Is anyone familiar w/ UPenn's College of General Studies?

[nabeel76]

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I am looking to transfer to a 4 year school (from community college) to finish the rest of my undergrad, and wanted to know if anyone is familiar w/ UPenns College of General Studies Program. Apparently this is a program for continuing studies for non traditional students, but they award the same undergrad degree as students for their college of arts and sciences. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Is this program viewed as competetive as UPenns other schools, by medical admissions committee's?

Thanks,

Nabeel

 

[mshheaddoc]

They are classes and its a good program. I have heard mixed reactions about some of the professors from a few members of SDN and I also know a few people in the post bacc program there. As for the degree I don't know. I'm considering just taking my prereqs there though. Its Penn ... alot goes with the name and depends on what you want to spend as well.

 

[nabeel76]

They are classes and its a good program. I have heard mixed reactions about some of the professors from a few members of SDN and I also know a few people in the post bacc program there. As for the degree I don't know. I'm considering just taking my prereqs there though. Its Penn ... alot goes with the name and depends on what you want to spend as well.

Yeah, it is quite expensive to go there. My College has a transfer scholarship into the program but it covers only part-time tuition, if I can get that that would make it alot easier.

Thanks,

Nabeel

 

[ib508]

I'm taking classes through their Alumni program (all it gets you is a simplified application process, everything else is the same) and price for evening classes at Penn is the same as for day classes at Temple or Drexel...so kinda the same deal + you get the Penn name

Yeah, it is quite expensive to go there. My College has a transfer scholarship into the program but it covers only part-time tuition, if I can get that that would make it alot easier.

Thanks,

Nabeel

 

[nabeel76]

I'm taking classes through their Alumni program (all it gets you is a simplified application process, everything else is the same) and price for evening classes at Penn is the same as for day classes at Temple or Drexel...so kinda the same deal + you get the Penn name

Cool - The simplified app process is great!

Is this sort of a backdoor into the university, without the "as intense" competetive nature of the normal admission channels?

I am just wondering why everyone isn't using this program, it's cheaper, flexible, simplified app process, all the degree's of CAS are offered, and you get the same Penn degree? This seems too good to be true. Well, I hope I get admitted.

 

[mshheaddoc]

Cool - The simplified app process is great!

Is this sort of a backdoor into the university, without the "as intense" competetive nature of the normal admission channels?

I am just wondering why everyone isn't using this program, it's cheaper, flexible, simplified app process, all the degree's of CAS are offered, and you get the same Penn degree? This seems too good to be true. Well, I hope I get admitted.

Heard competition is intensive there ... that is the only bad thing.

 

[group_theory]

Don't you have to be an alumnus/alumna of Penn in order to take advantage of the simplified application made available through the Alumni Program?

Wouldn't that imply that you were admitted, and graduated from Penn already?

 

[nabeel76]

Don't you have to be an alumnus/alumna of Penn in order to take advantage of the simplified application made available through the Alumni Program?

Wouldn't that imply that you were admitted, and graduated from Penn already?

I don't know exactly what ib508 was refering to by a simplified app process -but the applications for CGS are accepted all year round on a rolling basis, unlike the college, and it doesn't look as time consuming to fill out. Just a basic form w/ a couple of simple questions. The regular app seems to be alot more involved.

Do the alumna have a different app process into the program?

 

[ib508]

Sorry, guys, should've made that clear...

Yea, you do have to be a graduate of Penn to go through the Alumni program. I was just trying to make a point about the price - that it's kinda the same no matter where you take classes in Philly, except of course CCP.

I don't know exactly what ib508 was refering to by a simplified app process -but the applications for CGS are accepted all year round on a rolling basis, unlike the college, and it doesn't look as time consuming to fill out. Just a basic form w/ a couple of simple questions. The regular app seems to be alot more involved.

Do the alumna have a different app process into the program?

 

[lightnk102]

About the degree that you get, it is a Penn degree, but I don't think it's the same degree that the undergraduates get. I went to Penn for undergrad, and the impression that I got was that everyone gets different degrees based on what school they're in. The undergraduate degree says either Penn Engineering, Penn Nursing, Penn Arts and Sciences, or Wharton School of Business. That leads me to believe that the night-classes students will have "Penn College of General Studies" on their degree, even if you have a CAS major. I think the reason for that is because they have CGS versions of the CAS classes (for example, there's physics 101 during the day that is CAS. and then there's the CGS physics 101 at night).

