UPenn Post Bacc Program

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Thanks for the fast response-

I actually am accepted already, and I had applied for the summer start but I can't accept my acceptance until march when I hear from one of my other schools. I think rock2doc (i think that's his name) said that he was accepted and the school said the summer start is full..even though we were both accepted for the summer start.

I am not set on linkage, I just want to know my options. To be honest, I have no knowledge about med school applications and time frame. That's why I was wondering if I start in the fall and do an academic year + the summer orgo, when I would apply to med school/ take the mcat. If I would be applying the following summer at that point I might as well just take orgo the following year and spread it out - while taking an upper level.

Does this make sense? I can get confusing sometimes
 
If its full, you werent accepted for summer start, you were accepted to UPenn and for a fall start unless your letter specifically states summer start. Id call and ask about situation.

Try this for a timeline and see if it helps - im going to have you take gen chem elsewhere in option #1

#1
Summer 2010 - Gen Chem 1 & 2
Fall 2010 - Physics 1 and Bio 1
Spring 2011 - Physics 2 and Bio 2
Summer 2011 Orgo 1 and Orgo 2
Theoretically take the MCAT summer 2011 (maybe a late July or August date) and apply to med school
Fall 2011 - Orgo Lab and any upper levels you want

#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
 
emtdan said:
Do you need orgo before taking upper levels such as genetics?

Also, do you reckon there is no way to get into classes for this summer? If we can't, will we at least be sure to be able to register for all the classes we need in the future? (Obviously upper levels will be hard, but we HAVE to do the core no matter what..)
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You only have to take biology in order to take genetics, not orgo. Different upper levels require different prereqs, so other than genetics it would be specific to what you are taking. As far as I know, if you are accepted for the summer session, you should be able to take classes. I know that Physics and Orgo are being offered over the summer because I have friends in the program that are taking it. Biology is listed as a summer class as well as Gen. Chem I. Classes are on a first come first serve basis, but for the core sciences there is usually plenty of room.

emtdan said:
I apologize for the double post. Orgo is offered in the summer - am I interpreting this correctly. So theoretically I could still do one year, except it would be one academic year followed by orgo in the summer?
Click to expand...

Orgo is offered in the summer. There are several people that are doing the one year program. The UPenn site used to have a mock schedule for people doing the one or two year program. The people that do the one year depend on their acceptance. Some people took Gen. Chem. in the summer session, then Orgo/bio/physics in the spring/ fall. Classes and guidelines may have changed in the past year as the director has changed yet again. I do not think they have a new director yet either.
 
Extraordinarily helpful guys - thank you

For the record, I was accepted for the fall - I didn't catch that in the letter. I am going to call sometime soon to ask about taking Gen chem 1 and 2 at my own college over the summer - I'll update here on the answer.

I would prefer to take all my classes at Penn - and I do like that option #2 you posted Rob. I assume you'd suggest taking 2 classes together and not pushing to do 3. (You say take physics over the summer, would it not be a wise decision to take it with bio and gen chem during the year and have the summer off?) I'll have an apartment anyway dow there so I guess it wouldn't matter.

I'm anxious to start!
 
So its upto you if you think you handle three pre-reqs at the same time. It will be an insane amount of work as you'll have lab for each one and typically all the exams fall in the same week.
So you'd have midterms for each class in the same week.

Basically only take what you think you can get good grades in cos taking all 3 and getting a 3.0 doesnt help you at all whereas taking two and getting a 3.7/4.0 does help.
 
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...

Based on this option (which I like... it sounds manageable 🙂 ), which upper level would you suggest taking in Fall 2011? Cancer cell biology was recommended by a student who spoke at my interview day... but I believe you/others have also said good things about Histology. I think Cancer Cell Bio is offered in spring, but what about Histology? I'm calling today to set up my mandatory advising meeting...

Also, if I want to link, and it requires an MCAT by April 30th, do you think this Option #2 schedule would work for me? It seems like I'd be able to study in Spring 2012 for MCAT... although no doubt Orgo + Orgo Lab is going to be especially time consuming.
 
This is all pretty interesting. Thanks for your analysis, rob.

I was going to try to work full time and take 2 classes, at least for the first two semesters-- it feels to me like not working and going to only two classes a semester wouldn't look too hot to an adcom. Working, however, rules out summer sessions, unless you can find a job that lets you go on two 12 week vacations over the summer (well, I guess teaching will do that.) If I went full time, it seems to me that you'd have to take 3 classes a semester to justify not working.

What do you guys think?
 
