How Old are Most Post-Bacc Students?

[Jonny Seed]

Hello,

I'll be turning 31 next month, and I am worried that if I apply to post-bacc programs for next year, I'll be on the older side (starting at 32). I know that's not too old to go into medicine, but I was wondering what age most students who attend formal, full time post baccs are?

I definitely want to attend one that has a linkage to my school of choice, but I'm wondering if I'll feel out of place there. Any thoughts would help.

Thanks,

Jeremy

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[DrMidlife]

Same age as med students, average 23-24. You may or may not be the oldest in your class at 32.

Understand that the linkage postbacs are incredibly competitive. As an older student you should be resourceful enough to manage a premed "career" without the handholding of a formal program, and you should be concerned enough about money to be interested in doing something other than a formal program.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Jonny Seed]

I entered my postbacc at 30. It really depends on where you are in life and how you want to approach postbacc work. For me a formal/semi-formal program was better than self-paced, mostly because I wanted to get started and hit the ground running. It is the more expensive route but sometimes you get what you pay for. But in my postbacc program I am generally the oldest one although there are a few people close to my age. There are lots of students in the 23-25 range. Might as well get used to it because if you are successful you are going to be one of the oldest students in your med school class as well.

Was your postbacc at a major university? I like the idea of a postbacc due to the linkage, and saving 1-2 years until the start of medical school. Did you take advantage of a linkage. Thanks

 

[Jonny Seed]

Same age as med students, average 23-24. You may or may not be the oldest in your class at 32.

Understand that the linkage postbacs are incredibly competitive. As an older student you should be resourceful enough to manage a premed "career" without the handholding of a formal program, and you should be concerned enough about money to be interested in doing something other than a formal program.

Best of luck to you.

Thanks. The linkage idea is still attractive to me. I'm also more interested in a postbacc because I like the idea of a rigorous program vs 1 class a semester.

 

[DrMidlife]

Taking one class at a time is a postbac. Postbac is any form of additional undergrad after completion of a bachelors.

A competitive formal program offers structure. The med school prereqs are inherently rigorous however you take them.

 

[Jonny Seed]

Taking one class at a time is a postbac. Postbac is any form of additional undergrad after completion of a bachelors.

A competitive formal program offers structure. The med school prereqs are inherently rigorous however you take them.

Good point. I meant rigorous in terms of taking multiple classes at once in a more formatted program. I've been told that this will prove I can handle the hard sciences better than taking 1 class at a time at my local branch state school.

 

[DrMidlife]

False dichotomy. There are many more options for getting the prereqs done than structured formal expensive program vs. one class at a time.

But whatever, you can find the info you want on formal postbacs in this forum by picking one program such as Goucher, read that thread, collect the names of other programs, repeat.