ATTN: If you have *successfully* overcome a disastrous GPA...

[junebuguf]

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...then please share your experiences in how you were able to do so. By disastrous, I mean ~2.5 or thereabouts. I've just completed the first year of a post-bacc program with excellent grades but am contemplating future options--Special Masters, Second Bachelor's, More Post-Bacc work....

I know the SMP is the best way to go, but I've heard from quite a few med students that going through an extra year of med school can easily lead to burnout, plus personal reasons--fiance--require me to be in the Atlanta area. Alternatively, how would a second bachelor's degree resonate with ADCOMs? Will completing 60 credits towards a second bachelors in Microbio be as effective?

To those of you who chose the second bachelors route, please share your experiences--how effective you thought that route was, what you would change, regrets, et.

I know I'm not the only one here in this predicament, so any advice/thoughts/ramblings would be appreciated....

 

[YeEhAw]

In my humble opinion, I would think an SMP program would be more favorably looked upon than completing a second degree. Simply because of the supposed 'level' of the course work you are completing. In addition, if you are concerned about burning out with an "extra year of med school", I don't see how it would be any different with 2 more years (+/-) additional undergraduate coursework to obtain a second degree. If you were to go for the second degree option I would say go for something that contrasts your first degree (ex. 1st degree - Science 2nd degree - Arts or Humanties), in an effort to show your interests are not 'one-sided'. Being that I am in a simliar predicament, I would like to minimize the amount of time and extra work I have to do to get into medical school. As a result, I am all about expediting the process and I would think the most efficent segway into medical school is doing well in some sort of SMP assuming you can gain entry. Good Luck.

 

[blankguy]

This begs the question on how to get into a Special Masters, since they ussually will require a competitive GPA(>3.0).

 

[YeEhAw]

However limited they may be, there are exceptions to every rule nonetheless.

 

[junebuguf]

I was leaning towards an SMP program, but the benefit of doing a second bachelors is that all the credits help raise your undegrad gpa and it gives you a lot more flexibility in terms of family (if thats a consideration, which it is) and for coursework. I also think that to ge the most out of an SMP program you need to do really, really well. Most of my friends from med school tell me that the vast majority of med students have GPA's near 3.4--averaging a B+ wont necessarily set you apart, but getting straight A's will. To do so, you need to have a strong background in the sciences beyond just the pre-reqs. I think it mught be better to take another year of post-bacc with classes like Micro, Physio, Immuno, Embryo et. and then enter an SMP program.

And getting a second degree in Humanities may not be the way to go, as I understand it. The whole point of post-bacc work is to prove to ADCOMs that you can handle a rigorous science curriculum, taking humanities courses wont do that.

 

[Singing Devil]

Well, I can't confirm success yet, but my undergrad GPA was 2.5, and I was expelled, although I did eventually graduate. I spent a few years working, took a few courses at my undergrad (cell bio, pharmacology) and got a 3.6 GPA in those courses, and then got a 37Q MCAT in 2000. I applied and got 2 interviews and 1 waitlist. Since that didn't work, I applied and got into the BU post-bacc masters program in Medical Science (see separate thread). I'm finishing my first year now, I have about a 3.7-3.8 GPA in the program, and my professors say I'll probably get in several places, including BU. Of course, my MCAT is now too old, so I have to retake it this August. But, hey, 2.5 (with several F's and expulsion) isn't the end of the world. We'll see where I end up.

 

[YeEhAw]

I was leaning towards an SMP program, but the benefit of doing a second bachelors is that all the credits help raise your undegrad gpa and it gives you a lot more flexibility in terms of family (if thats a consideration, which it is) and for coursework. I also think that to ge the most out of an SMP program you need to do really, really well. Most of my friends from med school tell me that the vast majority of med students have GPA's near 3.4--averaging a B+ wont necessarily set you apart, but getting straight A's will. To do so, you need to have a strong background in the sciences beyond just the pre-reqs. I think it mught be better to take another year of post-bacc with classes like Micro, Physio, Immuno, Embryo et. and then enter an SMP program.

