UPenn vs. UVM Post Bac

[DrHypertrophy]

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Pros and Cons?...I have searched the forum but looking for new insight.

 

[deleted248403]

Never heard of a UVM post bac

 

[mtulli]

UVM has no wide linkage except to one medical school and it isn't even their own. Their medical school facilities are extremely nice as well as the city you'll be living in but as a post-bacc you will be taking classes with undergrads-- mostly freshmen and sophomores.

The medical school gives high consideration to the University's post-bacc successes and many people apply successfully to great medical schools.

Expect to work hard on your own and have an independent idea of what will work for you. They will be weeding you out along with all of their other pre-medical freshmen and sophomores.

 

[Ride Big Sky]

For the most part the UVM profs are great. The majority of the TA's in labs were pretty good...you get the occasional dude that's not a great teacher, but from my experiences that was pretty rare. Burlington is sweet and there is always something to do around there. You can easily get hooked up at Fletcher Allen (UVM's hospital) with a volunteering gig or research if you get your name out there. Polly Allen is also really good about sending out news regarding jobs and cool research positions coming open. FYI UVM's post bac also has a linkage with UNECOM if you're looking to go the DO route. From the looks of it it seems that most people at least throw their name in at UNECOM and push hard to get into UVM MD because they give strong preference to their post bac students.

Honestly my only gripe with their program was how long it took to get in and see an advisor. Polly was amazing in that she always got back to you very quickly by email, but she was so busy it usually took awhile to get a face to face meeting.

Sorry for the incoherent ramblings....long day in the lab.

If anyone wants to know anything about UVM shoot me a pm and I'll give you my opinion on the matter or hook you up with people that could answer your questions.

 

[conrad123]

What do you need to get into med school?

Research--UVM has it

Volunteering--UVM/Burlington has it

Shadowing--UVM/Burlington has it

Good science grades--I was in the program for a summer and two semesters and got straight A's without too much work

Composite letter of recommendation--UVM has it, and I think it is fair and personalized

Burlington is a great place to live.

I have good prior life experience, but UVM post bac helped me get into some top schools (UVM, Mt. Sinai....) and around 9 interview offers.

Teachers are good and easy to befriend.

 

[deleted248403]

Philly has all of that too conrad.

And IMO, more opportunities just due to the numbers of hospitals and schools etc.

 

[emtdan]

I will concede, Upenn does not have ben and jerry's

 

[deleted248403]

There is a Ben and Jerry's on campus at 40th St between Locust and Walnut; and another at the east of end campus on 30th st....

But I get the reference

 

[conrad123]

Philly has all of that too conrad.

And IMO, more opportunities just due to the numbers of hospitals and schools etc.

Agreed...my previous post wasn't so much a compare and contrast, which the OP asked for.

Where I would give UVM the advantage over UPenn (which I know nothing about except reputation) is:

1. Getting straight A's is very do-able---it may also be at UPenn, but UPenn sounds harder.

2. The UVM student body in the basic science classes (ie not the Chem for Chem Majors, etc) aren't that outgoing towards professors. This means that if you show extra interest in the subject it is relatively easy to be seen as excelling and then get two letters of rec from science professors. That was my experience--I think I was also lucky with excellent, cool professors. I imagine it would be harder to stand out at UPenn.

The primary reason I chose UVM, though, is because I'm a Vermonter and I figured my best shot at med school was at UVM.

 

[DrHypertrophy]

Reputation is a factor and UPENN does have more linkage and to multiple MD programs.
However, I am not for sure how easy or hard is to link. Maybe robflanker can comment? I am ultimately going to UVM but I'm sure other people will benefit from hearing how many UPENN students link. I know at UVM the linkage agreement with UNECOM is guaranteed interview.

 

[MD to be 1 day]

"I am ultimately going to UVM"....well then, dr.hypertrophy, i think I might see you in a few months as i'm waiting to hear back from a few schools but I think that's where I'm going...it will be quite a change for me from my californian winters! yikes!
just curious: what finalized your decision for UVM? are you instate?

 

[DrHypertrophy]

That's funny...I am actually from southern California but I did my undergrad in Maryland. So I have been living in somewhat more colder whether..obviously not like Burlington though. I decided to go to UVM because I felt like the environment: advisor, classes, area would fit me better than UPENN. Everything I have heard from fellow SDNers who have been through the program have said good things as well.

 

[deleted248403]

hypertrophy - have a read of the UPenn thread to get an idea for the program