Which Philly post-bacc program should I attend?

[JSB1750]

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Hi! I'm trying to figure out which post-bacc program would be my best bet: Bryn Mawr, Penn, or Temple. I have not completed any of the pre-requisites and am hoping to do them in a year. I was accepted at Bryn Mawr, interviewed at Penn, and was invited to interview at Temple. I loved the support at Bryn Mawr, and Penn seems nice because it's flexible, but I have heard very little about Temple's program from former students (including on this site). Is Temple maybe the best bargain? The fact that you can matriculate straight into Temple Med seems great, but how many students in a post bacc class are actually able to do this? Any thoughts or ideas comparing or ranking these three programs would be super helpful. Thanks!

 

[deleted248403]

IMO; Bryn > Penn > Temple

 

[JSB1750]

Thanks, robflanker!

 

[ygree001]

Temple has a guarantee. You can't beat that.

 

[deleted248403]

Yeah but what are the criteria for it? Does every single student get it?

If not, the Bryn and Penn both have very good linkages... for example, @ Penn, a 3.6 in the program, a 3.2 UG gpa and a 30 on the MCAT, gets you into UPenn Med. I personally think thats a pretty good deal.

 

[ygree001]

Yeah but what are the criteria for it? Does every single student get it?

If not, the Bryn and Penn both have very good linkages... for example, @ Penn, a 3.6 in the program, a 3.2 UG gpa and a 30 on the MCAT, gets you into UPenn Med. I personally think thats a pretty good deal.

Gets you in or gets you an interview?
At Temple, you need to maintain a 3.5 gpa in the post-bacc. You also need a 30 on the MCAT, with no section below 8. Every student who meets those 2 requirements has a spot in the medical (or dental) class.
This is the second year of the program. Last year, nearly every student made the requirements and are now M1s. I don't know anything about Penn program, but I doubt most of the class gets in.
The only downside is that since they are committing a spot to you if you pass, you have to commit to them and not apply to other med schools. For me, that was totally worth it, since there is no guarantee you will get in just because you apply to med schools.

 

[somedaydoc13]

Gets you in or gets you an interview?
At Temple, you need to maintain a 3.5 gpa in the post-bacc. You also need a 30 on the MCAT, with no section below 8. Every student who meets those 2 requirements has a spot in the medical (or dental) class.
This is the second year of the program. Last year, nearly every student made the requirements and are now M1s. I don't know anything about Penn program, but I doubt most of the class gets in.
The only downside is that since they are committing a spot to you if you pass, you have to commit to them and not apply to other med schools. For me, that was totally worth it, since there is no guarantee you will get in just because you apply to med schools.

so does this mean you start med school directly after the ACMS program (you would apply to only temple during the program)? or do you have to take a glide year to apply?

 

[deleted248403]

Penn claims 90% of the Pre-Health students get into medical school. And yes, the UPenn Med linkage is a seat, not an interview.

While Temple sounds like a good deal, as you mentioned, you are forced to go there. Penn has linkages to 8ish schools so you have a bit more flexibility in the school of choice.

Depends how in love with Temple you are i guess. Yagree sounds like you loved it. I personally don't - i wouldnt be opposed to going to Temple for Med School but i'd like to keep my options open and Bryn&Penn give you more options.

If you do Temples program, and you dislike Temple Med - you are SOL

 

[ussdfiant]

Went to Temple's post bac program from 2000-2001, then Temple med from 2002-2006. Never looked back. The big T got the job done for me. Just an n=1 experience for you.

 

[NewmansOwn]

Some of Bryn Mawr's linkages are essentially guarantees, as well. There are several schools that, year after year, accept just about every linkage applicant.

The other nice thing about Bryn Mawr is, if you decide linkages do not interest you, its long reputation and dean's letter will get you into top-notch medical schools around the country.

Bryn Mawr is by no means magical, but I liked it. It's a good size, very laid-back and you can avoid all the scheduling/advising shortcomings often present in less well-established programs.

I know people who have gotten into med school from all three programs, so really, just go wherever you'd like and be prepared to give it your all.

 

[ygree001]

so does this mean you start med school directly after the ACMS program (you would apply to only temple during the program)? or do you have to take a glide year to apply?

No glide year. Assuming I pass, I will finish in mid April and start in August with the class of 2014.

