Looking for Advice from Post-Bacc Veterans

[nap5035]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I am a senior at Pennsylvania State University about to graduate with a 3.48 in Business, with 1300 SATs. My goal is to attend a post-bacc in the summer (hopefully a 1 year program) and get back on track. I have shadowed a dentist in the last few months, but that is all for medical related experience.

Applications are out for:
Penn State
BU Metropolitan College
Stony Brook
Columbia
NYU
Tufts
UVA
Rutgers

I'm freaking out. I am only one year out of school and I didn't realize that I would have to compete with ex-marines that volunteered in hospitals overseas and things of that nature. If anyone can put me at ease about AT LEAST one school besides Penn State-since I'm basically guaranteed admission there-so I can get a decent night sleep tonight. Thanks.

 

[nap5035]

Also post if you think there is a program that is more in my range. Thanks again.

 

[NewmansOwn]

The people you see profiled on websites for the best programs make the student body look far more accomplished that they in fact are. Let's be brutally honest: we all look more impressive on paper than we in fact are -- I know that's true for me. There are always a few all-stars, but even the best postbacs are comprised of nothing more than smart, hard-working people who worked a good angle to get into a program.

Your GPA isn't all that bad, unless Penn State has a reputation for grade inflation.

You'll almost certainly need some more extracurriculars to make you stand out, but I really don't know anything about the programs you've mentioned. Why aren't you applying to any of the top formal programs?

And also, what do you mean you're one year out of school? I thought you said you were a senior.

 

[nap5035]

When I said being one year out of school I didn't mean it quite like that, I meant that starting my post-bacc I would have just graduated. I misspoke. And to be honest the only reason I wasn't applying to the top formal programs is because of what you said-the profile people and what-not. I would not pay attention to a profile student in an undergraduate class of 5,000, but a profile student in a class of 30 is a little intimidating. It has been hard determining the difference between a reach school and a safety because they all offer something different. 29 students applied to Penn State's last year and 27 were accepted, because of the fact that it's no skin off Penn State's back if all those 27 don't get accepted to med school. There are no linkages or affiliations, so their tuition is just gravy on top of their undergraduates. You mentioned formal programs, I eliminated Bryn Mawr and Goucher and Penn because I figure they are the best, but you don't think that Tufts and Columbia are solid formal programs? Maybe I don't understand the term "formal program."

 

[deleted248403]

I can't speak to Bryn or Goucher, but you'd be competitive for Penn's program.

And I didnt know Penn State had a program till you started this thread

 

[NewmansOwn]

There's a few former Columbia postbacs at my medical school and they don't have too many kind things to say about the program. I think the general consensus is if you're lucky enough to be one of the best students in Columbia's program, you'll probably be fine. But if you're not, you'll be thrown under the bus and you've basically wasted tens of thousands of dollars.

Bryn Mawr and Goucher are the best and may very well be a reach for you, but I see no reason not to try. I honestly didn't know much about Penn's program until I got to medical school -- but we have 9 former Penn postbacs in my class, so they must be doing something right over in University City...