How difficult is it to get in?

[AggieMed05]

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Hey guys! I've recently decided to pursue a career in medicine, so I'm a little new to this game. I'll be graduting this summer from UC Davis with a non-science major, which means that I have yet to take all the med school pre-reqs. Another SDN member advised me to look into post-bac programs, and after doing so I am very excited to begin the application process. I've decided to go with formal programs, just because I like structure, I would like to get in and out as quickly as possible, and money is not really an issue for the time being. Since I live in CA, getting into Scripps or Mills would be ideal. However, I don't know a lot about how difficult it is to get into post-bac programs, so I've looked into out-of-state programs as well. What I want to know is, how many programs should I consider applying to, and what are my chances of getting into some of the top-rated ones (i.e. Bryn Mawr, Tufts, Goucher, etc.)? Are such programs incredibly selective, or can you get in if you just have a decent academic record and can afford the tuition? For reference, I have a 3.4 cumulative gpa and a 3.8 gpa in my major. This should raise slightly as I still have about six courses left to complete. I don't really have a lot of health-related field experience, but since I will mostly be applying to start the programs in spring/fall '06, I figure I will have a lot of time to get some volunteering, interning, researching and shadowing done before I send in the applications. I've done a lot of work with people in the past, and I have some non-science internship experience, but besides that nothing really sets me apart from everybody else. Could it help that I'm a member of an academic honor society, or if I become an active member of my school's pre-med club? What exactly are the admissions committees looking for?!? Please give me some feedback and opinions on this topic, and feel free to suggest anything that I could do to become a more competitive applicant! Thanks for your time, everybody!

 

[Crake]

They're mostly looking for people who can pay. I'd say getting into a postbacc program is like getting into a terminal master's program--not that tough. For some, you need some minimum volunteer experience. For others, such as Columbia, all you need is a decent GPA and a decent GRE or SAT score. But then again, more than half the people who come here don't finish. . . So take from that what you will.

 

[sidewalkman]

For Crake's program, yes, that's true - Columbia's not too bad as far as getting in. But Bryn Mawr and Goucher are two of the most competitive in the country, if not 1-2 in terms of competitiveness. Tufts is somewhere in the middle, and I don't know much about Cali programs. So it's all over the scale - some programs are very difficult to get into, and others require little effort.

 

[LizzyM]

Columbia seems to take almost everyone and accepts that many will wash out. They give you a chance but it is up to you.

Some of the others may be more interested in being sure that the odds are very good that you will be admitted to medical school if you matriculate in their program. Almost a pre-screening for med school.

Mills, BTW, has a very good reputation with at least one adcom.

A good post-bac is going to provide you with not only the pre-req courses but also with guidance on how to get the extra-curricular or work experience that it will take to make you a strong applicant for med school.

 

[Kateroni18]

You didn't ask about it specifically, but I know the Hopkins program is very competive so typically you need a decent gpa and SAT or GRE. However, they are also looking for people they believe will be a good fit for the program and will make good doctors. This year they rejected a Harvard Law graduate and two people with PhD's from Princeton...so it's not all about looking good on paper. I had a 3.2 gpa and thought I was not competitive at all after reading previous student profiles on their website, but they thought I'd be a great fit at the interview and I got in.

There are a few good programs like the Harvard Extension School that have open enrollment so if you're worried about rejections you can always apply to those as well.

In terms of making yourself a better applicant, you seem to have a great idea of the direction you should head in. I would definitely do either a preceptorship or some hospital volunteer work so that that committees know that you do have some idea of what you'll be getting into. Research would also help, of course, but I know plenty of people who have gotten into good programs without it. Hopkins at least really likes "continuity" so if there's some way to transition from your undergrad field to medicine that be really good. For example, a CS major could work on computer-assisted surgery software and a Spanish major might work as a translator for a health insurance company. Get creative. Also, when you're actually doing your applications play up your non-science internship experience because odds are you're the only one with that particular experience. If possible, find a way that the internship will help you as a doctor. Maybe it enhanced your problem solving skills or you learned how to delegate better. Also, clubs are always helpful. Joining a premed society may also be a good idea. It's a good way to show that you are committed to doing medicine now. You've already changed your mind once (from non-science to pre-med) so it's important to somehow show that you're devoted to medicine and not likely to change your mind again.

According to my premed advisor at my undergrad who helped me choose post-bacc programs, Mills is a relatively competitive program and they tend to give slight preference to California residents (at least this was the case 3 years ago). If you make good use of the months before you apply, with your gpa I would think you could be a good candidate.

Good luck!

 

[Law2Doc]

They're mostly looking for people who can pay. I'd say getting into a postbacc program is like getting into a terminal master's program--not that tough. For some, you need some minimum volunteer experience. For others, such as Columbia, all you need is a decent GPA and a decent GRE or SAT score. But then again, more than half the people who come here don't finish. . . So take from that what you will.

Not sure about school the above poster is referring to (Columbia I presume), but for the schools the OP referenced, as others have indicated, these are not actually so easy to get into. They (schools like Bryn Mawr, Goucher, Tufts) are not just looking for someone "who can pay", they are looking for someone that they can get into med school without too much legwork, to improve their placement percentiles. They thus reject a fairly significant percentage of the people who apply, and don't rely on attrition as the above poster described at his school. However, given the OP's decent GPA, I think she would have a decent prospect of getting into one of the competitive postbacs.

 

[Crake]

Yes, I should clarify:
I was talking about Columbia specifically, since it's the only program I have first-hand experience with.

I thought Columbia was good for someone who didn't have a background in the sciences (someone like me) but probably not so good for someone who did and already had extensive research/volunteer experience. CU is hard, ruthlessly hard, and many of the students are gunner-douches, I don't deny that. If you go here, you look at it like a job, not a day at the beach. That said, there are many open doors for the willing. It's easy to get solid research experience, even when you have none--i.e. a good place to build a C.V. I mean, I do research already, in the field of medicine that I want to eventually practice, in one of the finest departments in the world. I got to scrub for two surgeries last week, and when my paperwork is complete, I can assist! And I just have a B.A. in history, with absolutely no prior experience; no volunteer experience, nothing! Say what you want about the ivy leage being full of jerks (and this is true) but the name really does carry a lot of weight, and this opens doors, even though some people like to pretend that it doesn't.

I don't necessarily RECOMMEND Columbia--it all depends on what type of person you are. Frankly, sometimes I really hate the place; other times, I dislike the place but I still think I made the right decision coming here. It all depends on the individual and what your goals are. If you're interested in Columbia, PM me.

 

[Crake]

I should also add that I don't think there's any advantage to going to a more comptetive postbacc. Yes, you don't get a lot of hand-holding at Columbia, but honestly, how much do you need? They definitely do help you find volunteer and research opportunities, and that's really what's important--not just having an advisor who you can gripe to about how hard your orgo class is. I'm not putting these other programs down, I'm just saying that the "competitive" aspect really has no bearing at all on what your experience will be, or where you will ultimately be accepted. The people I know that have finished this program all hold acceptances from wonderful schools; many hold multiple acceptances. In fact, I'm willing to go out on a limb and say that someone who successfully completes the CU program (and does well) has the best chance of getting into a top ten school out of all the other postbacc program grads out there (commence flaming).

However, many do leave after first year, that's true; it's hard and it's cutthroat. Yet in the end, it really is an accomplishment to finish this program (my hat's off to all you second years!) And that means something as well, in my book.