pre-dent post-bacc

[Darby_O'Gill]

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What would be considered a better way to go, a formal graduate level post bacc 1-year program or an informal undergraduate do-it-yourself post bacc? Do schools really care?

PS. I posted this in the pre-dent cuz the post-bacc forum seems to be mostly pre-meds.

 

[AUG2UAG]

search syracuse hpap

there should be some post-baccs available for non-science people who graduated with a decent gpa to automatically get accepted to d-school if they finish with a B avg

 

[airvent]

From What I heard Dental schools look favorably on formal post bacc programs. However the only one close to me was at a private school with 3X the state school tuition. So I went to the State school and did the informal undergraduate do-it-yourself post bacc.

Just be sure to do well. Make getting high scores a priority.

 

[DICK]

From What I heard Dental schools look favorably on formal post bacc programs. However the only one close to me was at a private school with 3X the state school tuition. So I went to the State school and did the informal undergraduate do-it-yourself post bacc.

Just be sure to do well. Make getting high scores a priority.

What exactly is the difference between DIY post-bacc, and the other one? It's all Greek to me! I ask because I think I'm doing a post-bacc, but how do I know if it's the one the d-schools look favourably upon?

 

[J2AZ]

I graduated in 1998. I went back this past year to take classes before applying. I wanted to brush up on the sciences for the DAT and dental school. All the clases I took were upper division science (300/400) with some cross listed as graduate courses. However, because I took the classes on my own as an undeclared student I was able to list them as undergraduate courses on the AADSAS application. Thus I had no undergrad and grad GPA to confuse the adcoms.

 

[airvent]

What exactly is the difference between DIY post-bacc, and the other one? It's all Greek to me! I ask because I think I'm doing a post-bacc, but how do I know if it's the one the d-schools look favourably upon?

I think post bacc are just organized so that you complete the required courses in a set time. I think they are meant to be full-time course loads. Where as a DYI Post bacc you must deal with schedule conflicts and limited seating. Some schools offer courses only in the spring, so if you miss it you will need to wait until next spring. I went back to my original undergrad, and was able to keep senior status so i had first pick at all the courses i wanted.

Any post bacc will do.

 

[eedna]

i agree with above... i'm in a formal post-bacc program, pay 10x the amount than at the public school, but get all the classes i want, at the times i need because post-bacc's at my school are allowed to register first. it almost feels like a waste of $$ until you realize how hard it is to get into a bio/chem/ochem lab.

 

[JavadiCavity]

I did an informal post-bacc at BYU. I signed up for the classes I wanted, but I was limited to 11 credits/semester. I also had to wait to register until everyone else who was a "regular" student was registered.

After interviewing last cycle, I can tell you that none of the schools even cared. They usually asked me about my accounting degree, but never about my post-bacc education. I've said this before on other threads, but I'll say it again: Schools care about two things--good GPA and a good DAT score. If you've got those two things, you're golden.

Don't waste another minute worrying about what type of post-bacc to enroll in. Just take the pre-reqs. Do really well in them. Ace the DAT. Then sit back and enjoy the ride.

 

[DICK]

I did an informal post-bacc at BYU. I signed up for the classes I wanted, but I was limited to 11 credits/semester. I also had to wait to register until everyone else who was a "regular" student was registered.

After interviewing last cycle, I can tell you that none of the schools even cared. They usually asked me about my accounting degree, but never about my post-bacc education. I've said this before on other threads, but I'll say it again: Schools care about two things--good GPA and a good DAT score. If you've got those two things, you're golden.

Don't waste another minute worrying about what type of post-bacc to enroll in. Just take the pre-reqs. Do really well in them. Ace the DAT. Then sit back and enjoy the ride.

Hello Sir,

Your Post was very refreshing, because I have never recieved that kind of advice before. I've been told to do a post-bacc (it looks good), and take a bunch of upper level bio classes. I am applying this year (for Fall 2006), my gpa is not that great (not because I have a bunch of C's, it's mainly because of a few very bad grades (F's) in a chemistry and math classes).

What do you suggest, take chemistry over again (and ace it), since if I don't get in, it would raise my chem GPA (they actually calculate them separately now), or do you think I should take those upper level biology classes like advance histology? I thought the latter, since it would be nice to report those kinds of 'planned courses' on the application (as oppose to chemistry).

What would you do if you were in my shoes? If you need any more information on my part, please do let me know, I would really be interested in your advice. Thanks again.

Dick

 

[Darby_O'Gill]

I did an informal post-bacc at BYU. I signed up for the classes I wanted, but I was limited to 11 credits/semester. I also had to wait to register until everyone else who was a "regular" student was registered.

After interviewing last cycle, I can tell you that none of the schools even cared. They usually asked me about my accounting degree, but never about my post-bacc education. I've said this before on other threads, but I'll say it again: Schools care about two things--good GPA and a good DAT score. If you've got those two things, you're golden.

Don't waste another minute worrying about what type of post-bacc to enroll in. Just take the pre-reqs. Do really well in them. Ace the DAT. Then sit back and enjoy the ride.

Hey fellow BYU'er. My problem is I sucked in some of the science pre-reqs, nothing terrible, just some C's, B-'s and a few A's. My sci-gpa is just below 3.0 right now and I have nothing but ochem and physics left. So, if I don't get good grades, at least get my sci-gpa above 3.0 then even if I ace the dat I doubt I would get in anywhere. So, just to cover myself I am planning on applying to a post-bacc or continuing to take classes. Has there been anyone in this dilemma that has any advice? I am leaning more towards completing more undergrad classes.

 

[Mz Shaikh]

Hi all I am taking General Chem I right now. It is a very intensive class because it is only 6 weeks long. On my first test I got a 81 and my second one i got a 60 🙁 My prof says he'll drop the lowest test score but i'm not sure what to do. Do you think i should drop the class and re-take it in the fall which is around 16 weeks? I am asking this question to see if any one else was in this position and what they did to get pass it? thanx

 

[sokkerpunk]

Hi Mz Shaikh.

If it were me, I would withdraw from the class before you are penalized and retake the class in a longer semester. It would be better to withdraw and get the A/B in a longer semester than kill yourself to get a C. Plus, if you finish the class and wind up taking it again to raise your grade, BOTH grades are usually averaged in. Plus, if you do not ACE it the 2nd time, that could look worse than sticking with the first mediocre grade.

Hope this helps. Of course, this is just my own 2 cents. Others may have alternative paths to take.

Best of Luck!

 

[cbarry]

Reply to Darby

I myself will be starting a post-bac this fall. I found that as a Bio major I had taken almost all of the upper level classes at my school (There weren't enough to fill an entire year). I dont' think its too late to apply for next year (I know someone who applied this time last year and got in). Anyway I just was accepted to two programs (one at PCOM and one at UMDNJ) and I don't know which to do. At UMDNJ I will be able to take a few dental classes, but I'll have to move for the year, whereas as PCOM I could live at home. I wasn't sure if the UMDNJ would look THAT much better that I should relocate in Newark and pay all of that rent. Any suggestions?? Hard one.