UPenn Post Bacc Program

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Members do not see this ad.
robflanker said:
She is wrong.

How each school interprets your GPA is up to each school but AMCAS has a central processing system which computes a GPA.
How much stock each individual school puts in any repeats or CC is varible but not the GPA itself.
Click to expand...


I think that's what she means. It's up to the med school if they'll take my cum to be collective of both ccp and penn or if it's just penn.
 
I think we are not understanding each other Empress D.

For the purposes of non-linking, your overall AMCAS GPA will be every class ever taken above the high school level (but will include college classes taken in HS).

Linking GPAs - i've never seen anything indicating they follow anything other than the AMCAS GPA.
 
quick question - in setting up an email, do I need to set up Pennlive for it to work? 🙁
 
what is pennlive?

Your email address will be [email protected]

Which you can access via hotmail.com

I think they mail you a password or something in which to initially set it up. I'd just call IT and ask them
 
robflanker said:
I think we are not understanding each other Empress D.

For the purposes of non-linking, your overall AMCAS GPA will be every class ever taken above the high school level (but will include college classes taken in HS).

Linking GPAs - i've never seen anything indicating they follow anything other than the AMCAS GPA.
Click to expand...


You're right

Based on what you said here:

robflanker said:
No, Upenn and AMCAS use diff GPAs. The GPA that UPenn Pre-Health will use is your GPA listed on your UPenn Bachelor's transcript. If its under 3.0, you are ineligible for most links.
Based on this link which SM posted;
http://www.sas.upenn.edu/lps/print/postbac/premed/current/linkage_programs

You don't appear to be eligible - its not the official document but i cant access it as the link seems to be broken on their website.

You should also figure out if you are eligible for the 1-yr links if you dont all the classes WHILE part of the program. That may be a key stipulation.
Click to expand...

I thought my cgpa would not include my grades from cc. Now you're saying they use the same calculations as amcas. 😕
 
robflanker said:
what is pennlive?

Your email address will be [email protected]

Which you can access via hotmail.com

I think they mail you a password or something in which to initially set it up. I'd just call IT and ask them
Click to expand...


your sas email accessed through hotmail is penn live. 👍
 
SM - did you call Sally to schedule your adviser meeting?

2 phone messages, 1 email, and 8 days later nada
 
Emtdan- I did... I called the number on the acceptance letter. I told whoever picked up that I needed to speak with Sally cardy to schedule a meeting with my advisor to select courses. She transferred me to someone who was not Sally.. But she was able to schedule the appoinment. Try telling whoever answers why you're calling and ask if someone is there who can assist you...that's my best advice...
 
I'm just going to leave the grade speculation and linking thing aside.

Empress - did you get into the program? Cos if not, its not guaranteed as 3.0 is typically a cutoff.

emtdan - she is really hard to get a hold of. daily calls may be needed.
 
Hey all-

I just got in touch with Sally - and like Rock2doc said, the summer is full, even for just taking gen chem. She said it is possible to take gen chem at another school but strongly discouraged it. She said it might affect having the 12 CU to get a committee letter, in addition, she said a poor grade might affect continued admission in the program. (I know I'd do well but still scary)

SM-
I set up an appointment with Dr. Witmer- any advice? I didn't see a Fall 2010 course log yet, so is there any way to prepare?

To answer one of your questions earlier, when would I move in, I may just move in now in the summer to settle down and get a job at Upenn Hospital (per diem)
 
I had my advising meeting and, while it was helpful, don't expect too much more than you already know. I was basically told to get 4.0s and a really good mcat score, and that the most important thing is getting really good grades. I went in with a completely random plan and she approved it without really thinking about it-- she just kept repeating that it is really important to work hard and that you should think about volunteering as a way to de-stress, not as one more thing on your pile of things to do.

I started off asking things like "what will an admissions committee like more, a full course load, or working full time and a pretty heavy course load?" and she responded with "well, it doesn't really matter if you get good grades and spend all your time working towards your goals." To be honest I found it refreshing-- it's good to know that there's no one set way to do this, and that I should expect to find my own path towards med school.

Does anyone know when registration for the fall starts? Also, is it possible to take an online course and watch the lectures later in the day (calc 1 is offered online but during the day, is it possible to take it at night?)
 
Rock - you pick your classes on March 22nd and the lottery is 2 weeks after that.

In terms of online classes - no idea, i know immunology was offered online but if you havent done the pre-reqs then its a moot pt. Try emailing the respective processes to see if it is an "any point during the day" class. The day thing may just be to satisfy something weird in the system.
 
