advice for a postbacc-er please?

[newbiee]

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Hello all,
I was hoping to get some advice about how I should proceed in my postbac program. By the end of this semester I'll be done with all the basic prereqs and I'm planning on taking the MCAT in early May. I want to try linking through my program which is why I'm trying to get everything done asap (the application needs to go out by June), but I'm wondering if i should take extra classes like biochem or other advanced sciences to strengthen my application. My issue is that I finished undergrad with a gpa of 3.0 with lots of C's and B's. I have a 3.75 postbac gpa right now....do you think the extra classes would help? By taking the extra time, I could also possibly take the MCAT at a later date and have more time to study for it. Starting med school sooner rather than later is pretty important to me which is why I'm trying to link, but i'd much rather apply with a stronger application if the classes help than get rejected for not taking this one step. thoughts?
thanks!!

 

[airca12]

I don't know where you're doing your post-bac, but I would definitely not assume that the linkage program will work in your favor. If you put all of your stock in that and don't get accepted, then what?

A few of the schools I looked at actually require Biochem. You should check with the individual schools you're going to apply to (in case the linkage doesn't work out) and make sure you have all your prereqs. Don't assume all schools require the same classes.

Are you currently enrolled this semester? Is it too late to add classes?

I would try to strengthen your app if you can.

Best of luck.

 

[beckhunter116]

How about taking the upper-level classes over summer? On your app they would be listed as in progress then send updated transcript in at the end of the summer.

I do believe you should apply to schools broadly because the link may or may not happen.

 

[newbiee]

thanks for the responses!
i actually did not know that it was possible to apply with classes in progress, so i think that taking summer classes may be a very good option (thanks!). and i should have clarified - i'm certainly not putting all my hopes into the linkage since i realize the probability of that working out is very small even if one is an excellent student. i had meant that i wanted to be in the application process by the end of this semester with the hopes of starting either this fall or the next, through linkage or "regular", respectively. this semester i'm taking physics II, orgo II, bio II, each w lab, working and volunteering....and studying for the MCAT, so i'm not too keen on adding anything to my schedule. for the summer though, is there any other class in addition to biochem that would be interesting/relevant?
thanks again!

 

[skubdubdu]

I had a similar second sem. post bacc prior to applying. I took an unrelated job and made money over the next year while I interviewed. In retrospect, I wish I had taken an extra class or two/semester as you are considering doing. It would have made me more marketable and showed my continued interest in the field.

RE: classes to take. Now that I'm in med school, I wish I had better undergrad background in the following 1)Biochem 2)Statistics 3)Anatomy and Physiology
The depth of immuno or micro you would get in undergrad would pale in comparison to what you'll get in med school. Then again, so will A&P, but at least you would have some familiarity with it. As for the classes bringing up your GPA, A's will only change your GPA by a few tenths or hundredths at this point, so do it for edification and continued interest, not points. Good luck!

 

[beckhunter116]

Newbiee,

I'm like 98% sure that you can put classes as "in-progress" so you may want to email the application system or look on other threads. I don't want to tell you something that isn't true, but I believe others had told me they did this. Good Luck!