MD & DO Post-bac programs?

[Rmaurer754]

Anyone have any idea how medical schools view post baccalaureate programs? I've decided to hang back a little with my pre-med requirements as I do something that interests me (I'm non-traditional, Screen Writing). I plan to fulfill my requirements for this major and move on to my med school requirements after I graduate.

In terms of mathematics, I've always been incredibly weak. Science is not my strong suit because of this fact. I love biology but when it intermingles with heavy chemistry I choke up on the application of math. I fear for my GPA so I've decided to take science courses at the community college near me during the summer and winter breaks at my school (Hofstra University). This way, I can prepare myself for my time as a post-bac student when I take them at a 4-year university. I also plan on fulfilling my math requirements at community college. If I were to take extra courses at my community college, would medical schools see that I have done that? Would they factor in the GPA I've received there? Thanks a bunch guys.

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[mdambitions]

All classes ever taken, anywhere, factor into your GPA. Always. No exceptions (Except DO) Be VERY careful about taking science and math prereqs at a community college; many med schools don't accept them. Yes, all schools you apply to will see all of the classes you've taken; how they view them is dependent on each school.

As far as how schools view postbacs in general; I designed my own postbac program and took as many science classes as possible at my local state school. I did very well in all of them, while working full time and was accepted this year. A buddy of mine; nontrad with 3 kids, did the same thing and was accepted to a different medical school this year. It happens all the time. You don't need to spend a fortune on a "post-bac" program to get your prereqs done. Just do well in them when you take them.

 

[shopsteward]

Choking up on math is not a good sign for success at any stage in the process of becoming or being a doctor. If you start from first principles and make sure you are solid on the basics of maths before you move on pre-recs, your journey to med school will be a lot easier. Find a good tutor and do it privately if you are concerned about your GPA being affected. Keeping up your undergrad GPA and putting a bit of extra time into becoming confident in maths will pay you more dividends than anything else at this stage.

 

[Rmaurer754]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm just doing a shameless self-bump here. Is there any way I can take a science or math course "off the books" at a community college, a.k.a classes that wouldn't show up when I apply to medical school? I really would like a strong foundation in these subjects at a college level.

 

[Goro]

A fair number of MD and all DO programs like post-bac programs.

Anyone have any idea how medical schools view post baccalaureate programs?

Yes; you have to report all of your classes/grades. Don't worry about taking classes at a CC.

If I were to take extra courses at my community college, would medical schools see that I have done that?

Would they factor in the GPA I've received there?

 

[Catalystik]

Is there any way I can take a science or math course "off the books" at a community college, a.k.a classes that wouldn't show up when I apply to medical school? I really would like a strong foundation in these subjects at a college level.

You could audit the class, meaning no grade would be earned, or you could take it Pass/Fail, but any class attempted will still show up on your transcript. If you want to have exposure to a discipline and have it be "off the books" then a private tutor would be the way to go.

 

[GypsyHummus]

You could audit the class, meaning no grade would be earned, or you could take it Pass/Fail, but any class attempted will still show up on your transcript. If you want to have exposure to a discipline and have it be "off the books" then a private tutor would be the way to go.

How do the admission's comities view Audits on a transcript?

 

[Catalystik]

It depends on the class, the frequency, and the person looking at the transcript.

 

[Rmaurer754]

Tutors seem like a nice safe route to go.

It depends on the class, the frequency, and the person looking at the transcript.

Audits also sound like a great idea, but if that's a touchy subject then I'm a little hesitant to try them out.

 

[Catalystik]

Auditing General Principles of Basket Weaving, Intro to College Math, or A Survey of Biologic Concepts wouldn't be a problem. Auditing a weed-out class like OChem and then taking the same class for credit would be something to avoid.