UPenn Post Bacc Program

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Me: "I'm doing this in the summer. I'm doing this in the fall. I'm going to volunteer, and get a useful job."

Advisor: "Sounds about right, I mean the basic science program is pretty straightforward. That's exactly what we want you to do."

Me: "Ok well, then thanks. I'm excited to start."

Advisor: "Sure, best of luck."

Perhaps 60 seconds.
 
That's how mine went to. Somehow managed 4 minutes! Maybe it was the time I was on hold! Haha.
 
oh my goodness. Im sorry. I felt my last meeting was a waste of time, and I only had to commute 45 minutes... yes, very good thing you didn't drive!!

Question for anyone currently in the program/those who have finished... and I know it might be early for this, but help me out if you can - are there any opportunities at Penn for research/clinical exposure in anesthesiology? I'm very interested in the specialty. I know it's generally "too early" to know what I want to specialize in, but I figure I might as well start looking now...
 
Sm - not officially through the postbac program. You'd be reliant on your own leg work to set up through emailing/contacting ppl in anesthesia.

You can keep an eye on HUP/Penn Med job websites and see if anything comes up but I wouldn't hold my breath. You'll struggle to get much interest without some research experience which you'll get thru BIBB320. Once you have some credibility with the ED research staff, you might be able to ask Dr. Hollander if he knows anyone in Anesthesia.
 
Np - I'm "studying" for my final on monday so I'm happy to find excuses to not lol
 
sm-- For what it's worth I have been applying for jobs and the research positions available in the anesthesia departments require either coursework in science or research experience. So, they may be tougher to land right off the bat which plays directly into rob's advice.

Or you could shadow an anesthesiologist for starters and get in that way, which worked for me at other hospitals.

Clinical research and involvement in anesthesia will be easier, either way, once you're in medical school. I've tried to find work in areas I have interest in to little result and this is what I tell myself when I am falling asleep.😛
 
sm640739 said:
oh my goodness. Im sorry. I felt my last meeting was a waste of time, and I only had to commute 45 minutes... yes, very good thing you didn't drive!!

Question for anyone currently in the program/those who have finished... and I know it might be early for this, but help me out if you can - are there any opportunities at Penn for research/clinical exposure in anesthesiology? I'm very interested in the specialty. I know it's generally "too early" to know what I want to specialize in, but I figure I might as well start looking now...
Click to expand...

Obviously ppl who are posting jobs are going to get a gillion qualified applicants right now. I have found the key to be carpet bombing. Just email...everyone. you may not start out with a paid position, but PI's love free labor. and maybe if you're willing to work for free for x amount of months, then they could start paying you.

There is no harm in emailing people, although be prepared for a huge amount of them not to respond. Also, don't forget that Jeff is right around the corner, and there's plenty of research going on over there.
 
I know that they got my FAFSA and that other form...but haven't heard about what I have been rewarded.
 
Stixman28 said:
Obviously ppl who are posting jobs are going to get a gillion qualified applicants right now. I have found the key to be carpet bombing. Just email...everyone. you may not start out with a paid position, but PI's love free labor. and maybe if you're willing to work for free for x amount of months, then they could start paying you.
Click to expand...

👍

The trick though is to walk the fine line between indiscriminate carpet bombing of e-mails to attract attention that you're eager/persistent (good way) but not to bring about annoyance and too much negativity.
 
jslo85 said:
👍

The trick though is to walk the fine line between indiscriminate carpet bombing of e-mails to attract attention that you're eager/persistent (good way) but not to bring about annoyance and too much negativity.
Click to expand...

Well the only awkward aspect I've found to this strategy, is that when you do finally nail a position, you're going to run into those other members of the department that you emailed, and sometimes they remember your email even if they never responded.

But you're right, walk the line.
 
I'll one up you on this one since I too have had a similar experience.

I had compiled a laundry list of "bombing targets" and was sending out a very generic e-mail with certain parts of my background, publications, experience and had 3-4 tailored parts to change upon sending each one (name, research concentration, etc) and was tweaking it with each send. By about the 7-8th one, I was getting lazy and whether it be from carelessness or something else, I clicked send without tweaking 2 things from the previous e-mail to the next professor. Needless to say, where I ended up wasn't in that department. GG

It was a sobering experience that is akin to the feeling you get when you turn in a physics test with 2 questions but 1305838535 parts to it and having an epiphany moment where you realize 2 seconds later as you're picking up your backpack that you @#%#ed up a) pretty badly.
 
Nurse2Doctor said:
Has anyone heard anything back from sfs about financial aid?
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I believe for the summer processing begins tomorrow. So after tomorrow, I'm not sure how long. Hopefully soon.

For the fall, I would expect a mid-July date for financial aid packages... that's usually how undergrad works.
 
