Harvard or Bryn Mawr PostBac?

[haroldandmaude]

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I was recently accepted into the Harvard Ext. and the Bryn Mawr post bac programs. While there are a lot of factors going into my decision of whether to attend one or the other, I am particularly curious about academic support and my chances of academic success in each program. This is definitely on my mind as someone who has not had a strong science background.

I heard that the teachers are phenomenal and available to help at Bryn Mawr. I heard some good things and some bad things about courses at Harvard and the help that was available. I was wondering if anyone could tell me about the teaching, the learning and the course load in each program. Did you feel like it was difficult to master the content due to instruction or lack of help or did you feel like if you worked hard you would be successful?

Also, for Bryn Mawr and Harvard - how well did you feel the courses prepared you for the MCAT?

And for Harvard - would summer bio be a crazy thing to do? What about taking biochem, physics and bio during the same semester?

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[timephone]

Disclaimer: I've attended neither of these schools. But I have done a lot of research.

Bryn Mawr is a highly selective program, so congrats for getting in! HES is not as selective. Bryn Mawr is a very structured program and you will complete all the courses in a year. You will have little to no flexibility in the curriculum, you will take what they tell you and when. HES allows a lot of flexibility and you can schedule what you want and when. Bryn Mawr has linkages, HES doesn't.

I expect you will have much more personal attention and advising at Bryn Mawr. Bryn Mawr's entire post-bac program is committed to getting you into med school. HES is offering you high quality classes at reasonable times (evenings/weekends) and cheap prices.

If I were you I would choose Bryn Mawr, 100% without hesitation. If I could afford it and if I had a good resume. If price is an issue then HES would merit further consideration...

 

[grt398]

So I went through HES several years back and think it's an excellent program if you're motivated and don't require too much hand holding. It also allows you the benefit of volunteering/working in one of the many many research labs in the area, which can often lead to a full time job, recommendations from faculty at BWH/MGH who may know people at the schools you're applying to, and even publications if you end up in the right lab and work hard. For me it was the perfect program; plus it's cheap and if you have a job at Partners, you'll be able to get tuition reimbursement (at least you could when I was there). The program can provide you with everything you need for getting into a top med school (many people have gone on to top 20 schools if that matters to you) but they're not going to monitor you if you decide to slack off. It's really up to you.

As for the teaching, Tucci is fantastic for chemistry, Logan taught Orgo II when I was there but he's an awesome teacher as well and I'm sure he does physics well, Sirinya does a great job with Orgo, and I don't know the bio people b/c it's switched so often. I took the old MCAT but the HES classes were more than adequate and in orgo definitely made the MCAT material seem like a joke on test day. Truthfully though most of your MCAT prep will be done via test prep materials.

And if you go the HES route, I really think it's better to spread it over 2 years + glide year, which is what I did. Of all the people who tried the 1 year thing, virtually none got through it with the desired grades. The summer classes are extremely challenging b/c they're so condensed and they don't scale it back. I would not have taken biochem/physics/bio in the same semester. This process is a marathon, not a sprint, so I really think a more extended timeline with better ability to ensure appropriate grades/extracurriculars to improve your app is better than cramming it into 1 year.

If you have any further questions feel free to PM me.

 

[GreenDuck12]

At HES, the classes are challenging but I would not say that they are unsupported. The professors and TAs hold office hours which I am finding to be more than sufficient. I will say that you should not expect the material to be spoon fed to you or for professors to hold your hand through the process. You need to be proactive and self-motivated but this isn't unique to HES. The pre-med sequence is designed to weed students out because the courses are challenging. From what I have heard, both at Bryn Mawr (and a similar program that I was admitted to) is that there is a lot more support to help make sure all students in the program succeed. Ultimatley, this comes at a premium (higher tuition). My concern was that I didn't want a lot of handholding because I don't expect that medical schools will spoon feed the material to students. I figured I would rather struggle in pre-med classes and learn how to be a more effective and efficient student of the sciences so that I am as prepared for medical school as possible. I have had some exams that did not go as well as I would have hoped and I do not have a 4.0 in my post bac but I have been able to become a better student. Best of luck to you.

I was recently accepted into the Harvard Ext. and the Bryn Mawr post bac programs. While there are a lot of factors going into my decision of whether to attend one or the other, I am particularly curious about academic support and my chances of academic success in each program. This is definitely on my mind as someone who has not had a strong science background.

I heard that the teachers are phenomenal and available to help at Bryn Mawr. I heard some good things and some bad things about courses at Harvard and the help that was available. I was wondering if anyone could tell me about the teaching, the learning and the course load in each program. Did you feel like it was difficult to master the content due to instruction or lack of help or did you feel like if you worked hard you would be successful?

Also, for Bryn Mawr and Harvard - how well did you feel the courses prepared you for the MCAT?

And for Harvard - would summer bio be a crazy thing to do? What about taking biochem, physics and bio during the same semester?

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[TravelingPanda]

I didn't do a formal postbac program, but I did take 15+ courses at HES. I found the courses rigorous and prepped me extremely well for the (old) MCAT. I agree that you have to seek out support and help if you need it, but it is there. My experience was one of little handholding. When I asked, however, I was able to find resources. I had a very positive experience at HES and think they can prepare anyone well who puts in the time.

The summer courses are pretty compressed, but I took biochem and molecular bio in the summer while working full time, so it is possible. Most semesters I took three courses while working full time, although most working people I knew took two.

On Thursdays after chemistry/organic chemistry, I would go out with a bunch of people to a bar for a drink. The first semester we could barely find enough space for us... there was 11-12 of us. By the end two years later, only two of us were still taking classes. We both made it to medical school. It was exciting being around so many people changing careers, but by the end most of them fell away and decided to pursue something else.

 

[Gurby]

I heard HES's Bio 1 had uncurved averages in the high 50s this year, and drops in orgo were ~40p. You get high 50s and drops of 40p with a combination of: bad lectures, huge tests, harsh grading

That said this means that those who do get through with good grades are impressive. As hell.

Unless it's HMS or bust, go to Bryn Mawr. 95p chance you go on to be an MD. Go to HES and it's absolutely lower. The 30k in tuition difference is about 1p of expected lifetime earning differential between being a doctor and not being a doctor.

I took Bio last year so I can't speak to that. But I took Orgo 1 this past fall and it was really good. I don't think many people dropped out of it, and certainly not 40%. However, I would guess that a lot of people (myself included) decided to not take Orgo 2 because most schools aren't requiring it anymore, and that content isn't as heavily emphasized on the MCAT.

 

[GreenDuck12]

Any recommendations for courses to take with Orgo 1?

I took Bio last year so I can't speak to that. But I took Orgo 1 this past fall and it was really good. I don't think many people dropped out of it, and certainly not 40%. However, I would guess that a lot of people (myself included) decided to not take Orgo 2 because most schools aren't requiring it anymore, and that content isn't as heavily emphasized on the MCAT.

 

[Gurby]

Any recommendations for courses to take with Orgo 1?

In terms of non-prereq courses? I guess Calc 1, stats or Biochem if you still need one of those. Beyond that I don't know.