To linkage or not to linkage?

[Psychometrician]

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I'm planning on entering a post-bac program in summer 2009. I'm looking in my area (Boston) and I see Harvard Extension School has no linkage, but Tufts does. And at Tufts, you're automatically granted an interview with their med school if you maintain a 3.3 GPA, which I intend to do.

I would assume both programs are highly regarded by med school admissions offices. HES is much, much cheaper (and let's face it, it's Harvard) but Tufts has linkages with Tufts Med and BU Med.

Here's my situation. I graduated last May with a 3.14 GPA (I know) from Boston University, where I majored in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences. I currently work at Mass General where I administer psychological tests to people with neurocognitive disorders. My job is basically one big clinical experience, but I intend to get more by volunteering at an inpatient facility, in addition to getting more research and general volunteer experience.

So, supposing I left a post-bac program with a high GPA and MCAT score, would I even stand a chance for a linkage? Overall, would it be worth it to shell out a full 30 grand for programs with linkages, like Tufts?

Thanks in advance.

 

[DrMidlife]

I don't get excited about linkages. A linkage gets you an interview. One interview is statistically unlikely to get you into med school. Your chances at any given med school are roughly 5%. You want to apply early and broadly, even when your credentials are perfect. Anecdotes (I heard that this guy's girlfriend only did one interview and she got in) should not form the basis of your plan.

Two suggestions.

1) Don't assume that you're going to kill the coursework. From a 3.14, you effectively need to go back to being 17 years old, and relearn how to study, in order to learn how to get 3.7+ in hard science coursework. Deciding that your grades are going to be better all of a sudden doesn't tend to pan out. I mean no offense; I'm saying this because there's so much at stake. In your shoes I'd be looking for a postbac that offers structure, support, and 2 years instead of 1.

2) Look for a postbac program where you can thrive. Look at Bennington. Look at UMass. Look at Penn State's low residency program. The postbac forum has a TON of information on a TON of programs. Figure out what you NEED, and go where you're going to succeed. Look at class size, MCAT prep support, advising, etc.

Best of luck to you.

 

[gman33]

My take on linkage is that if you get accepted via linkage, you probably would have got in anyway. With your low UG gpa, you probably won't meet many schools qualifications for linking. Call Tufts and schedule an appointment to talk to someone and find out all the details before you pin your hopes on linking.

Unless you are applying to "top" schools, no one will really care where you do your prereqs. Go to a 4 year school that has a good science program, and that's all that really matters. Reputation doesn't matter. Find a school where you can excel and then do that. You may need a few years of coursework before your gpa is competitive. Also look at DO schools. You can retake some classes and erase some of your poorer grades.

 

[OncoCaP]

No, ignore the linkages. Go with what would work in the normal case.

 

[kronickm]

I am going to disagree with most people here. Before I do that, though, you should call tufts and find out the specifics of qualifying for the linkages.

I can tell you that the linkage in my current program to an MD school, has relatively stiff requirements (3.6 in the post-bac, 9-9-9 MCAT + the 3.0 UG GPA requirement to get into the post-bac in the first place) but if you make those requirements, you are basically one of 5-8 people competing for 4 spots, much better odds than 5%. Also, if you do get in you are completely saving yourself from the task of general med school applications. See 20+ secondaries and flying to interviews and AMCAS, which equals a lot of money and a large headache. Also, in my program, even if you don't apply for linkage, they will collect all your letters of rec, combine them with your post-bac commitee letter and send them out to whoever free of charge. They will read your statements and help a great deal with the application process. Not to mention my program has seperate professors and classes just for our program, that means small class sizes and the ability to get to know your profs.


That being said, Harvard (and other non-linkage post-bacs) are much cheaper, but you get what you pay for. They will likely not help all that much with applying, outside of writing a letter. You are often grouped in with other undergrads in large classes, and, need I remind you, a letter of rec from a TA is not acceptable.

So, after all that, first look at your desire, if you know, 100%, that medicine is for you, go to step 2. Step 2, look at your finances, can you legitimately afford a structured, linked post-bac. Can you work during it or are you going strictly on loans? What kind of undergrad loans do you have? I feel wholeheartedly that a structured linkage backed post-bac is far superior to the Harvard one, but obviously that comes with a price tag. For me, in the end, I think the pricier one will be worth it. I will know for sure in a month or two.

