<p>For those of us who have decided to have a career change after graduating college and now do medicine, a Postbac is necessary in order to complete all the pre-med requirements. I have a question about applying to a Postbac program, a well-known one (for example, Georgetown, or Columbia). I've already read what they look for in applicants (standardized test scores, gpa, personal statement, volunteering in clinics, et cetera). My question is how can we make ourselves really, truly stand out from others in that we will look very promising to the Postbac admissions committee so that they are comfortable in accepting us? For example, would extensive experience at a hospital suffice? What certain letters of rec should we obtain? From our undergrad professors or hospital staff coordinators when we volunteered? In a nutshell, what can we do to really, really get the best chance to get in the Postbac program of our choice? I hope this makes sense, and if you are a pre-med college student I'm not sure your answer would be the best response, as this move is in fact after graduating college, but I could be totally mistaken. So you can by all means answer if you think it's very relevant to what I'm saying. Thank you.</p>
<p>Does anyone know? I know it’s only been a day since I posted but yeah.</p>
<p>I’m currently doing an informal post-bacc but looked at some of the stronger formal post-baccs before deciding it wasn’t really worth shelling out $25-50k on my pre-med education after my UG. My understanding is that they are basically looking for people who they can “guarantee” will get into med school. Basically that means they’re looking for people who would get into med school regardless of whether they attended [Georgetown/Columbia/Scripps/etc.] or not – so basically you make yourself look good by looking like a strong med school applicant. Coursework; pre-clinical experience; strong LORs; strong SOP/PS; strong leadership, initiative and volunteering; and so on are all helpful. You might say they want students who will maintain their “100% medical school placement rate.”</p>
<p>Are you looking to complete the pre-reqs or improve your academic credentials? B/c Georgetown/EVMS/Drexel/Tufts/VCU/ programs are for people that have completed the pre-reqs already. I know UPenn/Columbia/Goucher has ones for completing the pre-reqs.</p>
<p>A post-bacc program is not necessary for career changers going into medicine. Depending on how many basic science courses you need to take and whether you can stop working altogether to attend school, a post-bacc program may be more or less efficient than taking selected courses as a non-degree candidate at a decent university. Either way, you will need a solid dean’s letter and perhaps a good pre-med advisor.</p>
<p>Been there, done that.</p>
<p>These were all very good posts, thanks. Apu: what do you precisely mean? Are you not in an official postbac program? Money-wise (as you mention), there is fin/federal aid available for official postbac university programs as I’ve seen it on their websites.</p>
<p>Asma: I graduated college last year, social science major, so to answer your question this is not a remedial program as I have not taken any science courses. The postbac I’m looking at is intended for moves such as this.</p>
<p>my2: Are you saying it is better to take courses at a community college? I’m not sure what you mean here, isn’t an official postbac program best? </p>
<p>Apu: Again, to clarify, I might have been mistaken then if Georgetown is a remedial/already taken science courses program, whereas NYU/Columbia I know for certain is not remedial and designed for fresh science classes.</p>
<p>BTW, are you sure Tufts is remedial? Look at their website, it says it is not:</p>
<p>"Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program</p>
<p>Tufts provides the opportunity for college graduates who have not yet taken the sciences to prepare for entrance into a health care profession of their choice. "</p>
<p>The Tufts program is not for those who need to retake science courses or who may need to enhance their undergraduate record."</p>
<p>from <a href=“Homepage | AS&E Students”>Homepage | AS&E Students;
<p>Again, I have another specific question that is quite in fact detailed. </p>
<p>As far as getting admitted into a well-known university’s postbac program (like Columbia), they are going to analyze “a gpa” insofar as admitting purposes go. My question is, after we graduate college, and take science and chemistry courses at a JC and have not done so in undergrad, and exceed in those classes, would this ‘alternative transcript’ with those science courses increase your chances of getting into a postbac program? In other words, insofar as the gpa analyzing goes, I understand it stops at the time you graduate undergrad. But what about this other coursework you take after college that relates much more to the program you’re applying and you exceed in the classes? Do the science courses you take at a JC after undergrad play no role in influencing “the gpa” that the postbac committee looks for? I hope this made sense.</p>