how common is my situation?

[iowagirl7]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I'm currently a junior at Penn and I'm a PPE major (philosophy,politics, and economics) and a Spanish minor. I have not taken any real math or hard science since the crappy science classes taught at my poor public high school. That being said, i've recently decided, to the dismay of my parents, that I am thinking about doing a post bac program and applying to med school. I have done pretty well at Penn. I have a 3.7 GPA, write for the campus newspaper and waitress several days a week. I would take math and bio or chem during my senior year and probably try to volunteer at the hospital. Am I crazy to think about post bac and med school when I haven't taken a science course in three years or is this more common? What are my chances of getting into a good post bac program? I really need some insight into this situation. Thanks!

 

[oneandonlylo]

your situation is fairly common, but if you are still at Penn and doing well there I suggest you stay on there and finish the prereqs there.

 

[Lokhtar]

your situation is fairly common, but if you are still at Penn and doing well there I suggest you stay on there and finish the prereqs there.

I would disagree with that suggestion.


Pre-reqs at Penn are graded on a tough curve, and are really hard if you've never taken a college science (they're hard even if you have) and sometimes are just used to weed people out. I would say to take maybe one course, and see how you do. If its too hard, don't worry. Just graduate with your 3.7 GPA and enroll in a post-bac after you graduate and take the courses there. Look at my thread for Philly area post-bacs.

 

[Vihsadas]

Goucher College and Bryn Mawr College have some ridiculous med school acceptance stats for post-bacc programs (like 98% - 100%). They are built for people just like yourself who haven't touched the sciences in a while but are thinking of medical school.

 

[puchi]

I agree that you should graduate and take the prereqs in a post bacc. Good luck to you!

 

[pamolive]

I'm currently a junior at Penn and I'm a PPE major (philosophy,politics, and economics) and a Spanish minor. I have not taken any real math or hard science since the crappy science classes taught at my poor public high school. That being said, i've recently decided, to the dismay of my parents, that I am thinking about doing a post bac program and applying to med school. I have done pretty well at Penn. I have a 3.7 GPA, write for the campus newspaper and waitress several days a week. I would take math and bio or chem during my senior year and probably try to volunteer at the hospital. Am I crazy to think about post bac and med school when I haven't taken a science course in three years or is this more common? What are my chances of getting into a good post bac program? I really need some insight into this situation. Thanks!

Trust me, don't do a post bac. Your stats are great. You're clearly at a school where you can and are doing well. Stay there and sample some of the prereqs. Take 1 bio course, and maybe gen chem 1 next semester. See how you do. There's no point switching schools and paying post bac tuition when you're already at a very reputable school in an amazing medical city. Stay there and do the prereqs, and look into volunteering at the pennsylvania hospital. They'll take you on ASAP. After you work with them for 6 months they'll write you an amazing LOR that will really help you out with your application. STAY HERE. People kill to get into Penn's post bacc, why would you leave if you're already there?

 

[Isoprop]

i also vote to not complete pre-reqs and enter into a formal post-bacc program for "career changers." the linkages are VERY worth it.

 

[NewmansOwn]

I'm not sure why you're getting advised to stay at Penn. You only have a year left, correct? Unless you're already done the classes for your major as well as your general education requirements, I don't see how you'd be able to complete all the medical prereqs in one year. Also, staying at Penn for an extra year is not wise -- the tuition at nearby Bryn Mawr is a little more than half that of Penn. And in reference to the previous post, people kill to get into Bryn Mawr's postbac, not Penn's.

If your SATs are stellar, you have an excellent chance of getting into Bryn Mawr. Apply in October of this year to begin right after you graduate from Penn -- 1/3 of Bryn Mawr students come straight from their respective undergraduate institutions. Instead of killing yourself taking reqs next year, use the time to get some serious medical/volunteer experience, or to take the GREs if your SATs are less than impressive. Good luck to you.

 

[iowagirl7]

Thanks for the advice. I am leaning heavily toward leaving Penn for a post bac year, partly because I think I would benefit from a premed advising program and structure, but mostly because I can't afford to stay at Penn for another year. My SAT was 1430. Does that measure up with students at good post bac programs?

 

[NewmansOwn]

Thanks for the advice. I am leaning heavily toward leaving Penn for a post bac year, partly because I think I would benefit from a premed advising program and structure, but mostly because I can't afford to stay at Penn for another year. My SAT was 1430. Does that measure up with students at good post bac programs?

Good call. And yes, I got into Bryn Mawr with only a few points higher than that.