And getting a second degree in Humanities may not be the way to go, as I understand it. The whole point of post-bacc work is to prove to ADCOMs that you can handle a rigorous science curriculum, taking humanities courses wont do that.

The only problem I see is that you will be amassing undergraduate credits and it will become more difficult to raise your GPA any meaningful amount after a certain point. In addition, getting a second degree in a different area (i.e. Humanties) was presupposing that your first degree was in a science-related field. I can understand that ADCOMs would like to see that you can handle a heavy science curriculum, but keep in mind, everyone and their brother/sister is a science-related major. Would rather become part of the crowd or seperate yourself from it? There is nothing saying you can't take higher level science courses in addition to your humanties courses, most humanties major I know of allow for quite a few elective credits (at least where I am at).

 

[junebuguf]

I can see how raising your GPA in post-bacc would be a problem, but 60 credits of post-bacc work will significantly help anyone's GPA. I did the math on projected grades, and it defintely pushes my overall GPA above the magic 3.0 threshold and my BCMP GPA to 3.4. I talked to quite a few med students, pre-med counselors and even a few Directors of Admission and they all roundly said that the second bachelors might be the better option for *me*. Everyone's position is different though...

As for humanities options, everyone I spoke to said hard science Masters or Undergrad work.

 

[blankguy]

I've asked various dental schools and they generally stated complete the prereqs and then do a Masters.

 

[Samoa]

I'm in the middle of exams right now, but if I forget to come back here and tell my story by the end of next week, maybe the OP can send me a PM?

 

[benelswick]

The only problem I see is that you will be amassing undergraduate credits and it will become more difficult to raise your GPA any meaningful amount after a certain point. In addition, getting a second degree in a different area (i.e. Humanties) was presupposing that your first degree was in a science-related field. I can understand that ADCOMs would like to see that you can handle a heavy science curriculum, but keep in mind, everyone and their brother/sister is a science-related major. Would rather become part of the crowd or seperate yourself from it? There is nothing saying you can't take higher level science courses in addition to your humanties courses, most humanties major I know of allow for quite a few elective credits (at least where I am at).

I've considered this strategy and was planning on majoring in spanish to gain a primary skill and differentiate my application, however, after considering the overall weak points of my application--inconsistency, no proof of science ability, poor grades--I decided that the best way to prove myself was to major in Physiology. Additional factors that cemented my decision were that the biology degree was an extension of the premed classes and was the most time efficient degree for me AND that doing an SMP and doing well in one was a possible eventuality for me and as such the physiology degree was the best preparation.
I'm not advocating this as a general rule but simply as a tool that suggests you analyze your own application from as many angles as you can and answer with a strategy that attacks your weakpoints. I also don't really think that med schools put a lot of stock in your major. I mean if you graduated with high grades and you majored in Scandanavian Literature and you got a 35 on the MCAT then sure your diverse educational background is a nice bonus. But honestly we're on the postbac section of this site which means most of us have messed up along the way. So in light of that the ol sunshine up the tailpipe that says "you should pursue your bliss" in school to me atleast might be a recipe for rejection. Just my own humble long winded opinion.--Ben

 

[exigente chica]

Well, I can't confirm success yet, but my undergrad GPA was 2.5, and I was expelled, although I did eventually graduate. I spent a few years working, took a few courses at my undergrad (cell bio, pharmacology) and got a 3.6 GPA in those courses, and then got a 37Q MCAT in 2000. I applied and got 2 interviews and 1 waitlist. Since that didn't work, I applied and got into the BU post-bacc masters program in Medical Science (see separate thread). I'm finishing my first year now, I have about a 3.7-3.8 GPA in the program, and my professors say I'll probably get in several places, including BU. Of course, my MCAT is now too old, so I have to retake it this August. But, hey, 2.5 (with several F's and expulsion) isn't the end of the world. We'll see where I end up.

Never give up...hope you get in..keep me posted

Exigente 👍