Any guidance appreciated

[member1290]

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Background:

I will be graduating this June from an engineering school with a degree in computer science. I decided to major in computer science as I found the material to be both interesting and challenging and later became excited about the startup culture. Over the past two years I have interned at a large software company, worked with two software startups in both tech and operation roles, and started a moderately successful software company with two other friends. While I enjoy certain aspects of the trade, I have realized that software and the business surrounding it is not an area I want to spend the rest of my life in. I have a strong desire to interact with and help others and have found much of my work in software development to be lacking on these fronts.

Through numerous conversations with my girlfriends father who is a family physician, conversations with my pre-med friends, and a good deal of introspection I have realized that I should pursue the medical profession. I hope to shadow a physician this summer after I graduate and my other commitments end.

Guidance:

A potential problem for future med school applications is my GPA. I will likely graduate with approximately a 3.4 cumulative. I have always had the expectation of working upon graduation and did not focus on maintaining a high GPA as I did in high school. I have devoted a great deal of time and energy into outside pursuits and let my grades in certain classes drag my GPA down.

Given this background, do you think I have a reasonable chance in medical school admissions if I successfully complete a formal post-bacc program with a high GPA, get high MCAT scores, and have significant shadowing/volunteer experience?

My impression is that many post-bacc programs prefer students from the humanities or those with very high gpas. Do you know of any I could potentially be well suited for?

I am also debating between working for a year or two to save up for the costs of a post-bacc program and applying right after I graduate, would one option be better for admissions over the other?

Has anyone else been in a similar position and made it through, any advice from your experience?


TL;DR

Graduating with a 3.4 in computer science, considering applying for post-baccs following graduation or working for a year or two first, advice?


Thank you.

 

[Deekle]

A 3.4 is do-able. There are lots of folks who get in with less. You can probably raise that a bit even with good post bac grades.

As for waiting a couple of years, that's more of a personal decision. If you're 22 years old then you've got plenty of time. I heard the other day that the average age of med students in my state is 27. I'm not sure if that's true, but if it is, it's certainly interesting. I do know that adcoms gravitate toward diverse applicants with more life experience. If you do take some time off, make sure you're working on your EC's. Other than that, get a good MCAT score and you should be fine.

My cGPA was probably lower than yours when you factor in my first failed attempt at college. I've shared before that my freshman GPA was 1.37. You can do this. Hang tight and roll with the punches.

 

[darmalee]

I totally agree that your GPA doesn't necessarily disqualify you. I personally had just below a 3.4 and I got multiple interviews and acceptances. Since if you do post-bac and do well in all your classes your GPA will go up, you should be in good shape by the time you apply.

In terms of timing, it definitely is a personal decision. The biggest thing, especially with a low-ish GPA, is to make sure you are as successful as possible in every class you take. So if working to save up would make it possible to work less during your post-bac program, I'd say it is definitely worth considering.

I don't know much about post-bac programs personally, but I know there are plenty of people on this forum that are very knowledgeable about them. I'll leave it to them to answer your specific post-bac .

Aside from just the GPA, obviously you want to do great on the MCAT, but you also need to get some health care exposure. It sounds like this is a recent idea, so I'm guessing you don't have much or any health care volunteering or shadowing. I'd get on that as soon as possible.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

I didn't do a PB program, I did a my PB work on my own. My GPA is a 3.18 overall, with a 3.95 for the last 60cr... I had 2 DO acceptances, and 2 waitlists...

 

[member1290]

Great, thank you all for the help and encouragement! I appreciate it. I'll start volunteering at a hospital soon and work on my EC's. I hope to enter a PB at some-point in the next few years and I'll go from there.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

I wouldn't do a formal PB program unless you have no other choice, they're 'spensive

 

[Shooter McGavin]

I wouldn't do a formal PB program unless you have no other choice, they're 'spensive

I agree, it seems like self-done post baccs are just as effective. But I work at a Uni and my classes are free, so maybe I'm biased.

 

[member1290]

How much of an advantage do in-state students typically have in admissions?

In terms of EC's I am hoping to start by shadowing a doctor. What activities/experiences did you find to be the most helpful in understanding the medical profession? I've done some fundraising for cancer research but have not yet had any meaningful medical experiences.

Also, does your undergraduate institution or major matter much? As in would a 3.1 in electrical engineering from MIT be seen at the same as a 3.1 in degree in something with a typically higher gpa (humanities) from a school seen as less competitive?

Thank you all for the help, it has been very informative and encouraging.

 

[Deekle]

How much of an advantage do in-state students typically have in admissions?

In terms of EC's I am hoping to start by shadowing a doctor. What activities/experiences did you find to be the most helpful in understanding the medical profession? I've done some fundraising for cancer research but have not yet had any meaningful medical experiences.

Also, does your undergraduate institution or major matter much? As in would a 3.1 in electrical engineering from MIT be seen at the same as a 3.1 in degree in something with a typically higher gpa (humanities) from a school seen as less competitive?

Thank you all for the help, it has been very informative and encouraging.

Depends on the school. Many tend to accept a higher percentage of in-state students, which basically means you get at least some advantage. You typically see this with state universities. Not sure that being s resident of MA would give someone an advantage at Harvard though.

Undergrad institution might matter a little bit. With two applicants being essentially equal on paper, I could see undergrad institution being a tie-breaker. Some med schools also have good relationships with some undergrad institutions, making it that much easier for them to accept someone from that school.