Postbac at Univ of Penn

[Alvarez13]

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does anyone know anything about the upenn postbacc special sciences program...not the post bacc lacking pre-reqs, what is the matriculation rate of the special science students, is the program selective (i have a 3.44 and taking mcat april), and whats the curriculum like, is there a thesis invovled?

I don't think there's any type of thesis involved. The program is mainly for ppl with the basic sciences already done and then they take a bunch of advanced courses to boost their GPA and make their application look better. Since I'm only missing a year of organic chem, I applied for this one about 2 weeks ago and am still waiting to hear. I think the same rules with linkages and committee letters also apply (you just need to take 6 classes or so).

Also, if you want to apply for the spring, do it fast. The final deadline is Nov 15.

 

[Alvarez13]

Looks like they may be sending out invites now (finally!). I have an interview this Friday! Good luck all.

 

[Phenol312]

Is it too late for me to apply to the special sciences program?

 

[schaumbb]

Can anyone speak to the success of students in the program linking to different medical schools? How many students actualy choose to partake in the linkage agreement, and what, if any, preference do medical schools in the area give to succesful post bac students? Appreciate any answers. Thanks

 

[aaj117]

Is it too late for me to apply to the special sciences program?

if you do miss it, see if you can still apply to just the CGS (college of general studies) post-bacc. It's informal, you can take whatever courses you want. i take biochem with all special science people, but i don't have to pay as many fees as they do and i get to take anthro courses 🙂 The only thing you really miss out on is having an advisor/committee letter.

 

[camshaft]

Ugh. I went to penn ugrad meaning I can do the informal special sciences style replica year without having to apply for anything. I plan on applying to drexel's postbac next year after I take the mcats.

The first grade just showed up on my transcript today though - a C in biochem. I don't know how it happened, especially since we haven't been told our final exam grades. I feel sick to my stomach, and want to cry (even though I'm a guy). I can only hope that getting a C in one of the 9 or 10 classes I'll be taking won't totally screw me over from getting into the drexel program. Just needed to let that out. 🙁

 

[mchhuang]

anyone going to start this spring??

Do I need my car over there?

 

[fireflygirl]

I am a current post-bac at Penn and have been here for 3 years. I am finishing up and will be matriculating to med school in the August 2008. I have quite a bit of experience here from the good to the ugly so PM me if you need any advice or have any questions. Sorry I am a bit late to this post but I figured if anyone in the future had questions about the program, I can tell you everything! And I don't necessarily agree with some of the other posts that say if you get in, you should come. There have been a lot of administrative changes here for the worse that make me realise that if I could do it again, I would think twice about coming.

And mchhuang, you don't necessarily need your car here - it depends on where you live. If you are going to live in an apt complex, they may offer you parking but it won't be free so figure out if you really need it. I would only suggest keeping it if you are going to be living outside of Philly where it is easier and cheaper to keep one.

 

[plutocomeback]

Hey guys,

Question about the RWJ linkage in the Special Sciences program...I'm assuming when they say you need a 3.6 GPA it is talking about the overall GPA from undergrad, and not just your post-bacc GPA?

 

[Lokhtar]

Hey guys,

Question about the RWJ linkage in the Special Sciences program...I'm assuming when they say you need a 3.6 GPA it is talking about the overall GPA from undergrad, and not just your post-bacc GPA?

I am wondering the same thing?

 

[aaj117]

Ugh. I went to penn ugrad meaning I can do the informal special sciences style replica year without having to apply for anything. I plan on applying to drexel's postbac next year after I take the mcats.

The first grade just showed up on my transcript today though - a C in biochem. I don't know how it happened, especially since we haven't been told our final exam grades. I feel sick to my stomach, and want to cry (even though I'm a guy). I can only hope that getting a C in one of the 9 or 10 classes I'll be taking won't totally screw me over from getting into the drexel program. Just needed to let that out. 🙁

were we in the same biochem class? Did you have Shetzline on tuesday nights?

 

[riceman04]

were we in the same biochem class? Did you have Shetzline on tuesday nights?

hahahahaha

good ol' bios 402....All I ever heard was complaints about that class. I never took it b/c I took all the biochem I will ever need before I matriculated into the program at penn

 

[Lokhtar]

hahahahaha

good ol' bios 402....All I ever heard was complaints about that class. I never took it b/c I took all the biochem I will ever need before I matriculated into the program at penn

were we in the same biochem class? Did you have Shetzline on tuesday nights?

Which sciences courses do you recommend for people in the Special Science program?

 

[fireflygirl]

Which sciences courses do you recommend for people in the Special Science program?

Biochem, Genetics, Histology, Fluids, Infectious Diseases, Immunobiology, Neuroanatomy, or any of the BBB courses.

 

[Lokhtar]

What does BBB mean?

 

[fireflygirl]

What does BBB mean?

BBB is the Biological Basis of Behavoir Courses which are all neuro based. Check out the website: http://www.psych.upenn.edu/bbb/BBBCourses.htm All the courses contribute as Bio courses towards your BCPM and they are interesting courses and most of them are fairly easy to get through and do well in.

 

[camshaft]

were we in the same biochem class? Did you have Shetzline on tuesday nights?

hahahahaha

good ol' bios 402....All I ever heard was complaints about that class. I never took it b/c I took all the biochem I will ever need before I matriculated into the program at penn

Hey aaj, I was in that class too. I got a B in Shetzline's class though. The C was in Loudon's cell bio/biochem class which was actually a prereq for Shetzline's class. He bumped it up to a C+ for me since I was on the edge though. I got an A in physics, so fortunately it only pulled that semester gpa down to a 3.23.