Need Advice: Post Bacc in NYC for someone doing a total 180..

[artydoc]

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First thank you so much for whatever advice any of you have to shine on me 🙂 I am, by all standards, completely non traditional as far as pre med/post bacch goes. I do have my undergrad degree, but I hold a BFA, obviously in an art field. I always have medicine in the back of my mind, but being young and impulslive I took the alternate route.

I really want to do my pre reqs- I was wondering if anyone had done this with a situation similar to mine or had any advice on how to begin this journey? I cant go full time into a post bacc program because I simply dont have the financial means to give up work, but I certainly could part time- I have heard that Hunter has a good, flexible, affordableprogram, as well as City University.

Is it possible to do a post bacch on ones own time schedule as long as you get the needed pre reqs in? Is it ok to have a non science job while fullfilling these reqs?

Any advice would be much appreciated- thank you!

 

[BORNagainSTDENT]

I just started hunter pots bacc. You can take classes as you please and they are cheap. At night slot of the people are post baccs and not under grads. I need some one to study with also.

I think they are offering bio this summer but not chemistry. You can register as a non degree and then you pick your classes the exact minute they allow.
I flu d a tutor and we can get group tutoring together for even cheaper. I also need to start some kind of science job eventually. Sorry for the crap post, I'm on my iPhone. Bio is offered infrequently so take it this summer. Hunter is better than city college.
get your transcripts and I'll guide you from there.

 

[NewmansOwn]

First thank you so much for whatever advice any of you have to shine on me 🙂 I am, by all standards, completely non traditional as far as pre med/post bacch goes. I do have my undergrad degree, but I hold a BFA, obviously in an art field. I always have medicine in the back of my mind, but being young and impulslive I took the alternate route.

I really want to do my pre reqs- I was wondering if anyone had done this with a situation similar to mine or had any advice on how to begin this journey? I cant go full time into a post bacc program because I simply dont have the financial means to give up work, but I certainly could part time- I have heard that Hunter has a good, flexible, affordableprogram, as well as City University.

Is it possible to do a post bacch on ones own time schedule as long as you get the needed pre reqs in? Is it ok to have a non science job while fullfilling these reqs?

Any advice would be much appreciated- thank you!

Sure, you can take the prereqs part time. There's something of a debate about whether doing them full time shows your ability to "handle a rigorous science course load," and I think such an argument has at least cursory validity, but if you're working while you take the classes, you're certainly not shirking on the time and energy commitment.

You can't do a formal program part-time, so just take the courses at whatever school is cheapest. Avoid community colleges if possible, but it's no big deal if you take a few courses there.

You can keep whatever job you'd like while doing the prereqs, but you should know the clinical experience (often volunteer) in the medical field is all but a requirement for medical school admission.

 

[Chauffeur2MD]

Hi,

Congratulations on your new career path! I, too, am a career-changing postbac who had considered medicine for a long time. I think that you have many options available. Postbac programs love students from very non-traditional backgrounds (they make interesting applicants), as long as they feel you have a good preparation for the rigorous pre-med courses. In and around NYC, there is Columbia, Hunter, NYU (relatively new), and Rutgers in NJ.

You can actually do a formal program part-time while working full-time. I did at Columbia. To take advantage of their linkage programs with medical schools, Columbia requires that you take orgo and bio together during the second year. It shows to med schools that you are able to handle a heavy courseload of the sciences. I think it is good advice, but it is not easy to do while working full-time. Possible, but not easy. Better if you work part-time during the second year.

Except for a few requirements like the one above, most programs are willing to work with you to accommodate your work obligations. BTW, it is fine to have a job outside the medical field. However, I would consider getting some clinical and/or research experience by volunteering at some point.

Good luck!

 

[michellec]

Hi,

Congratulations on your new career path! I, too, am a career-changing postbac who had considered medicine for a long time. I think that you have many options available. Postbac programs love students from very non-traditional backgrounds (they make interesting applicants), as long as they feel you have a good preparation for the rigorous pre-med courses. In and around NYC, there is Columbia, Hunter, NYU (relatively new), and Rutgers in NJ.

You can actually do a formal program part-time while working full-time. I did at Columbia. To take advantage of their linkage programs with medical schools, Columbia requires that you take orgo and bio together during the second year. It shows to med schools that you are able to handle a heavy courseload of the sciences. I think it is good advice, but it is not easy to do while working full-time. Possible, but not easy. Better if you work part-time during the second year.

Except for a few requirements like the one above, most programs are willing to work with you to accommodate your work obligations. BTW, it is fine to have a job outside the medical field. However, I would consider getting some clinical and/or research experience by volunteering at some point.

Good luck!

Hello - How difficult will it be to get into the any of the NYC post bacc programs with a very low GPA... I'm serious about working hard. (5 years out of school, but took a long time to grad from "prestigious" university. career-changer but realized that my initial passion is still in medicine). I'm applying to: NYU, Columbia, Manhattanville, Hofstra, CCNY, SUNY SB.

Also, could I start taking classes at Hunter too? Is it hard to be accepted as a non-degree candidate? Someone was mentioning taking biology classes in the summer - which would be a great way for me to get back into the sciences which I haven't studied for about 10 years...

Thank you in advance for any advice!

 

[BORNagainSTDENT]

You just apply as a non degree at hunter, you will be accepted as long as you have a bachelors already. Then you pick the classes you want and register for them as soon as late registration is allowed.