postbac programs

[rcmonkeypie]

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HI, everyone:

I am thinking about postbac program just in case I miss the cut this year. Part of the reason is that my gpa is on the low end. Part of the reason is I have been out of school for a while. I wonder if anyone in this board had attended postbac programs? What kind of program or where is the program? Do those programs really give me advatages comparing to If I just take more community college science courses on my own? Thanks for your input.

 

[FMLizard]

How hard are post-bacc programs to get into? If I take one, it is as a first-timer, with no sciences. I want something quick and relatively cheap that will get the job done.

 

[mcataz]

I'm attending a post-bac program at Midwestern University in Glendale(Phoenix), Arizona. I love it. I have learned a lot and the teaching is amazing. Yah-E also attended Midwestern. Dentalvibe is a classmate. Hopefully, I'll be the second person to attend dental school from Midwestern's post-bac. If you want any information, private message me. There is still time to enter the Fall of 2003 class. I know the admissions director of the program.

The only catch is that the program is expensive at 4.5 K per quarter. 3 quarters make up a year. But I have known people who have graduated from our program in 3-4 quarters. They earned a second bachelors degree in biomedical sciences. It's also a sure thing if you wouldn't mind starting medical school as a backup However, dental school is my passion.

They definitely give you an edge over CC. The courses at Midwestern are classes you can't even take at a community college and most 4 year colleges since many of the medical school staff teach classes. For example, our anatomy class is done on corpses just like medical school. We aren't taught anatomy on models like at most universities. That's the advantage we have since we have access to the gross lab at the medical school. In addition, the anatomy teacher for the DO's also teaches our programs and she tests us in the exact same manner. Our physiology course is taught like a med school class also.

CC is really only for people who had a high GPA in undergrad and they just need to get the pre-req's out of the way. But CC is not good if you are trying to get an admissions committee to overlook your previous grades. Besides, there is only so many classes you can take at CC such Orgo, Phyiscs and Gen. Biology for the most part.

 

[FMLizard]

I do have good undergrad grades (3.5 with straight 4.0s the past 3 semesters), so the CC may be a decent option for a lot of it.

Your private post-bacc is cheaper than my undergrad state school. That isn't bad at all.

 

[grant555]

Hello,

I think post bacc programs are a great idea. Perhaps, they are the best idea and are better than community college courses. For one, some post bacc programs are linked with dental schools if not directly conducted by them and admission to the dental school may be automatic if satisfactory progress is made through the post bacc program. How great is that? In fact, I have a list of some of them on my website www.blackdentaledge.com Just click the page link that says post bacc and other admission programs. Please feel free to email any questions about post pacc or the website. Have a great day.

 

[w3chen99]

There is a really good Post-bacc program at Cal State University, Fullerton (in Ca). It is not expensive (like the one at Columbia) and it not hard to get into. The reason I mention this is that I had a cousin that is going to a post-bac program in Columbia and is paying an arm and a leg. Even if you do well in their program, it doesn't mean you're guaranteed anywhere. I can understand paying a little more to be in a program where you would be guaranteeed a spot if you do well, but for the most part, most programs don't guaranteee anything.

In regards to CSU Fullerton, once you get in, you have to take a grueling science course and if you get a good GPA there, they will write you a really good committee letter of recommendation from 12 faculty from the school (2-3 page detailed recommendation). They have been extremely successful in getting students at their post-bac program to the medical and dental schools in the UC system.

 

[BiOGoly]

Originally posted by mcataz

The only catch is that the program is expensive at 4.5 K per quarter. 3 quarters make up a year. But I have known people who have graduated from our program in 3-4 quarters. They earned a second bachelors degree in biomedical sciences. It's also a sure thing if you wouldn't mind starting medical school as a backup However, dental school is my passion.

Hi mcataz,

I was wondering just how much attending the biomed postbac at Midwestern helps in admission to the DO program. Obviously nothing is ever guanteed, but do you think they would be more likely to admit a student having done well in the post bac program, vs. say having a masters degree in a biology? I have some poor early undergrad grades, although my GPA over the last 130 credits has been a 3.8, leaving me with a 3.2 overall (3.5 science). So I was considering grad school before applying into any programs, reasoning that I'd have more to show for it in the end (a masters) vs. just another bacc degree. But if they weigh their bacc significantly, it would be nice to save that extra year 🙂

 

[mcataz]

Yes, definitely. I originally signed up for this program for the intention of enrolling in their DO program. If I wanted to enter their DO program, I'm virtually guaranteed a spot. One year, 8 members of our program, applied to DO school and 7 matriculated. One person changed his mind at the last second and decided not to go.

They won't guarantee anything in writing but it does significantly help your chances. You still have to score decent on the MCAT like 24 + and you need to keep a GPA of 3.5 or higher in our program which is challenging but definitely fair.

It gives you an edge because you are taught by many of the same medical school professors. The faculty member who is also head of the admissions committee teaches biochem. Also, it gives you an opportunity to shmooze with the dean and people like that. I definitely recommend it. If you want contact info, PM me.

I think another reason to enter this program is that gives you exposure to medical school and medicine in general. I'm totally focused toward dental school after being exposed to medical school. I don't think medical school is harder per say but it's not something I would enjoy. In fact, I don't think medical school is that bad at all. It doesn't seem like they kill you at Midwestern. I think dentistry would be more difficult because you have to learn dental skills in addition to basic sciences which can be grueling.

 

[redicon1]

I did post-bac work at the Harvard Extension School. Courses are in the evenings and cost between $500-700 for a four credit course. They will also write a committee letter for you if you have a high GPA and take a certain number of science courses. For my dental school application I had two of my professors from the post-bac program write me LOR's and they were genuinely helpful.

 

[purpletulipa]

What type of GPA did you have to get into the Harvard Extension School? My problem is I am trying to raise my GPA and a lot of post bac programs are for people who haven't had any science or who have a 3.0 or above.
Thanks!

 

[savvysearch]

to w3chen99:

at Cal Fullerton, what is the post-bac program called? It is not the same as a masters, correct? It is a non-degree program? Any details about the program would be helpful. thanks.