, you'll have the option to take an in-house MCAT class, you'll meet one-on-one with the dean probably more than you'd like to...etc, etc, etc.

Feel free to shoot a PM if you have any more questions -- I'll try to check this thread again soon, as well.

 

[zuiikin]

Zuiikin can answer your others questions, but I thought I'd weigh in on the class size. 75 is really not that big. It feels big for the first few weeks, but it's actually extremely small. I don't know how my brothers and sisters at Goucher do it with only 25. With the amount of classes, labs and just general work you have to do with (or at least in close proximity to) one another, it can be easy to get sick of the same people day in and day out.

And the self-scheduled exam thing is kind of misleading. For the fall semester that just ended, we only had one exam we could "self-schedule" (out of 3) and all that really meant was we got to pick the day we took it, then picked up an exam and took it at a prescribed time of day in a prescribed location with a proctor. We do, however, have a few lab take-home exams. The honor code is all very nice in theory, but come on -- it's not like they actually trust you.

Sorry for not checking on this in a bit!

I think the above is all great advice. About the self scheduled exams, it's really a shame that they seem to have less of them when I was there (we used to have Physics and Orgo self scheduled in the fall, Bio II and Physics II in the spring.) Oh well...

Anyway:

As for the interview, I would say that you need to be prepared to justify "why medicine, why now," as Jodi (the program director) says. If you can really do that convincingly, that's half the battle. Also, you should expect to get asked about anything that might seem to be a negative on your transcript (e.g.; bad grades), since Medical schools will look at those same things and they want to see if you can explain them. Other than that, it's really a pretty low key interview -- don't be nervous at all about it.

I thought the biggest pluses of the program were (1) the organization's all set up for you, (2) no competing against other post-bacs, and (3) some really good linkages.

As far as downsides, I think cost is the main one... it's not terribly cheap. If you can live with that, though, Bryn Mawr (along with a few other places) is really in the top tier at getting people into Med School. Plus, the cost is nothin' compared to Med school.

Good luck!

 

[sharona1121]

Close to that, I suppose. 40k seems a bit high, but different people have different lifestyles. I'd say closer to 30-35k if you truly live like a student.

Thanks! =)

 

[jayslo]

Hi - I am a college junior with one year left to go. I am majoring in Computer Science with minors in Mathematics and Communication Arts, and I am anticipating a 3.5 GPA at the end of this spring semester. I have an Computer Science internship with Lockheed Martin this summer, and I am volunteering nights at the ER in Bryn Mawr Hospital throughout this summer as well. I have decent grades for my undergrad and high school studies, but my SAT scores were a combined 1130 for math and critical reading :-\

I am applying for Bryn Mawr postbac this fall...are my chances slim? Do you know anyone in the program that had a lower SAT score such as mine? Should I take the GRE? And is it critical to have a 3.7 GPA to get in?

Also, do you know of any students who came to the Bryn Mawr postbac program with a Computer Science degree?

Thank you so much!

 

[generation3]

Hey jayslo,

I can't answer all of your questions because I haven't started the Bryn Mawr Postbac yet (I begin in May) but I'll try to cover as many as I can. I think your 3.5 GPA (overall?) is fine. Especially if your GPA in your major is higher. If the difference is positive, I would distinguish between the two on your resume (i.e.- in the education portion of your resume write GPA 3.5/4.0; GPA in Major 3._/4.0). Your SAT scores seem lower than what Bryn Mawr usually looks for but you still have a year+ until you graduate so I would suggest that you try to kick butt on the GRE and submit those scores instead. I'm pretty sure they accept the GRE in lieu of the SAT.

I would say that, based on numbers alone, you have a decent shot if you bring those standardized test scores up a bit. I just have one question for you- why are you doing a Computer Science internship at Lockheed Martin if you ultimately want a career in Medicine? I think it's great that you're volunteering nights in the ER but you may want to look into finding another internship that is medically related. Bryn Mawr (and many of the other top postbac programs) wants to see that you've invested a lot of thought into your decision to go into Medicine and the most tangible way to prove that you have is to show them that you've had clinical and/or research experience. In other words, the more experience you've had, the greater your chances that you'll be looked at as a serious candidate. To be frank, I think Bryn Mawr will want to see more than just a night shift in the ER. I would pile on as much medically related volunteer work/internship activities as you can before you apply. As a student, your summers are golden. You have three solid months to build up your resume and give yourself an edge that would be harder to achieve if you worked a regular 9-5. If you're really serious about Medicine (and impressing the admissions committees at top postbacs), I would seriously consider bulking up on experience.

