Advice needed: Retake Cs from undergrad or DIY post-bacc?

[FuturePedsDoc2018]

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Hi premed community! Just some background on me- I am a URM that graduated with my bachelor's degree last May. I have been working full time as a technician in an medical office for the past year. I was a scribe in the ER x 2 1/2 years I also volunteer as a dance teacher for little kids. I am also currently studying for the MCAT and will test on 8/18 ( I know, I know- I should be studying right now, but I took a break to ask this lol )

Anyway, I know that I need to do pretty well on the MCAT (aiming for 515+) to partly offset my low gpa (3.26 cumulative) but also would like to put my best foot forward when I apply next year (all Texas schools). Even though I work, money is tight for me and my family and that's why I would prefer to go to a community college. My question is if I were to get 515+ on the MCAT like I'm planning, how much of a benefit would it be for me to retake the classes I got Cs in at a community college? (ochem 1 &2, genetics, and physics 2- no Ds or Fs)? Or, if I need to do a post bacc, what would be the best way to go about a DIY post bacc when finances are an issue? Because from what I've heard, you're not eligible for FAFSA when you take classes after you graduate.

Any advice is helpful. Thank you so much.

 

[wysdoc]

Hi premed community! Just some background on me- I am a URM that graduated with my bachelor's degree last May. I have been working full time as a technician in an medical office for the past year. I was a scribe in the ER x 2 1/2 years I also volunteer as a dance teacher for little kids. I am also currently studying for the MCAT and will test on 8/18 ( I know, I know- I should be studying right now, but I took a break to ask this lol )

Anyway, I know that I need to do pretty well on the MCAT (aiming for 515+) to partly offset my low gpa (3.26 cumulative) but also would like to put my best foot forward when I apply next year (all Texas schools). Even though I work, money is tight for me and my family and that's why I would prefer to go to a community college. My question is if I were to get 515+ on the MCAT like I'm planning, how much of a benefit would it be for me to retake the classes I got Cs in at a community college? (ochem 1 &2, genetics, and physics 2- no Ds or Fs)? Or, if I need to do a post bacc, what would be the best way to go about a DIY post bacc when finances are an issue? Because from what I've heard, you're not eligible for FAFSA when you take classes after you graduate.

Any advice is helpful. Thank you so much.

Only retake classes that are prerequisites and that you got a C- or lower in.
Take some upper division (300 or 400 level) classes such as biology, anatomy, physiology, genetics, at your local affordable college. Save money from your full time job for tuition and application fees, travel.

 

[FuturePedsDoc2018]

Only retake classes that are prerequisites and that you got a C- or lower in.
Take some upper division (300 or 400 level) classes such as biology, anatomy, physiology, genetics, at your local affordable college. Save money from your full time job for tuition and application fees, travel.

Thank you so much for your reply! None of the Cs I received were C- (actually most were 77-79) so I guess there is no use in retaking them. About how many upper level courses should I take? I would like to apply next year so I I basically have this fall and next spring to take the classes. I was thinking of like 2-3 classes a semester, for about a total of 12-18 total credit hours. Would that still be substantial enough credits to prove I can do better if I got A's in all the classes? Since I would still have to work, I don't know if I'd be able to add more.

 

[deleted804295]

My University's medical school did not accept a single individual with a GPA at 3.26 or lower- the individual with the lowest GPA had around a 3.4 I believe.

I would do a post-bacc if I were you. Your ECs aren't strong enough to be an individual whose low GPA was offset by URM status and good ECs.

Also I would like to stress that you can't just aim to have a 515+ MCAT when you plan on taking it in 3 months and you haven't listed FL Practice scores yet. That is a very high score and it requires an incredible amount of work.

 

[smukke]

Or, if I need to do a post bacc, what would be the best way to go about a DIY post bacc when finances are an issue? Because from what I've heard, you're not eligible for FAFSA when you take classes after you graduate.

Any advice is helpful. Thank you so much.

Enroll as degree seeking (any associate or bachelor degree and you don't need to finish it) and you'll be eligible for loans (but usually not grants/scholarships). Depending on the school it'll give you priority registration too. Also make use of educational incentives from work, universities will often give free/reduced tuition to employees and many private employers will have grants/reimbursement.

 

[FuturePedsDoc2018]

Enroll as degree seeking (any associate or bachelor degree and you don't need to finish it) and you'll be eligible for loans (but usually not grants/scholarships). Depending on the school it'll give you priority registration too. Also make use of educational incentives from work, universities will often give free/reduced tuition to employees and many private employers will have grants/reimbursement.

Thank you for the helpful advice! I was unsure if I would be able to say I was degree seeking and apply for financial aid, but I will try that. And also I will look into what incentives my job offers.

 

[FuturePedsDoc2018]

Also I would like to stress that you can't just aim to have a 515+ MCAT when you plan on taking it in 3 months and you haven't listed FL Practice scores yet. That is a very high score and it requires an incredible amount of work.

I said that that's my target score, as in I'm WELL aware of the work I need to put in to achieve that score. I wasn't just saying I think that's the score I'll get.

 

[Hopeful7419]

I think a DIY post-bacc focused on upper division biology classes would be better, but I'm curious as to what adcomms have to say about this.

 

[Nedsson]

So, I'm going to agree with those who recommended a post-bac or special masters to prove yourself. You need a strong performance to show that you've moved past those c marks. Research would be a plus as well. I'm myself an example that you can make it into MD programs with a sub 3.5 gpa although I also had good ECs, a 3.95 math/science GPA, and an MCAT in the top 1 percent). There are some good (and a few affordable as well) programs out there, so I think that would be your best chance (look to see what is in your region) As a bonus, once you matriculate...you'll have some familiarity with the content. Good luck!

 

[FuturePedsDoc2018]

So, I'm going to agree with those who recommended a post-bac or special masters to prove yourself. You need a strong performance to show that you've moved past those c marks. Research would be a plus as well. I'm myself an example that you can make it into MD programs with a sub 3.5 gpa although I also had good ECs, a 3.95 math/science GPA, and an MCAT in the top 1 percent). There are some good (and a few affordable as well) programs out there, so I think that would be your best chance (look to see what is in your region) As a bonus, once you matriculate...you'll have some familiarity with the content. Good luck!

Thank you for your response. I will definitely look into doing a DIY post bacc in that case. What is the minimum amount of credit hours/classes would you recommend me taking to prove myself? Enough to make a certain gpa?I only ask this due to my financial situation and want to be able to afford it.

 

[Nedsson]

Thank you for your response. I will definitely look into doing a DIY post bacc in that case. What is the minimum amount of credit hours/classes would you recommend me taking to prove myself? Enough to make a certain gpa?I only ask this due to my financial situation and want to be able to afford it.

Its less the number of hours per say and more what you need to take (that you havent already taken) to demonstrate the ability. For example, taking bioethics might be great, but making an A in it wont necessarily prove anything to an adcom. If you haven't had biochemistry, take a 4000 level one with lab and crush it. A biostatistics would be good as well. Many schools offer a 4000 level physiology class (not the 2000 level one prenursing students take). A 4000 level microbiology and Immunology are also possibilities. My Uni had Pathology, Parasitology and Mechanisms of Disease courses as well. If offered, those would all be options. If you could find a research opportunity to be part of, you could do that as well, and I think that would help.