UPenn PreHealth PostBac

[AggieMed05]

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OK folks, I've been doing as much research as possible but I still have some questions that have yet to be answered. These are the things I want to know more about in no particular order:

1) What is the quality of the program's advising services?

2) How are the professors in terms of clarity, availability outside of class, and interest in helping students succeed?

3) Do postbac students take classes with undergrads or postbacs only?

4) Are students cut-throat like at Columbia or concerned about the success of their peers like at Scripps (or somewhere in-between?)

5) How difficult is it to get involved with medical volunteering/interning/researching/shadowing?

I would greatly appreciate it if someone could answer even one of these questions. I've heard a lot of good things about the program but also some bad things, and I'd just like to find out what the real deal is from someone who knows. Thanks for your time, all!

 

[punchberry]

1) What is the quality of the program's advising services?

There are two full-time advisors dedicated to the program, and we also have access to all of the services of the career services center. There are also workshops on applying, interviewing, MCAT prep options, etc. Overall, I think the quality of the advising is very high.

2) How are the professors in terms of clarity, availability outside of class, and interest in helping students succeed?

No matter where you go, this will vary from professor to professor. At Penn, most of the CGS professors are adjunct, as opposed to full-time Penn faculty. In my experience, most are pretty approachable, but in many cases, they have a different day job, do not have an office on campus, etc. In most cases, they are available by e-mail and phone, and have office hours immediately before or after class.

3) Do postbac students take classes with undergrads or postbacs only?

Postbacs can take undergrad classes, but they are a lot more expensive. Undergrads can take a limited number of postbac classes. CGS sections of classes that are also offered during the day will have a very small number of undergrads. The upper level seminars that are not offered during the day will have more undergrads, but the majority of students will still be post-bacs.

Summer session is an exception to this; during the summer, there is no distinction, and we do take classes with undergrads. These classes often have more undergrads than postbacs.

4) Are students cut-throat like at Columbia or concerned about the success of their peers like at Scripps (or somewhere in-between?)

I have not attended either Columbia or Scipps, so I cannot compare.

5) How difficult is it to get involved with medical volunteering/interning/researching/shadowing?

There are a lot of opportunities in Philadelphia, both in and out of Penn. There is also a clinical research class that is offered as part of the program:
http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/em/Research/academicassociates/

 

[riceman04]

There are two full-time advisors dedicated to the program, and we also have access to all of the services of the career services center. There are also workshops on applying, interviewing, MCAT prep options, etc. Overall, I think the quality of the advising is very high.


No matter where you go, this will vary from professor to professor. At Penn, most of the CGS professors are adjunct, as opposed to full-time Penn faculty. In my experience, most are pretty approachable, but in many cases, they have a different day job, do not have an office on campus, etc. In most cases, they are available by e-mail and phone, and have office hours immediately before or after class.


Postbacs can take undergrad classes, but they are a lot more expensive. Undergrads can take a limited number of postbac classes. CGS sections of classes that are also offered during the day will have a very small number of undergrads. The upper level seminars that are not offered during the day will have more undergrads, but the majority of students will still be post-bacs.

Summer session is an exception to this; during the summer, there is no distinction, and we do take classes with undergrads. These classes often have more undergrads than postbacs.


I have not attended either Columbia or Scipps, so I cannot compare.


There are a lot of opportunities in Philadelphia, both in and out of Penn. There is also a clinical research class that is offered as part of the program:
http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/em/Research/academicassociates/

Thanks for that website. I will be in philly this year (special science) and i have been looking for research exper. I wanted to take the course but the instructor said that I would have to arrange my visit (before I move down) to Philly so that it coincides with his meeting. Being that I live in Los Angeles, that makes it difficult for me to just up and go to philly when he decided to schedule the meeting. SO i am glad you posted this website b/c I am going to philly next sunday (through wed). Hopefully I will be able to meet some people who are over this dept.

Thanks