Seeking advice

[bamtuba]

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I am looking to enter a post-bac program beginning Fall 2007 and have some questions. I graduated from a well respected music conservatory with a 3.67 GPA and have no science or math background. My ACT scores from high school were 32's with a 21 in math. I work as a semi-professional musician and music teacher, but have decided I would like to go into medicine for many reasons. I would like to go to a program such as Bryn Mawr or Temple, but have no idea how competitive I would be to get into these or other post-bac programs with no math or science background. I have also considered getting a BA in Biology from a state or private school.

My plan for this school year is to do volunteer work as an EMT and go to a local community college for some basic math classes to help prepare me for the pre reqs of med school and for the classes involved in a post-bac program.


What classes should I take, if any, to prepare for applications to post-bac programs?

What are my chances, with my background, of getting into the better post-bac programs?

What else can I do or should I be doing to prepare for the application process?

Any advice is appreciated!

 

[chopstick1]

I am looking to enter a post-bac program beginning Fall 2007 and have some questions. I graduated from a well respected music conservatory with a 3.67 GPA and have no science or math background. My ACT scores from high school were 32's with a 21 in math. I work as a semi-professional musician and music teacher, but have decided I would like to go into medicine for many reasons. I would like to go to a program such as Bryn Mawr or Temple, but have no idea how competitive I would be to get into these or other post-bac programs with no math or science background. I have also considered getting a BA in Biology from a state or private school.

My plan for this school year is to do volunteer work as an EMT and go to a local community college for some basic math classes to help prepare me for the pre reqs of med school and for the classes involved in a post-bac program.


What classes should I take, if any, to prepare for applications to post-bac programs?

What are my chances, with my background, of getting into the better post-bac programs?

What else can I do or should I be doing to prepare for the application process?

Any advice is appreciated!

post bac program? all you need is pre reqs...are you planning on another degree? masters?

 

[mshheaddoc]

Those programs are for people with no science/math background. I would highly suggest those two programs if you are in the philly area. Drexel also has a program that is in the evenings as well. I know bryn mawr is extremely competitive (and more expensive than the other two I think), you can get some information if you search on this forum for bryn mawr or even call up and talk to the program to see how many applicants they have, avg stats etc. You'd be a prime candidate forthe bryn mawr program with that gpa. Also the formal programs help prepare you for the mcat as well which is why I'd suggest drexel or BM. I don'tknow much about the temple one except one of the mods did this temple progam and was accepted into their med school.

 

[bamtuba]

post bac program? all you need is pre reqs...are you planning on another degree? masters?

Since my current degree had zero science and zero math 😳 I feel that it would be futile to jump into the pre reqs with no background. My understanding of the post bac programs is that they are meant to get people in my situation through the pre reqs, but I wonder if it would be better to just go back to school for a couple of years, get another bac (BA Biology for example), and have the pre reqs done in the process. Seems like it makes more sense if it can be done in a couple of years. 😕

My problem is that I didn't take math seriously in high school and have had no experience with it since. Any suggestions?

 

[bamtuba]

Those programs are for people with no science/math background. I would highly suggest those two programs if you are in the philly area. Drexel also has a program that is in the evenings as well. I know bryn mawr is extremely competitive (and more expensive than the other two I think), you can get some information if you search on this forum for bryn mawr or even call up and talk to the program to see how many applicants they have, avg stats etc. You'd be a prime candidate forthe bryn mawr program with that gpa. Also the formal programs help prepare you for the mcat as well which is why I'd suggest drexel or BM. I don'tknow much about the temple one except one of the mods did this temple progam and was accepted into their med school.

Thanks for the info! Now here's where I have an issue...

My wife has a BS in Biochemistry, so I know what she went through to get through some of those pre reqs 🙁 ...not always fun. Since I have zero math background, would you suggest taking some community college math to prepare me for the post bac programs, or do the post bac programs themselves help you with the math involved as well? My goal is to get through the program ASAP once I start, but I have a year before I know where I will be.

As for location, my wife is currently applying for med schools (30L 😳 , just got scared on the writing, and 3.25 BS Biochemistry) and my decision will be based on where she starts school...she is looking at several areas, Philly being one. Thanks for any advice!

 

[mshheaddoc]

Check with what classes these classes prepare you for. If they have calc in them, then take precalc. If they don't have math, then you have this year to maybe take a class at night and get your math out of the way. Some schools don't "state" math is a requirement but most do. So taking it to be safe would be ideal.

 

[bamtuba]

Check with what classes these classes prepare you for. If they have calc in them, then take precalc. If they don't have math, then you have this year to maybe take a class at night and get your math out of the way. Some schools don't "state" math is a requirement but most do. So taking it to be safe would be ideal.

Thanks for the advice! 🙂

 

[Skaterbabe74]

I'd also head over to one of the local community colleges and take the math diagnostic just to see where you stand. That will tell you whether you need to "brush" up on the lower maths or not before jumping into precalc or calc or whatever. I did ok in high school math (except geometry), but didn't get past Alg 2/Trig in hs so when I came back to college after about 7 years out of hs I needed to take coll. alg and trig (or precalc) before jumping into calculus. I still got my butt kicked in calculus at first until I found a good teacher. As long as your diagnostic doesn't say that you need to start over with basic math or intermediate algebra you could easily get the intro math classes out of the way before starting a post-bacc, and having a good recent math background will definitely make gen chem and physics easier.

 

[chopstick1]

Since my current degree had zero science and zero math 😳 I feel that it would be futile to jump into the pre reqs with no background. My understanding of the post bac programs is that they are meant to get people in my situation through the pre reqs, but I wonder if it would be better to just go back to school for a couple of years, get another bac (BA Biology for example), and have the pre reqs done in the process. Seems like it makes more sense if it can be done in a couple of years. 😕

My problem is that I didn't take math seriously in high school and have had no experience with it since. Any suggestions?

you bring up a good point, with no math/science your pre reqs would be starting from scratch...by the time you finish your pre reqs it could equal a degree! check with your course catalog, what's the fastest degree you can get with just the additional pre reqs? there's no need for additional classes you don't need. It took me 3 years to finish my "extra pre reqs" because of the course offerings. one step at a time...it can be a long road. patience. good grades, max the mcat, good luck!

 

[Law2Doc]

post bac program? all you need is pre reqs...are you planning on another degree? masters?

There are also benefits to the formal postbac programs beyond merely obtaining the prereqs. You get lots of very hands on advising, course help, sometimes linkages, an established "brand name" credential, and additionally the program directors often actively market their students directly to med school deans, so your odds of getting your file looked at may be improved. The downsides are that these programs are competitive and sometimes costly, so for lots of people the informal approach is adequate. I would apply to some and see what happens.

 

[notdeadyet]

There are also benefits to the formal postbac programs beyond merely obtaining the prereqs.

Agreed.

OP- I decided to enter medicine from the tech field with no science background at age 32. While you entertain different programs, I'd strongly recommend taking the General Chemistry sequence at a junior college.

The prereqs can be completed in one year if you already have General Chemistry done. Doing it part-time at a junior college lets you do a test to make sure that you're up for the sciences (wanting to be a doctor and having a sharp and current aptitude for hard sciences are two different things).

I went this route and went into a postbac program confident and ready. The year of part-time study let me blow the dust off some mental cobwebs and save some much needed money. By the time I entered the full year program, I only needed to take one year (as opposed to other students that needed two years due to Chemistry) and I watched as other nontrads struggled to get back into the swing of things with a fulltime science load. I felt better prepared.

Best of luck with the exciting times ahead...