La Salle postbac

[Macktasty]

Does anyone know anything about Lasalles postbac and its linkages to PCOM? How does the school rate? Is it competitive to get into?

Just looking for any insights.. Don't see much discussion on the school

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[Cornell08]

I'm also interested in the Philadelphia area post-bac schools (minus Penn which is an over-priced rip off). The linkage to PCOM from LaSalle is very interesting. I know one can take classes over the summer from LaSalle. Would it be possible to take Chemistry I and II over the summer? How difficult are the pre-med classes at LaSalle? I originally began as a pre-med at Cornell but quickly stopped as the classes were ridic and curved to a B-.

The same questions go for Temple post-bac (BCMS) and West Chester which sounds like it also has a linkage to Drexel and Temple.

 

[rock2doc]

I've been accepted into La Salle's program starting this summer. I have a low GPA for the elite prerequisite post bac programs (3.0) and am just waiting to hear from UPenn. I work for UPenn now and was looking at the 2 year option, but I'd really like to do my prereq's in one year. I've got a good fire going about becoming a doctor and want to get through the pre-reqs in case I need more classes to boost my undergrad gpa.

La Salle seems very affordable, but I'm skeptical of the quality of education. I underperformed in undergrad at a very good liberal arts college, however, and don't really have any other formal options. I just want to make sure that it's possible to do well there and, more importantly, it will prepare me for the MCATs. I've historically been a great standardized test taker (166 LSAT, of all things, and 1450 SAT) and have a pretty versatile mind, so I'm positive that I'm ready to get as perfect grades as I can.

I've emailed with the director and he has been less than helpful-- he's actually been very rude, and has not been able to provide statistics regarding post bac students, although he constantly says that students that do well at La Salle get into medical school, which is very suspicious to me. Still, it's less than half the cost of UPenn, would allow me to do the prereqs in one year, and is in Philly, where I'd like to stay for the time being.

Uh, so, basically, does anyone know anything at ALL about La Salle's program?

 

[rock2doc]

I've heard some good things about West Chester, and I believe Temple to be one of the best programs in the country, only insofar as it is a guaranteed spot in a great medical school, provided you achieve some very possible GPA and MCAT goals for anyone that has the ability to become a doctor. I've heard almost nothing about someone that successfully used La Salle's post bac program to get into allopathic medical school.

 

[Cornell08]

I contacted PCOM and apparently they just formalized the linkage but you have to call the director of the post-bacc at LaSalle for more details which I have not. If anyone has or is willing to then I'd be interested to hear what the requirements are. Rock2doc, what have you heard about the West Chester Post Bac? You said you heard good things.

 

[rock2doc]

Neither linkage at LaSalle are guarantees-- they are essentially just an early application. I am not interested in PCOM, but I believe it's the same for both-- get a certain GPA and a certain MCAT, and you can skip the glide year, IF RWJ or PCOM lets you in. They can reject you even if you meet the linkage requirements.

 

[deleted248403]

Rockdoc - if you work for Upenn and you take Upenn's classes - they will pay for them.

So it'd be free for you...

 

[rock2doc]

Thanks rob, I'm very aware of that (2 a semester! what a deal), but was not counting on getting into UPenn. Also, my job for them is a very demanding 9-5, and I don't know if I'd be able to prove to med schools that I have what it takes academically if I can only take 2-3 classes a semester for 2 years. I can see myself doing well academically, but 3 full classes a semester and a full time job (not in health care, although I do work for the med school in another aspect) leaves little time for volunteering and studying.

However, I just got an interview with them, so maybe I have a shot after all. I'll see what they think.

Did anyone work full time while attending a 2 year post bac? What was your schedule like?

 

[deleted248403]

PM sent

 

[divajazzerina]

I'm currently attending La Salle's postbac program. Though accepted at other more well-known postbac programs, I decided on La Salle because of it's cost (about 1/2 of other programs) and it's linkage with PCOM (only applying D.O.) I have 2 undergrad degrees from a huge, big name university and going to a smaller institution really interested me as well.

