UPenn Post Bacc Program

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I hear you about it being overrated - honestly, I would like the opportunity to link simply because it saves me a year - that being said, if during that "extra" year I could potentially work somewhere doing research or something of that nature, I'd be able to save money for all of my applications, study more for MCAT, take an upper level course or two, etc ... I just worry because I feel like I'm dragging my feet already with stretching postbac over two years. It's more mental than anything else - I guess there's no use in rushing though, especially with the Ws.

I guess I'll see how I do in my first semester and then reassess if it's even worth worrying about.
 
For those of you who are currently or have applied to med school:

Clinical Research in Emergency Medicine...categorizing it as Biology and including it in your BCPM?
 
Last question, and this is silly, but under "credit hours" did you write
"1.00 CU" or omit the CU?
 
hey how long after the interview did they give u their decision???
 
I have a one semester gap (I am graduating in December and currently in the process of applying to medical schools). I am considering doing the Academic Associates program which involves clinical research in emergency medicine. Does anyone have any feedback about this program? Would it be a good fit to fill a semester off?
 
Are you accepted to the program?

Most of the time you have to be an enrolled student to do the AA program/class and then if there are open spots they open it up to non-penn affiliated ppl.

I loved the class, and its only 12 hrs a week so you'll need something else to fill your semester off
 
I'm currently in the first part of the class (320) and love it. It's amazing clinical experience in my opinion... prior to this, I only volunteered in a small hospital near my hometown. I look forward to my shifts, so I think that's a good sign. I'm planning on taking 321 in the fall... It's seriously awesome. 🙂
 
Just a quick question - looking for a ballpark answer...

Moving into a studio apartment - have to pay for heat, hot water, water, and electricity... and then cable/internet (provided by CTI - which I think is 30-40 a month)

Does anyone have estimates for these basic utilities?

Thank you very much! 🙂
 
My elec bill is about $40 a month but I don't pay for anything else so can't help you with that stuff
 
What's a decent gpa to maintain as a post bac - basic sciences?
 
Linkages would indicate 3.2....

I would say 3.4-3.5 so that if linking doesnt work you'll still have a high sGPA to apply regular style with
 
Hi all,

So I am VERY late in the application game for Specialized Studies, I know, but I was just wondering about the SAT Score Report.

I sent in a copy of the paper Score Report that College Board sends to you a few weeks after you take the SAT (not sure how I was able to find it still!). My app status says that it has been received but obviously "Not Official," since it didn't come straight from CB. Is a score report sent directly from CB still necessary? (Someone I talked to from admissions a few weeks ago claimed I could fax in whatever I had, but I just wanted confirmation that I was ok!)

Thanks!
 
SuperDario - Call the office and see what they want ... I would say what you sent should hold up until the scores are sent, assuming they want "official" scores. I'd order from CB to be on the safe side... but try calling the office at Penn anyway - if they flat out tell you not to bother sending them, then you have your answer!
 
I GOT IN! 😀
question for you folks...is it easy finding a place to live near campus?
and how important is it to have a car? im coming from california, so theres a great possibility that i wont have a car..thanks mates!
 
Sweaty Teddy said:
I GOT IN! 😀
question for you folks...is it easy finding a place to live near campus?
and how important is it to have a car? im coming from california, so theres a great possibility that i wont have a car..thanks mates!
Click to expand...

You could easily do without a car in Philly. The campus is about 20-30 minutes away from downtown and the subway runs right through university city. It's a pretty convenient area!
 
Nuggles said:
You could easily do without a car in Philly. The campus is about 20-30 minutes away from downtown and the subway runs right through university city. It's a pretty convenient area!
Click to expand...
Thats a 20-30min walk.
As mentioned subway and buses make it much quicker. You can get from Penn to Old City/Penn's Landing (opposite side of the city) by bus/subway in like 15-20mins by subway/bus and half that to get to Centre City

I have a car and only use it to get groceries
 
Sweaty Teddy said:
I GOT IN! 😀
question for you folks...is it easy finding a place to live near campus?
and how important is it to have a car? im coming from california, so theres a great possibility that i wont have a car..thanks mates!
Click to expand...



Sweaty Teddy -- I found out I got in yesterday too! Did you interview on 6/28? Are you the boy from ucla?
 
Congrats to both of you! 🙂 ssp or core?

And re: car.. I know lots of people without cars and only a few with them. Most people take public transportation or ride bikes .. Or walk I guess. I found an apartment with no problem in University City area.
 
Hi everyone! I was looking at Upenn's linkage schools and saw towards the bottom that only Specialized Studies students are only eligible to link to Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. I've emailed them several times with no response. Does anyone know why this is? I'm sorry if this has already been addressed in this thread! Thanks!
 
I don't understand what it is that you don't understand...

Thats all SSP are eligible for as thats all that UPenn has negotiated for its SSP students

Also, for RWJ - you can't have taken the MCAT before coming to UPenn or have any Cs in core classes; just an FYI
 
Random question re: the lps website... does anyone know if there is a calendar that includes fall 2010/spring 2011 dates? I can only find thru Summer II under "calendar" tab, but other info may be hiding somewhere on the site.

Also, as the fall approaches, I'm worrying (as usual) about Gen Chem - should I start reading up on chemistry before class? I have a small review book... I don't know how much it will really help me... can it hurt?
 
