Hi everyone, I know this kind of question gets asked all the time, but I'm looking for some input on a post-bac path.
I'm a non-trad, 24, philosophy major undergrad, gpa a bloody 3.0, only took a single science course. I've just been accepted to UPenn's Core Studies postbac. However, it is extremely expensive. I'm also a research assistant in a lab at Princet*n, and as an employee, I can take classes at Ye Olde Fancy University for cheap, so I'm wondering if that would be a better route.
From what I understand, Penn pros are linkages (if you can get them), "name brand," structure, classes aimed/tailored specifically for my demographic, committee letters, and being able to start right away. But the cost is awful, I'd probably have to pay a large chunk out of pocket and live very tight/not be able to save at all, the commute is expensive (no car) and time-consuming.
Going the DIY route, I don't have to worry about money or commute, classes are still Ivy-quality (if that matters?), and in theory I'd be able to take more courses, thereby doing more gpa repair. But, it's too late to apply for this fall, so I'd have to start in the spring, and of course no 101s for chem/bio/physics are offered in the spring, so I'd have to make do with maybe some MCAT prep via sociology or psych courses. I can also only take two classes per semester, but could supplement with classes at nearby universities if I had to. It seems like I might even be able to get a committee letter, but I need to call the dept and check. I'm a little wary about waiting even longer to start, though---I feel like I'm already on the way to being too old to apply.
Any advice? Can DIYs be successful? The potential for linkage is mainly what's got me torn. Any thoughts would be hugely appreciated.
I'm a non-trad, 24, philosophy major undergrad, gpa a bloody 3.0, only took a single science course. I've just been accepted to UPenn's Core Studies postbac. However, it is extremely expensive. I'm also a research assistant in a lab at Princet*n, and as an employee, I can take classes at Ye Olde Fancy University for cheap, so I'm wondering if that would be a better route.
From what I understand, Penn pros are linkages (if you can get them), "name brand," structure, classes aimed/tailored specifically for my demographic, committee letters, and being able to start right away. But the cost is awful, I'd probably have to pay a large chunk out of pocket and live very tight/not be able to save at all, the commute is expensive (no car) and time-consuming.
Going the DIY route, I don't have to worry about money or commute, classes are still Ivy-quality (if that matters?), and in theory I'd be able to take more courses, thereby doing more gpa repair. But, it's too late to apply for this fall, so I'd have to start in the spring, and of course no 101s for chem/bio/physics are offered in the spring, so I'd have to make do with maybe some MCAT prep via sociology or psych courses. I can also only take two classes per semester, but could supplement with classes at nearby universities if I had to. It seems like I might even be able to get a committee letter, but I need to call the dept and check. I'm a little wary about waiting even longer to start, though---I feel like I'm already on the way to being too old to apply.
Any advice? Can DIYs be successful? The potential for linkage is mainly what's got me torn. Any thoughts would be hugely appreciated.
