Post Bacc-Harvard, Bryn Mawr, UPenn

[BobLJ99]

I am going to apply to the following post bacc programs: Harvard Extension, Bryn Mawr, and UPenn. Can anyone inform me on the numbers for these schools in terms of how many apply versus how many are actually selected. I know Bryn Mawr is very selective and only takes around 75, but was curious as to the number of applicants for each prorgam. I am currently a graduate student in a social work program, which I will graduate from in May. I have two internships in the medical field (one at a dialysis center and my current one at a hospital). I would really appreciate any insight anyone could offer. Thanks!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Pemulis]

Bryn Mawr = very selective. You probably need at least a 3.5 gpa to be competitive, and good SAT or GRE scores. Not sure how many apps they get, but I've heard rumors of about 200+ applicants for the 75 slots. The good things about them is that, once you are in, your odds of completing the program and getting a spot in med school are very hight. The attrition rate is super low (maybe 5 people per year, out of the starting class of 75), and their acceptance rate to med school for those who finish is close to 100%. I was recently accepted into their program, so you can PM me if you have questions about the app process.

If you like Bryn Mawr, you might want to check out Goucher, which I was also recently accepted into. Similar program, but smaller (only like 30 people).

UPenn = moderately selective, from what I've heard. If you have a 3.0 or better, you should stand a good chance of getting in. (Not as familiar w/ their program, though, so I'm not 100% sure about this one).

Harvard = easy admission. Plus, even if you don't get into the program, the courses are open enrollment, so you could still do the curriculum on your own.

The disadvantage of the later two is that the attrition rate is much higher. At BM and Goucher, you'll have a tough time getting in, but once accepted they will really work with you to make sure you get through the program and get into med school. At Penn and Harvard, you won't have as tough a time gaining entry, but once in you will be competing against a lot of other people for grades, attention from the advisers, etc.

Harvard and Penn are still great programs, though, so if they are the right fit for you, you can't go wrong with them.

Good luck.

 

[BobLJ99]

Bryn Mawr = very selective. You probably need at least a 3.5 gpa to be competitive, and good SAT or GRE scores. Not sure how many apps they get, but I've heard rumors of about 200+ applicants for the 75 slots. The good things about them is that, once you are in, your odds of completing the program and getting a spot in med school are very hight. The attrition rate is super low (maybe 5 people per year, out of the starting class of 75), and their acceptance rate to med school for those who finish is close to 100%. I was recently accepted into their program, so you can PM me if you have questions about the app process.

If you like Bryn Mawr, you might want to check out Goucher, which I was also recently accepted into. Similar program, but smaller (only like 30 people).

UPenn = moderately selective, from what I've heard. If you have a 3.0 or better, you should stand a good chance of getting in. (Not as familiar w/ their program, though, so I'm not 100% sure about this one).

Harvard = easy admission. Plus, even if you don't get into the program, the courses are open enrollment, so you could still do the curriculum on your own.

The disadvantage of the later two is that the attrition rate is much higher. At BM and Goucher, you'll have a tough time getting in, but once accepted they will really work with you to make sure you get through the program and get into med school. At Penn and Harvard, you won't have as tough a time gaining entry, but once in you will be competing against a lot of other people for grades, attention from the advisers, etc.

Harvard and Penn are still great programs, though, so if they are the right fit for you, you can't go wrong with them.

Good luck.

Pemulis,

Congratulations on getting into Bryn Mawr. I am thouroughly impressed with Bryn Mawr's program and especially their acceptance rate to medical schools. Bryn Mawr is my first choice of the three programs I listed with Harvard Extension being a close second.

I know Bryn Mawr has very strict selection criteria, which makes me a bit apprehensive about where I would stand in terms of competitiveness in the applicant pool. I took the SAT's over six years ago and my scores were not at all impresive. I also have dealt with some extenuating circumstances (the death of my mother) during the course of my undergrad years, which really effected my academic ability negatively.

However, I have done some things since to offset my poor undergrad performance. I finished my final three semesters of my undergrad years with a 3.5, 3.16, and a 3.75 respectively. I have also been attending a graduate social work program where my gpa has been a 3.92, 4.00, and 4.00 respectively. I have also engaged in independent study, research on quality of life over the past year, working towards submitting my research for publication, and presenting my research at conferences.