I was told that they are only going to offer us stafford loans, and then anything else will have to be a private loan, which pretty much sucks.
 
I am rethinking my choice of wanting to take physics during the summer, that way I would at least have the option of doing the program in one year and reducing the cost of attendance for myself, what are your opinions??
 
Not sure the cost really changes in terms of tutition etc. Its all based on CUs to complete with some minor admin charges (not game changing costs)

We have discussed the pros and cons of 1yr vs 2yr quite a bit - read back to see the discussion

If you are set on linking then 1-yr probably makes sense, if you are less concerned with linking, then there is no need to rush thru in 1yr
 
Nurse2Doctor said:
I was told that they are only going to offer us stafford loans, and then anything else will have to be a private loan, which pretty much sucks.
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Beware of using Stafford loans this summer. You only get so much funding through the Stafford program for the year and what you take now will dip into what you will be able to take later. Just keep that in mind.
 
Thanks all for the advice regarding finding jobs/research - I'm slightly intimidated to email random professionals, just because they are so busy... but I think I'll be more comfortable with it once I get some research experience in this summer. Right now, I have essentially no science research experience, other than CITI human subjects training... some psychology research from ugrad, but that doesn't count really... By fall, that will be different though. I don't want to inquire about a position if I'm essentially unmarketable in the area of scientific research...
 
hmm, im deciding whether or not i should attend the summer orientation - i want to, because i want to meet everyone... but my actual "core" classes don't start till fall - doesnt it make more sense for me to have orientation with the people i'll be in class with?

maybe ill just go to both... 🙂
 
I must admit for orientation - i sat through the talk, picked up my ID, and left immediately lol.

I wasn't being antisocial but a lot of people have just moved in and are still unpacking etc.
 
good point...

did you ever do the volunteer program at HUP? i have my orientation this morning, and I don't know if they want us to wear the *ugly* volunteer jackets or what... lol i am just bringing mine with me in case they do want us wearing them..
 
I never did it because I was doing other things but I've heard they make you wear them all the time
 
If I were to complete the prerequisites in my first year and continue my studies into a second year with biochem, cellular bio., etc. would it be advantageous to apply the summer after I finish my prerequisites? Or would it be more beneficial to display my grades in advanced science and apply the summer following my second year of study?

It makes more sense to me to tell adcoms in the fall and winter of my second year: "I am taking this, this, and this... and volunteering here." But it also makes sense to forego the cost of more classes during the second year and just volunteer/get a job if the final grades won't be of any benefit to my applications and my prerequisite grades are high.

Anyone have any experience with such a situation?
 
SM-- how soon after applying for a volunteer position did you hear from HUP?
 
robflanker said:
Mtulli - sounds more like a financial issue than an academic one
Click to expand...

It is kind of an overlap. Will the cost of taking 5 more classes over the course of the second year be worth it? Or is it just as advantageous to land a research job for the gap year?

I was considering the classes but given that unless I wait and do a gap year after the second year of advanced sciences, my performance in class won't affect my applications. Hence my reservations and concerns about more schooling and the value in enrolling.

I guess that might be a more candid question than my previous one.

I know drizz did something involving a second year of advanced sciences, maybe I'll shoot him a PM. 😛
 
Called Sally Cardy...was advised to take Chem 101 instead of Chem 001...? I am confused Post -Bac Core studies student starting this summer 2010.....am I to take Chem 001 or Chem 101 has anyone heard anything from thier advisors... thanks
 
Mtulli - it depends on what ur gpa coming in was. If u need a bit of gpa help as as well as the prereqs then it might be worth doing the extra set of classes.
 
I just want to finish my General Chem requirement this summer so I need to know in terms of advancing to Chem 102 ....is both Chem 001 and Chem 101 acceptable ...the post bacs that are starting this summer are you enrolled in chem 001 or chem 101..
 
I enrolled in 101 and was told to do 001. I really don't think it matters. Both advance into 102 but most of us are taking 001 as far as I have seen from this forum.
 
abdul14 said:
I just want to finish my General Chem requirement this summer so I need to know in terms of advancing to Chem 102 ....is both Chem 001 and Chem 101 acceptable ...the post bacs that are starting this summer are you enrolled in chem 001 or chem 101..
Click to expand...

It doesn't matter. Chem 001 is for people who have never taken Chemistry before while 101 is geared more towards the undergrads coming in from say high school with a chemistry class or something along those lines. You end up in the same place to start chem 102 anyway. Just beware that you should be comfortable with your math skills in order to take either Chemistry 101 or 001 , especially with Dr. P!!


SM, that hideous volunteering jacket only carries you through Tier 1. Tier 2, at least in the PACU, requires HUP scrubs instead, which was much better than that jacket!! I have 1 week to go and couldn't be happier to finish so I can focus on other things!
 
