Advice for Informal PostBac PreMed

[DoctorEagle1990]

Hello all,

I am new here on this site!

I have seen several topics on the subject of Postbac Premed paths and I need some advice as well.

I graduated university in May 2014 with a Bachelors in Psychology... however, my GPA is not all that high: it is a 2.7. While a freshman and sophomore, I failed both general biology and general chemistry, respectively. I was homeschooled all my life, so the transition to an actual school environment may have contributed to that.

But I pulled through, I graduated, and I am still interested in pursuing medical school as it has been a dream since I was a kid. I know that many formal postbac premed programs will not accept me because of my GPA, so I am in the middle of creating a DIY postbac premed program. The only issue is I am not sure which path to take.

I should also mention that as of now, I have taken one semester of general chemistry at a local community college (and received a B-/C+), and will start the second semester in a few days, as my original plan was to take the needed classes at a CC, but I am not offered any financial aid, and I don't think med schools (even DOs) will appreciate that I took the science classes at a CC.

I have also become CPR certified, taken an EMT class, passed the EMT practical exam, and am awaiting the EMT written exam results, so I may also be working as either a certified EMT-B or working in the nearby hospitals while going to whichever school I choose part-time. This will help with paying tuition and apartment rent (and will also look good on med school applications).

My top option right now is at "ABC", we shall call it. ABC is a part of a four-year university, but is specifically for part-time students. At ABC, you register and take classes part-time towards a degree or a certificate. I can take all the classes I need, and I receive financial aid, even if I register in ABC as a non-matriculated student. So, at ABC, I am considering either applying as a new degree-seeking student and take the classes I need without finishing and receiving a second degree (though I don't know how that would look to medical schools) or I can take the classes I need as a nonmatriculated student (which may or may not work since I may not get into the classes I need).

A second option is at XYZ, a 4-year college. I can take courses as a non-matriculated, part-time student, as with ABC. At XYZ, I can take up to 18 credits as a non-matriculated student, but once I take more than 18 credits, I MUST apply for matriculation at XYZ.

I am not sure if I should go the non-matriculated route and just take the classes I need (which btw, are general biology, organic chemistry, general physics, biochemistry and any other classes I need for the new MCATs, not including stats and psychology as I passed those). If I go this route, I may or may not get the classes I need, since preference is obviously given to the matriculated students.

If I do become matriculated, I can register for said classes without a problem, and NOT pursue a second degree, even though I am matriculated, though I do not know how med schools will perceive that, not to mention I will become a full-time student and have to find other classes to take.

OR I can stay at the community college and take all the science classes there.

Can you all give me advice on how to approach this postbac premed and make the right decision? Should I go to one of the four-year schools, or should I continue on the CC path? Thanks!

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[bbbaaa]

Well whatever you do you need to be making A's. Your only realistic option is to go DO route with grade replacement. But replacing F's with C+'s isn't going to cut it. You have a decent excuse for struggling freshman year, but if you can't cut it in general chemistry at a community college post-graduation, I imagine that's got to be a red flag.

I've seen people say that they do the second degree route just for the necessary pre-reqs and then drop the degree and apply to med school no problem. Personally, I just went as a non-degree student, and my university actually gave registration priority to folks like me so long as we already had our bachelors. So either way can work, but it's a waste of time and money if you aren't making A's.

 

[bbbaaa]

That may have come across as harsh. And welcome to the site, btw, I didn't see that you had just joined today. There are a ton of good resources on here, including threads for those trying to raise low GPA's. Just make sure you do enough research to know what you're aiming for and what specifically you have to do to get there.