UPenn Post Bacc Program

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Other then the textbook Chemical Principles 6th edition zumdhal...did anyone get or use the solutions guide or the study guide...is it necessary for either of them? anyone selling the study guide?
 
abdul14 said:
Other then the textbook Chemical Principles 6th edition zumdhal...did anyone get or use the solutions guide or the study guide...is it necessary for either of them? anyone selling the study guide?
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Dr. P gives A LOT of practice questions in his lecture notes, workshops, problem sets, and pre-exam questions. It's unlikely you'll need the extra practice or have the time for the textbook questions.

On a similar note, if anyone needs the chemistry textbook, let me know, I'm selling it for real cheap! (Pretty much brand new--it's only been opened like twice)
 
On that same note, I have last year's Exam Kracker's MCAT review for sale... EASILY the best thing I've ever done for the MCAT. I also have another (older) MCAT review book for sale too. PM me for details.


Just FYI - If you already have good time management skills for standardized testing, don't bother with Kaplan or Princeton. It's pretty much the only thing they teach you, besides how to do a lot more work than you actually need to. Just go with EK and crush the boards while not killing your wallet.
 
I was checking out what classes are being offered at penn in the fall and the only physics class that comes up is the one that requires a calc background. I thought I remembered it being said at one point that there was a physics that was offered that didnt require calc, or was I mistaken? I'm also trying to figure out when I should take calc. Would it be possible for me to take it next summer while applying to med school or would that be a no no?
 
I disagree with Phantom. Some of the questions on my Kaplan practice tests (not the AAMC ones) and the Kaplan workbooks were exact questions on the MCAT.

I feel i have a good sense of motivation and time management but the MCAT isn't something to risk messing up and getting a 24 on your first try. Some schools average your two scores regardless of the second score. Also, those of you linking, you'd be risking your link.

For the sake of $1,500 versus losing a link or messing up a med school app so carefully crafted - it made no sense to NOT do a course IMO

dmdangel - you are mistaken the only physics course offered for post bacs does not require calc. Look again.
 
Hey, If anyone wants to meet for coffee at like 745 or 8ish on Monday before class (Chem 001), let me know!

Also, any advice on parking? Is there a garage?
 
street parking. bring quarters. hope to god the PPA doesnt ticket you.

or there are expensive garages, i think nuggles commutes so you can ask her. I walk so i can't really help
 
There's a Campus Park and Ride that most of us that work in the hospital use. The lot is over on Wharton (past Grey's Ferry, by the Dunkin Donuts). It's $8.00/day, and the shuttle picks up and drops off in front of HUP. Other than that, it's pretty much street parking.

Where are you coming from? If possible, either take the trolley to 37th St, or (if coming via Regional Rail) take the LUCY from 30th St to 34th and Spruce.

Let me know if you need more directions.
 
Give me a few days to settle in and learn the area and I'd be up for coffee before class. I'll be a less than 24 hour old PA resident monday.... :-/
 
emtdan- okay. sounds good. good luck with your move!
 
I would interested in coffee before class....which starbucks or dunkin donuts or any other coffee place if im not mistaken i believe there is a dunkin donuts nearby and a starbucks just down the street as well
 
There is a dunkin on Walnut around 35th, and a Starbucks at the corner of 34th and Walnut.
There is another starbucks on chestnut too.

And there is a McDonalds (surprisingly good coffee) at CHOP too; which is 34th and Spruce, and then go around past HUP
 
Let's go to Starbucks...around 8. If that works. And anyone is welcome really!
 
robflanker said:
And there is a McDonalds (surprisingly good coffee) at CHOP too; which is 34th and Spruce, and then go around past HUP
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Maybe during the day (haven't tried it then), but on any overnight I've worked for transplants, that coffee has been freaking awful! I would stick with the cafeteria coffee if you're in a pinch (i.e. at oh-dark-thirty)... They serve some hi-test Starbucks.
 
Strange - my overnights at CHOP, the coffee was fine. Each to his own I suppose
 
what starbucks are we meeting at?
 
Starbucks VIA is actually surprisingly good for instant coffee.

