UCONN bost-bach students/applicants...

[Sundarban1]

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HI,

I was wondering if there were any UCONN post bach applicants/students who would be willing to share their expereince or offer some advice to someone who is going to be applying in the Spring 2005.

I am a clinical research coordinator at Yale University and finishing my Master's Degree in Biomedical Science from Quinnipiac University.

Any feedback?

Thanks

 

[VPDcurt]

hopefully you are a URM - otherwise good luck - you'll be needing it.

 

[HippocratesX]

Is it particularly URM friendly, or admission is only for URM students?? I didn't understand the connotation of the response? Also, what's the minimum gpa requirement for application to UCONN's postbac?

 

[Sundarban1]

No, there are actually 3 divisions of the Post-Bach program there. One is for minorities, one is called program A for those who were not pre med and it is two years long, and one is called program b for those who have completed premed and are looking for 1 year of more science in advanced corses. They accecpt more program A and minority, therefore B is very tough to get in. They accecpt maybe 15-20 applicants a year out of 400-600..thats what I heard...

 

[sidewalkman]

From what I hear, admission is pretty damn tough, even for the spring semester.

Out of curiousity, why does the program appeal to you when you already have a Master's in Biomedical Science?

 

[Sundarban1]

From what I hear, admission is pretty damn tough, even for the spring semester.

Out of curiousity, why does the program appeal to you when you already have a Master's in Biomedical Science?

Having worked both in the academic and clinical side of research here at Yale, I wanted to learn more about the medical/biomedical industry. Being in the MHS program and working at Yale made me more tune to the fact that I wanted to presue a medical degree after working with various physicians.. Of course you can't practice medicine with a Master's degree, that is why I am looking to apply to UCONN. I was not a pre-med as an undergrad, I am what they call a "non-traditional" student I guess.

 

[endodoc]

Having worked both in the academic and clinical side of research here at Yale, I wanted to learn more about the medical/biomedical industry. Being in the MHS program and working at Yale made me more tune to the fact that I wanted to presue a medical degree after working with various physicians.. Of course you can't practice medicine with a Master's degree, that is why I am looking to apply to UCONN. I was not a pre-med as an undergrad, I am what they call a "non-traditional" student I guess.

Why Uconn, you should be able to do the undergrad at Yale. I beleive it looks a lot better. Granted they do not have a "offical" post-bach, but you can apply as a full time BS student. As a full time BS student you can recieve fin. aid as well. Just tell them you want to do the 4 year degree, but only do the classes you need for the MCAT and med school.

Good luck

 

[Sundarban1]

Why Uconn, you should be able to do the undergrad at Yale. I beleive it looks a lot better. Granted they do not have a "offical" post-bach, but you can apply as a full time BS student. As a full time BS student you can recieve fin. aid as well. Just tell them you want to do the 4 year degree, but only do the classes you need for the MCAT and med school.

Good luck

This is true, a few disadvantages however. First, working at Yale means that they will not pay for me to take Yale courses (because it is not an official program, and because I work at Yale), whereas if I went to UCONN, Yale would pay upto $3000 a year towards my post bach if I kept a part time position. Second, the accecptance rate for UCONN (to their med program) is 85% for matriculated post bachs who complete the program (according to their website), which is substantial since the overall accecptance average for premeds is <50%.The other reality is that for my situation the only real option is UCONN for med school since I have a house, family, job in CT and would find it hard to give that up to have a <50% of admission. The post bach just offers a more realistic entry for me and my particular position. I agree that if I were in another position, taking Yale classes would be beneficial. The other issue is that either way, because of the classes I would need, it will take a minimum of 2 years, which is the length of the UCONN program. Would you take the 85% or <50% option? See what I mean?
Just my position

 

[VPDcurt]

This is true, a few disadvantages however. First, working at Yale means that they will not pay for me to take Yale courses (because it is not an official program, and because I work at Yale), whereas if I went to UCONN, Yale would pay upto $3000 a year towards my post bach if I kept a part time position. Second, the accecptance rate for UCONN (to their med program) is 85% for matriculated post bachs who complete the program (according to their website), which is substantial since the overall accecptance average for premeds is <50%.The other reality is that for my situation the only real option is UCONN for med school since I have a house, family, job in CT and would find it hard to give that up to have a <50% of admission. The post bach just offers a more realistic entry for me and my particular position. I agree that if I were in another position, taking Yale classes would be beneficial. The other issue is that either way, because of the classes I would need, it will take a minimum of 2 years, which is the length of the UCONN program. Would you take the 85% or <50% option? See what I mean?
Just my position

I think this totally makes sense...especially when you consider that UConn is actually a very good school anyway - granted it's no Yale but who cares. UConn is one of the better state schools in the country.

