Advice on whether or noy to do a post baccalaureate or not

[hajiboy786]

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Hello everyone,

I have read some posts in the student doctor network on a variety of topics and was pleased on the responses on what people have said. So, I have decided to ask you guys for help, since I am in a stressful situation. So, please bare with me if I give too much information or ask too many questions.

Undergrad University- Virginia Commonwealth University
Major- Biomedical Engineering
Curent GPA- 2.81
MCAT Score- N/A

So, here is my story- During my years of undergrad, it has not been going so well. In my freshman year, I have had severe eczema break outs and eye infections that have caused me to miss class and my GPA to go down. In my sophomore year, I had a eczema breakouts and an allergy scare( yes, I have serve allergies to milk and milk products, peanut and peanut products, nut and nut products, fish and fish products, egg and egg products, oat and oat products, chicken, and beef) that had caused me to be allergic to everything, including the food I could have. This caused me to fail some of my classes and had to repeat them. In my junior year(current year), I have had several severe eye infections, but I also had deaths in my family, my grandfather passed away in December 2012, and my grandmother passed away in March 2013.

I really do want to become a doctor, but the way that my life is looking right now, I do not think it is possible. Then, a friend told me about a premedical postbac program and I read up on it. It looks promising for students like me who had a hard time during their undergrad. So, can someone give me some insights on how the post bac works? Also, if anyone has completed the program, did help at all to get accepted in to medical school or any other health-related schools?

Also on a side note, do you recommend that I fix my health problems before starting the post bac or not?

Thank You to everyone who took the time to read this post, I greatly appreciate it

 

[redbullnhockey]

I can't speculate or give any advice because I'm in the same boat as you. I'm curious to see what others say. I'm sorry to hear about your health issues and family loss. It's tough, as I'm sure you already know.

 

[chayo234]

1) Read stickies
2) Fix personal problems before starting school again
3) Yes, Post-bacc/SMP help thousands of students get into medical school each year

 

[DrMidlife]

1) Read stickies
2) Fix personal problems before starting school again
3) Yes, Post-bacc/SMP help thousands of students get into medical school each year

👍

On #2, find a practicing physician who has your allergies. Find out what you're in for. If you are going to go into anaphylaxis on rotations when you accidentally touch a spot of peanut butter on some kid, don't go to med school.

To elaborate on #3, you should be looking at a second bachelors, because from a 2.81, you need to demonstrate a 3.7+ over a multi-year fulltime schedule of difficult classes. Having a plausible reason for doing poorly in undergrad doesn't get you out of doing more undergrad to prove what you didn't prove the first time. You need to show you're med school quality before you do an SMP.

Best of luck to you.