I am currently working on preparing a strong personal statement addressing how I have turned my deficits into growth experiences and how the death of both my parents has reinforced my desire to become a physician. My purpose in divulging this long winded response to you is to pose this question: Do you think I have a legitimate shot at Bryn Mawr's premedical program given the set of circumstances I have outlined to you taking into consideration that I have done a great deal to offset my undergrad record?

Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you!

 

[Pemulis]

First off, sorry to hear about your parents. I can relate to that, having lost my father when I was in high school.

In answer to your question: I don't see why not. I have heard of a few people wth lower gpa's (around 3.0) getting into Bryn Mawr, so clearly they don't have a hard and fast rule. At a small program like theirs, they are definitely going to pay a lot of attention to your essay, EC's, and, if you make it that far, your interview. So, I don't think poor SAT scores from half a decade ago should knock you out of the running. Schools know that people change, and post-bac programs almost by definition are looking for people who can show they've grown and matured as they've aged, and who have come to medicine from a more "adult" perspective than the typical undergrad.

In the end of course, Bryn Mawr will make the decision, so your only option is to apply and see what happens. But I think from what you've told me that you have a good chance, especially if you can tell your story convincingly in your essay. (One really cool thing about BM, btw, is that they require two essays for their app, so you really do have a chance to paint a picture of yourself for them).

Good luck, and keep me posted.

 

[erebus77]

One thing you'd better know about Bryn Mawr is that if you can't hack it there, you won't receive the dean's support for medical school. You'll be on your own. Some kids have no recourse but to attend UPenn's post-bacc (special science version) after getting B's at Bryn Mawr because of this fact.

 

[wilson04]

Hi, Erebus et al,
I'm planning on going to Bryn Mawr (just got in) and am curious to know more of how many students each year do not receive the dean's support. Now, I'm planning on 'hacking it' there, but it certainly would be miserable to spend the year at Bryn Mawr without a med school acceptance to show for it. My impression was that if we are accepted and put in the work, we'll get into an MD school. No?
Also, for Bob, I too have heard that it's pretty tough to get into Bryn Mawr (though it's a bit nebulous as to what 'pretty tough' means), but they somehow managed to let me slip through. I didn't have a 3.5 GPA - though at a tough department at a good school - and have done pretty well but not great on the GRE/SAT. Wish you the best of luck, though!

 

[Mags74]

I agree w/ Pemulis. I went to BMC as an undergrad and Penn as a post-bacc -- chiefly b/c I wanted to get free tuition while doing the program and wanted to take the molecular bio courses that BMC did not offer at that time. Looked into many post-bacc programs -- including Columbia and Barnard.

The lower bar schools are incredible programs, but staying in is the challenge. Our gen chem course dropped by over 1/3 by the end of the second exam. Both Harvard & Penn provide a multitude of clinical and basic science research opportunities. They are more appropriate for self-directed folks; however, I received all of the one-on-one advising time that I needed/wanted. The program director is very accessible and provides excellent advice. Good luck!

Trust me, post-bacc courses are cake in comparison w/ the pace of MSI & II. If you can, take anatomy and genetics.

 

[Mags74]

One thing you'd better know about Bryn Mawr is that if you can't hack it there, you won't receive the dean's support for medical school. You'll be on your own. Some kids have no recourse but to attend UPenn's post-bacc (special science version) after getting B's at Bryn Mawr because of this fact.

Just a clarification -- Penn has two post-bacc programs:
(1) Pre-Health -- for those who have not completed their premeds
(2) Special Science -- for those who have completed premeds but need to bolster their math & science gpa.

MANY folks have to go to UPenn after attending the BMC program to obtain critical molecular bio courses during the lag year. Taking molecular bio courses prior to med school significantly strengthened my application and reduced the amt of information that seems new to me during MSI.

Good luck!

 

[edmadison]

Trust me, post-bacc courses are cake in comparison w/ the pace of MSI & II.

I disagree with this, I found the pace of the BMC program very fast. I would say it was very close in difficulty to MSI and MSII. Physics, Biology and Organic Chemistry and 3 labs -- that was a load -- especially Orgo at BMC which is very labor intensive.

Ed

 

[twicetenturns]

Harvard is cheap, and Owen writes killer letters 😀