Where should I go for Post-Bacc? FAU vs. UCF/USF

[FLGators46]

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My main question is...Does it matter if I take the Post-Bacc med school pre-reqs at FAU vs. UCF/USF?

About me...

I am 23 years old and recently graduated from the University of Florida with a B.S. in Construction Management. I graduated with a 3.76 GPA. I realized after 2 internships that Construction Management is not for me but it was too late to switch my major. I began looking into my options and wishing I could go back in time to freshmen year and chose pre-med. That's when I found out about post-bacc classes etc... and I am very excited and motivated to start this new life changing journey. I plan on trying my hardest to get into a MD school, but if I don't get good enough MCAT scores I will try DO, Physician's Assistant, PT, etc...

UF said they don't allow students to take post-bacc classes there, so I have applied/been accepted to UNF, USF, UCF, and FAU for the summer term as a second degree seeking student.

I know that UCF/USF are probably the best options due to them both having Med Schools. But...my main dilemma is that if I went to FAU, I could live with my parents and save a lot of money. (about $10,000+).

I need to take all of the science pre-reqs besides for english/math. I took chemistry I and Bio I 3 years ago, but the Pre-Med advisor at UF suggested I retake them because it was so long ago.

Thanks for everyone's help/suggestions.

If anyone took their pre-reqs at FAU I would love to hear from you.

 

[QofQuimica]

My main question is...Does it matter if I take the Post-Bacc med school pre-reqs at FAU vs. UCF/USF?

Hello from a fellow Floridian.

No, it doesn't matter where you take the prereqs. Those are all four-year schools, so go to whichever one is most convenient.

I know that UCF/USF are probably the best options due to them both having Med Schools. But...my main dilemma is that if I went to FAU, I could live with my parents and save a lot of money. (about $10,000+).

I don't think it really matters whether the school where you do a postbac has an affiliated med school, but actually, FAU has a med school too....or more exactly, a branch of U Miami's med school. Regardless, since your folks live close to FAU and will let you stay with them while you're in school, that's reason enough to choose FAU in my book. Best of luck. 🙂

 

[FLGators46]

Thanks for the advice Q! A UF pre med advisor told me basically the same thing in an email.

I'm just a little hesitant to go to FAU since the kids who went there from my highschool were all near the bottom of our HS class. Also because I read on a Med school website that you should try to do your post bacc classes at the most competitive learning institution that you can get into. I'm gonna go check out FAU and ask the pre-med staff how much success they have getting post-bacc students into med school before I decide to go there over UCF.

Anyone else have any advice on this? Thanks again

 

[QofQuimica]

I'm just a little hesitant to go to FAU since the kids who went there from my highschool were all near the bottom of our HS class.

You must have gone to a much nicer high school than I did, because the kids who graduated near the bottom of my HS class didn't go to college at all.

 

[RemoteDoc]

Bump*

I would like to know if anyone has any more information on success rates for students matriculating into med school from these Florida programs. Did anyone do a post-bacc in Florida: where at, did you get into med school, and would you recommend the route to another student?

I also have a humbly competitive GPA, but I lack half of my med prerequisites. If someone could fill the void with more Florida-related post-bacc info, I'm sure many would greatly appreciate it.

 

[20minutes]

Bump*

I would like to know if anyone has any more information on success rates for students matriculating into med school from these Florida programs. Did anyone do a post-bacc in Florida: where at, did you get into med school, and would you recommend the route to another student?

I also have a humbly competitive GPA, but I lack half of my med prerequisites. If someone could fill the void with more Florida-related post-bacc info, I'm sure many would greatly appreciate it.

I got a 2nd degree from UCF (1st from UF) and loved the program. UCF had a ton of electives so there was always flexibility in scheduling. As a 2nd degree seeking student I was front-loaded at registration time so I always got first choice for classes. Some classes weren't the best I've ever taken but overall I loved the program (M&M). If there's a perceived difference in competiveness between UCF and all the other state schools, it never came up during my interviews.

 

[TriagePreMed]

Go to the cheapest and/or best program there is. When med schools have to give out their data, they won't be affected by where you went because what counts is where your bachelors came from, so where you took your classes is largely irrelevant.

 

[Badancil]

Hey man,

I am currently a student at FAU, allthough im a student at the Honors College in Jupiter. I would tell you that the Honors college is a great place to go for a post bacc as I am in the same boat, changing careers/majors from a BA.

I know if you live in boca its a 30-40 min drive, but the research opportunities here are worth it, you can find a teacher to research with much more easily since all the classes are taught by the PhD professor, and never a TA. And they are very willing to work with you on research.

Letters of rec are easy to get as well, and the scripps florida institute is on campus and more than willing to have students research there.
my experience is only with the small honors college up here. but its been good.

its a solid place to excel in the BCMP requirements and get some of your other "checklist" items done in a small environment.

also, for the students that have completed the premed major here and applied to medschool in the last two years i know of only 1 that didnt get into an MD school somewhere.

 

[Badancil]

to provide more post bacc info on florida, only three schools offer official post bacc programs, and of those three only one is public. The three programs are Nova, Barry, and FAU. All three guaruntee to get you done in 3-5 semesters, depending on how you schedule and what you already have done.

Nova and Barry are both very expensive, and both around Miami, making them more expensive.

FAU is a state school, so if you're a Florida resdient, its a solid place to go on the cheap. This program is on the main campus, however, which does not have a ... stellar... reputation for preparing you for the MCAT. You will most likely get A's if you're any kind of good student, but it comes at the price of depth which can be a great boon going into the MCAT to have been taught you're ochem and physics well.

I can tell you that the Honors college is great if your grades the first time in college were 3.5+ (they wont accept you otherwise) and you will have the BEST ochem teacher in history teaching your class. you WILL succeed in ochem at the school. trust me. and you will know it as well.

The HC does not offer a post bacc program per se, but you can do the work here easily. i can tell you that you can finish it in three semesters (I did). I am currently applying to schools during this cycle so im sure ill say what happens on here. but i feel i made an excellent choice with my post bacc work.

for my other opinions about the HC see above (and you get an automatic scholarship from the HC just for getting in)

Nova is a good program as well, and if you can afford it, and dont have qualms about the initials after your name, they tend to promote from within for the DO school there. so if you end up at that Post Bacc it can lead to a much easier acceptance process for DO school. (you will still need to excel in your classes and do the work, they just like to accept nova students there)

I cant say much about Barry, i know its a good private school, but i dont know much about their success.

Both USF and UCF are good schools in cool areas and will be cheap. but at big schools scheduling for non-majors/non-degree seeking can be a bitch. it could translate into a longer process to finish those pre-req's.

wherever you go, if you work hard, get those A's and study hard for your MCAT's you'll be fine. Remember to do that research and hospital work too, which i lack unfortunately.

if you have any other questions feel free to PM me.