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".....worried by your current grades. Because they will constitute a huge disadvantage, and need to be compensated for to make your application to medical school possible, we will require that you amass a minimum of 32 credits here with grades of B or better, and also earn a total score of at least 32 when you take the MCAT...."
Frankly, I was quite discouraged when I first read this letter and didn't know what to think. I was thinking I only had to complete 24 credits and earn a 30 on the MCAT according to my stats ( which is still quite challenging) but they've raised the bar even higher.
I don't know what your uGPA is but if they are that concerned with your stats, chances are you are probably at the lower end. In that situation, their recommendation is quite accurate - 30 on your mcat would not suffice. Honestly, I feel that even a 32 is too low. 34+ would be optimal.
My question is why are you so afraid of getting a B or better & why are you afraid of getting over a 30? These things are kind of a no-brainer in most post-baccs and even if they are not explicitly mentioned, it is basically implied that without stats (well) beyond that, you will not get into medical school.
I suggest that you should not balk at having to work crazy hard to get A's in a competitive environment. The harder you work at the prereqs, the better you'll be set up for the MCAT. The higher the caliber of the students you're working with as a premed, the less pulverized you'll be by that caliber of student when you meet that dominant demographic again in med school. And the better you are at working hard in science classes, the less med school will suck.
I also suggest that if there's a posted minimum GPA/MCAT, don't use that minimum as your goal. Your goal is to have better stats than the 5000 other kids trying to get into every med school you're trying to get into. You may want to investigate whether a sponsorship letter from Harvard Extension is going to buy you anything at a UC back home. There's a lot more in a med school app than such a letter.
Premed prereqs are hard science. All the kids who want to be doctors are in those classes at every school. You can't get easy A's in the prereqs anywhere. And if you find a school that gives you easier A's, and then if your MCAT score isn't also well above average (32 is average), then you don't have a credible GPA.
I'm guessing you have a low undergrad GPA in a non-science major, maybe at a UC, and that you're thinking a 3.0 effort at Harvard Extension will get you into a UC med school. I suggest that's wishful thinking, and that you are underestimating your competition.
Best of luck to you.
I applied to Harvard Health Careers Program about a week ago and received a letter today that says:
".....worried by your current grades. Because they will constitute a huge disadvantage, and need to be compensated for to make your application to medical school possible, we will require that you amass a minimum of 32 credits here with grades of B or better, and also earn a total score of at least 32 when you take the MCAT...."
Frankly, I was quite discouraged when I first read this letter and didn't know what to think. I was thinking I only had to complete 24 credits and earn a 30 on the MCAT according to my stats ( which is still quite challenging) but they've raised the bar even higher.
I'm currently living CA and about to graduate from a UC. I'm also in the process of applying to Berkeley extension, SFSU, Cornell and NYU post-bac programs.
Is it impossible to maintain a B average at HCP? Do you recommend that I attend a different program if I get accepted to other schools? What should I do???
No, it is not impossible to maintain a B average. To be frank, though, if they're concerned about your grades, you shouldn't be thinking about maintaing just a B average; rather, you should aim higher and shoot for an A or A-.
It's not impossible. It's just that they make you work for it. If you put in the time and effort, I think you'll do just fine.
...I know I'm not too competitive with my below average (3.55) ugpa...
Yeah but you had the cojones to say it, and I didn't, until I saw your post.dr midlife stated what i wanted to say even better.
Just to chime in, I got the exact same letter with the same proviso (32 MCAT). I know I'm not too competitive with my below average (3.55) ugpa and a couple of W's and a 2.5 in Calc ten years ago, but didn't think my gpa put me at THAT big a disadvantage. I've since repeated some courses and gotten all A's.
In any case, I think HES is becoming more selective regarding sponsorship due to the increased interest. I wouldn't be too discouraged by the letter. If you think it's the right program for you, you should go for it. I'm planning on giving it a shot starting with Summer gen chem.
A 3.55 isn't competitive? This surprises me, for whatever reason.
In regards to perforing well in the program (to OP), why not pre-study for the courses if you're so worried? Get a book, or check out the syllabus w/ lecture materials on the class websites, or have a look at khanacademy.org.
Really? I had a 3.45 uGPA and a 3.3 sGPA, a withdrawal, and a failed class (during study abroad and the world cup was on. I chose the world cup.) when I sent in my stuff, and all they said was 20 credits, and we recommend getting at least a 30 on the MCAT. Did you take a lot of science and math classes during undergrad? Do poorly in them?
I want to apply for the Health Careers Program as a graduate. but i have already taken my sciences (with one B+ the rest A-'s and A's) would i still be eligible to apply???