 

[ygree001]

Penn claims 90% of the Pre-Health students get into medical school. And yes, the UPenn Med linkage is a seat, not an interview.

While Temple sounds like a good deal, as you mentioned, you are forced to go there. Penn has linkages to 8ish schools so you have a bit more flexibility in the school of choice.

Depends how in love with Temple you are i guess. Yagree sounds like you loved it. I personally don't - i wouldnt be opposed to going to Temple for Med School but i'd like to keep my options open and Bryn&Penn give you more options.

If you do Temples program, and you dislike Temple Med - you are SOL

Certainly true, but that applies to med school as well. Once you matriculate, you are stuck, wherever you started. For me, eliminating the stress of having to reapply and have no clue where I would end up was a no-brainer. I had other SMP options that probably would have gotten me in somewhere, but now I know where I will be. The fact that I turned out to really like the school was icing on the cake.

 

[JSB1750]

Thanks for all of your replies--this is so helpful. Ygree, are you in Temple's ACMS or BCMS program? If you are in BCMS, are you in classes w/Temple undergrads? Who are the professors? And in previous years, were there a lot if students who successfully linked even though they had to do all four pre-reqs w/labs, plus MCAT in a year? Sorry for the slew of questions...thanks!

 

[JSB1750]

Oops, sorry about the thumbs-down icon--didn't mean to select that

 

[ygree001]

Thanks for all of your replies--this is so helpful. Ygree, are you in Temple's ACMS or BCMS program? If you are in BCMS, are you in classes w/Temple undergrads? Who are the professors? And in previous years, were there a lot if students who successfully linked even though they had to do all four pre-reqs w/labs, plus MCAT in a year? Sorry for the slew of questions...thanks!

I am in the ACMS, but we have a little contact with the BCMS students. They are at the main campus, which is a subway ride down Broad street. I am not sure who their professors are, but I think they are just regular undergrad professors. The entire post-bacc program is just in its second year, and the BCMS part is in its first if I recall correctly (which I may not), so I don't know about their success rates. That said, its a heavy schedule but not crazy. I did my prereqs at that pace on my own. It's very doable.

 

[Mags74]

Hi! I'm trying to figure out which post-bacc program would be my best bet: Bryn Mawr, Penn, or Temple. I have not completed any of the pre-requisites and am hoping to do them in a year. I was accepted at Bryn Mawr, interviewed at Penn, and was invited to interview at Temple. I loved the support at Bryn Mawr, and Penn seems nice because it's flexible, but I have heard very little about Temple's program from former students (including on this site). Is Temple maybe the best bargain? The fact that you can matriculate straight into Temple Med seems great, but how many students in a post bacc class are actually able to do this? Any thoughts or ideas comparing or ranking these three programs would be super helpful. Thanks!

I went to BMC as an undergrad and then to UPenn for my postbacc program. I needed to work fulltime while in the program for a number of reasons. I worked as a research assistant and received two free classes a semester. The combo worked well for me -- I landed a MD/PhD spot on the first application cycle. I have definite opinions re. the two schools and would be happy to answer any questions about them or about living in Philly in general. Now that I'm almost finished with my program and looking back -- I definitely made the right choices for me. Best wishes for your application and feel free to drop me a message if you want my unofficial feedback. 🙂

 

[ussdfiant]

The entire post-bacc program is just in its second year, and the BCMS part is in its first if I recall correctly (which I may not), so I don't know about their success rates.

I'm not sure where you're getting this information. I was a post bac student at Temple 10 years ago and I don't think it was brand new even then.

 

[NewmansOwn]

I think (s)he meant it's new that the program is under the auspices of the medical school. That's what I heard through the grapevine, at least...

 

[ussdfiant]

I think (s)he meant it's new that the program is under the auspices of the medical school. That's what I heard through the grapevine, at least...

That makes sense.

 

[ygree001]

I'm not sure where you're getting this information. I was a post bac student at Temple 10 years ago and I don't think it was brand new even then.

I don't know what they had before, but in its current form, it is in its second year. The ACMS, linkage, new director, classes in the medical school, etc.

 

[kaleidoscopic]

Penn claims 90% of the Pre-Health students get into medical school. And yes, the UPenn Med linkage is a seat, not an interview.

