the cost of post-bacc

[aec563]

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Hey guys,

Looks like my last posting didn't go thru. I wanted to know peoples' opnions on, and experiences with less costly state run schools, where there are post-bacc programs. Do you think its better to go to a well known "name brand" post bacc, where there is np garuntee of getting into a good med school or even any med school at all (this is unfortuantely true for the school I'm looking at) and where the undergrads with whom I'll be taking classes are ultra competitive? Would people choose a less expensive (*think 1/10 of the cost) state run city school? Basically, what is a name worth? Are there people out there who chose an expensive program and regretted it? Are there people who chose an inexpensive program and found that it cost them a shot at a good med school?
Thanks guys. I would really apprecaite any input!

 

[Superflyjsc]

From my experiences and research, I have not found a difference in cost between a structured post bacc program at a school compared to taking the science classes indivdually on your own. Whether you are taking classes through post bacc program or just taking various classes through a school, you will be paying the same amount per credit.
For example, im gonna enroll into Rutgers post bacc pre-health program in NJ and it costs $415/credit (which is expensive for me since im out of state resident). However if i didnt decide to take classes through postbacc program and just take science classes on my own, i will still have to pay $415/ credit either way for any classes i enroll into. I chose to go to Rutgers, an out of state school, which was more expensive for various reasons however.
To address one of your concerns about whether or not its better to go to a cheaper lesser name school, personally, since you're trying to make yourself look more of a competative applicant for med schools, i strongly believe its better to enroll into a stronger "name" school, even tho it might be a bit more expensive than a cheaper state school. The more medical schools see that you are challenging yourself at a strong challenging university, they will see that you have potential to succeeding at medical school level work. When its comes to medical schools, the stronger the "name power" of the school is, the better it will be. However that doesnt necessarily mean that even tho you go to a cheaper state school, it will deny your chances for medical school, however I just wouldnt expect to be much of a competative applicant for any of the Top ten medical schools.
All in all, you have to FIRST ask yourself if you think u can get the grades, scores and gpas first of all at whereever u decide to go. If you feel you have the potential to get very strong grades and mcat scores and such in order to make yourself very competative applicant for medical schools, then I suggest you make the sacrifice and pay more money and go to a better stronger name school.
FYI: I know that Pennstate's post bacc/ premedical program has a very strong acceptance rate of its students into medical schools. Something you might want to check out. But if you are out of state resident of PA then Pennstate will be fairly costly tho.

 

[LilyMD]

This questions has been asked many times on this forum and the answers vary depending no was that poster's particular experience. For example, those people who faced the same decision as you and chose to go to a "name brand" are more likely than not going to tell you that it was worth the costs. After, they too faced the same decision as you and decided that the value of the name or the supportive atmosphere or prove history of the program was worth it. Those that didn't get accepted to th ultra-competitive programs or simply didn't apply or did get accepted and chose to go the economic route of doing the classes on their own at the local State U. are also going to tell you that it was worth it bc they got what they needed (the science prereq.) and have $20k in their pocket to show for it. Their are very obvious pros and cons to both. You really need to ask you yourself what kind of environment do you do well in and what kind of atmosphere you need to be in to succeed. I'm leaning towards the expensive route simply bc I know that learning style works best in a smaller and more focused environment. I haven't taken a science class since 1996 so I feel that I would be doing myself damage by gambling that I will get a good grades in science classes at my local U. where the professors tend to be rather ho-hum and hugh auditorium classrooms (not all local U. are like that - just mine). I feel I'd be willing to spend the money now to ensure I get good stats/grades...and by doing so, I'll increase my chances to get into a state med. school and perhaps even some scholarships and try to save on medical school. I jsut think the worst is go to a school with poor quality instruction and risk getting a bad grade that would ruin my whole pursuit of medicine. Again, but this pertain to my local State U. and my own learning style. I just do better when the professor and the students are really engaged in learning. But you have to ask these questions of yourself to figure it out.