I can only speak about the Columbia post-bacc:
Pros:
The education is rigorous--physics at CU is a whole different world from anything else I ever saw as an undergrad. Then again, they do institute a curve.
The university itself has fantastic resources available to a postbacc student such as tutoring, etc. Also, although the program is technically under the College of General Studies, you take all your classes with Columbia College undergrads and there is no distinction between the two whatsoever--so adcoms know these aren't any watered-down night classes.
It is easy to volunteer and get involved with significant research projects, even as a first year. We get solicitations practically everyday from researchers at Columbia P&S and other area med schools and hospitals looking for research volunteers. Plus, Columbia post-baccs have a reputation of being very reliable and very competent research associates so faculty actually want to take you on their team (where else can you get someone bright and motivated with a B.A. to work for free?)
From what I've heard, people do get interviewed/accepted into med schools coming out of the post bacc program here. I spoke to one recent grad who had 4 interviews in NYC alone (Columbia P&S, NYMC, Mount Sinai, Albert Einstein)! On the other hand, many of the post baccs here are already very accomplished; its not unusual to hear someone tell you their stories about their "second summer spent in rural southwestern Somalia curing aids. . ." ect. Or about how "when I was an undergrad at Harvard, I volunteered at Mass General 8 days a week. . ." So I'm not that suprised that many people get accepted to top medschools coming from here. I will say that you will be totally prepared for the MCAT by the courses here however!
CONS:
EXPENSIVE! EXPENSIVE! EXPENSIVE!
Advising: They're there, but you're pretty much on your own. This isn't the place if you need someone cheerleading for you and holding your hand the whole way. You have to be independent to survive.
Fellow Postbaccs: Some are very nice. There is a general atmosphere of congeniality. Most are not overtly competitive (this isn't the "Paper Chase") On the other hand, there are many ruthless gunners--this doesn't bother me personally, but some people get really bothered by the person who, after an exam, says "I can't believe my score was this low! I mean a 95? There's no way I actually got a question wrong! There must be some mistake! How'd you do?" Then you look down at your 90 and say "Oh, I got 100..."
NYC: You either love it or you hate it, but its unbelievably expensive to live here. Plus, Columbia's pretty far uptown so you either live in Brooklyn or Hoboken and commute 1.5 hrs a day, or you live in "Morningside Heights" ( "where Harlem meets Manhattenville")
HARD HARD HARD
This is the place to be if you really want to find your limits. I mean, I'm no genius, but I'm no idiot either and I find this ridiculously hard. The workload is relentless, some of the exam questions are borderline impossible, and there is no mercy. From what I've heard, about 40% of the people here leave the program (either because its too difficult, they did really poorly their first semester, can't justify the cost, or just realized how long the road to becoming a doctor actually was). You must take physics, general chemistry, and calculus before you can start moving into biology, so there's no starting out easy.
Don't go to Columbia to remedy a low GPA--that's a very bad idea. Do go if you're naturally bright and motivated and you're certain you want to be a doctor. There is no way that you can come out of here with good grades and still bomb the MCAT--the education itself is that rigorous. Do come here if you like to be challenged and are ready to make a full-time committment to your education.
I had absolutely no science background whatsoever coming here. You don't need to have one, you just have to be intelligent and willing to learn.
Good luck!
-Crake