Also, just a heads up--- I believe that linking is going to be pretty much impossible for the fall starters. Most linkages Penn offers require that you finish in one year, and you'd already be applying late in the cycle, and not having your MCAT score until late summer seems like it would make it VERY tough to get in where ever you apply. I could definitely be wrong, of course, but, from what I understand about linking, it's tough even when conditions are optimal, and starting in the fall creates quite a few problems for the 1 year track.
 
rock2doc said:
This is all pretty interesting. Thanks for your analysis, rob.

I was going to try to work full time and take 2 classes, at least for the first two semesters-- it feels to me like not working and going to only two classes a semester wouldn't look too hot to an adcom. Working, however, rules out summer sessions, unless you can find a job that lets you go on two 12 week vacations over the summer (well, I guess teaching will do that.) If I went full time, it seems to me that you'd have to take 3 classes a semester to justify not working.

What do you guys think?
Click to expand...

Taking two classes with lab would probably be fine for adcoms, you could always do something to get clinical experience in any case (research, volunteering, etc)
 
drizzt3117 said:
Taking two classes with lab would probably be fine for adcoms, you could always do something to get clinical experience in any case (research, volunteering, etc)
Click to expand...

Hmmm, interesting. It seems to me like bio and chemistry will be "easier" than physics and orgo, and therefore I should be able to do those two while working a 9-5. It would be really nice to get a ton of volunteer/research experience the second year and only have to take 2 classes per semester. 3 sounded like it would be pretty rough.
 
http://www.sas.upenn.edu/lps/print/postbac/premed/current/linkage_programs

Well I found this... I don't know if it's accurate... but it sounds like only some of the linkages require 1 year completion. Maybe I'm wrong. It sounds like Temple, Mt. Sinai, Pitt, and RWJ are the only ones that "require" 1 year completion. But I agree starting in the Fall is not ideal...

Maybe someone who is currently in the program can comment on this - I have a meeting with my advisor there scheduled for Tues, so I will ask then if no one is sure.
 
I'm going to do a track that allows me to do well, not fast and inefficient. With that schedule #2 - do you think schools will frown on only taking 2 classes each semester, and 1 of the summer? Is that seen as purposely taking a lighter course load?

Also orgo over the summer- is it really doable or is it just acting for trouble by cramming in everything in 7 weeks?

Linkage only takes out the glide year. Theoretically - there are not other benefits...?
 
I think adcoms will recognize the rigor of the postbac - therefore, 2 classes + lab + volunteering/clinical experience, etc at UPenn might not look so "light" compared to the same schedule elsewhere - of course, this is contingent upon performing well in the classes.

re: summer courses... I'd either try to do physics or orgo in the summer, personally. I don't know which is more manageable in terms of truly understanding/retaining info and not just "cramming."

as a side note, I am so bored out of my mind right now... my classes were all cancelled today because "snow." The roads are 100% fine around here. sigh.
 
Let us know how your advisor meeting goes. I tried calling Sally Cardy but she wasn't in her office.

Still waiting to ask her if we are allowed to take a summer gen chem outside of Penn.
 
Wow this place got popular today.

So the link posted by sm640739 appears to be about right. For whatever reason, i can't open the official document - it seems to be corrupted but ill keep trying.

if you didnt get into the summer, it looks all the one yr links are out.

there are plenty of opportunities for volunteer and other classes if you want to. a lot of ppl take 2 prereqs and work (part time) or volunteer or shadow or do something else.

The ones i know who work full time and take 2 pre-reqs have no life but it depends on the flexibility of your job.

Sally Cardy can be really hard to get a hold of; repeated phone calls and emails are needed.

sm640739 - don't hold out any hope that your advising apptment will be helpful. they aren't. as long as u have something in mind that makes loose sense, then theyll just agree with you. In terms of upper levels, the clinical research in emergency medicine is awesome and doesnt have prereqs. Histo is great but might have prereqs. A lot of prehealth kids do the traditional biochem (cell and molec) and genetics for their upper levels.
 
Hey Rob. What kinds of part time jobs do people work while in post bac? Also, a 9-5 with two pre-reqs means no life, but it also means free classes for two semesters, so i'll probably have to give up everything that i like about being alive. besides doing science problems, of course.
 
Rock - So I just got a part-time with CHOP doing clinical research. I know people who work in labs doing bench work in the Penn SOM, a friend does full time stuff for HUP, another is a CNA, another works as a nurse. A real variety.

If you work for the SOM, you ought to check with your supervisor how many classes they'll let you take. My friend who does bench work says his PI will let him have some time to do one class but won't let him take two. So depending on your boss, you might want to check. Not sure how the reimbursement works either. I think HUP pays for it up front, whereas I think SOM pays for it after the fact.
 