 

[jayslo]

Thank you for all your answers - I'm doing the Lockheed Internship because it's 1) a fallback if I didn't get into pre-med...after the internship they offer you a job after school 2) working a CS oriented job side by side with hospital work will really give me an idea of what I should be leaning towards. Bryn Mawr is also noted as a 'career change' program; I think that by showing that I want to pursue medicine more than what I spent my undergrad years studying for would be a major factor.

There is a great deal of technology in medicine and I don't think spending a summer building some programming and IT would hurt - especially if it shows I had some experience in field before I blow it over and pursue pre-med blindly.

I'm listening to what you're saying though...I have involved with the Red Cross program at my campus, and I'm trying to get more involved with medically related activities - perhaps I should talk to a pre-medical advisor on my campus and see what I can do before the summer starts. The volunteer recruiter for Bryn Mawr Hospital said I would be working night shifts (more than one night a week obviously) but also during weekends, which are completely free for me this summer - can you suggest other things to get involved in? I know you mentioned research and clinic work...

 

[NewmansOwn]

Jayslo, I agree that you ought to take the GREs. Your SATs scores may be low enough to keep you out of the running. To be fair, though, I'm not sure about that -- I don't get involved with admissions until after you're invited to interview by which time you've already "made the cut."

Regarding your internship: you are correct to note that Bryn Mawr is a "career changer" program, but be careful not to (during your interview next year, perhaps) make it seem as though you're "hedging your bets." The interviewer does not want to hear that you'll go into comp sci if you don't get into Bryn Mawr -- they want to hear that you'll just keep chugging along until you get into med school, one way or the other. I'm not accusing you of half-assing -- but make sure you don't give off that vibe.

 

[jayslo]

Great point. I totally understand what you're saying (I know I'm not half-assing, but if I make it a point that I only want to do medicine ONLY if i get into their program, then that makes me a poor candidate.)

After you mentioned that, I really don't know for sure if I would pursue premed if I got rejected by all these formal programs (which have extremely high rates for med school acceptances). I have no doubt in my mind that I could handle the coursework and do well as a student, but I do fear the financial issue - I already have loans for 2 years of my undergrad, so I truly wouldn't be excited to 'keep chuggin' trying to get prereqs on my own (a risk - no guarantee or real assurance of med school acceptance). I don't know...maybe this uncertainty is pointing me towards to sticking with computer science, but maybe I can still do something medically related without being a doctor. I haven't made decisions about applying - I'm just trying to get more info about post-bac, because I am deeply interested.

 

[NewmansOwn]

Great point. I totally understand what you're saying (I know I'm not half-assing, but if I make it a point that I only want to do medicine ONLY if i get into their program, then that makes me a poor candidate.)

After you mentioned that, I really don't know for sure if I would pursue premed if I got rejected by all these formal programs (which have extremely high rates for med school acceptances). I have no doubt in my mind that I could handle the coursework and do well as a student, but I do fear the financial issue - I already have loans for 2 years of my undergrad, so I truly wouldn't be excited to 'keep chuggin' trying to get prereqs on my own (a risk - no guarantee or real assurance of med school acceptance). I don't know...maybe this uncertainty is pointing me towards to sticking with computer science, but maybe I can still do something medically related without being a doctor. I haven't made decisions about applying - I'm just trying to get more info about post-bac, because I am deeply interested.

I should clarify, my friend. Don't say it came from me, but you don't actually have to 100% believe that you'd keep going for it, no matter what. You just have to make the admissions committee believe it -- get my drift?

 

[jayslo]

Yeah I definitely hear you - I truly appreciate your responses. Thank you!

 

[chof2010]

Hi,

I am a college junior in my spring semester. As of right now I have 3.5 GPA with around a 3.83 GPA in my major (psych) and should have around a 3.56-3.58 after this semester. My SAT scores were between an 1150-1180. I am planning on taking the GRE this summer before applying. As for related experience, I have shadowed a doctor, but only minimally-a couple of days in the summer-and should have a job at a hospital working on fMRIs. I live in Hershey, PA-right behind Penn State Medical School. However, volunteer opportunities are slim. And the ones they have are mostly pushing mail around. I was told I would not be able to work in the child cancer area because I am a college student and they want people there year round. I am planning on going to Honduras next winter for 2-4 months. What is the likelihood of getting into a program-esp. Bryn Mawr, or Goucher?