On your application, you probably would simply indicate that you graduated from Penn, which would make you indistinguishable, but your transcript that goes to the schools would say "College of General Studies" on it as opposed to one of the other undergraduate schools.

Don't quote me on this - it's just my conjecture baed on what I know (I have 2 bachelors from penn - one from CAS and one from the engineering school, and my transcripts specifically say which school I was registered under), so if it's a major concern of yours, perhaps you should call and ask.

Also, just FYI, it's generally known among the undergrads that the CGS classes are easier, so you may get a fraction of pre-med gunner undergrads in your night classes. Feel free to slap them.

 

[sidewalkman]

The degree from Penn will say what school you went to on it, like the previous poster said. Of course, for a resume, you can just put down that you went to Penn.

Obviously CGS is not viewed in the same light as the 'real' Penn for med school purposes, since all you really need to get into as CGS degree program is a B+ or higher average from community college and a solid essay. The 'real' Penn, as you know, is much tougher to get into. Now, if you have the $$$, you can take day classes (as long as there are open seats) in any of the other Penn schools, so in theory you could be admitted into CGS and take exclusively day classes and have the 'same' education, just with the CGS letters on your diploma. I don't know why anyone would do this, but one could if they wanted to.

No one should complain about the cost - under 10k a year tuition.

Finally, majors. It's tough to be a CGS chemistry major, for example, because not one chem course outside of gen chem and orgo is offered at night (again, the $$$ for daytime tuition will kill you). A bio major, OTOH, can be completed entirely at night. So to say that every daytime major can also be easily completed through CGS is a little misleading.

 

[group_theory]

CGS falls under the auspice of SAS, as does CAS (college of arts and sciences).

While the diploma will not distinguish what school you graduated from, the transcript will. However, most people (unless they were/are recent undergraduates of Penn) will not know the difference between CGS and CAS.

Besides, those in CGS still have to complete the same college requirements as CAS - general requirements, foreign language, writing, quantitative analysis, etc. Major requirements are the same. However, if one were to pursue only night courses, it will certainly take more than 4 years to complete all these requirements (I'm sure there are exceptions)

And every major can't be completed just via CGS at night. Some classes (required for the major) are only offered once during the year (since the above poster mentioned chemistry - Chem 223, Chem 246, and Chem 261 are nice examples)

According to Penn's website, the following majors are available (that can be completed w/o taking day time courses)
Anthropology, Biology, English, Environmental Studies, History, Philosophy, PPE, Religious Studies, and Social Science
http://www.sas.upenn.edu/CGS/undergraduate/majors.php

 

[sunnyjohn]

anyone currently at PENN in 2005?

 

[nabeel76]

Thanks for all the information everyone! Just as an update I did get into the program and will attend in the Fall 05.

I did verify that the diploma will be granted from the School of Arts and Sciences, just as the regular undergrads at the college of arts and sciences; however, the transcript will indicate that my college was CGS. Does this make a difference to medical schools? I am probably going to be taking mostly day classes - so I will be competing w/ the regular students for grades. By the way how hard is it to do an internal transfer into CAS after a year or so? I will entertain this as well, if it actually makes a difference to medical schools. By the way I was also admitted into UVA's College of Arts and Sciences but would rather attend Penn, what do you guys think?

Thanks,

Nabeel

 

[DocteurMarion]

Hi,
27 y o , working fulltime - I received my AS from Community College and recently transfered to University of Hartford (CT), there they offer a BGS (Bachelors of General Studies), I am enrolled in this programm and I am completing my science pre req at same time.
There is nothing different, the degree you receive is a Bachelors and that is what u need in order to apply to med school.

 

[2bkiddoc]

Nabeel,

Considering that the Post-bacc students (pre-health, ie. med school prereqs and special science, ie. upper level evening (or daytime courses depending whether you are a daytime or evening student)), all have GCS on their transcript. The program has a history of sending very qualified non-traditionals to medical school and that distinction on their transcripts have not seemed to hinder their success.

Congrats on your acceptance. If you have any questions about evening courses/professors, drop me a line. I took 12 upper level science classes through the pre-health program at CGS.

Congrats again! You have great reason to be proud.

Thanks for all the information everyone! Just as an update I did get into the program and will attend in the Fall 05.

