Advice on Post Bacc and Application Cycle

[memento_mori1]

Hi, I will try not to dox myself here and keep it short. Asian male, in a T25 college right now. In my final year of undergrad and will graduate with a cgpa of around 3.65 (sgpa probably around there or a little lower). I got a lot of Bs and B-s, and a D in Orgo (which I retook and ended with an A-). I also have a W on my transcript and retaking that class I only ended with a B-. I am in a research lab, have good volunteering, shadowed a little, in leadership positions (think TA and stuff), and also have clinical hours (Medical Assistant/Scribe). My MCAT score is 515+. I am taking 2 gap years (hopefully in my lab and working at a hospital). The only thing I am lacking is volunteering in communities (all of my volunteer work has been at a hospital) and my low gpa. I am thinking of doing a postbacc but a it seems like a lot of them require too much money. I am aiming for an MD (applying to around 20) school but definitely will be applying to DO schools (around 5). Just looking on advice on what I can do with my gpa/what else I can do to strengthen my application. I have this year and the next one before I apply so I would love some advice/input

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[redbeetle_333]

I dont think your GPA is a big issue tbh. Maybe a post bacc would be warranted if you were below 3.5. I would consider retaking at least one or two classes with the worst grades though. I would not suggest this if you had a C. But if you cannot do this dont worry about it.

I think it is smart for you to apply DO schools as well. I think from the surface it sounds like you have good things going for your application. If you are worried about your vollunteering hours I would suggest targeting schools that have missions that fit your goals. It seems like you want to get into schools that value research experience so I would suggest doing that.

I also think you should reflect on your personal experiences leading to you applyng and really think about what is the best impression you can give to adcoms through your personal statements. Your life experiences are the X factor so try making the personal statement this way.

 

[Goro]

Hi, I will try not to dox myself here and keep it short. Asian male, in a T25 college right now. In my final year of undergrad and will graduate with a cgpa of around 3.65 (sgpa probably around there or a little lower). I got a lot of Bs and B-s, and a D in Orgo (which I retook and ended with an A-). I also have a W on my transcript and retaking that class I only ended with a B-. I am in a research lab, have good volunteering, shadowed a little, in leadership positions (think TA and stuff), and also have clinical hours (Medical Assistant/Scribe). My MCAT score is 515+. I am taking 2 gap years (hopefully in my lab and working at a hospital). The only thing I am lacking is volunteering in communities (all of my volunteer work has been at a hospital) and my low gpa. I am thinking of doing a postbacc but a it seems like a lot of them require too much money. I am aiming for an MD (applying to around 20) school but definitely will be applying to DO schools (around 5). Just looking on advice on what I can do with my gpa/what else I can do to strengthen my application. I have this year and the next one before I apply so I would love some advice/input

I don't think that you need a postbac with your stats.

Focus of bulking up your ECs and we'll help with a school list

 

[memento_mori1]

I dont think your GPA is a big issue tbh. Maybe a post bacc would be warranted if you were below 3.5. I would consider retaking at least one or two classes with the worst grades though. I would not suggest this if you had a C. But if you cannot do this dont worry about it.

I think it is smart for you to apply DO schools as well. I think from the surface it sounds like you have good things going for your application. If you are worried about your vollunteering hours I would suggest targeting schools that have missions that fit your goals. It seems like you want to get into schools that value research experience so I would suggest doing that.

I also think you should reflect on your personal experiences leading to you applyng and really think about what is the best impression you can give to adcoms through your personal statements. Your life experiences are the X factor so try making the personal statement this way.

I don't have any Cs. I got a D in Orgo, retook it and got an A-. My other lowest grades are just B-s and Bs.

 

[memento_mori1]

I don't think that you need a postbac with your stats.

Focus of bulking up your ECs and we'll help with a school list

That's comforting. I do appreciate it. However it is stressing me out to so much

 

[skedaddleduck]

Hey, I was in a very very similar position to you. Graduated with a 3.65ish gpa and a 514. Everyone told me I didn’t need a postbacc. But the stress got to me and I took a really cheap one in-state, retook my mcat (again was told not to) and finished with a 3.72 overall gpa and 518. Did I need to do this? No not at all. Probably stupid in some ways. But I think it was an overall net benefit because the post bacc had a health equity component that I focused on with my own ecs that year, used that to do americorps, and have a decent cycle this year so far.

I would go calculate that sgpa. If it is significantly lower (mine was about .2 lower initially) I would consider a year to do a diy postbacc coupled with ecs that build off your current portfolio to show diligence and drive. But tbh your science classes sound much better than mine LMAO so you probably don’t even need the diy postbacc. But, def understand your stress, and wanna let you know it will be ok🤎

 

[Mr.Smile12]

If you were to do a DIY postbac, what courses are left? I agree you don't need to take courses to boost your application GPA, but you also risk damaging it (a little). My usual advice is that a postbac is good if you have a science/BCPM of 3.4 within a reasonable shot of 3.5 and a significant number of available undergrad-level "recommended" biomedical science courses left (30 credit hours).

You said your clear weakness is your lack of community service with food distribution, shelter volunteering, job/tax preparation, transportation services, or housing rehabilitation. You have 2 years to rack this up, so get it done.

 

[Goro]

That's comforting. I do appreciate it. However it is stressing me out to so much

Time to get busy then!!!!!

 

[memento_mori1]

Hey, I was in a very very similar position to you. Graduated with a 3.65ish gpa and a 514. Everyone told me I didn’t need a postbacc. But the stress got to me and I took a really cheap one in-state, retook my mcat (again was told not to) and finished with a 3.72 overall gpa and 518. Did I need to do this? No not at all. Probably stupid in some ways. But I think it was an overall net benefit because the post bacc had a health equity component that I focused on with my own ecs that year, used that to do americorps, and have a decent cycle this year so far.

I would go calculate that sgpa. If it is significantly lower (mine was about .2 lower initially) I would consider a year to do a diy postbacc coupled with ecs that build off your current portfolio to show diligence and drive. But tbh your science classes sound much better than mine LMAO so you probably don’t even need the diy postbacc. But, def understand your stress, and wanna let you know it will be ok🤎

I calculated it. It could range anywhere from 3.55-3.6 and the sgpa can range anywhere from 3.6-3.65. I am still in college so these are estimates but I think right now its that

 

[memento_mori1]

If you were to do a DIY postbac, what courses are left? I agree you don't need to take courses to boost your application GPA, but you also risk damaging it (a little). My usual advice is that a postbac is good if you have a science/BCPM of 3.4 within a reasonable shot of 3.5 and a significant number of available undergrad-level "recommended" biomedical science courses left (30 credit hours).

You said your clear weakness is your lack of community service with food distribution, shelter volunteering, job/tax preparation, transportation services, or housing rehabilitation. You have 2 years to rack this up, so get it done.

Well I am a bio major and I have done all the pre req work (except physics 2 and Orgo 2 lab which I will do in my gap years). Outside of that I cannot think of many bio classes (maybe anatomy) that I should take but again I am not too sure. I will def get on the community service work though. Thank you

 

[chilly_md]

MD schools more responsive to students with that GPA are typically service heavy. Spend your time wisely doing the things Mr. Smile suggested over 2 years to get an impressive number of hours built up.

 

[memento_mori1]

MD schools more responsive to students with that GPA are typically service heavy. Spend your time wisely doing the things Mr. Smile suggested over 2 years to get an impressive number of hours built up.

Thank you