That said, Mcdonalds iced regular coffee imo is acceptable. If any of you are coffee fanatics though, I highly recommend ordering Stumptown Coffee online to be shipped to you. Portlanders are picky about what coffee they consume since there are literally cafes at every block.
 
is there a facebook group or page for upenn post bac 2010 or something similar that people are a part of.....anyone care to post a link?
 
There is already two large fb groups encompassing post bacs as a whole regardless of year of entry
 
my application for the specialized studies has been complete now for the last three weeks but I have not heard back from UPenn. Has anyone else received a response yet? What are my chances of getting in with a 3.4 gpa and 30 mcat?
 
gymdoc10 said:
my application for the specialized studies has been complete now for the last three weeks but I have not heard back from UPenn. Has anyone else received a response yet? What are my chances of getting in with a 3.4 gpa and 30 mcat?
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You'll get in provided you didnt miss the deadline, which i have no idea when it is.
Try calling them and seeing what the deal is
 
I put in my application for Specialized Studies on May 4, though it wasn't complete until May 11 because of a snafu (accidentally added an extra recommender who wasn't sending anything in, and had to get that fixed).

I got an e-mail on May 25 about coming in for an interview, so it took about 2.5 weeks. I wouldn't worry -- you're still right in the middle of the "two to five weeks" they say a decision will take.
 
how are everyone's summer classes going so far? just thought I'd check in... this forum virtually came to a stop when classes started, comparatively speaking 🙂
 
so i'm a female pre-health post bac student and will be coming for session II. any other fellow post-bac student in need of a roommate? if so, please PM me so we can work out the details 🙂
 
Classes are good. just had our first exam in chem001 on Thursday. It was pretty straight forward, nothing out of left field. Dr P is a really great professor. Very helpful. How is the volunteering?
 
Penn's a wonderful place, do you have Pietrovito in the fall, sm?
 
Im glad people are having a good time so far.

Let me know if anyone needs anything
 
hey guys im kinda in the same boat...my application was completed on may 25, and its been two weeks so far...i was wondering whether if any one has gone past 3 weeks to hear from them...I have a 3.2 GPA from UCLA but a low MCAT score (27)...but i explained that i took the mcat without any help from a prep company due to financial reasons, and am confident i can improve these scores. I also have published 2 papers, one of which i am the first author, and am in the process of writing up a review article on my research. I have also done alot of volunteer work. I was wondering if I should be worried? thanks!
 
On the surface you should be ok; dunno if you have holes in your app elsewhere though.
 
robflanker said:
On the surface you should be ok; dunno if you have holes in your app elsewhere though.
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Thanks for the response rob! I dont think i have any holes...my low gpa is due to my first two years (i averaged a 2.7 gpa) but i have an upward trend going where i averaged a ~3.6 my last couple of years. Thats why i loved the question about if my transcript tells the whole story. I hope it all works out...im hella nervous!! i think ive been driving sally cardy crazy with all my questions and updates hahah
 
I just got the interview offer today!!!! 🙂

Any suggestions?? is it hard??
 
gymdoc10 said:
does anyone know if we are too late to do the linkage program with UMDNJ?
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You must submit your paperwork to LPS for UMDNJ linkage by February 15 2011 for matriculation Fall 2011. You find out if you are nominated May 2011, Interview May-June 2011, must have submitted AMCAS by March 31 2011, get offer in June 2011, start Aug 2011

Criteria;
3.2 undergrad cGPA
3.6 sGPA at time of nomination
Must never have taken MCAT before coming to UPenn, and sit for it no later than May 15th 2011
No section lower than a 10
No Cs in pre-req ever, regardless of repeats

*edit - and its only open to 1 yr students*
 
I think they may have done away with that linkage... it doesn't appear on the latest linkage sheet handed out at orientation and I know Penn lost a link or two this year.

Don't quote me, but I'd make a call to be absolutely positive.
 
Strange - it was on our slide presentation for the linkage workshop this year....
 
How helpful is the specialized studies with getting into med school?
 
gymdoc10 said:
How helpful is the specialized studies with getting into med school?
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Will it make up for a craptastic GPA or a lame MCAT - doubtful.

