UPenn vs. Columbia Pre-health

[yoonhee]

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Hey guys!

So i got into both programs for the pre-health programs but i'm having a hard time choosing one...
If anyone has some info about the programs I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT! I need to let the schools know soon so ANYTHING will be helpful.
And i apologize for posting a topic that seems common but it's kind of hard getting info on threads with 15+ pages.

topics of interest for me:
- MCAT preparation. i know upenn offers a free course to the students but don't know about columbia
- Advising. i've heard mostly negative comments about both programs. but i know advising is really up to the student so it's not such a big decision-maker for me
- Student body. how is the post-bacc community? friendly? cut-throat?
- Medical school acceptance rate. both schools don't seem to give out their stats.
- Classes

info about me:
i'm an undergrad at nyu right now. majoring in psychology so i don't have any pre-med courses in my background really. i'm trying to finish the program in a summer and one full academic year.

THANK YOU!!!!!

 

[deleted248403]

I wouldnt put much stock in Upenn's MCAT course. I certainly wouldnt plan on doing it instead of a Kaplan/PR - its a nice free addition but not a stand-alone course.

Advising at Penn sucks, but with some leg work and some reading - you can figure it out

Student body is very friendly at Penn from my experience - a few stand out cut-throats as is expected but all in a good group of ppl. The pre-health community is a lot closer than the SSP.

UPenn does give out their stats - its in their brochure. They claim 85-90% get into "a medical school". I doubt the stat personally, but i suppose if you include all MD, DO and foreign schools then it probably makes sense.

Classes? Uh not sure what you want on this one - Gen chem is a big weed-out at Penn, but every school has a weed out class.

On a diff note, from reading about it - you couldn't pay me to go to Columbia. Very little support, very high attrition, and seemingly very little success.

 

[TRUCB06]

Hey how did you find out about columbia when I've called a few times to find out and they said that they are not mailing decisions until end of this week?