Penn vs. HES

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immaxf

immaxf

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First: I've done a LOT of searching and a ton of reading through old threads. I'm making this post because I don't feel like my question has been sufficiently answered (at least recently, anyways) and I wanted to have a friendly (read: no trolls) conversation regarding the two schools. Which do you think is a better choice?

I've been accepted to both and am curious what you think is better, and why. Don't include money as a factor -- I want to know what your opinion is based on the quality of education, rigor of classes, quality of faculty, and odds of successful application to med school. For this comparison, assume that the HES route would involve a letter of recommendation. Location is not an issue. Also, I'm coming from a mostly non-science background, though I have taken biology.

FYI, I'm not basing my decision solely on what e-strangers have to say in this thread. I'm pretty close to making a decision at this point, but want I to get feedback and see what people have to say between these two.
UPenn vs. Harvard Extension: Ready go!
 
I'm missing whats so unique about your question that hasn't been answered before a hundred times...

But, go to HES

And thats coming from a UPenn Post-bac alumni
 
robflanker, your advice would be invaluable. and sorry if i'm blowing up both your notifications, i'm terrible at using this forum.
 
Each has positive and negative aspects

- I would say if you need a good GPA, definitely go to Penn. HarvardX has a reputation as a GPA damager.

- If you already have a high GPA and need mainly MCAT prep and mastery of the subject matter, then go to HarvardX but be prepared for your GPA to drop.

- Penn is in a sh*tty neighborhood but the parties on campus are awesome. HarvardX is in a pleasant neighborhood but the social life is near zero.

- HUP (Hosp of the U of PA) is where you will volunteer at Penn and SEPTA provides convenient access to other hospitals. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities in West Philly. Many hospitals in the Boston area.

- If you're Jewish, definitely go to Penn - you'll make lifelong friends there and Penn Hillel is an awesome place to hang out. Friendships at Penn last forever. HarvardX students are gunners and too busy studying.

- If you're a visible minority, definitely go to Penn.

- Overall, Boston is a much nicer city than Philly. "Philly sucks" is what Penn students say but they miss out on the coolest aspects of Philly like South Street.

- Penn profs give great recommendation letters. HarvardX profs give luke warm letters, especially Wolfgang Rueckner.

- If you have family, you can live on the Main Line and have a great life at Penn. HarvardX classes are brutal, especially Physics, and you'll have little time for social life. Penn students make frequent trips down to Washington DC and NYC and bond better than HarvardX students.

- A Penn education makes Pennsylvania schools like Temple, Jefferson view you favorably. Harvard education does not predispose the Mass schools to view you favorably.

- If you're single, dating life is much better at Penn. Penn is a very small campus. You could meet a hot guy from Wharton. Dating life for HarvardX students is non-existent.

- You can finish quicker at Penn. HarvardX is much slower.

- Summer tuition at HarvardX is very expensive. Otherwise it is inexpensive

- They give personal attention at Penn (they = administrators). HarvardX you are thrown in the pool and swim on your own.

- The quality of education is much better at HarvardX than at Penn.

- The odds of getting into med school after Penn are higher than getting in after HarvardX because of the GPA damage factor at HarvardX.

- The rest of the campus at Penn looks at you as a potential doctor, so dating opportunities are great and you also make more friends. At HarvardX, the rest of Harvard resents you and treats you like a second class citizen.

For me, since I am an engineer, with MIT next door and since money is a constraint, HarvardX is a better choice. But look at the above and decide for yourself. If money wasn't a constraint, I would have chosen Penn. But I will be at HarvardX in the Fall.
 
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Ignore everything TexasM said about Upenn...

Ask someone who actually went there for a post-bac, not someone who is doing research and is actually very wrong about most things they wrote about this program
 
robflanker said:
Ignore everything TexasM said about Upenn...

Ask someone who actually went there for a post-bac, not someone who is doing research and is actually very wrong about most things they wrote about this program
Click to expand...

