What is your experience during informal or formal post-bacc??

[awef]

As I have mentioned before I am Mechanical Engineering graduate and I have worked in Europe for past year. However, when my contracted ended, I reflected on what I really want to continue doing in the future and I decided to head back to state side and do informal post-bacc to take all the necessary pre-req (I have to take Chem, Ochem, Bio) and upper level biology courses.

So now I am in the situation in which I should.....:
1.) Apply for full-time job and while working full-time to save up to go to dental school, go to night classes to finish up my pre-req (takes about ~ 2 years)
2.) Concentrate on my course work from spring semester and have schedule like full-time student (~ 1 year).
3.) concentrate on my course work from spring semester but obtain part-time job to prove that I can manage time during school and job (~ 1 year).

Also I will be engaged in extra curricular activities, shadowing (which I have already started), volunteering, DAT prep, etc. Just wanted to have opinion on how people have done it? or have good feedback during interview?, etc.

Thank you.

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[awef]

Anyone?

 

[NonTradHopeful]

As I have mentioned before I am Mechanical Engineering graduate and I have worked in Europe for past year. However, when my contracted ended, I reflected on what I really want to continue doing in the future and I decided to head back to state side and do informal post-bacc to take all the necessary pre-req (I have to take Chem, Ochem, Bio) and upper level biology courses.

So now I am in the situation in which I should.....:
1.) Apply for full-time job and while working full-time to save up to go to dental school, go to night classes to finish up my pre-req (takes about ~ 2 years)
2.) Concentrate on my course work from spring semester and have schedule like full-time student (~ 1 year).
3.) concentrate on my course work from spring semester but obtain part-time job to prove that I can manage time during school and job (~ 1 year).

Also I will be engaged in extra curricular activities, shadowing (which I have already started), volunteering, DAT prep, etc. Just wanted to have opinion on how people have done it? or have good feedback during interview?, etc.

Thank you.

Which of the three options you choose really depends on what your future plans are. For example, if you are planning on going to a more expensive school, then working while you take your pre-reqs (to save up for dental school) might be a good idea. If you plan to attend a state school, then take the year off and focus on classes. Really sit down and think about where you would like to go to dental school, and then base your plan around that (taking into consideration any contingency plans in case you don't get into your first choice).

Either way, you will be fine. I am quitting my job to focus on my pre-reqs this coming summer, so I definitely understand what an important decision this is. Just analyze where you want to be three years from now, and then take those three options above and apply it to that goal...whichever one is the best fit is what you should do.

All the best of luck!

 

[dentalWorks]

I was in the same exact position you are currently in about 3.5 years ago. In 2006 I decided to go after dentistry and I didn't know how to go about it. I was working fulltime as a software engineer.

In 2007, I started taking part time classes while keeping my fulltime job. I kept that job until January 2009, I quit then and decided to take fulltime classes. Right now, I have 54 credits worth of informal post-bacc (these include all my pre-reqs along with many upper level sciences like biochem / physiology / pharmacology / anatomy / histology / genetics / microbiology)

The reason why I stayed working while taking parttime classes was... Cause I needed the $$$ to support myself. If I had support coming from somewhere else, I woulda quit that job and pushed fulltime into post-bacc cause saving money before dental school is kinda stupid in my opinion. Your going to be borrowing anywhere from 150,000 to 300,000 for those 4-dental years, what difference is that 20 or 30 k gonna make? Its a better investment to get accepted fast into dental school (hence fulltime post-bacc) and graduate 4 years later and start making 150 k a year.

 

[sketo43]

In choosing among the 3 options, I think it depends most on how much money you have saved, and if you're willing to take out loans for your postbac. I would recommend trying to finish the postbac in as little time as possible while still getting high grades.

Science classes with lab are much more time consuming than regular college level classes. Between class time, labs, problem sets, and studying, each class required about 20 hours per week. I did an informal postbac, and the rule of thumb was to do one of 3 options:
-full-time work + 1 lab class at a time (this would take forever unless you've already taken some of the prereqs)
-part-time work + 2 lab classes at a time
-3 lab classes at a time

You will also want to do some shadowing, and probably some volunteering no matter how you approach your postbac. At least in my program, the people who tried doing full-time work with 2 lab classes did not do well. I quit my job and went back to school full-time. I'm glad I did, but to do this, you will need savings or loans.

 

[Lethstang]

i agree with sketos rules of thumb.

would like to add

you can take four lab classes at a time (im doing it as we speak).

to get my A's i had to give up partying and going out. to keep up, library on the weekends.

Ive read around here that adcoms look at your courseload and take it into consideration, so if you can afford it Id go with as heavy a courseload as you can handle. This is just what ive read though, I have no idea.

 

[awef]

Thanks for the suggestions. I am more leaning towards being full-time student and focusing on studies. After I get my rhythm back in being full-time student, maybe there is room for extra employment opportunity to support little.

 

[eliot81]

I definitely agree with the full time course load and getting post bac done as quickly as possible. If you still need some extra $$$, I would suggest going to a temp agency. You give tell them when you are available (even if it is only 1 day a week) and they schedule you. It is very convenient. When companies get to know you and like you many will even let you just work 1/2 days in between classes. Just something to think about...

 

[skiphotsauce]

I did an informal post-bac. I was a full time student for the first year where I took as many classes as possible, shadowed, did research, and was able to apply late after one year (started summer 08, took classes every term through summer 09, applied end of summer 09 for this cycle). This second year I am a part-time student taking the upper level courses needed by some of the schools, and have a part-time job. It works if you do well.

I agree with the above sentiments about being a full-time student and doing it as fast as possible. Do the post-bac at your state school or somewhere where you can receive financial aid or loans, wherever is the cheapest. I don't think you want to spend too much time in your post-bac, because your are delaying your entry into the dental profession, which will allow you to start paying off your debt.

Just my opinion though...