Hi -
I am planning to re-apply to medical school in the next year. I graduated from UCSD in 2004 as a Psychology major. I was originally a Biology major, but struggled with courses my last two years at UCSD after I transferred from a community college. I did well in my general ed. and science courses at comm. college with the following science grades:
General Zoology = A
Intro to Cellular and Molecular Biology = B
Biology of Plants = A
General Chemistry I = B
General Chemistry II = B
I transferred to UCSD for my last two years, where I majored in Biology, but switched to Psychology my senior year since I was having difficulty with my courses as a bio major. I received the following science grades at UCSD:
Physics IA = B-
Physics IB = C+
Physics IC = C+
Organic Chem = C- (lecture only)
Genetics = F
My cumulative UG GPA was a 2.733
After switching my major to Psychology, I achieved high grades in my classes, which consisted of A's and B's, and received Provost's honors during one of my quarters. I have always been fascinated with studying the brain and behavior, so I thought Psychology was a good transition for me. My life-long goal however, is to attend medical school to become a Neurologist.
Since my senior year at UCSD, I continued to volunteer as a Research Assistant in Neuropsychology after graduation in 2004. There, I gained a tremendous amount of research experience in Alzheimer's and Huntington's Disease working alongside a prominent Neuropsychologist. He offered me a full-time position to work in his lab shortly after graduation. I worked there from late 2004 - early 2007. I gained a lot of knowledge and skills in administering neuropsychological tests and conducting neuropsychological assessments on a variety of patient populations. In July 2007, I transitioned from Research into a Clinical position (Neuropsychometrist) that was offered to me by one of the staff Neuropsychologists. I now see patients on a regular basis, conduct neuropsychological assessments, and develop individual patient treatment plans with staff clinical psychologists, neurologists, and neuropsychologists. After graduating in 2004, I decided to return to school while working full-time as a Research Associate to obtain a Master's degree to enhance my academic record. I received an M.A. in Human Behavior (Psychology) in 2006 with a GPA of 3.5.
My desire is to return to school to obtain and M.D. or D.O and become a Neurologist. However, my concern is that I have been out of school for four years, and I took my science courses prior to 2004. Would it be advisable to attend a formal post-bac program which focuses on retaking all the med school prereqs (bio, chem, physics) or shall I just enroll in a community college and take the courses I am missing (Ochem) and retake the ones I earned C's in, such as Physics? Also, if I choose to go my own route and just retake courses, do you think the four years I have been out of school will affect how well I do on the MCAT? Or is more recent and rigorous preparation required? Should I enroll in a formal post-bac which provides MCAT preparation and focuses on all taking all prereq's? Or shall I just take the courses at a local college?
Just to remind you, my UG GPA was 2.733. I graduated from UCSD in 2004. I pursued a Master's Degree in Human Behavior and earned a 3.5 Graduate GPA in 2006.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for reading my post. God Bless.
I am planning to re-apply to medical school in the next year. I graduated from UCSD in 2004 as a Psychology major. I was originally a Biology major, but struggled with courses my last two years at UCSD after I transferred from a community college. I did well in my general ed. and science courses at comm. college with the following science grades:
General Zoology = A
Intro to Cellular and Molecular Biology = B
Biology of Plants = A
General Chemistry I = B
General Chemistry II = B
I transferred to UCSD for my last two years, where I majored in Biology, but switched to Psychology my senior year since I was having difficulty with my courses as a bio major. I received the following science grades at UCSD:
Physics IA = B-
Physics IB = C+
Physics IC = C+
Organic Chem = C- (lecture only)
Genetics = F
My cumulative UG GPA was a 2.733
After switching my major to Psychology, I achieved high grades in my classes, which consisted of A's and B's, and received Provost's honors during one of my quarters. I have always been fascinated with studying the brain and behavior, so I thought Psychology was a good transition for me. My life-long goal however, is to attend medical school to become a Neurologist.
Since my senior year at UCSD, I continued to volunteer as a Research Assistant in Neuropsychology after graduation in 2004. There, I gained a tremendous amount of research experience in Alzheimer's and Huntington's Disease working alongside a prominent Neuropsychologist. He offered me a full-time position to work in his lab shortly after graduation. I worked there from late 2004 - early 2007. I gained a lot of knowledge and skills in administering neuropsychological tests and conducting neuropsychological assessments on a variety of patient populations. In July 2007, I transitioned from Research into a Clinical position (Neuropsychometrist) that was offered to me by one of the staff Neuropsychologists. I now see patients on a regular basis, conduct neuropsychological assessments, and develop individual patient treatment plans with staff clinical psychologists, neurologists, and neuropsychologists. After graduating in 2004, I decided to return to school while working full-time as a Research Associate to obtain a Master's degree to enhance my academic record. I received an M.A. in Human Behavior (Psychology) in 2006 with a GPA of 3.5.
My desire is to return to school to obtain and M.D. or D.O and become a Neurologist. However, my concern is that I have been out of school for four years, and I took my science courses prior to 2004. Would it be advisable to attend a formal post-bac program which focuses on retaking all the med school prereqs (bio, chem, physics) or shall I just enroll in a community college and take the courses I am missing (Ochem) and retake the ones I earned C's in, such as Physics? Also, if I choose to go my own route and just retake courses, do you think the four years I have been out of school will affect how well I do on the MCAT? Or is more recent and rigorous preparation required? Should I enroll in a formal post-bac which provides MCAT preparation and focuses on all taking all prereq's? Or shall I just take the courses at a local college?
Just to remind you, my UG GPA was 2.733. I graduated from UCSD in 2004. I pursued a Master's Degree in Human Behavior and earned a 3.5 Graduate GPA in 2006.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for reading my post. God Bless.