I worked at Penn with Jim Fine in the International Office for 3 years and hung out at the Quad for all three years. I don't need to "research" Penn. I lived on Spruce Street and later on Chestnut and have been robbed twice. How often have you been robbed in West Philly? And later, for 2 years, I worked at HUP during the day in ER and at night, took an evening class at Penn twice a week, drove Penn escort vans and worked as a walking escort. Which means, if you needed to get home, I would be the one who drove you and waited until you opened the door of your home if I was driving the van and if you lived past 42nd Street {we dropped people off only if they lived past 42nd Street}. And depending on the day of the week, I would walk with you from the Van Pelt library to wherever you wanted to go, if you felt unsafe walking alone. If you called 898-INFO at Penn, I was the one answering the phones my second year there. But I don't want to debate with you. Or with anyone on this forum henceforth.
 
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You did not do the post-bac program, and apparently from your previous posts you went to community college in TX, so which is it?

Anyways, I will not bicker with you in threads but I want to point out you are wrong about most things in your post and hope that any student considering Penn - ignore your post, and read the upenn thread.
 
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Anyone else suspicious of that "nomorelawyer" account above? I guarantee you it's not that girl.
And this thread is so old, look at the date. I have a strong suspicion it's also texasm that used the girl avatar to get more responses and I also think he revived this thread just to post that long winded bull**** post for whatever reason.

Texasm is trolling this postbac section hard and should be ignored.

Also notice nomorelawyer has only 3 posts AND texasm's long ass response was only an hour after nomorelawyer revived this thread.
 
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Actually, after connecting some dots I think I might know who it is. I wish I could do an IP check.
 
sorry smiley, i don't know who you think i am, or why i'd want to manipulate this post, but i don't have any motives other than to get some advice on this thread's topic. so if you have anything to contribute, it would be appreciated.
 
robflanker said:
Ignore everything TexasM said about Upenn...

Ask someone who actually went there for a post-bac, not someone who is doing research and is actually very wrong about most things they wrote about this program
Click to expand...

Ignore everything TexasM said about Harvard Extension as well. How can someone who has never gone to HES speak about its professors and its culture?
 
I know who it is, and I know his primary account. AND he knows that I figured it out. Pathetic.
 
texasm said:
Each has positive and negative aspects

- I would say if you need a good GPA, definitely go to Penn. HarvardX has a reputation as a GPA damager.

- If you already have a high GPA and need mainly MCAT prep and mastery of the subject matter, then go to HarvardX but be prepared for your GPA to drop.

- Penn is in a sh*tty neighborhood but the parties on campus are awesome. HarvardX is in a pleasant neighborhood but the social life is near zero.

- HUP (Hosp of the U of PA) is where you will volunteer at Penn and SEPTA provides convenient access to other hospitals. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities in West Philly. Many hospitals in the Boston area.

- If you're Jewish, definitely go to Penn - you'll make lifelong friends there and Penn Hillel is an awesome place to hang out. Friendships at Penn last forever. HarvardX students are gunners and too busy studying.

- If you're a visible minority, definitely go to Penn.

- Overall, Boston is a much nicer city than Philly. "Philly sucks" is what Penn students say but they miss out on the coolest aspects of Philly like South Street.

- Penn profs give great recommendation letters. HarvardX profs give luke warm letters, especially Wolfgang Rueckner.

- If you have family, you can live on the Main Line and have a great life at Penn. HarvardX classes are brutal, especially Physics, and you'll have little time for social life. Penn students make frequent trips down to Washington DC and NYC and bond better than HarvardX students.

- A Penn education makes Pennsylvania schools like Temple, Jefferson view you favorably. Harvard education does not predispose the Mass schools to view you favorably.

- If you're single, dating life is much better at Penn. Penn is a very small campus. You could meet a hot guy from Wharton. Dating life for HarvardX students is non-existent.

- You can finish quicker at Penn. HarvardX is much slower.

- Summer tuition at HarvardX is very expensive. Otherwise it is inexpensive

- They give personal attention at Penn (they = administrators). HarvardX you are thrown in the pool and swim on your own.

- The quality of education is much better at HarvardX than at Penn.

- The odds of getting into med school after Penn are higher than getting in after HarvardX because of the GPA damage factor at HarvardX.

