Advice on Post Bacc programs

[sillybiogirl38]

Hi,

i just have a few questions about post back programs. I'm currently applying to a few programs and I wanted to know if I had a chance of getting in. I'm currently a senior at one of the UC schools. I have a minor in Psychology. My G.P.A is on the low side. I did poorly in the beginning but I raised up my grades and got everything together. My overall G.P.A is 3.5 and BCMP is around 3.5. I'm involved with several extracurriculars on campus. I've been doing research for 2 years. I've studied abroad. I have clinical experience as well. I'm a minority. What are my chances? Would you suggest a formal post back? What about an informal post bac?

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[DrMidlife]

Hi,

i just have a few questions about post back programs. I'm currently applying to a few programs and I wanted to know if I had a chance of getting in. I'm currently a senior at one of the UC schools. I have a minor in Psychology. My G.P.A is on the low side. I did poorly in the beginning but I raised up my grades and got everything together. My overall G.P.A is 3.5 and BCMP is around 3.5. I'm involved with several extracurriculars on campus. I've been doing research for 2 years. I've studied abroad. I have clinical experience as well. I'm a minority. What are my chances? Would you suggest a formal post back? What about an informal post bac?

Forget postbac. 3.5 isn't low enough for that. Add a minor in a hard science like biochem or whatever. Take another year of undergrad before you graduate. Get as close to a 4.0 for that year as you can. Plan on working after you graduate because you'll need a gap year to maximize your GPA before applying.

Best of luck to you.

 

[sillybiogirl38]

Hi DrMidlife,

Thank you so much for your advise. I was thinking about working next year and doing UCLA extension program. Would you suggest this extension program? I can't stay an extra year at the UC I'm currently at. I was thinking of moving home at just doing this extension and working in a lab. How do medical schools look at extension programs?

 

[DrMidlife]

Hi DrMidlife,

Thank you so much for your advise. I was thinking about working next year and doing UCLA extension program. Would you suggest this extension program? I can't stay an extra year at the UC I'm currently at. I was thinking of moving home at just doing this extension and working in a lab. How do medical schools look at extension programs?

Doesn't matter what school you do more undergrad at. Preferably don't do a CC or online. Preferably get straight A's. Preferably take enough classes to increase your GPA into competitive range.

I'd be skeptical that you can take enough classes and get good enough grades for it to be worth it while working full time.

Best of luck to you.

 

[jslo85]

agree/disagree with Dr. Midlife. Ideally, you can take a full round of classes, put in the time for a year and come out with a 3.8 and above GPA overall in classes like Anatomy and Physiology, Toxciology, Immunology etc. 16 credits each quarter and whatnot. But realistically, life after college is often hard mainly for financial reasons and I believe if you have great time management and discipline, you can make it work with 3 classes and working a more intensive part time. I would actually probably recommend you take about 12 units, work part time and do shadowing or some type of E.C. that will make you stand out more. SMPs should understand that you have other responsbilities and often are looking more to see if potential applicants will become good doctors as well as their academic competency.

 

[DrMidlife]

agree/disagree with Dr. Midlife. Ideally, you can take a full round of classes, put in the time for a year and come out with a 3.8 and above GPA overall in classes like Anatomy and Physiology, Toxciology, Immunology etc. 16 credits each quarter and whatnot. But realistically, life after college is often hard mainly for financial reasons and I believe if you have great time management and discipline, you can make it work with 3 classes and working a more intensive part time. I would actually probably recommend you take about 12 units, work part time and do shadowing or some type of E.C. that will make you stand out more. SMPs should understand that you have other responsbilities and often are looking more to see if potential applicants will become good doctors as well as their academic competency.

The OP should either do more undergrad or an SMP, not both, imho.

 

[vhunter]

Hi, I also would like some advice on post bacc and instead of creating a duplicate thread for myself.... I guess I'll post here....

I'm currently a junior at a uc doing undergraduate work and my gpa is low (~2.59 overall and i think BCMP is ~2.4) due to health reasons. i still have at least 30+ units to complete before i graduate (maybe next year) and so i was wondering when to apply for SMPs... is it around senior year? also i haven't taken the mcat yet....
any help or advice is appreciated thx

 

[deleted248403]

You won't generally get into an SMP with a gpa sub 3.0

Calculate how your GPA would rise if you got a 4.0 next year, and that will give a much better idea of the route you need to take.

You probably need to do a year of UG classes to get your GPA above 3.0, and then apply to an SMP