Thanks-- I'll call in the next few days. I'm mostly interested in Calculus, as I never took that in college.
 
Just have a general idea of the courses you want to take. My meeting was exactly how Rock described his... Except she wanted me to take calc in summer session 2. I don't think I am going to take it since our physics is non calc based, and I'd rather spend summer getting some additional clinical experience and preparing for chem. She said the chem class is "not easy" ... Not that I was under the impression anything would be "easy" at Penn.. But this frightened me for some reason. Lol. Regardless, she said "I'm sure you will do well with numbers like theses. Just make sure you keep these numbers. That is the goal".

I'm going to be taking chem and bio plus both labs in the fall. 🙂
 
That's what I was thinking...bio and gen chem in the fall/spring, maybe physics over the summer, and orgo and genetics the following year with some Kaplan MCAT.

I have calculus already, and I have already taken HS physics - the equivalent of AP physics so I might be able to pull off physics during the year as well. But listening to Rob, I don't want to cram in midterms and tests all so close.
 
robflanker said:
#2 - all classes at penn
Fall 2010 - Gen Chem 1 and Bio 1
Spring 2011 - Gen chem 2 and bio 2
Summer 2011 - Physics 1 and 2
Fall 2011 - Orgo 1 and upper level
Spring 2012 - Orgo 2 and Orgo Lab
MCAT in anytime after like April
Summer 2012 - apply to med school if you arent linking
Click to expand...

Would have been easier to just say this is what I am planning to do.
 
For the one year track, with no integrated MCAT review (as seen at the more elite pbacc programs) what the hell is one to do? Find time in between volunteering, research, bio, o.chem, and physics exams to spend time studying? Or is the idea that you should be fresh enough to skip a lot of study?

Hrm. It would seem you wouldn't even be done with pre-reqs before the April MCAT, something I never paid attention to before. :eyebrow:
 
Well you would only not have done the last few weeks of orgo 2 (which isnt really on the MCAT at all), and then the last few weeks of gchem and phys.

It can be done with a little extra studying and no spring break

And this is all while maintaining a good GPA - the 1yr option is not easy by any means, and rushing thru with a 2.7 from Penn will get you nowhere.

Do the pace to maintain 3.5+ at a minimum
 
👍 Rob. Agree. Actually, at Penn, not all of the linkages require a one year completion, which is different than some (most) other post bac programs. I posted a link a few pages back with the requirements for certain linkages from Penn... not sure how up to date the info is, but it's from the LPS site, somewhere.

Don't forget, if you have time and are willing to stretch it out over 2 years (I realize some people have specific reasons for needing to finish asap), there is more time to really gain hands on clinical, volunteer, and research experience. I plan on taking the two years.. I feel it'd be an injustice to just zoom through Penn. There's so much to take advantage of! But I'm a self-proclaimed nerd who loves learning, so maybe this is my own unique opinion. :luck:
 
Aye, I worked too hard for my undergrad GPA to be mucked up by too many B's, besides. 😛

Just seems like with no integrated review or support, the independent one year MCAT is far more daunting than I had previously considered.

I'm not in yet but feel better about my application to Penn's program with all of these discussions. So, thanks once again.
 
When I first started this process , the 1 yr track seemed like it would be best, but, as I've learned how important it is to find the right pace to excel, and how hard it is to study for the MCAT, 2 year feels about perfect. Hopefully I'll be able to handle 2 classes and a full time job in the fall. I'm excited, though. This is going to be one hell of an experience.
 
right there with you, Rock. Minus the full-time job. Hopefully I'll have a full-time volunteer job lol
 
Got an interview invitation 2 days after my application was complete.

Farther than I got in the application process anywhere else, which indicates the potential that I may actually be able to enter a post-bac for the coming year.

Cheers to you all who got in already. What a hellish application cycle it's been.
 
Just got back from the carribean - now time to face the reality of apartments. SM where/ how did you find your apartment?
 
Jealous! Wish I was in the Caribbean ... I searched online for apartments on chestnut or walnut.. Just because they are main streets and Im tiny and will be living alone lol.. I knew I wanted an aparment complex, mid to high rise.. I found a studio that's manageable for my price range. I did a basic google search and then found reviews from former tenants (definitely helped rule out a few places). The woman who manages the complex told me it was one of two studios left.. I guess they go fast in the city.
 
Thanks, I'll probably be looking around the same area. I need to move in by mid-may..before I graduate here! That's going to be a busy month.. Hopefully I'll get some time to make the trip again to look at apartments.
 