- The rest of the campus at Penn looks at you as a potential doctor, so dating opportunities are great and you also make more friends. At HarvardX, the rest of Harvard resents you and treats you like a second class citizen.

For me, since I am an engineer, with MIT next door and since money is a constraint, HarvardX is a better choice. But look at the above and decide for yourself. If money wasn't a constraint, I would have chosen Penn. But I will be at HarvardX in the Fall.
Click to expand...


I know the OP personally, and he's already made his decision. I don't see the point of you necroing this thread other than to troll and list a bunch of half-truths.
HX is not going to damage your GPA unless you allow it to, just like any other program. It's a matter of you putting in the work. By your definition, I am a gunner, but only if a gunner is defined as someone who gets an A. If we go by the normal definition of a gunner as someone who will trample over their classmates if that would make the difference in getting a good grade, then you've chosen the wrong program. There's no curve here. Cooperation is openly fostered.

Of course, you not knowing any of this is no surprise since you've never actually been here, and frankly, I find it hard to believe you've even done any research regarding the program.

After threatening someone with physical harm and lying repeatedly to people whom you don't even know, it doesn't take an adcom to tell you that right now medicine is probably not the career for you.

If you want to go into medicine, or really any other profession, you need get your act together and grow up.
 
Smiley27, You really need to stop accusing other people of being me. It is pathetic how you think anyone who indicates that they either are in law school or are currently an attorney is ME. Nomorelawyer is just trying to get some solid advice, so I recommend you either offer her some on point or leave her alone. Your actions are childish.

Nomorelawyer, Don't pay any attention to what Smiley27 says. This isnt the first time he has made the mistake of thinking someone else is me. See link: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=837701
 
I'm so relieved that guy got banned (or at least one of his potential aliases). Hope the IP is soon banned too. If it smells like a fish, it probably is.
 
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Jennet, love how you imply i am an imposter and then remove the comment before i have a chance to respond.
 
Smiler said:
Smiley27, You really need to stop accusing other people of being me. It is pathetic how you think anyone who indicates that they either are in law school or are currently an attorney is ME. Nomorelawyer is just trying to get some solid advice, so I recommend you either offer her some on point or leave her alone. Your actions are childish.

Nomorelawyer, Don't pay any attention to what Smiley27 says. This isnt the first time he has made the mistake of thinking someone else is me. See link: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=837701
Click to expand...





that's pretty entertaining. thanks for the vote of confidence.
 
Richie, seriously man. I know it's you. You gave it away. Stop ****ing talking to yourself on here with your other accounts it's just making you look more pathetic. I know more about you than you probably think I do and you gave it away.

Tracy and I caught you in so many lies we lost count. You have a problem DOOD, seriously.
 
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smiley27 said:
Richie, seriously man. I know it's you. You gave it away. Stop ****ing talking to yourself on here with your other accounts it's just making you look more pathetic. I know more about you than you probably think I do and you gave it away.

Tracy and I caught you in so many lies we lost count. You have a problem DOOD, seriously.
Click to expand...

This is the most depressing thing I've heard all day.
 
aSagacious said:
I have no interest in HES, or any prior history with the program... but I must say this thread is like a soap opera!

:corny:
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing. It's like Oprah after she gained the weight back. :laugh:
 
This whole convo is pathetic.
 
How is this convo pathetic? If anyone is pathetic it is smiley27 and jennet. The OP was just looking for advice and you guys just want to prove that certain people on here have multiple accounts. And what lies are u talking about, smiley?
 
first of all, smiler, how do you know i was responding to you and why do you care? I didnt quote anyone in my post and i posted after "nomorelawyer." Why would you care what lies i'm talking about if you're not richie right?

Smiler said:
How is this convo pathetic? If anyone is pathetic it is smiley27 and jennet. The OP was just looking for advice and you guys just want to prove that certain people on here have multiple accounts. And what lies are u talking about, smiley?
Click to expand...
 
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What are you talking about? You are making absolutely no sense! Yet again, you have the wrong person. Your anti-Smiler campaign is not working. I find it hilarious how you jump to conclusions and act like I am some other person from Philly. You are ruining this forum with your CRAZY rants about rent and bounced checks. Stop harassing people, please!
 
