Is it Really Necessary............

[medblue]

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hi 🙂 i'm new here and learning. i was wondering if it's really necessary to do a post-bac program to get entry into medical school?

i'm currently taking classes at a community college to save money. will these classes qualify?

is there an advantage of having a post-bac? how do you pay for it with financial aid? is it considered graduate level???

thanks in advance. sorry if these questions are remedial. 😉

 

[BKMD]

I think the advantage to doing post bacc at a more reputable univeristy has two benefits. First, the grades there can carry more weight than from a less reputable. This is not to say that an "A" at community college is necessarily easier to get, but I think most admission comittees view it that way. Secondly, doing something to save money doesn't really show full comitment. If you really want to be a doctor, why not go balls out and do whatever it takes to show your commitment even it means living on ramen and sharing a bedroom for a year? In their admissions criterea in the MSAR several schools list commitment to a career in medicine as a factor.

As for the credit question it depends. If you enroll in undergraduate level post bacc then they count for undergraduate and if you enroll in masters level or are in a graduate degree seeking program even though some of the classes may be "undergraduate" they count as graduate because you are pursuing a graduate degree. I hope this helps clear up some of your questions. best of luck to you and all.

 

[Law2Doc]

I think the advantage to doing post bacc at a more reputable univeristy has two benefits. First, the grades there can carry more weight than from a less reputable. This is not to say that an "A" at community college is necessarily easier to get, but I think most admission comittees view it that way. Secondly, doing something to save money doesn't really show full comitment. If you really want to be a doctor, why not go balls out and do whatever it takes to show your commitment even it means living on ramen and sharing a bedroom for a year? In their admissions criterea in the MSAR several schools list commitment to a career in medicine as a factor.

As for the credit question it depends. If you enroll in undergraduate level post bacc then they count for undergraduate and if you enroll in masters level or are in a graduate degree seeking program even though some of the classes may be "undergraduate" they count as graduate because you are pursuing a graduate degree. I hope this helps clear up some of your questions. best of luck to you and all.

Basically agree with this post, although I question whether you have to be willing to spend money to show committment. Bottom line is that there is a perception that community college courses are easier, if for no other reason than because the competition on the curve is less. But there are other advantages of postbac programs, ranging from advising, to linkage, to program directors who personally market their applicants to med schools. Finally, the better known postbac programs have a track record and reputation with the med schools, and so a med school will know that students from XYZ postbac have done well in the past, and that may make them more inclined to accept folks from that background in the future.

 

[Maxprime]

What Law2Doc said. It sucks that they cost more - but the benefits can be great. It just depends on how much help your app needs. If you don't have pre-reqs and you have a low GPA, doing them with other gunners and succeeding will show your abilities more than acing them at a community college.

 

[medblue]

What Law2Doc said. It sucks that they cost more - but the benefits can be great. It just depends on how much help your app needs. If you don't have pre-reqs and you have a low GPA, doing them with other gunners and succeeding will show your abilities more than acing them at a community college.

thanks Maxprine. so you're saying that enrolling in a post-bac program and getting good grades (gunners?) with everyone else, is better than acing at a community college?

 

[medblue]

Basically agree with this post, although I question whether you have to be willing to spend money to show committment. Bottom line is that there is a perception that community college courses are easier, if for no other reason than because the competition on the curve is less. But there are other advantages of postbac programs, ranging from advising, to linkage, to program directors who personally market their applicants to med schools. Finally, the better known postbac programs have a track record and reputation with the med schools, and so a med school will know that students from XYZ postbac have done well in the past, and that may make them more inclined to accept folks from that background in the future.

thanks Law2Doc the extra perks of having good connections is definitely worth it. is there a listing of good post-bac programs anywhere???

 

[medblue]

I think the advantage to doing post bacc at a more reputable univeristy has two benefits. First, the grades there can carry more weight than from a less reputable. This is not to say that an "A" at community college is necessarily easier to get, but I think most admission comittees view it that way. Secondly, doing something to save money doesn't really show full comitment. If you really want to be a doctor, why not go balls out and do whatever it takes to show your commitment even it means living on ramen and sharing a bedroom for a year? In their admissions criterea in the MSAR several schools list commitment to a career in medicine as a factor.

As for the credit question it depends. If you enroll in undergraduate level post bacc then they count for undergraduate and if you enroll in masters level or are in a graduate degree seeking program even though some of the classes may be "undergraduate" they count as graduate because you are pursuing a graduate degree. I hope this helps clear up some of your questions. best of luck to you and all.

thanks BKMD. it's not a question of commitment just trying to be pratical, but i guess when it comes to med school there's no such word. thanks for the wake up call. 🙂

 

[NapeSpikes]

is there a listing of good post-bac programs anywhere???

Check out the FAQ at the top of this forum. There are many other programs, but these are some of the big names.