Need a postbacc in NYC...
April 2, 2012 4:56 PM Subscribe
What would be the best post-bacc program in NYC for my situation?
I recently started working in a medical field (in a non-science role) and am seriously thinking about returning to school to become a doctor. My job in the hospital will give me a small tuition remission that would allow me to take classes in science and complete a part-time postbacc. However, I'm 26, and eager to get started. I have no clue what doing a postbacc while working full time would look like, and whether it would be worth spreading it out over 3+ years. I am absolutely certain I want to stay in NYC in the mean time for a LTR.
The official post-bacc program at Columbia should be my best bet, but the costs are really quite overwhelming, and I am very interested in the many alternatives the city has to offer.
Other choices I have looked at:
NYU's postbacc program-- expensive does offer a linkage program directly to med school that would save me a year.
Hunter College's official program, which looks great, but which I am disinclined to apply for, since I've missed the application cycle till Fall 2014.
City's College's official program- don't know much about this one.
Bryn Mawr's competitive one year program (starting Fall 2014)... would love to hear if this is worth it, in program costs and relocation.
Playing catch-up by taking classes on my own-- taking "a la carte" classes at Hunter.
My catch-up needs right now are 8 semesters of bio, chem, orgo, and physics.
Let me know if I missed any!
I would love to hear input from anyone experienced in choosing between the NYC programs-- or even in going to medical school or working in the health professions in general. It's hard for me to really put a price on some of these choices, such as whether to go for a more "name" brand medical school will be worth it in terms of my career goals, or whether it's worth focusing on doing the post bacc while working. Anecdotes and personal insights would be really welcome in this case. I'm not interested in going into research but in becoming a practicing physician.
In short, please, help me wade through the opportunity costs and benefits and really see what the NYC programs have to offer!
Thank you in advance....
I recently started working in a medical field (in a non-science role) and am seriously thinking about returning to school to become a doctor. My job in the hospital will give me a small tuition remission that would allow me to take classes in science and complete a part-time postbacc. However, I'm 26, and eager to get started. I have no clue what doing a postbacc while working full time would look like, and whether it would be worth spreading it out over 3+ years. I am absolutely certain I want to stay in NYC in the mean time for a LTR.
The official post-bacc program at Columbia should be my best bet, but the costs are really quite overwhelming, and I am very interested in the many alternatives the city has to offer.
Other choices I have looked at:
NYU's postbacc program-- expensive does offer a linkage program directly to med school that would save me a year.
Hunter College's official program, which looks great, but which I am disinclined to apply for, since I've missed the application cycle till Fall 2014.
City's College's official program- don't know much about this one.
Bryn Mawr's competitive one year program (starting Fall 2014)... would love to hear if this is worth it, in program costs and relocation.
Playing catch-up by taking classes on my own-- taking "a la carte" classes at Hunter.
My catch-up needs right now are 8 semesters of bio, chem, orgo, and physics.
Let me know if I missed any!
I would love to hear input from anyone experienced in choosing between the NYC programs-- or even in going to medical school or working in the health professions in general. It's hard for me to really put a price on some of these choices, such as whether to go for a more "name" brand medical school will be worth it in terms of my career goals, or whether it's worth focusing on doing the post bacc while working. Anecdotes and personal insights would be really welcome in this case. I'm not interested in going into research but in becoming a practicing physician.
In short, please, help me wade through the opportunity costs and benefits and really see what the NYC programs have to offer!
Thank you in advance....
One of my friends has been trying to fill in some med school requirement gaps via Hunter and has had a lot of difficulty getting into the classes she needs.
If you are seriously motivated and absolutely have to become an MD, I suggest fast tracking in a full time post bacc program. There's a huge time cost of 4yrs med school + 4 to 7yrs residency before you really start making money again. If you think post bacc costs are overwhelming, you should probably look further into the costs of med school and the opportunity costs of being out of the job market and that might put the post bacc into perspective.
posted by tangaroo at 7:22 PM on April 2, 2012 [2 favorites]
If you are seriously motivated and absolutely have to become an MD, I suggest fast tracking in a full time post bacc program. There's a huge time cost of 4yrs med school + 4 to 7yrs residency before you really start making money again. If you think post bacc costs are overwhelming, you should probably look further into the costs of med school and the opportunity costs of being out of the job market and that might put the post bacc into perspective.
posted by tangaroo at 7:22 PM on April 2, 2012 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: To clarify, I am definitely looking for a fast track! Unfortunately, the post-bacc programs that are in my reach right now don't really start until Fall 2014, other than Columbia.
I guess I'm trying to decide whether it would be worth it to spend a year-2 years taking classes on my own (working), or whether there are long term benefits to taking the financial plunge and waiting and going with the formal post-bacc?
Is this a commitment that will pay for itself in the long run (both in less tangible ways and, well, tangible ones)?
And I'm done threadsitting-- thank you for the replies so far!
posted by kettleoffish at 7:14 PM on April 3, 2012
I guess I'm trying to decide whether it would be worth it to spend a year-2 years taking classes on my own (working), or whether there are long term benefits to taking the financial plunge and waiting and going with the formal post-bacc?
Is this a commitment that will pay for itself in the long run (both in less tangible ways and, well, tangible ones)?
And I'm done threadsitting-- thank you for the replies so far!
posted by kettleoffish at 7:14 PM on April 3, 2012
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I'm faculty at a program in NYC now and I'd be happy to discuss further via memail.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 6:10 PM on April 2, 2012 [1 favorite]