Post Bacc Programs - HELP!

[Graduatedly]

Hi everyone -

I was wondering if anyone has any experience or success with Post Bacc programs (or knows of someone). I'm having a hard time deciding whether I should attend Columbia University or Stony Brook (a pretty good state school with a solid science program). Below are just a few questions I had that I hope some of you could answer:

1. How important is the "brand name" of the school when applying to vet schools?
2. Is a coterie of pre-vet classmates helpful in your endeavors?
3. How important was advising in your experience? Do committee letters matter a lot?

Columbia is going to cost me a total of ~$75k, whereas Stony is 1/3 of the price. What would you do?

Thanks for your help - I really appreciate it!

 

[BQ2009]

I briefly looked into getting a Post-Bacc but I was told a master's non-thesis route would be a better idea. I finished my undergrad at Texas A&M, and looked into getting my post-bacc there and then vet school. At least here in Texas, it seems they prefer people that completed their undergrad or masters at A&M , since alot of those classes are taught by the same professors in vet school. Masters programs are more advanced than a post-bacc level and could better prepare you for vet school. I'm guessing you're looking into getting a post-bacc to gather more experience/preparation for vet school or raise your GPA? Although I can't answer your questions, my suggestion would be to look into masters non-thesis options, if they exist, at the vet schools you're looking into applying.

 

[Graduatedly]

Interesting ... could you tell me if a master's non-thesis requires previous science background? I went to business school for ugrad, so I'm afraid I won't be able to apply for such programs.

Have you applied for the program?

 

[VeganSoprano]

Unless you are independently wealthy, go to Stony Brook. You will necessarily incur a boatload of debt for vet school. There's no need to incur more debt than necessary for postbacc work. Adcoms do understand these things.

 

[IthacaIsGorges]

Unless you are independently wealthy, go to Stony Brook. You will necessarily incur a boatload of debt for vet school. There's no need to incur more debt than necessary for postbacc work. Adcoms do understand these things.

Agreed. I was in your position 2 years ago and called vet schools to see if I should pay for Columbia's post bacc program or go to my SUNY school to get the pre-reqs and they said go to the SUNY, no need to pay for Columbia so I did. (I too was a business undergrad)

 

[BQ2009]

Interesting ... could you tell me if a master's non-thesis requires previous science background? I went to business school for ugrad, so I'm afraid I won't be able to apply for such programs.

Have you applied for the program?

I would check with the school you'd be applying to but most likely no, you wouldn't need a science background.

I will be finishing my masters this May. My program is only 32 hours, so 3 semesters. But since it was in the same college I completed undergrad, this master's degree has really felt like an extension to my bachelors. Depending on how advanced your science coursework has been, you need to decide if you are ready for a masters or maybe get a post-bacc in a science degree before moving on to a masters. Sure, its alot of semesters of prepwork, but if vet school is what you really want to do, its definitely worth it

 

[david594]

Hi everyone -

I was wondering if anyone has any experience or success with Post Bacc programs (or knows of someone). I'm having a hard time deciding whether I should attend Columbia University or Stony Brook (a pretty good state school with a solid science program). Below are just a few questions I had that I hope some of you could answer:

[/B]Thanks for your help - I really appreciate it!

The bigger question is why are you looking to do a "Post Bacc" program. If its because you took all the science pre-reqs but didnt do stellar and are looking to improve your grades, then its what you actually want. If you still have the majority of your pre-reqs to take, I would highly recommend you looking into doing a second bachelors degree with any local college.

You basically are just applying to be an undergraduate student again. Once you get in, you usually have a sort of super-senior status with all your already accumulated credits, so you end up with first dibs when it comes to registering for classes. You can usually do this at almost any school and can potentially save a bunch of money by going this route.

 

[Chinola]

I'm not a post bacc but I can respond to question #3 in that vet schools do not want committee letters. You just need to have a good relationship with one or two of your professors so that they can write you recommendation letters. I don't think it matters if the professors teach at Columbia or SUNY Stony Brook.

 

[NStarz]

I'm not a post bacc but I can respond to question #3 in that vet schools do not want committee letters. You just need to have a good relationship with one or two of your professors so that they can write you recommendation letters. I don't think it matters if the professors teach at Columbia or SUNY Stony Brook.

Hmm, just wanted to confirm this...do vet schools not want ANY committee letters or they just don't prefer them over single letters? My committee at my school is pretty adamant that they write a letter if you are applying to a professional school (and I know it is looked down in medical school admissions if your school offers a letter-writing service and you don't use it).

 

[Chinola]

Hmm, just wanted to confirm this...do vet schools not want ANY committee letters or they just don't prefer them over single letters? My committee at my school is pretty adamant that they write a letter if you are applying to a professional school (and I know it is looked down in medical school admissions if your school offers a letter-writing service and you don't use it).

I could be wrong (someone on here correct me if I am!) but I remember at least some schools (if not all) saying that they wouldn't even accept a committee letter in place of a personal recommendation letter. I was under the impression that vet schools don't do committee letters. I can tell you that none of the pre-vets at the college I went to undergrad at have committee letters written.

I didn't even open up a file in the pre-med office because it is known that it's useless for pre-vets to do so (at least at my school!).

Anyone with more facts want to back this up?

 

[Graduatedly]

Agreed. I was in your position 2 years ago and called vet schools to see if I should pay for Columbia's post bacc program or go to my SUNY school to get the pre-reqs and they said go to the SUNY, no need to pay for Columbia so I did. (I too was a business undergrad)

Interesting! I actually visited Stony today I think I'm leaning more towards going there for many reasons. The only problem is trying to find housing for me and my pup

The bigger question is why are you looking to do a "Post Bacc" program. If its because you took all the science pre-reqs but didnt do stellar and are looking to improve your grades, then its what you actually want. ...You basically are just applying to be an undergraduate student again. Once you get in, you usually have a sort of super-senior status with all your already accumulated credits, so you end up with first dibs when it comes to registering for classes. You can usually do this at almost any school and can potentially save a bunch of money by going this route.

Super-senior ... how I dread the term! I'm pretty much going in without any science experience except for courses taken in HS. I was going to go for a second degree at a local college, but the school definitely was not of great quality.


BTW - I really appreciate all of your input in this!