Apply this cycle or do a post-bacc?

[mrduckyquacks]

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I have a slightly below average GPA (3.35 overall/3.30 science) and was thinking about applying to a post-bacc program to improve my application. Now my adviser is recommending applying this cycle to try and spare myself the $30,000 cost of a post-bacc.

I have not taken the DAT yet, but I'm guessing I would need a 20+ on everything (possibly 21?). I think I will also need to improve my volunteer/shadowing hours, which are currently lacking too. I think the earliest I'd be able to get my application in would be late June/early July.

Any recommendations? Should I apply this cycle or do a post-bacc? Or should I just find a place to enroll as a non-degree seeking graduate student and take upper division science courses?

Thanks 🙂

 

[Kneecoal]

i'm in the same boat as you, except in a worse position with lower gpas - planning on taking the dat in july, have to take both physics over the summer. the only reasons i'm trying to apply this cycle are because my gpa's had a big upward trend in the last 2 years and to try and save that 30+k. i'd say go for it.

 

[mrduckyquacks]

i'm in the same boat as you, except in a worse position with lower gpas - planning on taking the dat in july, have to take both physics over the summer. the only reasons i'm trying to apply this cycle are because my gpa's had a big upward trend in the last 2 years and to try and save that 30+k. i'd say go for it.

Are you planning on taking any courses in the fall while you wait to hear back from schools? I didn't really want to wait around when I could be taking classes to help boost my GPA a bit.

Has anyone taken graduate science courses while waiting to hear back from schools just in case you didn't get in?

 

[Kneecoal]

Are you planning on taking any courses in the fall while you wait to hear back from schools? I didn't really want to wait around when I could be taking classes to help boost my GPA a bit.

i hadn't really thought of that - i don't know how much my parents can afford for extra tuition for me while i have one brother in college and another one starting soon. i was going to get a job so i could start paying off some of my loans from undergrad.

at the same time, if you take classes in the fall while they're looking at your application and you don't get your grades till mid-december, is that really going to get you anywhere when people are already getting acceptances?

 

[Dentgirl09]

you can maybe do both? (if you have access to extra $ for apps).
take non degree seeking courses to boost your GPA AND apply. That way you can not take classes later in the spring if you get in somewhere by Dec 1st. I think if you pull of a decent score on the DAT and write a good PS you will be fine. I applied witha 3.15 or something ( i cant rem exactly) and got 3 interviews. But I did pretty well on the DAT. if you dont want to take a year if it could pay off.

I'm still waiting to see if it paid off 🙂

Good luck!

 

[doc toothache]

Even with a higher gpa any advice would be pretty much meaningless until you come up with some real DAT scores.

 

[BillytheEchidna]

I have a slightly below average GPA (3.35 overall/3.30 science) and was thinking about applying to a post-bacc program to improve my application. Now my adviser is recommending applying this cycle to try and spare myself the $30,000 cost of a post-bacc.

Any recommendations? Should I apply this cycle or do a post-bacc? Or should I just find a place to enroll as a non-degree seeking graduate student and take upper division science courses?

Thanks 🙂

Apply this cycle! Doing a post-bac before being rejected seems like putting the cart before the horse to me... Especially when you might get in with a slightly better GPA, great DAT scores and extra-curriculars. You can defer your loans while you're taking classes, though they will continue to rack up interest. You can work full-time and take one or two upper-level science classes on the side. You shouldn't need to enroll as a graduate student to do this. In my experience, taking more than two classes with labs while working full time is pretty tough to manage, but not impossible. It just seems premature to plan on doing a post-bac (which is typically a last-resort) when you still have a lot of ways to improve your application.

 

[mrduckyquacks]

i hadn't really thought of that - i don't know how much my parents can afford for extra tuition for me while i have one brother in college and another one starting soon. i was going to get a job so i could start paying off some of my loans from undergrad.

at the same time, if you take classes in the fall while they're looking at your application and you don't get your grades till mid-december, is that really going to get you anywhere when people are already getting acceptances?

I was looking at taking classes for the 2010 cycle as a sort of backup plan in case I didn't get in this cycle. That way I would be all ready to apply next cycle with an improved GPA without having to wait until fall 2010 to take classes and then apply in 2011.


Everyone else: thanks for your advice! I'll apply this cycle and see how everything goes.

 

[theplge]

You may want to save this question till after you take the DAT. If you study day and night and rock a 22 or 23, you are good to go. However, if it goes the other way and you scrape by with an 18 or 19, you'll probably have to do some more work. But if you think you can get in after the DAT, definitely apply!

Best of luck with everything!

 

[klutzy1987]

Bang out some nice 20's+ and there is no need for a postbaac. I would go ahead and apply for this year, but take your DAT before you do. Hundreds and probably thousands of students get accepted each year with GPA's like or lower than yours.

 

[DentalP87]

post-bac!

 

[water88]

Like everyone's saying, you absolutely do not need a post-bac if you get 21+ on the DAT. Many schools have averages around 3.3-3.4 (meaning also that roughly 50% of the class has a GPA below 3.3-4.3).