Hey guys-

In terms of the living situation-- there are some real deals to be found a little further out west. It's actually not that much cheaper, just much, much nicer, both in the actual apartments, and the area. The shadow just outside of Penn is pretty safe due to the abundance of private security, but isn't totally wonderful in terms of culture and quality of apartment. PM me if you are looking for places to live and have questions about neighborhoods/blocks. I've been living in west philly in a few different neighborhoods for 4 years now and love it.

edit: i just
 
Last edited:
hey guys would welcome if anyone could clarify this for me.
im trying to apply to the specialized studies one. because im already a bio major and need this post bac to boost my ugpa. im confused as to whether I'm supposed to be applying for the summer april1st deadline or the fall july 15th deadline. I'm trying to finish the program in one year and will be graduating this may. i will also be taking my mcats on the 27th.

thanks
 
rockbottom - summer is full so apply for july but the program fills up so dont dally on your application.

good luck
 
Can I still finish the program in one year after even if I start in the fall?
 
Look back a page or two, if you haven't already, we just had a big discussion on this. Short answer is no. Longer answer is maybe.
 
Emtdan -your response is accurate for pre health but not special sciences.

As a special sciences student, you can finish in one yr as there is not set curriculum - however you cannot get a committee letter but can link provided you didnt take the MCAT and some other requirements too.
 
I should rephrase my last post.

You can complete the SSP in 1yr and get a committee letter and link but for the following year. For example, I started the SSP in the Fall and will be finishing this May but did not apply for med school this cycle. I can get a committee letter for the upcoming cycle and link to med school this Fall if I hadn't taken the MCAT prior to starting at UPenn.

Hope that helps clarify
 
mtulli-- When is your interview? I saw that you posted march 12 that you had recieved an invite. Mine is April 5th!
 
hmm so I am looking at various class times for fall semester... and while I can find the LPS lectures for gen chem and bio, I'm confused regarding Lab. Do I just pick any lab I want?

Thanks! 🙂
 
Yes provided its a night lab, for LPS.

Bio lab is on a Sat morning IIRC
 
sm640739 said:
hmm so I am looking at various class times for fall semester... and while I can find the LPS lectures for gen chem and bio, I'm confused regarding Lab. Do I just pick any lab I want?

Thanks! 🙂
Click to expand...


Chem lab should be posted as a separate class. The Chem lab, at least this year, is only on Thursday nights. Bio is either friday night or saturday morning. It does not matter, which bio lab you choose. You have to do the same thing in every lab, so it does not really make a difference. The labs should have a 602, 603, or 604 type number at the end. Chem should be 053 for the course number, where bio I think is still under 101, but with a separate 60 something number.
 
How does registration work? On monday do we "register" for the classes we want and then see if we get into them?

I had to email Dr. Witmer today because I am not enrolled in the summer semester when she told me to register for classes anyway...
 
Registration works by just selecting the classes you want and waiting to hear back on the lottery
 
Thanks rob and ali. I think I figured it out... found the 600 thing.. forgot about that. I also need to enroll in a summer course. It requires instructor permission, which isn't granted until attending a meeting next Thurs.. so I should schedule that one anyway, right? Sorry, it is so different than my ugrad system of course selection!
 
If you are talking about EM - then he'll add you in the system after the class and you just have to confirm. There is nothing to do till after the meeting.
 
Wuddup fellow post-baccers!

I'm interested to see who will be the summer admission kids? and the upcoming fall?
 
For general chemistry one- I sign up for chem 001-601 correct? There is a also a general chemistry I that is chem-101. So I am completely lost. Also, it keeps saying I have a recitation that is missing, what does that mean?

For some reason my summer classes have the same recitation problem..
 
Is there a recitation required for gen chem? If so, you'll have to sign up for that too.

And when you are searching for classes there is a drop down that says like "program" or somehting like that. and you can select LPS to make it easier for yourself.

Anything that comes in the LPS section is what you want but yes, emtdan, it sounds like thats the chem class you want. Our classes are ranked 600-ish for the most part
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
Albion or Meredith college or UPenn for post bacc?
Replies
1
Views
1K
tinkerlove
T
C
UPenn Specialized Studies Program?
Replies
2
Views
2K
gamjatang
G
midwestbb
Post-bacc Linkages
Replies
0
Views
2K
midwestbb
midwestbb
T
Post Bacc GPA
Replies
0
Views
1K
tsiue
T
KingofPersia
UNR Post-bacc
Replies
0
Views
1K
KingofPersia
KingofPersia
Top Bottom