 

[chof2010]

Hi,

I am a college junior in my spring semester. As of right now I have 3.5 GPA with around a 3.83 GPA in my major (psych) and should have around a 3.56-3.58 after this semester. My SAT scores were between an 1150-1180. I am planning on taking the GRE this summer before applying. As for related experience, I have shadowed a doctor, but only minimally-a couple of days in the summer-and should have a job at a hospital working on fMRIs. I live in Hershey, PA-right behind Penn State Medical School. However, volunteer opportunities are slim. And the ones they have are mostly pushing mail around. I was told I would not be able to work in the child cancer area because I am a college student and they want people there year round. I am planning on going to Honduras next winter for 2-4 months. What is the likelihood of getting into a program-esp. Bryn Mawr, or Goucher?

 

[NewmansOwn]

Hi,

I am a college junior in my spring semester. As of right now I have 3.5 GPA with around a 3.83 GPA in my major (psych) and should have around a 3.56-3.58 after this semester. My SAT scores were between an 1150-1180. I am planning on taking the GRE this summer before applying. As for related experience, I have shadowed a doctor, but only minimally-a couple of days in the summer-and should have a job at a hospital working on fMRIs. I live in Hershey, PA-right behind Penn State Medical School. However, volunteer opportunities are slim. And the ones they have are mostly pushing mail around. I was told I would not be able to work in the child cancer area because I am a college student and they want people there year round. I am planning on going to Honduras next winter for 2-4 months. What is the likelihood of getting into a program-esp. Bryn Mawr, or Goucher?

GPA is most likely OK, depending on what college you go to. SATs probably won't cut it, but you know that since you've decided to take the GREs. If you're going to Honduras to do medical work, that's pretty huge -- if not, it'll still help. I'd focus on acing those GREs and, in the meantime, getting some remarkable volunteer experience. Depending on where you go to college, you could do some part-time volunteer work there. Most of the people in the top programs have some pretty impressive volunteer and/or clinical experience under their belts.

Also, make sure you can write and interview flawlessly.

 

[iowagirl7]

I have an interview for the Bryn Mawr post bac in about two weeks and I'd love some advice about how to prepare.

I am a senior at Penn. PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) major, Spanish Minor. GPA 3.6, SAT 1430, ACT 32. My healthcare experience consists of spending a LOT of time reporting on health stories for a newspaper (interviewing doctors, researching articles on many topics) and personal experience when my mom had a stroke last year at the age of 57.

For those of you who got in to Bryn Mawr, what did you do to prepare for your interview? What do you think I should focus on?

Does anyone know how many interviews are granted, relative to the number of people who get in?

What kinds of questions do they typically ask?

Anything else I should know?

Do you think I've got a good shot at being accepted?

 

[generation3]

Hey iowagirl7- Check your inbox. I PM'ed you.

 

[zuiikin]

Hey guys,

I really apologize for not checking this more often... I think that Newman'sOwn has been doing a GREAT job at responding to people's questions... if the answers to your questions aren't in the above thread and you specifically want my advice on something please just send me a PM so I get an e-mail and know to respond to you since I likely will not be checking this very often in the future either 👍. Again, I'm really happy to answer any qusetions about day-to-day life in Med school as well.

Just to summarize, Zuiikin's "word of wisdom" are:

1) Apply BROADLY to postbacs. That means NOT JUST bryn mawr and goucher. Hopkins, Scripps, Penn, and Harvard, at a minimum, are worth looking at. Penn is pretty easy to get into and is still a good program. Harvard is surprisingly an incredible bargain and they'll take anyone.
2) Don't be afraid to take the GRE if your SATs are sub-par. Standardized testing is important to postbacs because they try to predict how you'll do on the MCAT.
3) Try to have three months of weekly volunteer experience by the time you apply. It's not that hard, it's really important for your app, and you'll get a feel for what it's like to be in a hospital.
4) Don't forget to prepare for the interview!