Rob - Congrats on the job with CHOP! That's exciting. I'd like to do something like that during my second year or glide year (depending on linkages)

I doubt I'll have any time for a job as a fulltime student though... I don't want to jeopardize anything.
 
Thanks SM. I'm heading into my glide year now, and still applying to full-time jobs so i'll be able to let you know how it goes lol.
 
Interesting, and congrats, Rob.

I don't work in a medical/research context-- I work for the administration doing IT, so I'm free to take as many classes as I like, I believe. Cool stuff, althoughI hear it's pretty hard to land a research job if you don't have any science under your belt. Thanks again for the helpful info, rob and drizzt. I feel a lot more prepared for my advising meeting.
 
Np Rock.

Landing a research job (either clinical or bench work) will be next to impossible without any kind of science. But after you've done the intros - it'll give you something to do during your glide year
 
Application submitted, let's hope the summer start isn't totally capped. :luck:

Thanks for the endless Q&A sessions, rob, immensely appreciated on this end.
 
Np mtulli - hope it helps

Unfortunately by the sound of things the summer is completely booked up. A quick call to LPS should be able to clarify that but I'm not optimistic sadly.

The 2 yr plan isn't bad as it lets you work, earn some cash and explore some other opportunities. You just have to make the most of it
 
While I am grappling with the all too likely reality that if admitted they will require me to begin in the Fall, I also remain optimistic that I can in some way convince them of the value in admitting me to begin during their summer session.

Foolishly naive? Most definitely. I have strong reasons to aspire to attend UPenn and unfortunately being faced with a two year program will most probably deter me from committing. I have financial and familial obligations that require me to accelerate through the post-bacc segment in the most efficient way possible and begin medical school.

Do they still have their 1.5 year option available? I know that their site now accommodates only the single and double year programs but their 18 month did once exist.
 
There is really only a one year program and then everything else.

Even if you did 18mo - you couldnt start medical school until the Fall of the following year anyways. And then you wouldn't be linking because all of the links require you to be FT or PT.

Good luck on your quest to convince them to let you start in the summer. However, if not then you won't be able to start medical school for 2 years, so as I mentioned even if you did it in 18mo (which I guess is possible depending on class load/scheduling) - you'd still be hanging out from Jan-Aug.
 
Summer start isn't capped. I just spoke with a recruiter. Registration for classes hasn't started yet which basically determines if the classes are full or not
 
Empress - see my other post. With whom did you speak? There seems to be some conflictory responses as we've had two future students reference it being full.

You are right classes haven't enrolled yet but that might not have a bearing on whether they are admitting for the summer.
 
I guess my brain is not so bad. I just remembered her saying something like
Angelique. I usually have to say the name to the person before it sticks lol

Anyhow, re registration, that's the reason she gave me. It makes sense.
 
Well it sorta makes sense but they also apparently accepted two ppl here for the fall despite them specifically applying for the summer.

Hence the confusion.

Who knows. That office is a disaster sometimes.
 
robflanker said:
upenn's mcat prep is ok but i wouldnt count on it being the mainstay of my prep. its a nice addition but not a main stay IMO
Click to expand...

How often do you meet? And how often do they administer mock exams? What is the dynamic like among the students? Do you prep together outside of classes?

Since I want to try to do the linkage in one year and I don't have any sciences I really can't begin to prep until next spring. I'll need a rigorous prep schedule to balance 3 science classes that I need to do well in and prep for the may mcat and do well to keep any linkages I may get.
 
I don't go but i've seen what some of the students did and talked to them and it is a lot less intense (and IMO, a lot less helpful than kaplan).

I don't think any of the students solely relied on Penn's MCAT prep but used as adjunct to their Kaplan/PR work.

If you can't start in the summer, a lot of the links are null but i'm sure you've read that here and the summer thing seems a gray area at the moment.
 
robflanker said:
I don't go but i've seen what some of the students did and talked to them and it is a lot less intense (and IMO, a lot less helpful than kaplan).

I don't think any of the students solely relied on Penn's MCAT prep but used as adjunct to their Kaplan/PR work.

If you can't start in the summer, a lot of the links are null but i'm sure you've read that here and the summer thing seems a gray area at the moment.
Click to expand...