I have been very satisfied with La Salle. You are in class with undergrads and since most postbacs are more focused than the majority of undergrands,the post bacs generally get the best grades in the class. All of my professors know me and the other post bacs by names.The classes are hard, but the professors are fair. The directer (who is actually a woman, though referred to above as a man) is very business orientated and holds many other responsibilities at the university. She is not there to hold your hand through the process. I met with her once at the beginning of the program, we set a plan of action on which courses I would take, when i would begin the application process etc. and I really have no other reason to meet with her or email her with other questions that I could probably figure out on my own.

Students (undergrad premeds and postbacs) who are preparing to apply during the upcoming application process, are assigned an application advisor that you meet with on a regular basis. This person guides you thru ps, putting together a list of schools to apply to, letters of rec etc. There are also general meetings for all of the applicants about mcat prep, letters of rec, shadowing/volunteering etc.

Both linkages offered are not guaranteed linkages. If you meet the gpa/mcat requirement then you may apply for the linkage, but from what I have gathered, it is highly dependent on the applicant pool that the schools get that year.

You get a committee letter if you take a specific number of courses at LaSalle (it seems like it keeps changing.) Depending on your grades, the committee highly recommends, recommends, etc. Of the people that the committee highly recommend/recommends, almost all of those people are accepted. (hence- if you do well at LaSalle, your chances of getting into med school are great) There used to be a percentage somewhere on the website, but I can't find it anymore.

The website does boast that is highly flexible, but I have yet to see that. A few of my post-bac friends have part-time jobs, but they are in the evening. All of the pre-med courses are offered in the morning, and therefore a job during the day isn't really possible with labs and such. The website also says that you can start during the spring term ( in January) and unless you are coming into the program with Gen Chem I, and Bio I done, and therefore need to pick up with Bio II and Gen Chem II, MOST of the first semester courses are not offered in the spring. So plan on starting during the fall or summer if you are starting the premed track from scratch.

Hope this helps some of you out. Also if you live in the area and would like to spend a day in classes with me you are more than welcome.

 

[jmkgoll]

If you don't mind, can you tell us more about the linkage. The description on the website is sort of vague. So those who qualify for the linkage do get accepted to pcom/ MD program? That definitely seems too good to be true.

 

[divajazzerina]

re: linkages

If you meet the gpa/mcat requirement you are allowed to apply to the school (pcom/rwj) early- and I believe without opening an aacomas or amcas application . You would apply in the spring, and if accepted you would matriculate that fall, thus skipping your glide year. It is not guaranteed, so just because you qualify and apply for the linkage, does not mean you will get it. I gather that the linkages are generally hard to obtain. It's not really in the hands of LaSalle's people, it depends on the particular schooll, and their applicant population that year, how many spots they have to offer (if any) etc.

Let me know if you have any more specific questions.

 

[divajazzerina]

Neither linkage at LaSalle are guarantees-- they are essentially just an early application. I am not interested in PCOM, but I believe it's the same for both-- get a certain GPA and a certain MCAT, and you can skip the glide year, IF RWJ or PCOM lets you in. They can reject you even if you meet the linkage requirements.

This is correct.

 

[rock2doc]

Wow, Diva, this is great! Thanks for the response. It's extremely helpful. Do you know how the summer term works? I'd be looking to get my pre-req's done in a year, but I'll need all of them, including calculus. Is that possible at La Salle?

 

[pookisantoki]

I am currently a postbac student at Lasalle. I'll be finishing up this May...if you guys have question regarding Lasalle PM me and I'll be more than happy to answer your questions

 

[divajazzerina]

Do you know how the summer term works? I'd be looking to get my pre-req's done in a year, but I'll need all of them, including calculus. Is that possible at La Salle?

There are 2 summer terms, they only permit you to take 1 course per term. If you started the program in the Summer you could take Chem I and Chem II.

During Fall and Spring semesters you are only allowed to take 11 or fewer credit hours at a time and still get the cheap tuition rate of ~$440/ credit hour. Therefore you can only take 2 courses (because 3 courses would put you at 12 credit hours.) If you elect to take 12 or more credits per term you are charged the full-time undergrad tuition rate, which is outrageous something like 6-10k.
So during the Fall semester you could take Bio I and Orgo I. This would mean Spring semester you would take Bio II and Orgo II. *So to answer your question- no, it's not possible to do it in a year. It requires an additional summer, where you could take Physics I, and Physics II. You would begin the application the summer while taking Physics, and you would take the MCAT in august immediately after finishing physics.

