Post-Baccalaureate Programs

[buckeyefan]

I just wanted other people advice on this subject. I was wondering if it's worth to do a post bacc program and retake the mcats and try to get into a US school, or if it's better to just go to an off shore med school instead.

I have a 2.82 cumulative GPA and a 2.73 science GPA. I have great extracurricular and volunteer stuff along with excellent research experience (Clinical and Lab). My MCAT score is a 26 (10B, 8P, 8V).

I dont know if I should retake the MCAT, go to a post bacc program, or go to an off shore med school. I feel like my GPA is so low, that it won't make much of a difference if I retake the MCAT. Anyway, any input from anyone would be great. Thanks.

[stateofequilibrium]

I've heard of people get in with lower through post-baccs, masters and research to a US school.. but it does mean a few more years. Doesn't hurt as well if you're a minority. Also, I heard if you go through the NIH, med schools LOVE people who get great recommendations from the NIH.. especially if that school has a lot of research.

I guess it also depends also on your overall application. What caused your GPA to sink low, is there an obvious and sharp upward trend in your grades? Stuff like that.

[singer]

Buckeyefan:

Retaking the mcat with your lower than 3.0 average won't help you get into a US medical school. If you had a 3.5 average then improving on the mcats would be helpful.

Post bac courses would also be a waste of time wioth your averages.

If you fell that you have the time to properly study for the Mcats a better score might get you into SGU. Ross also requires the MCats as part of the admission procedure beginning Sept 2004.

Maybe some of the students accepted for Sept could give you an idea of their grades amd Mcat scores and then you would be able to see which school you would be able to get into, all things being equal.

[buckeyefan]

I applied to ross. I interviewed and they said I should receive a letter with their decision this week. I am also waiting to hear from AUC. SGU offered me there MSC program (18 months masters in microbio and if you maintain a 3.0, you are guaranteed into the med program).

Basically, I'm just trying to decide whether or not to take the MCAT again and if doing a post bacc program is actually worth it.

[stateofequilibrium]

Post bac courses would also be a waste of time wioth your averages.


That's not entirely true. It would be a long shot, but there's a realistic chance.

My MCAT tutor, 2.9 GPA with couple of D's on his transcript went through post-bacc and then on to a good US allo school. He also spent some years in the Navy and medical industry.

I knew someone with a slightly better than 3.0 GPA got into Harvard Medical.

Cousin claimed a few of his classmates actually had close to a 2.5 GPA in his US allopathic medical school (though with extensive NIH experience).

So depending, as I said, on his background, package and how much more work and years he's willing to put in.. if he wants to hold off on Ross until the last minute.. why not give it another shot if he can afford it?

[Ganja Magic]

Retaking the mcat with your lower than 3.0 average won't help you get into a US medical school. If you had a 3.5 average then improving on the mcats would be helpful.

Post bac courses would also be a waste of time wioth your averages.


That is a bit inaccurate, unfortunately. Good grades from a post-bacc program, as well as improved MCAT scores (as in above 30), continued research, charity work and improvement of your "personal" resume (such as work overseas, etc.) can get you into a great U.S. school. Sure they will see a 2.82 on your college transcript, but they will also place great weight on a 3.9 in your post bacc grades, most especially if they were in subjects that you did poorly in college. Some post-bacc programs also encourage you to retake the MCAT and even offer integrated review courses (the UC Davis and UCLA programs come to mind). A post-bacc allows you to get a second chance, and prove that you have matured past your college years and have what it takes in your pre-reqs to be successful in med school. So don't dismiss this by any means!

If you are willing to spend 1-2 years on a post-bacc program and possibly another year applying, while simultaneously continuing your research work, increasing your volunteering and leadership experience, you have a solid shot. But the post bacc route won't work if you aren't willing to get rid of the bad habits that got you a 2.82, and work very hard to get close to a 4.0 in your post-bacc courses as well as get that MCAT to a balanced 30+. If you have the desire and the smarts, trust me, it can be done but only with hard work.

For example, there are a significant number of students in the Stanford SOM entering class that are products of a post-bacc program. Sure, they are 25-26, older than traditional applicants but they also spent two or three years after college "having a life" while still rebuilding their chances at The Dream. They traveled, they learned new instruments, languages, talents, experienced new adventures, put away some money from their research job, got published, took classes in something other than science, got married... I'm serious, every one of these people wouldn't trade that time after college and between med school for anything. And in the end, all that hard work paid off and they are going to a U.S. school. Admin directors love these people because they aren't cookie cutter like most pre-meds and they were determined enough to reapply again and again while remaking themselves as stellar candidates and better future doctors.

That all being said, there is a larger population of students who are eager to get on with our education and to get closer to the final goal and went FMG. Of course there is great room for discussion on this, but from my view it is a question of where you want to take that second chance at medicine - as a post bacc or as an FMG. Both have obstacles and both have a different path of life for you, but in the end they still lead to the same goal. There a thousand great arguments why you should take the Ross/SGU route, but this site has plenty of that for you to search out and read on your own while you research your options. :)

Good luck.