Once you get into the postbac:
1) Don't @$%^ up -- try to get A's and A-'s.
2) Don't neglect the MCAT -- the MCAT verbal section in particular is weird and you have to practice to get good at it. The MCAT is just as important to Med Schools as the GPA you worked for years to get so you want to destroy it.

Alright...

Later

 

[MLondon]

Thanks for everyone's tips about interviewing at Bryn Mawr (on phone, in person, etc) that have already been posted.

I have a phone interview next week, and I was just wondering if anyone could comment roughly on the proportion of applicants they interview and then what proportion of interviewees are actually accepted? I know that Mt. Sinai's Hum. Med Program say they interview 1/3 and then takes 1/3 of those. I was just wondering if there were any idea about the odds.

I know it's not really of great consequence, but I was just curious...

Thanks.

 

[drbarkerjr]

MLondon -

There's no set proportion of students they take from the interviewees - just a rough class size limit of about 75. However, I was told by a med school admissions dean who works closely with Bryn Mawr that an interview is a very good sign. Just do your best to be able to answer "how did you end up here [applying to Bryn Mawr and wanting to be a doctor]".

Best of Luck!

 

[Irish09]

I was accepted into both JHU and Bryn Mawr and I am now struggling to decide between the too.

I know Bryn Mawr has the history of being the oldest and one of the best programs but everyone I talk to, from parents to doctor friends, seem to be enamored with the Hopkins name. I loved both places. Is there anyone here to persuade me one way or the other?

I have to decide by March 23rd!

Thanks!

 

[dzhoshua]

.

 

[NewmansOwn]

Your GPA is a little low (even if we assume you get to 3.4), but it really depends on your school. My school was notorious for grade deflation, so I got into Bryn Mawr with a GPA not much better than a 3.4. If Brandeis has a reputation for grade INflation, however (like some of the Ivies), a higher GPA would normally be necessary.

Your SATs are fantastic -- that will help you considerably, as will your honors graduation status.

You might actually have the very fortunate opportunity to take Physics again, as most med schools don't accept AP credit for the prereqs. You should call Bryn Mawr and ask specifically, as it's done on a case by case basis, but you might have the chance to rectify that C.

BM and the deans of our program have extensive connections in the greater Philadelphia area. You will absolutely not want for high-quality clinical volunteer experience. EMTing is fine -- I did it for a while before the program, so I'm not sure where you got that info. That being said, you'll have the opportunity to work in free clinics, surgical centers, specialists' offices and medical non-profits, if you so choose while you're at Bryn Mawr.

My only piece of advice would be to get as much volunteer experience (not even necessarily medical -- just something you show you care) as possible before you apply in the fall. Spend a great deal of time on your personal statements and remember to not be ashamed of your GPA -- it's a weakness, sure, but show some confidence and let them know you're positive you can handle the intensity of the program.

Good luck.

First of all, this is my first post here, so, hello everyone!

I'm a junior at Brandeis majoring in Economics and Math. My GPA is a 3.25, but I think I can realistically get it to about a 3.4 by graduation, and I'll be writing a senior thesis in econ, which means that I'll graduate with honors in econ. My test scores are very high - 1530 on the two old sections of the SAT and a 36 on the ACT (never thought those would come in handy again!) My questions are:

1) Is the Bryn Mawr program realistic with my GPA?
2) I took AP credit for Physics C, and took 3rd semester physics my freshman year. I wound up getting a C because I was unprepared for the level of math used in the class. How will that affect the physics portion of a post-bac program - would I not be allowed to take first-year physics since I already technically passed a higher-level course?
3) Does the Bryn Mawr program incorporate clinical experience? I will be volunteering with my school's ambulance corps, but as I understand it, that is not what med schools are referring to when they talk about clinical experience and volunteer work, so I will need the chance to incorporate that into my post-bac program
4) If Bryn Mawr is a stretch, what programs would be good fit? Finishing a post-bac in one year sounds really appealing, because I'd really just like to stay in the groove, though I'm also looking at the HES.

I know I still have a bit of time, but I'm just curious whether this course of action would be realistic.

 

[dzhoshua]

Thanks for your help so far NewmansOwn! From what I've heard, grades are deflated at our school if anything. And it's worth noting that my econ grades are significantly higher than my math grades - perhaps they would take into consideration that the math coursework is a lot more difficult?

