SFSU next year - advice, anyone else going?

[Adradr]

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I have my BA but am returning to school after a year in consulting to take my pre-med chem and physics. I've been accepted to SFSU/SJSU, still waiting on Cal/UCSC, but leaning toward SFSU so that I can stay in the city, pay CSU rates, and do well in my classes. Has anyone attended SFSU for pre-med work? I'd love to hear about your experience - I'm pretty nervous about getting classes, etc.

Thanks!

 

[bigfoot]

Adradr,
We're kind of in the same boat.
I got my BS almost 5 years ago. Migrated to the US last year. I've been in my current job for a little less than a year. Quitting to study again full time most probably Fall 06 in SFSU.
I have no science background. My major was Math.
I'm sooo nervous about the whole thing...

 

[bookdiva]

I started the post-bacc at SFSU this semester, and it seems good so far. You actually have a fairly early registration time for your classes (already having a degree gives priority over lower division students), so I had no trouble getting into any of my classes. I have a couple of friends who are finishing the program and they've had great success getting into some great med schools (UCs and otherwise). The profs seem very good, and there is a big post-bacc community.

FYI--there is a chem entrance exam to get into general chem, so you might want to start brushing up if it has been a long time. There is also a general math exam (think trig functions) to get into the general physics class.

Also, in case anyone is interested, UC Berkeley Extension is starting a post-bacc program in the Fall. Apps should be out in April. Check out: http://www.unex.berkeley.edu in the Sciences area for more detail. I went to an info session--these classes will all be held at night and on weekends, so friendly to working adults. So, more options in the Bay Area!

Good luck to you !

 

[iapplehead]

I started the post-bacc at SFSU this semester, and it seems good so far. You actually have a fairly early registration time for your classes (already having a degree gives priority over lower division students), so I had no trouble getting into any of my classes. I have a couple of friends who are finishing the program and they've had great success getting into some great med schools (UCs and otherwise). The profs seem very good, and there is a big post-bacc community.

FYI--there is a chem entrance exam to get into general chem, so you might want to start brushing up if it has been a long time. There is also a general math exam (think trig functions) to get into the general physics class.

Also, in case anyone is interested, UC Berkeley Extension is starting a post-bacc program in the Fall. Apps should be out in April. Check out: http://www.unex.berkeley.edu in the Sciences area for more detail. I went to an info session--these classes will all be held at night and on weekends, so friendly to working adults. So, more options in the Bay Area!

Good luck to you !

i went o the sfsu website and i am not sure bout how to check out the post-bacc programs. i am graduating in may and i am not a science major , but have taken a few science course like bio1/2, chem1/2, orgo1(now), bio of algea, anatomy and physio 1/2, genetics, and immunology. i really need to enhance my gpa bc i did not perform well in these classes and still need to take physics and orgo2. does anyone have any advice for me when lookin for post-bacc programs? would i be classified or non-classified? i'm not sure what that means.... thanx!

 

[Beth_W737]

To Iapplehead - some post-bac premed programs will not admit you because many are targeted to those who have not taken the med school pre-reqs, or who have only taken one or two (or taken them more than 5 years ago). There are programs specifically for those who have taken the pre-reqs and want to retake them or take upper level courses. Syracuse has a website listing the programs for those who need to enhance their science records, or retake the courses. Here is the link:

http://hpap.syr.edu/LISTPB.HTM

I know UPenn has the Special Sciences program, for those who have taken some or all of the pre-reqs. I'm applying to it now. There are also certain masters programs for those who have the pre-requisites, that's something else you could look into. Good luck

Beth

i went o the sfsu website and i am not sure bout how to check out the post-bacc programs. i am graduating in may and i am not a science major , but have taken a few science course like bio1/2, chem1/2, orgo1(now), bio of algea, anatomy and physio 1/2, genetics, and immunology. i really need to enhance my gpa bc i did not perform well in these classes and still need to take physics and orgo2. does anyone have any advice for me when lookin for post-bacc programs? would i be classified or non-classified? i'm not sure what that means.... thanx!

 

[mindy?]

I have my BA but am returning to school after a year in consulting to take my pre-med chem and physics. I've been accepted to SFSU/SJSU, still waiting on Cal/UCSC, but leaning toward SFSU so that I can stay in the city, pay CSU rates, and do well in my classes. Has anyone attended SFSU for pre-med work? I'd love to hear about your experience - I'm pretty nervous about getting classes, etc.

Thanks!

