Hofstra or Stonybrook for pre-reqs?

[jules0328]

I am still looking for anyone out there who has or will be going to Hofstra's Post Bacc program this fall? I dont mean to start up old threads but someone had suggested I go to Stonybrook for my pre-reqs, which by the way, they also have a linkage program. While Stonybrook sounds great, it is really far from where I live, practically a bit more than an hour each way, and since they do not have an offical Post Bacc program, I dont think that I can get enough loans to cover my living expenses. Also, their linkage program is extremely risky, you have to practically have a 4.0 gpa for the committee to even look at you. I am talking stellar x4 grades, plus a decent MCAT grade. And you cannot apply to it, you are simply selected by their committee.

I really want to go full time and not have to work. I cannot imagine working and taking a full load of sciences. With that being said, I am at a loss. I know that Stony is a much greater caliber of school when it comes to sciences. I know that Hofstra's Post Bacc is some what new. However, it is the closest Post Bacc program around if I want to stay and live at home.

Any suggestions or thoughts would be much appreciated. Thanks.

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[seacatch]

I am one of the few doing Hofstra's post bac program. There are definitely some strengths and weaknesses. On the plus side, you do get a committee letter out of it, class sizes are much smaller than Stony Brook and for you it is close. The cost is higher and there is no linkage. The profs have been hit or miss. I have had a few that are absolutely the best (look for the department heads when you pick) and one of the worst I have EVER seen. The students are not very competitive and A's are easier to get than in a higher caliber school. Honestly, if I didn't have the family constraints, I'd try to go somewhere like Bryn Mawr with a strong linkage program but Hofstra will work for me. At Hofstra you really have to take full responsibility for yourself, don't expect the advisement to do very much for you... except make some empty promises.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[jules0328]

I am one of the few doing Hofstra's post bac program. There are definitely some strengths and weaknesses. On the plus side, you do get a committee letter out of it, class sizes are much smaller than Stony Brook and for you it is close. The cost is higher and there is no linkage. The profs have been hit or miss. I have had a few that are absolutely the best (look for the department heads when you pick) and one of the worst I have EVER seen. The students are not very competitive and A's are easier to get than in a higher caliber school. Honestly, if I didn't have the family constraints, I'd try to go somewhere like Bryn Mawr with a strong linkage program but Hofstra will work for me. At Hofstra you really have to take full responsibility for yourself, don't expect the advisement to do very much for you... except make some empty promises.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

Thanks Sea Catch. Its appreciated. Sort of goes the same way in NCC. But, i guess I cant compare. NCC has some of the worst science profs I have seen, I have been through a lot of schooling. You should definitely IM me, I would love to chat. AOL IM is juliana0328. Thanks.

 

[MIT2MD]

I just got intouch with an advisor there at Hofstra and requested the admission packet from them for their post-bacc. It does seem promising although from what I read in your post [Sea Catch] you don't seem that thrilled.
I work out in Melville but I live in Queens so the school would be right in between.

Are you going full time? On the website, the program has a potential to be completed in 15 months (full time). Unfortunately I don't have that luxury 🙁 and part time runs around $585/cr... the whole program is about 33 credits (give or take a credit) and doing this part time will be about $17K in the end. *sigh*
Would you suggest going to this school?

Jules0328 I agree with you about NCC but would the classes in NCC be ok for medical school?

 

[jules0328]

I just got intouch with an advisor there at Hofstra and requested the admission packet from them for their post-bacc. It does seem promising although from what I read in your post [Sea Catch] you don't seem that thrilled.
I work out in Melville but I live in Queens so the school would be right in between.

Are you going full time? On the website, the program has a potential to be completed in 15 months (full time). Unfortunately I don't have that luxury 🙁 and part time runs around $585/cr... the whole program is about 33 credits (give or take a credit) and doing this part time will be about $17K in the end. *sigh*
Would you suggest going to this school?

Jules0328 I agree with you about NCC but would the classes in NCC be ok for medical school?

I only took the classes at NCC to make sure that I could do the sciences. I didnt want to just enlist on the post bacc wagon. I wanted to make sure that I was able to understand everything. I guess the reason for my insecurity is due to getting a phatty D back in my undergrad days in a Bio class. So, should you take post bacc at NCC? NO!

I suggest swallowing the $$ and just going for it. Apply for financial aid. If you are an independent student, you will most likely get help from Hofstra. Remember that private institutions give a bit more aid out than the normal state school, since private is a lot more expensive. Is Hofstra the best Post Bacc? Probably not, but it's convenient for me, its close to home and I plan on attending full time. Although I would have already taken three pre-reqs from NCC once admitted, I will most likely take Inorganic I and II, which I have not taken. Med schools prefer Inorganic rather than General Chemistry anyway. I think also, inorganic will help you to have a good foundation for Orgo, since I hear orgo is extremely difficult.

Going back to Hofstra, if you plan on attending part time, and you simply cannot go full time, then I say go there. From SeaCatch's advice, I plan on taking the classes with the department chairs. One good thing about attending classes full time and in the day time, is that you most likely will have good profs, I have noticed the profs from the night time, suck! But that is here nor there.

Also, I just spoke to Marion Flomenhaft, she is the admissions director at Hofstra, she seemed extremely helpful, and she called me just now regarding my application. Here are the steps that I plan on taking:

1) I have to file for FAFSA asap (need as much financial aid as possible because I am independent and have car and insurance payments). I think you can take out the maximum for sub and unsub loans. Go to fafsa.org and look this up further. (between you and me, I need 20K to go to this program, this program will cost a hell of a lot of money, plus I need money to live.)

2) Hopefully attend in the fall and take Bio II, Inorganic I and Physics II

3) Start studying for the MCAT's, I want to take them in April of 2005

4) Shadow a DO for the month of August, cause I may be interested in going to DO school (besides you need to keep your options open)

5) Take Inorganic II, Organic I, Genetics or something else for the SPring of 2005

6) oh yeah, get married somewhere along those lines, (march 20, 2005 is the date set)

7) and during the glide year, work. I have my masters in Exercise Physiology and I will most likely get something going during that time.

I hope this helps. I would go to Hofstra and try to get $$ and attend full time, otherwise you may be taking classes for a long time. Also, dont forget, very important, unless you attend a linkage program (i.e. Bryn Mawr, Columbia, Harvard Extension, etc.) you need to apply to med schools one year early, so keep that in mind. If you take the April MCATS, that means you are applying for fall of 2006. I know, lots to think about. E mail me at [email protected] if you wanna chat some more, or at AOL IM juliana0328.

Hope I helped. Let me know what you decide. ! 👍