Look on the general penn website for an academic calender. Forget LPS.

reading ahead is never going to hurt IMO
 
Thanks 🙂

Here is a question for those of you who have completed or are in the process of completing the core program - Is it possible to work ~20 hours a week while taking Bio I, Gen Chem, and labs for both? I need to do this for the fall... you know, money is kind of essential for living... think my grades going to tank if I work 20 though? I would think it's manageable..
 
sm640739 said:
Thanks 🙂

Here is a question for those of you who have completed or are in the process of completing the core program - Is it possible to work ~20 hours a week while taking Bio I, Gen Chem, and labs for both? I need to do this for the fall... you know, money is kind of essential for living... think my grades going to tank if I work 20 though? I would think it's manageable..
Click to expand...

It's definitely possible to work 20 hours while doing bio and chem if you have good study habits. I didn't work part-time, but I'm pretty sure I wasted at least 20 hours every week doing unproductive things 😀.
 
sm640739 said:
SuperDario - Call the office and see what they want ... I would say what you sent should hold up until the scores are sent, assuming they want "official" scores. I'd order from CB to be on the safe side... but try calling the office at Penn anyway - if they flat out tell you not to bother sending them, then you have your answer!
Click to expand...

sm, good call on the official scores, turns out I needed them anyway! They came in today, and I just got the "application complete" e-mail. Btw, how long after the app is complete do they notify you about whether you have an interview or not?

Thanks!
 
Nuggles, thanks for the response.. haha -

SuperDario - it was ~2wk for me once it was entirely complete. Granted, prior to that I had to nag a prof for a LOR for ~1 month... ridiculous lol... You should hear back soon though 🙂 Good luck!
 
Had my interview today! Hello fellow August 2 interviewers!

And I'm kind of nervous to hear back actually...I don't think my interview went all that well!

Should I be anxious?!?!
 
My interview went awful - the former director spent an hr ripping me and telling me I wasnt worthy of coming to Penn.

I got accepted 2 days later.

Bottom-line is - i wouldn't worry, its outta your hands now and getting ripped in an interview isnt always a bad sign lol
 
hii guys! i have my interview tomorrow and I'm pretty nervous.. hopefully I can come out of it with happy results!
 
How do most students pay for the post bac at upenn? since post bac students don't receive financial aid and get limited federal loans.

Thanks
 
ices--- I got about 12500 in federal loans...the rest is private. There are lots of options for different student loans. Once you get in you can check out the financial services website at Penn. They have a whole list of private lenders.
 
robflanker said:
Linkages would indicate 3.2....

I would say 3.4-3.5 so that if linking doesnt work you'll still have a high sGPA to apply regular style with
Click to expand...

Is this true? I was under the impression one had to do better than that to compete in the regular applicant pool.
 
Average enrollee at med school has a 3.65 cGPA (100% true) and a 3.5ish (trying to remember off the top of my head, ballpark number) sGPA.

Provided you came in with a decent GPA, a 3.5 at Penn in all science classes would put u in standing with the right cGPA and a high sGPA
 
I just got my decision e-mail - I got in! WOO!!!

very excited to start, i hope i'm not shut out of TOO many decent classes!
 
Question, after you submit your enrollment form are you supposed to receive an e-mail with further information or do you just end up getting the rest of the stuff in the mail?
 
congrats!

Excited/nervous to start! Mostly nervous and worried to be honest.... but that seems to be relatively normal for me...
 
Hey guys! No one's been talking on this thread for a while... is there a facebook page or something that everyone's on?
We if not, we should!

I'm in the special sciences program, wondering what previous penn post bacc students thought of the classes they took...
So far I'm looking at BIBB320, BIBB310, BIOL202, and BIOL221.

What is everyone else taking? Any input from Penn veterans? 🙄
 
There are many facebook groups - just do a search

and i took 320 and 321, and loved them.

I also finished the program and am in my glide yr
 
I got a letter from one prof I took two classes with, and another from 320/321.

I wanted nothing to do with the letter from Penn. They are so unorganized, dont know me from a hole in the wall. I stayed in touch with ugrad advisor and he wrote me one.

And Dan - the third wouldnt come from the committee. You need three separate ones really.

My LORs were - Prof at Penn, 320/321 doctor, old boss pre-UPenn, doc i did an intern with for several winters/summers, my EMT chief, and then my committee letter
 
Hey Rob!
So is 321 just a continuation of 320?
oh, and also, would any of the psych (namely experimental psych) classes count as bcpm? Would any of the other classes outside of the ones that start with BIOL/CHEM/PHYS/BIBB/MATH count too?
Thanks for all the help you've been to us, btw. You must be tired to talking about penn.
 
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321 is a continuation of 320 - slightly different responsibilities, and sometimes a change of hospitals (if you start at HUP, most of the time you go to CHOP for 321).

Exp Psych is not BCPM.

And no, the ones that you listed are probably it for bcpm purposes
 
Hey, for anyone who is starting this Fall, are your courses listed in the PennPortal, under My Tabs, then My Courses?

I've been registered for courses for awhile now, but it says NO COURSES FOUND!!!

And by awhile, I mean a few weeks...
 
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