Congrats on the cal state acceptances! How difficult is it to get into these programs? Do you have to take the GRE or MCAT first?
Thanks,
Mindy

 

[iapplehead]

To Iapplehead - some post-bac premed programs will not admit you because many are targeted to those who have not taken the med school pre-reqs, or who have only taken one or two (or taken them more than 5 years ago). There are programs specifically for those who have taken the pre-reqs and want to retake them or take upper level courses. Syracuse has a website listing the programs for those who need to enhance their science records, or retake the courses. Here is the link:

http://hpap.syr.edu/LISTPB.HTM

I know UPenn has the Special Sciences program, for those who have taken some or all of the pre-reqs. I'm applying to it now. There are also certain masters programs for those who have the pre-requisites, that's something else you could look into. Good luck

Beth

thanx beth! well i also looked into SFSU and went to the advising director's website and it looks as though they take in students like me who have to re-take classes and/or take more upper level sciences. an dthey have a large post-bacc community... i emailed them and waiting to see what they need from me. i'll look into UPenn as well... thanx for the tips!

 

[Adradr]

Congrats on the cal state acceptances! How difficult is it to get into these programs? Do you have to take the GRE or MCAT first?
Thanks,
Mindy

It wasn't difficult at all, actually. Since you're considered a "second bachelor's degree" (which I don't plan to finish - I just want the classes) candidate rather than a "post bac" student, no grad school exams required. I was admitted to SFSU within 2 weeks of submitting my application. Apparently if your undergraduate GPA is above a 2.5, there are no other criteria - chemistry is not a particularly impacted major, if you can imagine that 🙂.

The same is true for SJSU and CSUEB, although the latter seems unable to find the transcripts that I sent them...which I'm really okay with, actually. I live in SF and grew up in the South Bay, so Hayward doesn't have too much allure.

 

[Adradr]

I started the post-bacc at SFSU this semester, and it seems good so far. You actually have a fairly early registration time for your classes (already having a degree gives priority over lower division students), so I had no trouble getting into any of my classes. I have a couple of friends who are finishing the program and they've had great success getting into some great med schools (UCs and otherwise). The profs seem very good, and there is a big post-bacc community.

FYI--there is a chem entrance exam to get into general chem, so you might want to start brushing up if it has been a long time. There is also a general math exam (think trig functions) to get into the general physics class.

Also, in case anyone is interested, UC Berkeley Extension is starting a post-bacc program in the Fall. Apps should be out in April. Check out: http://www.unex.berkeley.edu in the Sciences area for more detail. I went to an info session--these classes will all be held at night and on weekends, so friendly to working adults. So, more options in the Bay Area!

Good luck to you !

Thanks for all the great info, Bookdiva, and sorry all for the double post!

I wasn't able to attend the UC Berkeley Extension info session because I was called out of town for work that week, but am waiting for the info I asked them to mail me. The idea of taking Chem with Cal students (if you're actually in undergraduate classes) makes me incredibly leery, however...Cal has one of the best Chem E departments in the nation, and even an Ivy League degree doesn't make me thrilled at the idea of sitting in General Chem with a bunch of 18-year-old hotshots. Are you considering the program? Do you know if the classes are separate?

I'm planning on taking my general chem at UCSC over the summer, actually, so I can do my prereqs in 12 months. Does anyone have any experience or advice relating to this?

Thanks for the advice re the entrance exams - I dodn't miss the trig I once knew, but it can't hurt to re-learn it.

SUCH a relief to hear that you have friends who have had successful experiences with the SFSU "post bac." Thanks again!

 

[rasmin]

FYI--there is a chem entrance exam to get into general chem, so you might want to start brushing up if it has been a long time. There is also a general math exam (think trig functions) to get into the general physics class.

I don't have any helpful input for the original poster about SFSU's post bac, but would love to learn more from those who've been there... I'm 95% sure that I'll be beginning SFSU's post-bac this Fall 2006.

Do you have any more details on the physics math exam? Length, topics covered, study suggestions? How well do you have to do on it to get in? I'm already nervous about it, and it's many months away- I did statistics and calculus for my original BA, but it didn't come easy and I don't remember a thing (not to mention that it was years ago). Would definitely be grateful for any insight!

What course loads have people been doing- both those currently in it, know people in it, or are thinking about it? i.e. for the big three lab courses -Bio, Ochem, and Physics- how crazy is it to try and do them all at once? Would you recommend pacing them out, just 2 labs at a time, even though it takes longer? Even though I'm only planning on working part-time, the prospect of 2 lab sciences, a non-lab class for fun, plus volunteering, working, and potentially MCAT studying, seems challenging enough (I struggled with gen chem back in the day, but then again I was a partying 18 year old, so don't know how it'll go as an adult). I'd hate to trash my post bac GPA by being in a rush to finish and doing mediocre in simultaneous class... but at the same time its soo tempting to just jump in and get the basic pre-reqs over with.

Any recommendations on good professors (or ones to avoid, for that matter)?

Love to hear from anybody w/ SFSU-specific input 🙂