UPenn vs Columbia

[dcc]

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Hi,
I am planning to move with my boyfriend this fall who just got accepted to UPenn and Columbia phd programs. I recently realized I really want to go to med school. I went to UPenn for undergrad but i didn't do any pre-med coursework unless you count a semester of calc. So as we decide where to go I am trying to compare their pre-med post-bac programs and would really appreciate any advice.

I know some programs weed people out to claim a high med-school acceptance rate - I saw a post on here from a few years back saying Columbia has close to a 50% attrition rate. Anyone have stats on UPenn and other schools?

Thank you!!

 

[Lindseysayshi]

I am currently in the Columbia program and suggest you look into UPenn. Please PM me if you would like details. 🙂

 

[Nuggles]

I applied to both UPenn and Columbia.. Any chance you could share why not many people seem to like Columbia here (that's the general feel I get anyways)? I hear the high attrition rate as being one reason, but are there others I should know about? Thanks!

 

[drizzt3117]

I would consider HES if you haven't already... I'd prefer that to either Penn or Columbia if you don't mind living in Boston.

 

[Nuggles]

Really? Any particular reason why Harvard Extension is better than UPenn or Columbia? I know cost-wise Harvard is a lot cheaper; however, how much guidance and help do you get while at Harvard (with regards to which classes to take, etc.)? Thanks Drizzt

Edit: Forgot to mention I've already gotten the acceptance letter from HES 🙂 with an interview with UPenn this coming Monday and Goucher sometime soon I believe. So I'm just trying to get as much information about all the programs before I commit to one of them. Thanks again!

 

[drizzt3117]

Really? Any particular reason why Harvard Extension is better than UPenn or Columbia? I know cost-wise Harvard is a lot cheaper; however, how much guidance and help do you get while at Harvard (with regards to which classes to take, etc.)? Thanks Drizzt

Edit: Forgot to mention I've already gotten the acceptance letter from HES 🙂 with an interview with UPenn this coming Monday and Goucher sometime soon I believe. So I'm just trying to get as much information about all the programs before I commit to one of them. Thanks again!

Goucher > all of those programs. Scripps, Goucher, and BM are the best and most established postbac programs with 100% success rate since time immemorial. HES and Penn seem to have similar success to each other (but a somewhat lower rate of success than the big 3) without the attrition that Columbia has, and students seem happier, and HES is much cheaper than either Penn or Columbia. I wouldn't worry about guidance, only about committee sponsorship or letter. Advice on SDN for the most part > advice at a postbac.

 

[Nuggles]

That is very interesting, thanks for the insight drizzt. I knew Goucher was good, but I didn't realize it was that much better than UPenn or Harvard 😱

 

[drizzt3117]

That is very interesting, thanks for the insight drizzt. I knew Goucher was good, but I didn't realize it was that much better than UPenn or Harvard 😱

Yeah, most east coast applicants consider BM/Goucher the best (in no particular order) and most west coast applicants prefer Scripps. I went to Scripps and got into all 3, BM has a significantly bigger class size than the other two, at Goucher postbacs take classes with only postbacs, and Scripps' students take classes with undergrads but have much smaller class sizes (~15) There aren't significant differences in outcomes between the top 3 programs, but certainly are between HES/Penn/Columbia and the top tier.

 

[Nuggles]

Just to clarify, when you say difference in outcomes, are you just referring to the difference in acceptance rates to medical schools (~90% at HES etc. vs 100% at Goucher & co.)? Or do Goucher, BM and Scripps also send more applicants (%-wise) to the top-tier medical schools?

Also, I heard Goucher's director left for the John Hopkins program recently, will this have any major effect on the program? Thanks!

Note: The reason why I keep asking about Goucher is because I didn't apply to BM and Scripps this application cycle 😛

 

[drizzt3117]

Just to clarify, when you say difference in outcomes, are you just referring to the difference in acceptance rates to medical schools (~90% at HES etc. vs 100% at Goucher & co.)? Are do Goucher, BM and Scripps also send more applicants (%-wise) to the top-tier medical schools?

Also, I heard Goucher's director left for the John Hopkins program recently, will this have any major effect on the program? Thanks!

Note: The reason why I keep asking about Goucher is because I didn't apply to BM and Scripps this application cycle 😛

I meant outcomes in terms of where their students end up. Generally the top 3 programs do send more students to top programs, but that's mostly because they're a lot more selective to start out with. That said, they have built up good relationships with a lot of top med schools.

 

[Nuggles]

Thanks again Drizzt!