SFSU v SJSU

[adpitan]

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I'm a newbie to the group Has anyone attended either one of these schools as a post-ba program? Is it worth it? I'm applying to schools and would love to stay in Nor Cal but not essential that I do. Any advice would be great. Thanks. I'm also a dork, I posted this on the premed thread & not here, so if you've looked @ the pre-med thread when I meant to post here but did get some feed back. 🙂

 

[junebuguf]

I would look at UCSF, its got one of the tope 5 med schools in the country and also has a post-bacc pre-med program. I did hear some negative things about UCSF's program though, so who knows. Which progam you choose really depends on your circumstance. If you have solid undergrad numbers (gpa > 3.5) and are a good test taker (ie expect to do well on the mcat) then you should serioudly consider post-bacc programs that have *formal* linkage arrangements with medical schools. This would enable you to skip the 'glide' or transition year between when you finish your classes and when you finally begin med school.

On the other hand, if youre numbers are not too great, then I dont really think attending any formal program will give you a significant boost. If your ultimate intention is to enter med school in the norcal area, then take classes a la carte from a good school up there--perhaps Berkeley? UCSF? Pick a school with a good academic reputation (doesnt have to be the ones I mentioned, I'm from FL, so I dont know too much about that area) and enroll as a non-degree seeking student. This allows you to register for the basic pre-reqs without being part of any degree program. The bad part is that you get no financial aid, so if thats important look for formal certificate programs.

If you've already completed all or most of the basic pre-reqs look into either Penn (special science program w/ linkage to a few med schools) or again take classes a la carte. Its getting late to get into many formal post-bacc's this late in the year...

Oh, and I think Scripps has a formal post-bacc program with linkage. Dont know how far that is from you though.

 

[adpitan]

My numbers aren't so hot due to some very unforseen circumstances in the past but it is what it is and everything happens for a reason, right? I was primarily looking at formal programs with linkage agreements as I wanted to skip the lag year but again, maybe I need the lag year. I have completed a couple science courses but really should repeat since it has been some time since I have taken them and I didn't do to well in them thanks to a death in the family and my fiance being stationed in Quantico during 9/11. Thanks for reminding me about UCSF I always forget them for some reason.


Thanks again!

 

[RoseLee]

Hi!

UCSF's post bac program is only for underserved minorities. Just FYI. And, none of the UC's (except Irvine and Riverside) accept 2nd BA students. SFSU has a great post-bac program, but they aren't currently accepting 2nd BA students (they will start accepting them for Spring 05 though!). If you don't need financial aid, then you can pretty much go anywhere using the Open University option.

I attend SJSU since I live in the Southbay and there is an active post bac group there too. If you end up at SJSU or want more info, PM me.

Roselee

 

[bubbajones]

what programs are available at SFSU??

 

[adpitan]

SFSU has a post bac program that is informal and seems to be pretty good. The few ppl I have chatted w/about SFSU have nothing but good things to say. You can check them out @ http://online.sfsu.edu/~brothman/Post-Bac Program.htm .


I do need and want financial aid, if possible I would like to try to avoid working so I can focus soley on school & getting the best grades possible and so I can volunteer somewhere.

I am also interested in SJSU and I emailed the contact through the AAMC's website and will be having info mailed out to me but anything anyone can provide would be great.

I am dying to get back into school and to be on my way so I can be a forensic pathologist. 😀

Thanks again!

 

[eskramer]

I am going to SFSU to finish up some science courses. It is informal, but great. All but on class, have I had great teachers who really love having post baccs. in their classes. There is a great post bacc group on campus and you can find out more information at:

http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~postbac/

Good Luck!

 

[adpitan]

Excellent! Thank you Eskramer, that link is awesome. It's really cool to see how many are entering med school through the post-bac program. Did you do it in one year or two? Did you work? It's really encouraging to see others who have gone through local programs.

 

[eskramer]

Excellent! Thank you Eskramer, that link is awesome. It's really cool to see how many are entering med school through the post-bac program. Did you do it in one year or two? Did you work? It's really encouraging to see others who have gone through local programs.

Post Baccs. have had great success in getting into medical school. As you've seen from the website regarding the more recent students this past year. Though, honestly, you will have to be very proactive about the entire process.
I am actually finishing classes up at SFSU over 1 1/2 years, so that I can have the spring semester free to work and study for the mcat in April '05. I haven't really been in any hurry, as I want to do everything (classes, mcat, ec, etc.) right the first time. I am active on campus with the health center, teaching a bio class, TA another bio course, doing some research over at UCSF, working for a private SAT Tutoring prep co., and volunteering in the ER at SF General Hospital . I have a lot on my plate, going to school full time, but the busier I am the better I seem to do in school. Since you asked about SJSU vs. SFSU, I live down in Santa Clara with my girlfriend and choose to take the train up to SFSU. I found that besides SFSU being a great school, there were better opportunities for me in volunteering and research up in SF. If you've got any questions about SFSU, what teacher's to take, etc., let me know. I'd be happy to help. Good luck!