Oooo please read and give me feed back in the low gpa thread. I mentioned there that since I'm a penn alumni I can register for summer classes throught the penn alumni program which will guarantee that I will start this summer. I'm also going to apply to the pre health program but it's going to take some time to get my stuff together since I have a month old baby 😀
 
Well I don't think I will invest in a prep class. I paid for two for the LSAT and now I'm planning to incur another year of Penn debt. I read good things about examkrackers. So I really like that Penn offers a structured prep in the program that I can use along with it
 
I read your post and whilst you can take the classes due to your alum status - you also said you'd be ineligible for the link if you are not allowed to take them as part of the pre-health program. So whilst you could theoretically done in a year, it sounds like unless you get approval from the pre-health folk you'd be ineligible for most of the links.

Also a sub 3.0 undergrad GPA makes you ineligible anyways for a lot IIRC
 
robflanker said:
I read your post and whilst you can take the classes due to your alum status - you also said you'd be ineligible for the link if you are not allowed to take them as part of the pre-health program. So whilst you could theoretically done in a year, it sounds like unless you get approval from the pre-health folk you'd be ineligible for most of the links.

Also a sub 3.0 undergrad GPA makes you ineligible anyways for a lot IIRC
Click to expand...

I still plan on applying to the prehealth but I can buy some time getting my LORs together. That way I can guarantee that I'll be enrolled this summer.

Also my penn cgpa is 2.98 but my total gpa including cc classes is 3.35. Thoughts on that?
 
Please anyone some clarification on short terms

IIRC
EC

thanks
 
Total GPA is irrelevant to Penn. They only care what the GPA on your undergrad transcript is - the one awarded to you from Penn if you went here as a UGrad. You can check with them but if they didnt take your CC grades into account when you came here, then i doubt they'll look at them now and thus your GPA is 2.98.

However for AMCAS its a total GPA.

Im lost - you aren't guaranteed admission for upenn pre-health program for the summer. You might be able to take classes but not as a pre-health student but as an alum

IIRC = If I Remember Correctly
EC = Extra-curriculars
 
No, Penn accepted most of my cc courses. Since AMCAS averages all classes for gpa I figured it'd be the same for the linkage. Not so?

As an alumna, I can enroll in the sciences classes I need starting this summer. It'd be the same classes pre health students are taking but I wouldn't be in the formal post bac program. I will apply to the program also but because between now and the app deadline I don't have a lot of time to get things together I'm just going to register for classes when registration begins. If I get accepted I can apply for the linkage by the May 1 deadline.

I'm going to call again tomorrow about the linkage cgpa requirements. It would be great if they averaged grades like AMCAS. I'll let you know what they say.
 
Last edited:
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.
 
Empress, try talking to Sally Cardy or someone else in the office. Maybe even email them... Someone should be able to answer your questions.

Side note- anyone starting at Penn in fall 2010? When are you planning on moving to Philly?
 
Hey -
I emailed Sally last week and had no response inquiring about the summer start. I called today and left a message. We'll see where that leads. If I start in the summer I'd move in May 24 probably. Otherwise, if I start in the fall I'll move in 3rd week in August or so. A friend of mine just graduated as a graduate student, he told me to get housing at Samsin (or Samsun - Rob feel free to correct me) East or West.

That help?
 
Its housing by the University;
http://www.business-services.upenn.edu/housing/lpsrent0910.pdf

I'm not sure what the rules and policies are but I'm all set with university-run housing.

Plus keep in mind its only housing for 10mo so you can't do (i dont think but not entirely sure) summer housing and may not be able to stay there during winter intersemester.

Also you are referred to as LPS students not graduate students, just fyi
 
hmm. question...

I accepted on 2/24 and met with my advisor today to plan everything out (yay!)

Then, I went to Franklin bldg to get my Penn Card.. and.. I'm "not in the system yet." How long does this process take? Dr. Witmer wants me to schedule on the 22nd...

Oh, and as an FYI to the previous discussion - 2 year linkages ARE allowed with certain schools. Only the ones that require one year on that website require everything to be completed in a year 🙂

But really, how long till I'm in the system? I want my Penn Card! 🙂
 
SM, you might want to call the pennkey/card office to see if there is a hold up. Penn operates in a somewhat disjointed fashion, so usually the best course of action with an administrative issue is to go directly to the source and not try to go through your particular program's administration.
 
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 spoke with Evangelique again - she's a recruiter. She said how the cum gpa is calculated is based on the med school. She kept saying an adviser would know more about the process. She did say you can only apply to one linkage school. Basically speak with your advisers. I need to get accepted and do the same.
 
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.
 
Thanks for the info about calling. Which office handles email? I got the pennkey working once it was mailed to me. But, apparently I needed to be in the system before I could get a penncard. And to be in the system I believe I have to have scheduled classes. Now, my email won't work... I registered it and received an address but messages won't send to it. I tried sending a test email from my current address and it bounced back :/..
 
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