Smiler, you didn't respond to my question. Why do you care what lies they are when I didn't even mention you in my post. I specifically mentioned richie and tracy, real life names.

2months ago you made a thread saying you're going to start a post a postbac, which you should be in now. Last month you start a thread saying youre a 2l in law school and wont start a postbac until 3 years from now. . A couple weeks later you start a thread saying youre finishing up your 3rd year of ls and i called you out on the discrepancy. All you responded with was "oops my bad, meant 2nd year" or something flaky like that.
I knew you were a troll from those threads, other people were apparently getting fed up with your posts and attitude also.

I really dont care anymore and i wouldve stopped posting but for some reason smiler had to come out of left field and drag this out. I wasted too much time posting here. The take away message is that the long post texasm posted above is conplete BS and should not be taken seriously.
 
Smiley27, You are out of your mind!!!!! Way to ruin this thread.
 
Nomorelawyer, if the picture is really you, then you are stunningly pretty - and look quite like someone I knew. Jennet, no, you're not a banana. You're the biggest drama queen on this forum.
 
Jennet said:
I'm so relieved that guy got banned (or at least one of his potential aliases). Hope the IP is soon banned too. If it smells like a fish, it probably is.
Click to expand...

I checked what TexasM has posted. Everything he or she said is within the boundaries of free expression of ideas. And my HES friends tell me you've been telling the moderators to ban his ISP??? Are you from one of the countries that suppresses free and open expression of ideas? (That is just a rhetorical question because my friends from HES have told me who you are). Banning an ISP is a very serious decision - you are hurting that student's medical career by depriving him or her of valuable information on SDN. If you have a problem with someone over email - and I am told you're making it all up - complain it to the email provider and let the email provider take action. Don't carry any disputes over to this forum. Of course, in your case, you're making it all up.

Incidentally, banning someone's ISP is not likely to help if a person is internet savvy. The person will just use a proxy that changes his ISP, get another account and continue to post. You know there is an ignore list. If you don't like someone's views, just add the person to your ignore list. Grow up and stop being such a drama queen.
 
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mmmdddd said:
Banning an ISP is a very serious decision - you are hurting that student's medical career by depriving him or her of valuable information on SDN.
Click to expand...
I think you are seriously overstating SDN. People get into medical school without it, you know? TexasM got what he/she deserved IMO

I think it would be best if this thread was just locked. The combination of TexasM and the rather feverant "outting" people is getting a bit ridiculous.
 
robflanker said:
I think you are seriously overstating SDN. People get into medical school without it, you know? TexasM got what he/she deserved IMO

I think it would be best if this thread was just locked. The combination of TexasM and the rather feverant "outting" people is getting a bit ridiculous.
Click to expand...

I don't care if TexasM was banned or his ISP was blocked but I hate people who advocate action against others who are trying to get into medical school and go running to the moderators asking them to ban someone's ISP.

I think you underestimate the benefits of SDN. And you think someone's ISP needs to be banned just because they praised a school you seem to hate? Maybe Penn is worth hating but TexasM made about 20 points in his post there. You need to specify what you disagree with him or her. Do you disagree with "Penn is in a bad neighborhood" or do you disagree with "Penn Hillel is an awesome place to hang out" or do you not agree with "Penn is a small campus" or what is about his post that you disagree with and why instead of just being glad that he or she was banned.
 
haha just to poke the bear, sounds like mmmdddd could be texasm reincarnate 😛

But seriously guys, let's play nice.
 
SisterDisco08 said:
haha just to poke the bear, sounds like mmmdddd could be texasm reincarnate 😛

But seriously guys, let's play nice.
Click to expand...

You guys are totally paranoid and insane. Texasm can go to hell for all I care. I am mad because a bitch like Jenna (Jennet) had me banned from the forum a while ago.
 
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This is ridiculous. It's a professional forum, not a high school gossip contest. Locking this thread. This is a final warning to everyone here to stop engaging each other if it cannot be civil. Ignore lists are here for a reason. Closing.
 
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