Georgetown or Amrican Post-bac

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LEELLISAA

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Well, well, here comes my dilemma.

I had my undergrad from Africa in 1999. My CGPA was 3.6. However, an African undergrad degree doesn't hold water to be considered for a med school in the eyes of the committee, I guess. So, I decided to strengthen my background by attending a Graduate school in Biochem and Mol.Bio at Georgetown University, which I'm doing now. I'm thinking to do a one year post-bac pre-med since most of my pre-med reqs are now at least 6-7 years old, not a good quality for med appl. I'm considering GU and American. I will be thankful if you have any experience at these schools.
I hope evrybody understands the cost of attending such programs and I don't want to end up in debt for a program that doesn't pay back.


Thanks,
L
 
I am in my first semester in American's program and I love it. I compared G'town and American (and went into the decision process with a considerable bias toward G'town, for a number of reasons), and for me it was clear that American was the better choice. Georgetown seemed more like a program where you can take some classes and get a certificate from the school, while American gives you the full package of advising and the other benefits that traditional premeds have access to. For me, coming from a non-science background, it's what I needed. I'm 3 weeks into classes and totally happy with the program. I LOVE all my profs, and I have never in my life been able to say I like all my teachers!

For someone who just needs a few refresher courses, or just a couple of classes to make up prereqs, I think Georgetown is just as good an option, maybe even somewhat better because the school is more of a "big name". So I think in your situation you should be fine either way.
 
Thanks a lot Vegan. I think I'm more comfortable with GU especially since I am with the school already. I love their med school since I'm attending the med school graduate program in Biochem . Hopefully, I will be done by spring 2005. And I will start the post bac by Summer or Fall 2005. I never had a loan in my life. I had to take $23,000 for the graduate school. Added to an additional $15,000 -23,000 for the post bac, I will be in a complete dept. If I don't make it to the med school, it would be much easier for me to die than sweating for over to pay off the dept. I hope everything will go well. GOD is great and helpful during times of stress. Amiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin🙂

Any word of encouragement is appreciated.

Thanks,
L
 
Leelisaa

you may want to make a point of NOT posting your email addresses. You will be killed by spam!! Always best to PM your email directly to others here.

Anyway, good luck with your GU/American thing. I have just recently made up my mind between Umass Boston and Harvard, but about a month ago was sweating the details like you. I think you're making the right moves with the masters AND the post-bacc in order to be as strong a candidate as you can be. I wish you the best.

As is the unversal axiom of this path, ALWAYS get A's and study for the MCAT like it's the only thing that can save you from a terminal illness.

Ock
 
'm very gratefull to all that have responded to my dilemma. It helped a lot. I have talked to the director/coordinator of the post-bac at GU and he is positive. No doubt, the program is very expensive.It just scares the hell out of me. I wish there is someone out there who has made through the program. That would give me a final cut on my decision.

Thanks all!
L
 
LEELISA....abesha nesh? selam selam....I just wanted to say what's up from a fellow ethio! good luck at g'town or whatever program you end up matriculating.
 
Oh, and here is my $0.02 on the G'town program....its the very best of SMP programs, but only if you make the situation "work" for you. And by this, I mean, you have to work your tail off!!! NO JOKE...its only a year of your life that could mean the difference between driving a taxi up and down 18th street or living a life worth living as a physician. If you take the time to assess your study skills, test-taking skills, what your strengths and weaknesses are BEFORE entering the program and can work on them during the program, then you'll be set. Make some close friends who do very well academically (in the program) and stick close, so as to pace yourself with how much you need to be studying, what/where, etc...all the little intricate details of success. Make sure the professors/faculty/administration KNOW who you are as a polite, hard-working young lady/man who doesn't need hand-holding, yet knows how to use important resources on campus...such as the faculty themselves or special programs office who can help with tutoring, etc....and in the end, if you have the numbers (which you will if you work SMARTER and HARDER), then you basically have a free pass into G'town medical school. And when you DO get your acceptance, you'll be one large step ahead of everyone else in your entering class because of the SMP program (the material you will cover, the study-pace you have gotten yourself adjusted too a whole year earlier, etc)....so basically what I'm saying is that whatever expenses it may take you...its worth taking the loans to cover the program, because in the end you will be glad you did. But ONLY if you're willing to forget the entire world for a year and concentrate night and day to make it happen. Best of luck and God Bless.
 
Hippocrates, GWU has both a SMP and a postbacc program that's basically a 5th year undergrad program - just for clarification.
 
Okay, thanks for the clarification. I was talking about the SMP specifically being worth the money, I'm not too sure about the 5th year postbacc option.
 
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