WAIT, so if I am aiming to go to UPenn med school, I'm better off doing the postbacc at UPenn than Bryn Mawr?? I mean, Bryn Mawr offers linkage to UPenn, but a 3.6 at Bryn Mawr + 30 on MCAT probably won't get me to Penn. Or will it?

 

[NewmansOwn]

WAIT, so if I am aiming to go to UPenn med school, I'm better off doing the postbacc at UPenn than Bryn Mawr?? I mean, Bryn Mawr offers linkage to UPenn, but a 3.6 at Bryn Mawr + 30 on MCAT probably won't get me to Penn. Or will it?

It would have gotten you into Penn my year at Bryn Mawr, had you been accepted as a consort applicant.

I think Rob meant 90% get into SOME medical school if they complete the program, not necessarily Penn.

If you're 100% positive to want to go to Penn for medical school and are certain another school could never interest you, why not go to Penn for the postbac program? Penn and Bryn Mawr both offer linkages, but at least with Penn you'll be conditionally accepted from the get-go rather than half-way through the year, as is customary at BM. Is this correct, Rob? I had no idea Penn's linkage for their career changers was so generous, but I trust you if you say so.

 

[deleted248403]

Newmans is correct when he says at Penn (they claim, id take it with a pinch of salt personaly), 90% of the applicants go to SOME medical school.

Let me clarify the Penn post-bac to Penn Med linkage: It is halfway through the year as other linkages are. You apply now and a handful of students are selected for the link. So the best of the Penn Post-bac students, who want to do Penn Med, are selected. It is also only open to people in Penn's Pre-Health program (not the Special Sciences) which is designed for people who have not completed the pre-reqs.

Sorry if I created any confusion, hope that helps

 

[kaleidoscopic]

Yeah, I got the 90% acceptance rate into med school part (I just copied that sentence because it was before the one I wanted to quote). I am just astounded that one can link to UPenn med school with a mere 30 on the MCAT if you're in the UPenn postbacc program. I heard you need like a 35 to link to UPenn from Bryn Mawr, which is believable considering that is the avg score of incoming students.

 

[NewmansOwn]

Yeah, I got the 90% acceptance rate into med school part (I just copied that sentence because it was before the one I wanted to quote). I am just astounded that one can link to UPenn med school with a mere 30 on the MCAT if you're in the UPenn postbacc program. I heard you need like a 35 to link to UPenn from Bryn Mawr, which is believable considering that is the avg score of incoming students.

My year at Bryn Mawr (which was last year) the Penn linkage kids needed a 30 to keep their acceptances. All the consort medical schools, including my own, consider bumping the score up every year, but I'm skeptical it went up to 35 in one year.

 

[deleted248403]

Plus is it really that surprising if Penn Med showed a bit of love to UPenn Post-bac?

But i agree with Newmans - ive not a heard of any linkage needing a 35

 

[kaleidoscopic]

I see. Thanks, guys.

Off topic, but robflanker, are you in Hawaii or something? You post at some odd hours.

 

[deleted248403]

No, i'm in Philly - hence location under my join date...

My hours aren't odd - i get up earlyish but nothing too crazy. Are you set your hours correctly in SDN?

 

[premedw]

yeah..im in the penn prehealth program and after to speaking to some people on the admissions committee...they had informed me that they prefer students from BM and Goucher and Scripps..instaed of their own penn post bacc students...its crazy..but this is coming from a very reliable source!
penn is good ..but it is what you make of it..there is very little advisory support..our director was recently fired..and we still dont have a new director..so just know that there is little support in comparison to some other post bacc programs

good luck wiht your choice.

 

[strange love]

hello, i was a member of the first temple med postbac BCMS in the 2008-2009 academic year. i am currently a first year med student at temple. everyone in the BCMS that completed the course work and took the MCAT on time linked successfully to Temple Med. it is an amazing program and i am very grateful to have had the opportunity to do it. it is very rigorous and time intensive, so you have to be ready to devote a solid year of your life to learning the basic sciences. if you have the drive, the program is 100% supportive and non-competitive in nature. you show up, do the work, and you'll be in medical school the following year. if i had it to do over, i'd make the same choice. good luck with your studies.

 

[futuris327]

Hey Strange Love,

That's so good to hear! I am planning on applying to Temple's ACMS Program for Aug 2010 and its definitely my top choice. How competitive is it to get an acceptance? If you don't mind me asking, what were the average stats in your class? Also, the application comes out soon, any advice ?