When to Start Post-BaccCAS?

[JustinSane]

I'm planning on taking this spring semester to study and take the GRE in July so I can start to apply to formal post-bacc programs next cycle.

I'm wondering when is a good time to start the Post-BaccCAS (central application) particularly the LOR. I know that its good to start early but can this be started too early?

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[gswiszcza]

Applications open mid-August and there's no harm in starting it immediately when it opens. There is no such thing as too early with rolling admissions!

 

[CanIMakeIt]

Why not just take the courses on their own? To me it seems like it is way more expensive and colleges just trying to mooch off

Advantages of formal post-back program?

plus you have to take another exam like GRE and more application cycles etc

just trying to understand . I am a non-trad who did post-bacc but I just took my own courses.

 

[JustinSane]

Yes, I’m actually now planning on just saving for a semester and doing a dyi post-bacc

 

[Kokonaut]

Yes, I’m actually now planning on just saving for a semester and doing a dyi post-bacc

I did a DYI post-bacc as a non-traditional student and have no regrets. Saved a boatload versus having to sacrifice income from work due to less flexibility and that barely touches on the price tag of formal programs.

 

[JustinSane]

Yeah, I’m feeling much better about doing the D.Y.I route. Did you work while doing your post-bacc? Im hoping that I’ll be able to save enough to not need to work much once I start in the fall…

 

[Kokonaut]

Yeah, I’m feeling much better about doing the D.Y.I route. Did you work while doing your post-bacc? Im hoping that I’ll be able to save enough to not need to work much once I start in the fall…

I did, which made it more challenging since I had to take the classes at night. That being said, I tried to leverage that to say I developed time management skills when it came to working two jobs and doing the evening pre-req class thing.

 

[boogiechilling]

I might be too late to this but:

I did a DIY post-bacc and am now trying to move into an SMP. I would say biggest downside to the DIY route is that it's extremely difficult to source meaningful academic LOR's unless you're great about keeping connections with your professors/in a research lab. You also likely won't be able to source a committee letter doing it DIY and you wont have access to student services like advising.

I took classes at a state school and it was fairly stressful trying to get into high enrollment courses. My enrollment starts a week before classes begin and I spent a lot of my time begging professors to open a seat for me. Pro's is that it's much less expensive and I could take almost whatever classes I wanted, including some in the grad school.