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I would retake deficient courses at a local college, AACOMAS replaces poor grades and that will surely raise your GPA, and get +30 on the MCAT. A masters degree can help as well, but I think retaking pre-reqs helps more.
 
nsuparamedic said:
I would retake deficient courses at a local college, AACOMAS replaces poor grades and that will surely raise your GPA, and get +30 on the MCAT. A masters degree can help as well, but I think retaking pre-reqs helps more.
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To add:

You need to concentrate your retakes on important prereqs you did a C+ or lower in (Gen Bio, Gen Chem, Ochem, Physics, Cell Bio, Genetics).

What MCAT prep course are you using? I used Princeton Review and it was splendid.
 
calisbgirl8 said:
Should I re-take the course on my own or do a program (post-bacc)? I just took a course at the school where I will be doing my masters and received an A. Thanks.
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Do it on your own. The only difference with a program is that they charge you more.

Use the difference to buy a beamer instead.
 
calisbgirl8 said:
Another question... will it matter what school I do it at? I was at a private university? Will it look bad if I re-took the courses at a state school? Thanks
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This probably will matter very little, if at all. Take the classes cheaply and conveniently. If they ask why you did it at school X, say it was cheap and convenient.

Make sure the courses are at least the same amount of credit hours as the first time, or else they won't get replaced.

Also, make sure you get A's. B's will still help bring up your GPA, but you are working with limited time and number of courses, as well as perhaps the number of times you can retake a course at a certain school. Keep in mind that AACOMAS uses the most recent grade, even if it's worse. Just an FYI.
 
calisbgirl8 said:
So I just recently ended my undergrad with a B.S. in biology. This was my trend (they are not pretty numbers!! I know)

In my first year I recieved a 2.501, second semester 2.314,
second year 3.411, second semester 3.29, summer 2.415,
third year 2.64, second semester 2.553,
fourth year 2.94, second semester 3.34

My overall gpa was 2.83 and science of 2.4

Part of these reason for these trend of grades were points in my life where I was sick (hospital), being stalked in the first year of undergrad, etc...
I know I can not go back and change these grades, but what is the best route to improving? I currently got accepted in California state university channel island (Dual degree: MBA and M.S. biotech). So my question is this: should I do a post bac? Or will my Masters be enough? I have not yet taken my MCATs (I am taking a course starting Nov.) I am looking for DO by the way.

Plse no harsh comments of how I will never get in anywhere
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You should probably do a post-bacc or SMP, as your undergraduate grades are the problem, and -to be frank - med schools won't give a crap about an MBA from a cal state. Also, do you have an MCAT score?? Your plan from here on out (if I were in your shoes) should be:

-MCAT (rock it)
-post bacc/SMP (post-bacc probably better)
-apply WHEN you feel ready and know you're a strong candidate. It's not a race.

Good Luck.

*Also, listen to Chocolate Bear. If his advice is different that mine ... probably stick with his. Though I am better looking.
 
JaggerPlate said:
*Also, listen to Chocolate Bear. If his advice is different that mine ... probably stick with his. Though I am better looking.
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OMG no you didn't! Look at my cocked hat and cool demeanor. You think your rolling eyes and sophisticated cigarette have something on me?! Puh-leaze.
 
calisbgirl8 said:
Whats a SMP? Will it hurt my chances if I got a masters in biotech and mba? Also, I heard that if you are in a grad program you can't do anything about your undergrad gpa, is that true? Thanks
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No it won't hurt your chances if you get a masters.

I actually don't know if masters gpas are mixed with undergrad gpas on AACOMAS

The general consensus on SMPs is that they are a last ditch, back against the wall attempt to boost your application for medical school. Some are high linkage programs, but most aren't, and if you do well, it can improve your chances @ med school. If you don't you are done FOREVER. In fact, there was a thread on here a few months ago from an SMPer who finished his masters work with a 2.98 or something and couldn't get into a CARRIBEAN school.

I'd concentrate on retakes for now.
 
Hi, you've started three threads on the same thing. Cease and desist.
 
calisbgirl8 said:
Do I do re-takes for labs? And what about where I may have gotten a c in like a second semester of like physics.... do I re-take the whole year or just that semester? Thanks
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I'd be efficient with time and cost. Retaking C's will give you the most bang for your buck.

I wouldn't retake the whole year if I didn't need it. It'll be covered in your Kaplan course anyway so just relearn it then.
 
calisbgirl8 said:
So I just recently ended my undergrad with a B.S. in biology. This was my trend (they are not pretty numbers!! I know)

In my first year I recieved a 2.501, second semester 2.314,
second year 3.411, second semester 3.29, summer 2.415,
third year 2.64, second semester 2.553,
fourth year 2.94, second semester 3.34

My overall gpa was 2.83 and science of 2.4

Part of these reason for these trend of grades were points in my life where I was sick (hospital), being stalked in the first year of undergrad, etc...
I know I can not go back and change these grades, but what is the best route to improving? I currently got accepted in California state university channel island (Dual degree: MBA and M.S. biotech). So my question is this: should I do a post bac? Or will my Masters be enough? I have not yet taken my MCATs (I am taking a course starting Nov.) I am looking for DO by the way.

Plse no harsh comments of how I will never get in anywhere
Click to expand...

you have alot of work ahead of you, a 2.8 GPA with a lower science is not good... and I am usually not one to make generalizations, but I don't think there is much you can do to make yourself competitive at allopathic (MD) programs... no matter what you do... Simply because the MD application does not replace your old grades, they simply add every college credit earned, so re-taking your classes doesn't help your raise your GPA that much...

Howvere, there is a some good news after all, applying to oesteopathic schools (DO) give you the option of replacing a bad grade with a good one. Example would be, you took Orgo-1 during your undergrad with a C-, after your B.S degree, you went a head and started a post-bacc and retook Orgo-1 again, but this time around, you managed an A.... With the DO application, they will only count the A into your GPA calculations..... so the plan for you is, to retake all the "junk" grades you've earned and retake with nothing lower than a B+....

one thing I wanna warn you against is the SMPs, I personally would NEVER do an SMP, its almost like a 1-shot-do-it-all-or-die-forever thing... If you do well in an SMP program, you'll drastically increase your chances of making into a medical program, if you do bad, you'll hurt your chances so badly, that no GPA damange control or post-bacc will save you..... here is the catch, SMPs are NOT EASY, those are some seriously tough programs, its basically the equivilant of medical school classes, and you have to ACE them in order for medical schools to see you as a competitive applicant....

Your best option is to do a 2-3 year post-bacc and manage nothing less than a 3.5 in any class, that should help your chances for DO programs

Good luck
 
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