ahhhhhhhhhhh! help!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dandoe123]

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question...

i noticed a lot of post-bacc programs appear to have two main types of program... one geared for those who haven't finished their pre-reqs and one for those who have taken the pre-reqs, but need to boost their GPA and what not.

my concern is that it's been so long (5+ years ago) since i took a lot of these classes, am i better off re-taking these classes with those who haven't finished the pre-reqs or should i take the more "special" programs like Penn's special sciences or Drexel's MSP/IMS? my concern is that in these latter classes, the material will be that of advanced medical classes and i won't remember enough basics to follow along.

thanks.

 

[Perrotfish]

1) Why have you forgotten everything in 5 years?

2) Have you taken the MCAT? If so what is the score?

3) What is your UGrad GPA?

 

[dandoe123]

1) Why have you forgotten everything in 5 years?

2) Have you taken the MCAT? If so what is the score?

3) What is your UGrad GPA?

1. never said i have forgotten EVERYTHING in 5 years. but obviously if i understood the stuff well enough that i'd remember EVERYTHING in 5 years, i would have done much better in these classes and would not need to consider taking a post-bacc now

2. nope. never took the MCATs. why would i take the MCATs if i know that i wouldn't do well on it? i heard that it's better to take it once and do really well then take it multiple times.

3. UGPA: 2.94 (science) 3.11 (overall) -- biology and classics double major
Grad GPA: 3.7 -- PhD immunology (Emory Univ/Dr. Rafi Ahmed)
GRE: i forget the exact score... but i did ok -- verbal: ~650; quant: ~750

** two first author papers in respectable journal and 3 non-first author papers **

 

[Perrotfish]

Alright, good deal. Between the PhD grades and the UGrad grades you're probably a candidate for medical school. What you need is a quick, semester long review of everything you took and that is what an MCAT review course is for. I'm a fan of Princeton Review, though you can check over on the MCAT forums for other opinions. Plan for it to be a full time endevor for 3-4 months.

You can do an SMP if you really want to, but the purpose of an SMP is to prove that you are competitive in Medical school despite your Ugrad, not to help you relearn everything you forgot from your undergraduate days. If you really want to retake those courses there's no formal program for it, you just need to reregister as an undergrad. Honestly there's no reason to do either, just study for the MCAT and it will all come back to you.