Hello,
This is my first post so please bear with me.
I received a psychology degree from a state school and graduated with a 3.9 GPA. The last year of college I decided that I wanted to enter healthcare, specifically a doctor. I had toyed with the idea before but I think I was too emotionally immature as an undergrad, as well as my fear of failure, to commit to premedical coursework at the time during my bachelor's. However, once I graduated I began looking into post-bac programs to essentially fill in the gaps of my education.
I applied to many programs and received acceptances to all of them, except 1. I ended up deciding on Harvard University's program via their extension school. This program was cheaper and appeared to be decent. That being said, I just finished my first semester and it couldn't have gone worse. I took Physics 1 and General Chemistry 1. I struggled in physics in high school so I went into it knowing that it would need special attention, however, I found myself struggling with both courses. Harvard employs a "reverse classroom" style of teaching. In fact, there is barely any true lecture. Notes are open ended packets and the professors do not explain key concepts. In fact, they often say "we want you to be confused. It's how you learn." They will talk for about 5 minutes and then we get into groups and try to do the activities in the packet. Most of this time is comprised of students looking at each other blankly while staring at the packet and then trying to get help from the professor in a classroom of over 200 people. I've never seen a class taught this way and to be quite honest, I don't think I learn this way whatsoever. I am more of a take notes/traditional lecture, then work out some problems to understand the approach type of student. Almost all science classes at Harvard are taught like this, at least in the extension school. I feel like Harvard's program does not cater to people who have barely seen science, versus programs that truly cater to non traditional students/second degree students. The professors seem to make a lot of assumptions about student's familiarity with the concepts and tend to gloss over fundamentals.
That being said, I ended up hiring a tutor for physics (thinking I could manage to bring up my chemistry grade on my own. I was good in high school chemistry and vastly underestimated general chemistry at Harvard). However, I feel like he still did not break it down enough for me. I trudged on throughout the semester hoping things to get better. I had always pulled myself out of an academic hole on my own, so I figured this would be the same. Unfortunately I did not. I was still doing poorly in the physics course especially, while slowly increasing my exam grades in Chemistry by small increments. My last exam grade in physics, I completely failed the exam. I received a 50. It was devastating. I've never failed anything before and I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach. Panic was setting in. With only a few weeks to finals I hired a different tutor. We worked together everyday leading to the final exam and it helped tremendously, but obviously relearning an entire semester's worth of information in about 2 weeks is not an easy feat). Final grades are not posted yet, but with the curve in physics I am on track for a B at least (estimation). In Chemistry, I actually ended up feeling like I didn't do as well on the final and I think I am on track for a C (there's no curve). I know these are awful grades in regards to premed but I did the best with what I could given so close to final exams. ):
We are on winter break now and my tutor wants to work on physics and chemistry material this month leading to spring semester in addition to meeting during the academic semester. That being said, once I calculated how many tutoring sessions this tutor suggests for the students he teaches in this program I am up to a $19,200 bill (3, 2 hour sessions per week at $150 an hour; plus the cost of an Uber to and from his office).
To make matters worse, I feel like I have made a lot of financial mistakes in Boston. I live with my partner in a one bedroom apartment, without other roommates. Living costs here are sky-high. I have taken out about $32,000 to pay for the housing and the academics. To take out another $19,200 just for tutoring this upcoming semester is terrifying to me. I went to undergrad and graduated with relatively minimal debt (~$27,000 after scholarships, grants etc) and I feel like I am negating that with the cost of the tutor and such in Boston.
Back at my undergrad alma mater, they have a premedical post bac program that is about $19,000 for the entire program and I would be able to live at home with my parents to save money. I come from an extremely poor family with a lot of illness/hard times etc, so money is always in the back of my mind.
I suppose my question is:
Do you think it would be advantageous to me if I transferred to the program at my state school and finished out my post bac there with as highest grades as possible, and sneak in an upper level science class or 2 to make up for my 2 poor grades at Harvard? I am very concerned about the financial burden staying in Boston, the cost of the Harvard Program and then the extreme cost of the tutor. If you were in my shoes would you cut your losses and go with the program back home that will save money? Additionally, I am familiar with the teaching style at my undergraduate institution an it isn't the "innovative" style that Harvard employs. It is the presentation/lecture style that I have excelled in previously.
I know this is a very long post and I apologize in advance if it isn't the best organized. Any advice would be appreciated.
I know these grades are a dark mark on my transcript & I feel like my dream of medicine is slowly slipping out a reach.