I did verify that the diploma will be granted from the School of Arts and Sciences, just as the regular undergrads at the college of arts and sciences; however, the transcript will indicate that my college was CGS. Does this make a difference to medical schools? I am probably going to be taking mostly day classes - so I will be competing w/ the regular students for grades. By the way how hard is it to do an internal transfer into CAS after a year or so? I will entertain this as well, if it actually makes a difference to medical schools. By the way I was also admitted into UVA's College of Arts and Sciences but would rather attend Penn, what do you guys think?

Thanks,

Nabeel

 

[nabeel76]

Nabeel,

Considering that the Post-bacc students (pre-health, ie. med school prereqs and special science, ie. upper level evening (or daytime courses depending whether you are a daytime or evening student)), all have GCS on their transcript. The program has a history of sending very qualified non-traditionals to medical school and that distinction on their transcripts have not seemed to hinder their success.

Congrats on your acceptance. If you have any questions about evening courses/professors, drop me a line. I took 12 upper level science classes through the pre-health program at CGS.

Congrats again! You have great reason to be proud.

Thanks 2bkiddoc,

I visited the campus this week (i am in DC) and loved it. Love the location etc. we went to old city and hung out Sat. night, it was great!

How is Penn Course Review? Is there accurate info on CGS professors listed via PCR?

I will definintely send you a pm come course selection time to see if you are familiar w/ any of the teachers on my schedule.

P.S. We went to PATs for cheesesteaks - I don't see what the big deal w/ philly cheesteaks is. It tasted pretty much like any cheesesteak in DC. Do you know of any better ones?

 

[sunnyjohn]

Hey do you guys mind posting the scope on those upper level classes in here?

I am considering Penn in a year or 18 months. Would it be possible for me to finish a Biology degree in the CGS in 2 semesters, providing I had all the prereq's and supporting courses done? Do they even offer enough upper level Bio at night to make 2 semesters possible?

Did you take any of the online classes they offer?
Agape....

 

[2bkiddoc]

http://www.sas.upenn.edu/CGS/courseguide/

make sure when you are searching you choose "college of general studies" in the Program pull-down.

I took 12 upper level biology course - more than what I took as a bio undergrad major...

I am a strong believer that we can ultimately accomplish anything if you really put the work into it. Some people have gone through some crazy things in life and perservered - use them as examples that you can push yourself and push the system and MAKE IT HAPPEN!

My dad always used to say 'if you want it, do it..."

Hey do you guys mind posting the scope on those upper level classes in here?

I am considering Penn in a year or 18 months. Would it be possible for me to finish a Biology degree in the CGS in 2 semesters, providing I had all the prereq's and supporting courses done? Do they even offer enough upper level Bio at night to make 2 semesters possible?

Did you take any of the online classes they offer?
Agape....

 

[sunnyjohn]

http://www.sas.upenn.edu/CGS/courseguide/

make sure when you are searching you choose "college of general studies" in the Program pull-down.

I took 12 upper level biology course - more than what I took as a bio undergrad major...

I am a strong believer that we can ultimately accomplish anything if you really put the work into it. Some people have gone through some crazy things in life and perservered - use them as examples that you can push yourself and push the system and MAKE IT HAPPEN!

My dad always used to say 'if you want it, do it..."

Wow! Thanks for the link. I had looked over the site, but somehow had missed this. I guess I could do it all in 2 semesters....

Thanks again.

 

[2bkiddoc]

Wow! Thanks for the link. I had looked over the site, but somehow had missed this. I guess I could do it all in 2 semesters....

Thanks again.

No Problem!! As I mentioned, I took 12 classes, so if you have any questions about any of the classes, let me know.

 

[linuxizer]

How is Penn Course Review? Is there accurate info on CGS professors listed via PCR?

PCR is a godsend. It allows you to easily and accurately determine which DNA fragments are in your...err...it allows you to easily and accurately determine which professors are amazing. The difficulty rating I'd take with a grain of salt, but it does help for assessing professors within a given course. Overall, I've found the overal quality rating more useful than the difficulty--great teachers tend to make courses easy.

By the way how hard is it to do an internal transfer into CAS after a year or so?

Wouldn't count on an internal transfer--I've never heard of such a thing, and transferring between schools at Penn tends to be fairly difficult.

In general, Penn CGS attempts to be equivalent to a real Penn undergrad degree in terms of quality of education, unlike e.g. Harvard extension school. I've never taken a CGS class here yet, though, and given I have one semester left, I doubt I ever will, so find your local salt shaker and take this advice with a small crystal.
--Ari