 

[adpitan]

Eskramer, I sent you a PM asking more questions. 😀

 

[eskramer]

Eskramer, I sent you a PM asking more questions. 😀

adpitan, I've PM you back

 

[adpitan]

adpitan, I've PM you back

Back at you. 😀

 

[scota]

I'm starting SFSU tomorrow 🙂. And adpitan, I finally replied to your PM!

 

[neurodoc]

Back at you. 😀

Don't forget that Cal State Hayward is another good school in the Bay Area. I don't know if they still offer PB or 2nd BA matriculation, but they did 20 years ago. I got a 2nd BA in biology from them while I was a PhD student in English Lit at UCB, and I used that to apply to med schools, sucessfully. CSUH was then a good no-nonsense working-class suburban school. It may still be as good as it was then.

 

[happy20003]

i don't have any formal schools here in phoenix arizona but there is 2 med schools here. so i think i am better off going to a community college or at arizona state university to do my post bac on my own. i think i would have to go as a non degree seeking student but then i won't get financial aid, don't know what to do. i do know that i need the following :

summer session 1: general chm 1 w lab151

sumer session 2 : general chm 2 w lab152

fall: bio 1 w lab181

physics 1 w lab111

organic chm 1 w lab235

spring: bio 2 w lab182

organic 2 w lab 236

BioChem

i know that i would need to take the MCAT and need to get 2 letters of recommendtion(one from advisor and the other from a D.O).

now here is another problem i don't know where i should volunteer and how many hours should i volunteer(or is it better to work in a place)

 

[adpitan]

Don't forget that Cal State Hayward is another good school in the Bay Area. I don't know if they still offer PB or 2nd BA matriculation, but they did 20 years ago. I got a 2nd BA in biology from them while I was a PhD student in English Lit at UCB, and I used that to apply to med schools, sucessfully. CSUH was then a good no-nonsense working-class suburban school. It may still be as good as it was then.

Thanks! I will keep that in mind!

 

[Apteka]

Hi there:
I took all of my prereqs at SFSU for Pharm School (I'm at UCSF now) for about 4 years before applying to Pharmacy Programs- Not sure which courses you need to take, but I took the entire list of prereqs- from Physics to O-Chem- so feel free to contact me too if you have further ?s! My last semester there was Spring '04 and it was getting substantially more difficult to get the Chem & Physics labs (due to budget cuts) but it is definitely do-able and you will definitely learn. Lots of Post-Baccs are active in the 'PhPSA' organization led by Dr. Rothman, they do a lot of 'how to get into med school' seminars and such. Good luck!

 

[adpitan]

Hi there:
I took all of my prereqs at SFSU for Pharm School (I'm at UCSF now) for about 4 years before applying to Pharmacy Programs- Not sure which courses you need to take, but I took the entire list of prereqs- from Physics to O-Chem- so feel free to contact me too if you have further ?s! My last semester there was Spring '04 and it was getting substantially more difficult to get the Chem & Physics labs (due to budget cuts) but it is definitely do-able and you will definitely learn. Lots of Post-Baccs are active in the 'PhPSA' organization led by Dr. Rothman, they do a lot of 'how to get into med school' seminars and such. Good luck!

Thanks so much! It is definitely getting more encouraging the more ppl I see who attended and are attending SFSU.

 

[NRAI2001]

Hi!

UCSF's post bac program is only for underserved minorities. Just FYI. And, none of the UC's (except Irvine and Riverside) accept 2nd BA students. SFSU has a great post-bac program, but they aren't currently accepting 2nd BA students (they will start accepting them for Spring 05 though!). If you don't need financial aid, then you can pretty much go anywhere using the Open University option.

I attend SJSU since I live in the Southbay and there is an active post bac group there too. If you end up at SJSU or want more info, PM me.

Roselee

Why would anyone do a second BA?

 

[sidewalkman]

Why would anyone do a second BA?

If the cost is the same, and the time it takes to get the BA is the same, why not? You get more job opps (if you want them) with the extra science BA and, since you're not taking them a la carte, you're eligible for more kinds of financial aid. Of course, if you go to a different school than your alma mater for your second BA, the downshot is that you may have to repeat silly prereqs, be forced to pick courses after everyone else (or maybe before everyone else; it depends), and put up with sitting in class with 20 freshmen.

For the negative reasons I listed, I chose to attend an informal post-bacc (HES) rather than get the second BA. I feel comfortable so far.

 

[NRAI2001]

If the cost is the same, and the time it takes to get the BA is the same, why not? You get more job opps (if you want them) with the extra science BA and, since you're not taking them a la carte, you're eligible for more kinds of financial aid. Of course, if you go to a different school than your alma mater for your second BA, the downshot is that you may have to repeat silly prereqs, be forced to pick courses after everyone else (or maybe before everyone else; it depends), and put up with sitting in class with 20 freshmen.

For the negative reasons I listed, I chose to attend an informal post-bacc (HES) rather than get the second BA. I feel comfortable so far.

I m not familiar with the whole process of getting a second BA, but is it kinda of like going back and getting a seconod major? Or is it starting from scratch and doing another 3-4 years of undergrad?

 

[adpitan]

It is now Oct 5th and the CSU system has been accepting apps since Oct 1st for Fall 2005. I've submitted apps to SFSU & SJSU and I was just wondering if any one else had submitted theres or if they were planning too.