Post bacc. at state school? Retake classes?

[CoolRunnings]

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I still have to take Organic 2 and Bio. 2, and am going to do so at a post-bacc. program (just graduated from Emory). I would also like to take biochem. and another upper level bio. class. I will then study for and take the MCAT in the spring and apply in summer 2010.

I can either do my post-bacc. at the Harvard Extension School, or a public school in my home state (FSU). The first option is obviously a little more prestigious, but would cost a lot more. If I were to go to FSU I would live rent free and would not be pressured to find a paying job (I could focus on finding a job that would best bolster my application). This option would save me about $16,000 for the year in rent/food/tuition. Basically, my question is does the prestige factor matter in this case, or would it be more wise to take the free tuition and focus on ECs (the assumption being I will get A's in all my classes...). I could also take Orgo 2 and Bio 2 in the fall at FSU and therefore have more free time to study for the MCAT in the spring.

Also, someone told me I might consider retaking Organic 1 (as I got a B-), and maybe Biology 1 (got a B) for MCAT purposes as well as continuity when I take the 2nd class in the sequence. But then another advisor has told me not to worry about retaking them, and instead take more advanced bio/chem. classes to show med. schools I can handle the material (rather than retaking). If I were to retake all these I could do a 2 year post-bacc. program and boost my gpa up to above a 3.6 and get a lot more good experiences, but at the expense of a whole year. At the age of 23, I'm not sure I want to do that, but if it would make the difference between a good application and a great application then I may be willing.

Thanks

 

[bashir]

I too got a B- in organic I and needed to take organic II several years later as a post-bacc. I figured I'd just hop into organic II no problem. Thinking about it makes me laugh now. I lasted less than a week in organic II before coming to terms with the fact that I didn't remember nearly enough of organic I to be successful in II. I was lucky enough to get into organic I that same semester and it didn't throw me too much off track. Moral of the story: you need a really solid, and preferably recent foundation in organic I to get through organic II. If you don't have it, you're setting yourself up for failure. The opportunity to average that B- with an A is just a bonus.

 

[ren12ay]

I have the same dilemma, I went to FIU but I can do it at my other state school FAU (FIU wont allow me to), go to Harvard Extention school or go to another major post bacc program. I need all the classes I was a criminal justice major wanted to go to law school still studying for the LSAT but deciding for a change.

 

[CoolWhipp]

I tend to do things for the life experience. I'll never live in Massachusetts. You might meet some great people, teachers, and mentors (it's Harvard!). You get to experience life in another state, it'll be exciting and productive. Depends on what the experience might be worth to you, I suppose.