 

[dca_55]

Just out of curiousity, how many of the pre-med reqs do you still need that it would take 2 years to do? Aren't courses like gen chem/orgo/gen bio, pre-reqs for graduate level work in the biomedical sciences? I don't have any experience or know anyone in the UCONN post-bacc, but I've heard the same stories of it being competitive. I was looking into the UCONN postbacc because I wasn't pre-med either as an undergrad, but I was only missing 10 credits of work (2 sem of orgo/w lab, 2 sem of physics just lab). I think there was a requirement for program A, that you couldn't have completed more than half of the pre-med reqs before applying; and I think program B focuses on people that need help boosting their gpa/MCAT. If you fall into one of those categories you probably have a very good shot between your work exp/graduate work; but if you don't they may just tell you that you have a good shot at applying as a regular candidate. For the formal post-baccs it seems they are either career-changers with very little science background, or people that either have a low gpa/MCAT and/or have been rejected at least once already.

 

[Sundarban1]

Just out of curiousity, how many of the pre-med reqs do you still need that it would take 2 years to do? Aren't courses like gen chem/orgo/gen bio, pre-reqs for graduate level work in the biomedical sciences? I don't have any experience or know anyone in the UCONN post-bacc, but I've heard the same stories of it being competitive. I was looking into the UCONN postbacc because I wasn't pre-med either as an undergrad, but I was only missing 10 credits of work (2 sem of orgo/w lab, 2 sem of physics just lab). I think there was a requirement for program A, that you couldn't have completed more than half of the pre-med reqs before applying; and I think program B focuses on people that need help boosting their gpa/MCAT. If you fall into one of those categories you probably have a very good shot between your work exp/graduate work; but if you don't they may just tell you that you have a good shot at applying as a regular candidate. For the formal post-baccs it seems they are either career-changers with very little science background, or people that either have a low gpa/MCAT and/or have been rejected at least once already.

Hi,
I've only taken one semester of bio and a full year of chem as an undergrad, therefore I am applying for program A. No, there were no specific science courses that were required for the program(other than having an undergraduate degree in the biological sciences), however I know that is true for some SMP. Thanks for your input!

 

[jashanley]

granted it's no Yale but who cares.

By what means are you judging that Yale is a far better school than UConn?
Please don't quote US News and World Report because it is not an acceptable source. I would/could argue than my training was equivalent if not better in some aspects to Yale. Yes, UConn lacks the laurels/name but it more than makes up for it in a great medical education. Many attendings in CT and outside the state have told me that they prefer the UConn student over a Yale grad. This is a small selection but good to hear.
I have several friends who went to Yale medical school and they are good docs. I am not out to devalue their education, I am only trying to give UConn its credit.

 

[VPDcurt]

By what means are you judging that Yale is a far better school than UConn?
Please don't quote US News and World Report because it is not an acceptable source. I would/could argue than my training was equivalent if not better in some aspects to Yale. Yes, UConn lacks the laurels/name but it more than makes up for it in a great medical education. Many attendings in CT and outside the state have told me that they prefer the UConn student over a Yale grad. This is a small selection but good to hear.
I have several friends who went to Yale medical school and they are good docs. I am not out to devalue their education, I am only trying to give UConn its credit.

I really didn't mean for it to come across like that. I love UConn and would die to go there for med school. I was just referring to the reputation across the nation. UConn is a great school - no doubt about that. I am from CT so I know what you are talking about with respect to Yale vs. UConn students. I also know that UConn has some better residency programs as well. I seriously didn't mean anything harsh by saying that. My tone was one of merely responding to the post I had previously read.