They claim 85% of SSP get in; I doubt that very much.

I know of 2 SSP students who got in this past cycle and start in August. They both took gap years as well (I wouldn't look at the 2 as bad but because SSP is only 1yr its hard to get to know ppl who have already moved on and are in gap years)
 
robflanker said:
Will it make up for a craptastic GPA or a lame MCAT - doubtful.

They claim 85% of SSP get in; I doubt that very much.

I know of 2 SSP students who got in this past cycle and start in August. They both took gap years as well (I wouldn't look at the 2 as bad but because SSP is only 1yr its hard to get to know ppl who have already moved on and are in gap years)
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yeah im trying to figure out how much my gpa will improve from a 3.4...
 
Do the math... how many CUs do you plan on taking and assume a 3.7 GPA (you can assume higher but i personally like to error on the pessimistic side in my GPA calcs, and be pleasantly surprised when I do better)

If you have a good MCAT and good other things, and take a gap year and get in an early app you have a shot.

I should also mention I only know of 1 ssp student who has applied twice and didnt get in either time and is now plannong on doing an SMP in the fall last I spoke to them. They came in with a sub 3.2; got a 3.6 at Penn, and got a high 28/29 MCAT on their 3rd attempt
 
robflanker said:
Strange - it was on our slide presentation for the linkage workshop this year....
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I know that recently UMDNJ had lost some spots for placing med students at Cooper in South Jersey because Rowan University is opening an allopathic school that took over the slots. A friend of mine that was interested in that program spoke to the dean a couple of months ago. He stated that most people that applied for linkage were pretty much applying for waitlists due to the lost slots, which may be the reason for it being taken off the list. I just thought I would add my two cents on this topic!!
 
quick question...do you guys rmr when your orientation was? and when classes started for the fall semester?
 
First day of classes is Wed Sept 8th this year, and I don't know when orientation is. I'd assume the Friday or Monday before
 
Mtilli - yup, I have Dr. Pietrovito for chem in the fall..

Zil - all is going well here - I am loving being in the hospital!

...I never went to orientation for the summer session because I am actually starting the pre-health core classes in fall - does anyone know if there is another orientation, and when that will be? *edit* nevermind, I just read Rob's post above.

Also... Sally Cardy sent out a powerpoint about linkages, and I saw something on there about "w's" on transcripts essentially meaning you cannot link - I have W's because of family issues while in undergrad my sophomore year... but I graduated with a 3.96 and have no W's since that semester my father was ill - how is this approached... am I better off not even applying for a linkage? blah.
 
sm640739 said:
Mtilli - yup, I have Dr. Pietrovito for chem in the fall..

Zil - all is going well here - I am loving being in the hospital!

...I never went to orientation for the summer session because I am actually starting the pre-health core classes in fall - does anyone know if there is another orientation, and when that will be? *edit* nevermind, I just read Rob's post above.

Also... Sally Cardy sent out a powerpoint about linkages, and I saw something on there about "w's" on transcripts essentially meaning you cannot link - I have W's because of family issues while in undergrad my sophomore year... but I graduated with a 3.96 and have no W's since that semester my father was ill - how is this approached... am I better off not even applying for a linkage? blah.
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It's a case by case basis but to me it sounds like you'll be just fine. They're just filtering out people who medical schools will frown upon. A sincere explanation for a small blemish on a near perfect academic transcript should serve you fine. It's a rule set up by the program to filter out people who would otherwise not be competitive.
 
mtulli said:
It's a case by case basis but to me it sounds like you'll be just fine. They're just filtering out people who medical schools will frown upon. A sincere explanation for a small blemish on a near perfect academic transcript should serve you fine. It's a rule set up by the program to filter out people who would otherwise not be competitive.
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Hate to disagree but its not case by case in everything I have seen and heard here. They weed people out thats for sure and a lot of it is nitpicky but they have some blanket rules about some of the requirements.

I wouldn't wash it off as easily as you did.

I also have been saying for months that linking is overrated IMO lol
 
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