 

[Lokhtar]

Look at Penn State's low residency program.

Which one is this? I only know of two post-bac programs offered by Penn State. One is on their University Park campus, with traditional post-bac being offered over 1-2 years with traditional students, and another on their Brandywine campus which is geared toward adults only (one I will be attending soon).

 

[NewmansOwn]

I'm planning on entering a post-bac program in summer 2009. I'm looking in my area (Boston) and I see Harvard Extension School has no linkage, but Tufts does. And at Tufts, you're automatically granted an interview with their med school if you maintain a 3.3 GPA, which I intend to do.

I would assume both programs are highly regarded by med school admissions offices. HES is much, much cheaper (and let's face it, it's Harvard) but Tufts has linkages with Tufts Med and BU Med.

Here's my situation. I graduated last May with a 3.14 GPA (I know) from Boston University, where I majored in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences. I currently work at Mass General where I administer psychological tests to people with neurocognitive disorders. My job is basically one big clinical experience, but I intend to get more by volunteering at an inpatient facility, in addition to getting more research and general volunteer experience.

So, supposing I left a post-bac program with a high GPA and MCAT score, would I even stand a chance for a linkage? Overall, would it be worth it to shell out a full 30 grand for programs with linkages, like Tufts?

Thanks in advance.

Be careful here -- going to HES isn't just like going to Harvard University. Only a little over half the HES courses are taught by Harvard-affiliated faculty, so just make sure you know what you're buying. Good luck to you.

 

[Psychometrician]

Where can I find the post-bac forum DrMidlife mentioned?

 

[DrMidlife]

Which one is this? I only know of two post-bac programs offered by Penn State. One is on their University Park campus, with traditional post-bac being offered over 1-2 years with traditional students, and another on their Brandywine campus which is geared toward adults only (one I will be attending soon).

Yeah, Brandywine. I looked it over ~6mos ago and thought well of it.

 

[DrMidlife]

Where can I find the post-bac forum DrMidlife mentioned?

It's under "Interdisciplinary Forums" at http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=71

 

[Law2Doc]

So, supposing I left a post-bac program with a high GPA and MCAT score, would I even stand a chance for a linkage? Overall, would it be worth it to shell out a full 30 grand for programs with linkages, like Tufts?

Are you actually admitted into multiple postbac programs or still just applying? If the latter, just apply and then worry about if it's worth it when you actually get in. Tufts is quite selective, and you might not get in (I certainly know folks with better GPAs than you who didn't). Anyone can get into HES (it is open enrollment, I believe). Tufts linkage is nice in that you at least get one interview. But the interview is only a chance at admission, not admission. So you'll still need to apply broadly. If you do well in your postbac you would do this anyway, and might land something you like better than Tufts.

 

[drizzt3117]

I'm planning on entering a post-bac program in summer 2009. I'm looking in my area (Boston) and I see Harvard Extension School has no linkage, but Tufts does. And at Tufts, you're automatically granted an interview with their med school if you maintain a 3.3 GPA, which I intend to do.

I would assume both programs are highly regarded by med school admissions offices. HES is much, much cheaper (and let's face it, it's Harvard) but Tufts has linkages with Tufts Med and BU Med.

Here's my situation. I graduated last May with a 3.14 GPA (I know) from Boston University, where I majored in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences. I currently work at Mass General where I administer psychological tests to people with neurocognitive disorders. My job is basically one big clinical experience, but I intend to get more by volunteering at an inpatient facility, in addition to getting more research and general volunteer experience.

So, supposing I left a post-bac program with a high GPA and MCAT score, would I even stand a chance for a linkage? Overall, would it be worth it to shell out a full 30 grand for programs with linkages, like Tufts?

Thanks in advance.

That Tufts PB program isn't a linkage per se, but just a guaranteed interview. Linkage also doesn't work like you described. Usually you interview for the linkage early and get conditional acceptance given good performance in the program and good MCAT performance. As others have mentioned, the PB forum is probably the place to find more info.