Post-Bacc at 3 different schools?

[Nerdeka]

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So I'm debating between 3 schools for my post-bacc and want some insight.

The first is a community college and I'm pretty sure I will be taking a few classes there because I live right by the school and I can probably fit in a few science classes into whatever schedule I will have at the other two.

The second is a public 4-year but the location sucks for me and tuition is slightly more than the next one. It has a way better reputation and a med school.

The third is a public 4-year and the location is great and tuition is less. This school has a terrible reputation, especially not known for science. Also has a graduation rate of 15%. I'm worried that my grades here won't hold as much weight as the other two.

Which should I apply to as a non-degree seeking student?

 

[darkjedi]

Unless the school has a reputable structured post-bac program with linkages, it doesn't matter a ton where you go. See if you can find any information about their history of getting people into med school and start from there. The more people they've sent in the past, the more likely the administration/departments are able to help you with applying to med school.

 

[Citygirl44]

Go to the 4 yr college that you feel that you will definitely get all A's in.
Some med schools prefer 4 yr schools over CC but I don't think they care which 4 yr school the classes are from.

 

[Nerdeka]

Unless the school has a reputable structured post-bac program with linkages, it doesn't matter a ton where you go. See if you can find any information about their history of getting people into med school and start from there. The more people they've sent in the past, the more likely the administration/departments are able to help you with applying to med school.

I will do so when I go to visit the better 4-year.
It doesn't matter even if the school has a 15% grad rate? All that matters is that it's a 4-year? I feel uneasy going to that one because it has a lot of the same classes as the CC (as in, you can be enrolled at the CC and take it at the university). But it is more convient.

 

[Nerdeka]

Go to the 4 yr college that you feel that you will definitely get all A's in.
Some med schools prefer 4 yr schools over CC but I don't think they care which 4 yr school the classes are from.

Ahh I hope so. 🙂

 

[Nerdeka]

4 year over CC is generally better. And as stated previously, with no formal postbacc/linkages, it may not matter much which one

Even with a 15 percent graduation rate? I think that says a lot about the school/how easy it would be.

 

[prehealthadvisor55]

Ditto the 4 year over CC sentiments.

 

[Nerdeka]

Ditto the 4 year over CC sentiments.

The CC I am doing a few classes, but I don't know which state school to choose. I think it's a bit ridiculous a ****ty state school with a 15% grad year is "better" than the CC here when I'm sure the professors/education is better. But oh well.

 

[JMULZ]

Go to a program with a pipeline arrangement. Then you don't have to worry about appearances.... Meet the requirements, and you're going to med school

 

[Nerdeka]

Go to a program with a pipeline arrangement. Then you don't have to worry about appearances.... Meet the requirements, and you're going to med school

As in an SMP? Those are expensive and I already have enough undergrad loans. I'd rather retake + take more science classes and go DO.

 

[JMULZ]

Sorry, I don't know what an smp is. I paid normal tuition at my local university to take about 35 credit hours through their post-bac pre-med program, which amounted to the required prereqs at the university's SOM plus a few other courses. So it wasn't anymore expensive than if I had just taken courses independently, but it did come with guaranteed acceptance (provided I met the gpa/mcat benchmarks).

 

[Nerdeka]

Sorry, I don't know what an smp is. I paid normal tuition at my local university to take about 35 credit hours through their post-bac pre-med program, which amounted to the required prereqs at the university's SOM plus a few other courses. So it wasn't anymore expensive than if I had just taken courses independently, but it did come with guaranteed acceptance (provided I met the gpa/mcat benchmarks).

That's amazing! I need to look into it. Did you have to take certain classes or did you choose?

 

[Nerdeka]

Here is what I'm debating between: UIC vs Northeastern Illinois. I do not believe UIC has a linkage. :/

 

[JMULZ]

I had to take the courses required at my university's medical school, nothing more nothing less. I chose to take a few extras in order to apply to other schools. Basically, any school that still has prereqs, and not all do these days, requires what we took, i.e. 1 year pf biology, physics, gen chem, and o-chem, with labs. I pay normal per-credit tuition, but also get my textbooks for free through a group exchange and get a free kaplan mcat course. I loved the program, even though I'm probably not going to take advantage of the guaranteed acceptance because I'd like to finally leave my home state. But if you're a strong student with a solid non-academic resume, don't sweat the linkages. Some schools look very favorably upon non-traditional students with job experience. On the other hand, if you feel that you're a borderline student and are worried about taking the risk of leaving a career to go back to school, guaranteed acceptance is the way to go. It's competitive to get in, but from there just keep mostly A's and do decent on the mcat.

 

[Nerdeka]

I had to take the courses required at my university's medical school, nothing more nothing less. I chose to take a few extras in order to apply to other schools. Basically, any school that still has prereqs, and not all do these days, requires what we took, i.e. 1 year pf biology, physics, gen chem, and o-chem, with labs. I pay normal per-credit tuition, but also get my textbooks for free through a group exchange and get a free kaplan mcat course. I loved the program, even though I'm probably not going to take advantage of the guaranteed acceptance because I'd like to finally leave my home state. But if you're a strong student with a solid non-academic resume, don't sweat the linkages. Some schools look very favorably upon non-traditional students with job experience. On the other hand, if you feel that you're a borderline student and are worried about taking the risk of leaving a career to go back to school, guaranteed acceptance is the way to go. It's competitive to get in, but from there just keep mostly A's and do decent on the mcat.

Ahhh that sounds like an SMP but less expensive. I'll do so!. 🙂

 

[prehealthadvisor55]

Ahhh that sounds like an SMP but less expensive. I'll do so!. 🙂

And without the actual Master's at the end. But that usually doesn't matter to pre-meds.

 

[Nerdeka]

And without the actual Master's at the end. But that usually doesn't matter to pre-meds.

It doesn't, so is it okay if I do some CC (like 1-2 classes tops) and the rest at a 4-year?

 

[prehealthadvisor55]

It doesn't, so is it okay if I do some CC (like 1-2 classes tops) and the rest at a 4-year?

I would still do them all at a 4-year. At least the schools in my state say that's what they recommend, so that's what I go with. The philosophy here is once at a 4-year, do everything at a 4-year. But other states might be different.

 

[Nerdeka]

I would still do them all at a 4-year. At least the schools in my state say that's what they recommend, so that's what I go with. The philosophy here is once at a 4-year, do everything at a 4-year. But other states might be different.

Okay, sounds good. 😀