* The exception to the the 11 credit rule is a math class. They will also you to take more than 11 credits if it is for a math class. Therefore you could take calculus (and have 12 credits) and still pay the low tuition rate. The director is currently working on getting a physics course that is not calculus based, therefore eliminating the need to take calc. This could happen as soon as fall 2010 as I understand it.

- I could not begin the program in the summer, and I started in the Fall. This is my plan of when to take classes- though it takes longer than the above schedule.

Fall 1- Chem I, Bio I, Calculus
Spring 1- Chem II, Bio II
Summer part 1- Physics I
Summer part 2- Physics II
Fall 2- Orgo I and Biochem
Spring 2- Orgo II and MCAT prep
MCAT and application to follow.

IMO- the way classes are scheduled and the 11 credit thing is the biggest drawback of the program.

I hope this helps!

 

[kploh]

Pookisantoki,
I will be attending LaSalle Postbacc this fall; how is the program since you will be finishing this May? How are/were the classes and do you think you will be admitted to med school assuming that you did well in the MCAT? Were you able to get financial aid (loans) to cover the entire program? Were you working while taking classes? I have been delaying taking postbacc classes because of financial reasons. I am the only working person in the family so if I quit my job to do the prereqs the family will suffer financially. Do you have family or is anyone out there with family, spouse and kids, who went through the program? How did you do it?
Thanks for your help,
Kploh

 

[aray14]

Divajazzerina,
Thanks for your posts, lots of help. I'm enrolled to start my post bac at la salle in the Fall...I just realized that nobody mentioned Calculus at all and I havn't taken math in years...the dean helped me put together my schedule for Fall Semester too...strange. Who suggested to you that you take calculus? I always considered it a pre-req to most classes but not neccessarily something med/dent schools required on its own.
Please advise!

 

[juddrl]

Divajazzerina,
Thanks for your posts, lots of help. I'm enrolled to start my post bac at la salle in the Fall...I just realized that nobody mentioned Calculus at all and I havn't taken math in years...the dean helped me put together my schedule for Fall Semester too...strange. Who suggested to you that you take calculus? I always considered it a pre-req to most classes but not neccessarily something med/dent schools required on its own.
Please advise!

deleted

 

[divajazzerina]

Divajazzerina,
Thanks for your posts, lots of help. I'm enrolled to start my post bac at la salle in the Fall...I just realized that nobody mentioned Calculus at all and I havn't taken math in years...the dean helped me put together my schedule for Fall Semester too...strange. Who suggested to you that you take calculus? I always considered it a pre-req to most classes but not neccessarily something med/dent schools required on its own.
Please advise!

They will have a new physics course as of Fall 2010 that is not calculus based. I started at La Salle before this course so I took calculus in preparation for physics which I am taking now (calc based.) The fall physics course that is algebra based is offered at a really weird time, I believe something like Mon, Tues, Thurs from 4-6. It's considered an evening course since it starts at 4, so if you wanted to take Chem, BIo and Physics in the Fall you could do so without having to pay the crazy full time tuition rate.

With the change you would now be able to finish the program in a full calendar year if you started in the summer with Gen Chem, and then took Orgo, Bio and Physics during the fall and spring terms. You could then take the MCAT after you finish in the spring and start applying that year.

The federal government will only give you loans for 1 calendar year (no matter what term you start.) If you take the max amount that they will give you, after paying tuition each semester you will be refunded about 1-2k, that has been my experience at least.

Hope this helps!

 

[Vanish]

Have you guys heard of Immaculata? I'm thinking about doing an informal post bacc there. Its only 420 per credit hour for continuing studies. My mom goes there so I think it would be cool to go to the same school haha. Will the fact that its a small school and unknown hurt my chances for med school? I see that West Chester is cheap too how about there will med schools frown upon it?

 

[divajazzerina]

Have you guys heard of Immaculata? I'm thinking about doing an informal post bacc there. Its only 420 per credit hour for continuing studies. My mom goes there so I think it would be cool to go to the same school haha. Will the fact that its a small school and unknown hurt my chances for med school? I see that West Chester is cheap too how about there will med schools frown upon it?

The main advantage that La Salle would have over Imaculata (Which I've never heard of, but I'm not from Philly) or West Chester is that La Salle will give you a committee letter. There also two linkage opportunities, that you would miss out on.