Yea I think I am going to take Chem 001, even though i was advised to take chem 101...I could use the review since high school chem was like 6 years ago...Do you know what book dr P uses for Chem 001. anyone have a copy of the syllabus....
 
Chemical Principles-6 addition. Steven S. Zumdahl.
 
Zil – heard back right after I applied... like the next day. Did you just apply? Because they are between application cycles right now – the summer applicants are finishing up orientations over the next 2 weeks, and then the next set of applicants has to have materials submitted in August. I know that office is ridiculously busy, so they might take a while to get back to you... if you don't hear anything, I'd submit again closer to August, or email them personally to see what's up.

Mtulli – If I were in your situation and didn't "need" to take the other classes because of a GPA issue, I would try to find a research job and take one or two classes that would be helpful for med school, or a few that I was personally interested in.

Ali – haha this made me laugh... I actually plan on working in PACU second tier, so that's amazing news!! So today was "orientation.." but my nurse director wasn't there when I started on the floor, so the person who took over thought I knew everything already... basically I had to jump in and was hands on all day... 2 hrs later than I was supposed to be... and when the director came back she was happy. I was relieved because I thought I was doing something wrong lol

What about the math with Dr. P? Algebra?
 
Less than 3 weeks til classes start!

If anyone is looking for a roommate for August on let me know.
 
Does anybody have suggestions for other places to volunteer? It seems I am too late to start this summer at HUP! Any suggestions and stories of your experiences would be great! Thank you in advance!
 
You can volunteer at any of the philly area hospitals, big brother/big sister, so many opportunities in philly.
 
This is a stupid question but does anyone know if Dr. P allows graphing calculators? I prefer using one but won't order a new one if he only allows the use of a scientific. Thanks, lol.
 
mtulli said:
This is a stupid question but does anyone know if Dr. P allows graphing calculators? I prefer using one but won't order a new one if he only allows the use of a scientific. Thanks, lol.
Click to expand...

I think he allows all types of calculators. You won't get a significant edge using the newer graphing calculators (e.g. the ones that solve the quadratic equation for you etc.) though, since he requires you to show all of your algebra in order to get credit. And being able to graph a function on your calculator doesn't help when trying to solve his problems.

But yea, graphing calculators are handy to use; can't imagine going back 🙂
 
Nuggles said:
I think he allows all types of calculators. You won't get a significant edge using the newer graphing calculators (e.g. the ones that solve the quadratic equation for you etc.) though, since he requires you to show all of your algebra in order to get credit. And being able to graph a function on your calculator doesn't help when trying to solve his problems.

But yea, graphing calculators are handy to use; can't imagine going back 🙂
Click to expand...
This is excellent news. Thanks a lot, Nuggles. Just the use of parentheses and being able to see whole functions makes my graphing calculator irreplaceable.
 
lol o Dr. P...
best professor you'll have. lol he is tough tho but good man/professor.

Also, to answer some of your volunteer questions... once you get here, you'll have access to "penn in touch" which is like the portal for all things. but as far as jobs/volunteering go on to PennInTouch and start looking around for the positions you are interested in email them and seek volunteer positions. That's how I landed a sick one. Also, Sally will send a mass email time to time informing you of new opportunities.

Who are all the new comers?
 
Hey everyone... Just wanted to say I'm available if anyone has questions about the program here at Penn. I "graduated" from the Special Sciences program in the spring of 2009 and will be starting at EVMS this coming August (MD).

Feel free to PM me with any questions or whatever. Cheers!
 
How are people here paying for there upenn post bac pre health core studies program.....I know Direct Loans which the financial aid gives only about 5500 for dependent students what bout the other 30 thousand or so...private loans ...direct plus (parent plus).....any ideas or sugguestions....
 
The max on Stafford loans is 12500/yr (5500 sub, 7000 unsub). The rest has to come from private loans or the parents... Be prepared to have more than a few headaches when it comes to disbursement of said private loans. Welcome to Penn! :meanie:

abdul14 said:
How are people here paying for there upenn post bac pre health core studies program.....I know Direct Loans which the financial aid gives only about 5500 for dependent students what bout the other 30 thousand or so...private loans ...direct plus (parent plus).....any ideas or sugguestions....
Click to expand...
 
5500 is the maximum allowable limit for dependent students for federal stafford loan for the post bac its a one time eligilbity....the rest has to be direct plusparent plus loan which has a 2.5 orgination fee plus almost 8 percent interest....cant wait to see the surprises private loans have for me....
 
I can't help with financial aid stuff - I cleared out my savings to pay for the year
 
is chem 053 (chem lab 1) in summer session 1 the accompanying lab to chem 001?
 
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