Any advice appreciated.

[UCSB2004]

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I will be graduating from a UC in less than a month. I currently have a 2.48 science and 2.91 overall GPA. I got a 16P on the MCATs (didn't study at all).

I applied to a couple of UC Post-Bacs and it seems like I will not be getting in.... I contacted the "Pre-Med" advisor here at school and I was told to look into a different career, that it's practically impossible to get myself into an allopathic med school.

If I don't get into the Post-Bac (UCI/UCLA that I still haven't heard about), what should I do?

Thanks a lot for your advice!!!

 

[cpb80]

Don't give up. If every successful person I know listened to half of the garbage that advisors or anyone else for that matter said, they would have sulked in sorrow and not accomplished anything.

So let's explore some options. Ok so both of your GPA's are low, but this situation can be rectified, though with A LOT of hard work. You don't need to enroll in an "official post-bacc program". The perks from "official post bacc programs" are "the name", and some of these programs have premed committees so it makes obtaining LOR's less onerous.

You have just as good of a chance from making a "self-tailored" post bacc program. So if I were you, I would take some of the courses over in which I did not perform up to my potential (ie C/C+ or less) and some upper level science courses (biochem, microbio, etc) at a four year institution.

Also, find out if you can transfer into the post bacc program (I assume that it's 2yrs) after a yr. You could take the same 1st yr courses somewhere else and transfer in if they allow it.

If you do not enroll in an official post-bacc program, I have one caveat- the instit. you choose may not have an official premed committee to write you a LOR. If you decide to go this route and you do not enroll in an official post-bacc program, make sure that you get to know your prof's well. Bust your a$$ in these classes in order to not only do well, but to prove to your potential LOR writers/prof's that despite your past, you have developed the work ethic.

And as for the MCAT. I have no special words of advice other than start studying ASAP. Use your post-bacc courses as "study time"

B/c of your low GPA and MCAT. YOU NEED TO DO VERY WELL IN YOUR POST BACC COURSES and get at least above a 25 on the MCAT. Don't shoot yourself in the foot. There's no point in taking the courses and doing mediocre. Mediocre is not going to gain you acceptance. Perhaps think about taking some time off before you start your post bacc studies.

In sum, whatever approach you choose, understand that if this is what you really want to do, you need to give it everything you have.

 

[skypilot]

If you are sure you are ready for a career in medicine then start re-taking your basic science courses to establish a solid post bacc GPA.

If you can get all As and Bs and score relatively well on the MCAT then you are ready. Include SGU and Osteopathic schools when you apply for medical school.

If you are not ready for med school maybe you should pursue an alternative career for a while and come back to medicine when you are ready. How about graduate studies in Biology? How about teaching High School Science? How about teaching English in a foreign country for a few years? There are a lot of options and medicine will still be there when you come back.

Believe me, I am over 40 and a few years working or pursuing an advanced degree will help your application to medical school.