This is my first post so please bear with me.
I received a psychology degree from a state school and graduated with a 3.9 GPA. The last year of college I decided that I wanted to enter healthcare, specifically a doctor. I had toyed with the idea before but I think I was too emotionally immature as an undergrad, as well as my fear of failure, to commit to premedical coursework at the time during my bachelor's. However, once I graduated I began looking into post-bac programs to essentially fill in the gaps of my education.
I applied to many programs and received acceptances to all of them, except 1. I ended up deciding on Harvard University's program via their extension school. This program was cheaper and appeared to be decent. That being said, I just finished my first semester and it couldn't have gone worse. I took Physics 1 and General Chemistry 1. I struggled in physics in high school so I went into it knowing that it would need special attention, however, I found myself struggling with both courses. Harvard employs a "reverse classroom" style of teaching. In fact, there is barely any true lecture. Notes are open ended packets and the professors do not explain key concepts. In fact, they often say "we want you to be confused. It's how you learn." They will talk for about 5 minutes and then we get into groups and try to do the activities in the packet. Most of this time is comprised of students looking at each other blankly while staring at the packet and then trying to get help from the professor in a classroom of over 200 people. I've never seen a class taught this way and to be quite honest, I don't think I learn this way whatsoever. I am more of a take notes/traditional lecture, then work out some problems to understand the approach type of student. Almost all science classes at Harvard are taught like this, at least in the extension school. I feel like Harvard's program does not cater to people who have barely seen science, versus programs that truly cater to non traditional students/second degree students. The professors seem to make a lot of assumptions about student's familiarity with the concepts and tend to gloss over fundamentals.
That being said, I ended up hiring a tutor for physics (thinking I could manage to bring up my chemistry grade on my own. I was good in high school chemistry and vastly underestimated general chemistry at Harvard). However, I feel like he still did not break it down enough for me. I trudged on throughout the semester hoping things to get better. I had always pulled myself out of an academic hole on my own, so I figured this would be the same. Unfortunately I did not. I was still doing poorly in the physics course especially, while slowly increasing my exam grades in Chemistry by small increments. My last exam grade in physics, I completely failed the exam. I received a 50. It was devastating. I've never failed anything before and I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach. Panic was setting in. With only a few weeks to finals I hired a different tutor. We worked together everyday leading to the final exam and it helped tremendously, but obviously relearning an entire semester's worth of information in about 2 weeks is not an easy feat). Final grades are not posted yet, but with the curve in physics I am on track for a B at least (estimation). In Chemistry, I actually ended up feeling like I didn't do as well on the final and I think I am on track for a C (there's no curve). I know these are awful grades in regards to premed but I did the best with what I could given so close to final exams. ):
We are on winter break now and my tutor wants to work on physics and chemistry material this month leading to spring semester in addition to meeting during the academic semester. That being said, once I calculated how many tutoring sessions this tutor suggests for the students he teaches in this program I am up to a $19,200 bill (3, 2 hour sessions per week at $150 an hour; plus the cost of an Uber to and from his office).
To make matters worse, I feel like I have made a lot of financial mistakes in Boston. I live with my partner in a one bedroom apartment, without other roommates. Living costs here are sky-high. I have taken out about $32,000 to pay for the housing and the academics. To take out another $19,200 just for tutoring this upcoming semester is terrifying to me. I went to undergrad and graduated with relatively minimal debt (~$27,000 after scholarships, grants etc) and I feel like I am negating that with the cost of the tutor and such in Boston.
Back at my undergrad alma mater, they have a premedical post bac program that is about $19,000 for the entire program and I would be able to live at home with my parents to save money. I come from an extremely poor family with a lot of illness/hard times etc, so money is always in the back of my mind.
I suppose my question is:
Do you think it would be advantageous to me if I transferred to the program at my state school and finished out my post bac there with as highest grades as possible, and sneak in an upper level science class or 2 to make up for my 2 poor grades at Harvard? I am very concerned about the financial burden staying in Boston, the cost of the Harvard Program and then the extreme cost of the tutor. If you were in my shoes would you cut your losses and go with the program back home that will save money? Additionally, I am familiar with the teaching style at my undergraduate institution an it isn't the "innovative" style that Harvard employs. It is the presentation/lecture style that I have excelled in previously.
I know this is a very long post and I apologize in advance if it isn't the best organized. Any advice would be appreciated.
I know these grades are a dark mark on my transcript & I feel like my dream of medicine is slowly slipping out a reach.