Also, I don't know if this is the right thread to ask this in, but if I wind up not being able to get into the top formal programs, would good grades in something like the HES HCP be enough to outweigh an undergrad GPA that's good but not great?

 

[NewmansOwn]

Thanks for your help so far NewmansOwn! From what I've heard, grades are deflated at our school if anything. And it's worth noting that my econ grades are significantly higher than my math grades - perhaps they would take into consideration that the math coursework is a lot more difficult?

Also, I don't know if this is the right thread to ask this in, but if I wind up not being able to get into the top formal programs, would good grades in something like the HES HCP be enough to outweigh an undergrad GPA that's good but not great?

A high science GPA in your postbac will look very good. Will it completely counteract a passable undergrad GPA? No. But it will show you're dedicated to the sciences and medical school is clearly a positive motivation for, and that's very helpful.

 

[jsend]

Hello everyone, I'm rather new here but have read up extensively on Bryn Mawr and other competitive, structured and non-structured, post-bac programs.

The program at Bryn Mawr is appealing to me for the same reasons it is to everyone else who applies. Not going to pretend I'm any different.

I'm not asking about my "chances" so much as striving after an honest assessment of realistic competitiveness. I'm a first semester senior at a public university, a major in classics with a focus in Latin. My GPA is a 3.8, I've received departmental honors, and have been active with volunteer service within the community. SAT's are a 1280 (new test).

I volunteered in a dermatological practice last summer for a month at 8 hours per week. As well as this, I simultaneously shadowed in the ED for 2 months, 8-16 hours per week. I am graduating early with a B.A. next December in hopes to take Calculus and gain more medical volunteer experience in the time it would have traditionally taken me to graduate.

I have true aspirations to medicine and wish to pursue them with the best education possible! Thanks in advance for your time and I look forward to becoming a part of this resourceful community.

 

[NewmansOwn]

Hello everyone, I'm rather new here but have read up extensively on Bryn Mawr and other competitive, structured and non-structured, post-bac programs.

The program at Bryn Mawr is appealing to me for the same reasons it is to everyone else who applies. Not going to pretend I'm any different.

I'm not asking about my "chances" so much as striving after an honest assessment of realistic competitiveness. I'm a first semester senior at a public university, a major in classics with a focus in Latin. My GPA is a 3.8, I've received departmental honors, and have been active with volunteer service within the community. SAT's are a 1280 (new test).

I volunteered in a dermatological practice last summer for a month at 8 hours per week. As well as this, I simultaneously shadowed in the ED for 2 months, 8-16 hours per week. I am graduating early with a B.A. next December in hopes to take Calculus and gain more medical volunteer experience in the time it would have traditionally taken me to graduate.

I have true aspirations to medicine and wish to pursue them with the best education possible! Thanks in advance for your time and I look forward to becoming a part of this resourceful community.

You sound like you'd have a chance here...but can we talk about those SATs for a second? I took the old test, but aren't the new SATs out of 2400? Do you mean you have a 1280/2400 or a 1280 when somehow scaled to be on the old 1600 scale?

 

[jsend]

You sound like you'd have a chance here...but can we talk about those SATs for a second? I took the old test, but aren't the new SATs out of 2400? Do you mean you have a 1280/2400 or a 1280 when somehow scaled to be on the old 1600 scale?

Most people ignore the writing section of the new SAT's so I didn't include it. 1980/2400. Kind of a poor score. Should be my largest weakness.

Thanks for your reply!

 

[jsend]

I tried to avoid re-bumping and double posting but alas, a question has presented itself that needs resolution and could perhaps help the community in being answered!

I am a prospective applicant for the 2010-2011 academic year, certainly, a long way off. However, I am trying to plan my volunteer and academic work around applying to Bryn Mawr and was curious as to what the best course of action is in regard to calculus. I was considering taking 1 & 2 next spring and summer before a potential fall entry to the BM program, however I see it is offered as sandwiching the traditional two semesters in the form of two summers. Is it recommended that BM students take calculus within the program or would it be more conducive to my potential success, given admission, in the program to take it before entry?

It would make no impact on my post-bac experience at other institutions to take calculus prior to entry given their lack of accommodation-- Bryn Mawr being the only program where I would be concerned with adhering strictly to their recommendations. HES, I could simply take it at any point given the fact that it's two years.

Thanks a million! Happy spring.