Advice

[cloak]

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I am a non-traditional student who is about to graduate this Fall, and have decided I would like to go to medical school (allopathic). My GPA when graduating with a bachelors degree will be about 2.85. I would like to know the best way to proceed in preparing to be accepted to a decent medical school.

The options I have considered so far are:

-Post Bac Program: I have been looking through the different programs and all of the decent ones require at least a 3.0 GPA. Well, I won't have that when I graduate. Can anyone recommend some good post-bac programs that I would be able to get into? Also, I was considering taking some of the prereqs after I graduate, raising my GPA to 3.0, and then applying to post-bac.

-Traditional: Just sticking it out and taking 3 semesters to complete the prereqs normally. This would allow me to take a few electives as well to raise my GPA. I could maybe even go for a second bachelors degree in a science major to raise my GPA even futher and show the admissions Im serious.

I am ready to put all my focus into preparing for this, and I am aware my GPA needs to be much higher in order to be considered. I am a good test taker and know I will have to get a really high MCAT as well, plus alot of volunteer/shadowing experience, and good recommendation. I messed around when I was younger, but have been getting 4.0 GPA the last couple of semesters. If anyone has any advice on how to prepare to make the best of my time and undertake the large task at hand, would be greatly appreciated!

 

[MicroBugs]

It sounds like you are back on track and taking the extra few semesters to really buckle down and bring the GPA up is probably your best bet. A postbacc may not help enough. Show 'em you're serious. Plus, you might be able to manage some lighter semesters that'll give you time to volunteer or shadow.

 

[Ebete]

I agree with microbugs, take what you need and aced all classes, do well on the MCAT and see how that goes. Another thing you can do is meet with a medical school advisor/recruiter, they will be able to tell you exactly what they are looking for. Also keep in mind not all schools will have the same oppinion, so one might say ok to your 4.0 consistency during the last few semesters and approve you only do the pre-reqs along with great lor, shadow..., and another might say go about a masters, or post-bac. So find out first.

 

[cloak]

Thanks for the positive replys.

I agree I should go through the traditional method so I can take alittle more time and raise the GPA. How much will I need to raise the GPA to get into a good school? I figure I can get it up to 3.3-3.5 if I take my time and work hard.

 

[poly800rock]

Thanks for the positive replys.

I agree I should go through the traditional method so I can take alittle more time and raise the GPA. How much will I need to raise the GPA to get into a good school? I figure I can get it up to 3.3-3.5 if I take my time and work hard.

ALOT, its much harder to bring up than bring down. Just do your best!