A Good Post-Bacc Program For a 3.16 GPA Biomedical Engineer?

[beans120]

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Hello all. This is my first post, and I am certainly impressed with this forum. I have been perusing the threads and posts but have been unable to find something related to where I am at.

I have just graduated from a liberal arts college with a BS in biomedical engineering and a cGPA of 3.16. With biomedical engineering I have taken a few of the pre-med reqs, such as calculus, 1 sem. of gen chem, 2 sem. of physics, and 1 sem. of bio. I received A's in all of those besides Physics of which I got C's. I have also taken loads of math, engineering, and neural/tissue engineering courses for my biomedical engineering major, but I'm not totally sure if they will count towards anything.

My SAT scores were: Math- 700, Verbal- 590, Writing-670
and I am considering taking the GRE, but I'm not sure if I should...

My dilemma is this: I have decided to attend a Post-Bacc Program in hopes of raising my GPA, but also in hopes of completing the pre-med requirements I have yet to do. I have been looking at some of the "top" Post-Bacc programs, but I feel they are geared towards people who have taken NO science courses (and therefore had taken less rigorous courses to achieve their stellar GPA 😉). Is my 3.16 GPA in biomedical engineering competitive for a good Post-Bacc Program (such as those listed below)?

What are my chances at applying for a Post-Bacc Program such as Bryn Mawr, Goucher, Scripps, JHU, Columbia, Penn, Brandeis, NYU, UVM, UCONN, SUNY? I am looking to attend a program with good/many linkages or one that is deemed to have a high med school acceptance rate. I know some of them say that only those who have not taken any science courses should apply, but is there anyway I might be able to attend one of these programs to take the pre-med courses/upper level courses I have yet to take?

Also, should I be retaking the Physics courses that I got C's in?
(Phys 1: C+, Phys 2: C [got C's because I took these Physics courses early on and was terrible at adapting to the coursework, however after 4 years of learning the same engineering, physics material, I have become quite good at it]).

Are there any other Post-Bacc Programs that I might be better suited for than the ones I listed for my situation?

I have great EC's, and have interned in a Biomedical Engineering department when I was abroad.

Lastly, do you think I need to take and do well on the GRE's with the scores that I got on the SAT's to get into a top program? (Math- 700, Verbal- 590, Writing-670)

Any help in choosing an appropriate Post-Bacc Program would be incredibly appreciated! I'd be interested in all of the programs I wrote above, but would take any recommendations into consideration. I am looking for something that is not insanely competitive. Thanks so much!

 

[DrMidlife]

I have also taken loads of math, engineering, and neural/tissue engineering courses for my biomedical engineering major, but I'm not totally sure if they will count towards anything.

They don't count as med school prereqs, but they mostly count toward your science GPA. Which counts.

I am considering taking the GRE, but I'm not sure if I should...

I see no reason to take the GRE.

My dilemma is this: I have decided to attend a Post-Bacc Program in hopes of raising my GPA, but also in hopes of completing the pre-med requirements I have yet to do. I have been looking at some of the "top" Post-Bacc programs, but I feel they are geared towards people who have taken NO science courses (and therefore had taken less rigorous courses to achieve their stellar GPA 😉). Is my 3.16 GPA in biomedical engineering competitive for a good Post-Bacc Program (such as those listed below)?

No, the good formal structured postbac programs don't like to take risks. You'll have to de-risk yourself for med school admissions in a different type of program.

I am looking to attend a program with good/many linkages or one that is deemed to have a high med school acceptance rate.

Such programs are competitive to get into, and you're not there. You'll have to go another route.

I know some of them say that only those who have not taken any science courses should apply, but is there anyway I might be able to attend one of these programs to take the pre-med courses/upper level courses I have yet to take?

Maybe Harvard Extension. But generally the formal structured 1 year postbacs, particularly with linkage, want squeaky clean high GPA no-science-yet-but-tons-of-volunteering students.

Also, should I be retaking the Physics courses that I got C's in?

Yes. You don't have to take calc-bases physics. Also, for MD schools, the old grade isn't forgiven on a retake. For DO schools, retakes wipe out the old grade.

got C's because I took these Physics courses early on and was terrible at adapting to the coursework, however after 4 years of learning the same engineering, physics material, I have become quite good at it]).

Have an answer for the question "so why should we expect you to succeed under the crushing, massive, constant load of new material in med school?"

Are there any other Post-Bacc Programs that I might be better suited for than the ones I listed for my situation?

Go wherever you can get in, wherever you can finish the prereqs. Consider a 2nd bachelors. Harvard Extension, UC Berkeley Extension, UT Dallas are good examples of programs that would be useful for you.

You can't actually repair your GPA, and I suggest that one more full time undergrad year is all you should do. Assume you'll need to do an SMP after you finish prereqs and retakes. Assume the MCAT will make or break you; you need an above average score (32+ for MD, 27+ for DO).

Lastly, do you think I need to take and do well on the GRE's with the scores that I got on the SAT's to get into a top program? (Math- 700, Verbal- 590, Writing-670)

No. Only the competitive postbacs care about your SAT, because they have to bet on your future MCAT score when they let you in. Their reputation and linkage are at stake if they take risks, so they don't take risks. You're not getting into one of those, so don't worry about SAT/GRE.

Best of luck to you.