Big decisions -- all help/advice welcome

[goodYvening]

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Hi guys -- I am feeling a bit lost, would greatly appreciate some help...

Some background: I am 27, got my BFA in a field not related to science, with a 3.1 GPA. I am considering going into medicine and was looking into post-bacc programs with linkages to help my chances at getting into med school (Colombia, NYU, UCBerkeley), but my GPA isn't great and I don't have any outstanding recommendations. My plan, thus far, is to volunteer at a hospital first and simultaneously take one or two science courses at a state college prior to applying for a post-bacc. This would help me A) see if I can actually do it and get good grades, and B) hopefully get good recommendations from professor and hospital.

So my question is whether you guys think this is a good plan?

Also, if I were to take pre-med courses on my own, and if I did well in those courses, and scored a good MCAT score, what are the chances of getting into a great med school are? I guess my real question is, how important is a school's prestige when it comes to applying to top med programs? Would doing my pre-med courses at a state college or through UCLA extension greatly hurt my chances? The post-bacc programs are so expensive, but if your chances of getting into a med program are significantly higher than studying independently at a state school, then it'd be worth it, no? Has anyone here done the independent route?

Thanks in advance.

 

[SeverusSnape]

Hmm it's definitely a route that many people have taken, and it's certainly doable. I think volunteering first (and get some shadowing in there too) is a great plan before applying. There's quite awhile until the next cycle for PostBac programs so you're definitely in good shape in that regard.

A point I think is important to make is that linkage programs do not necessarily increase your chances of matriculating into a specific med school. Your application will most likely get read but that's really the extent of what can be guaranteed. At some of the schools you listed, you have to be nominated to apply to a linkage school, so you've absolutely got to kill it while you're there.

One final point... You seem preoccupied with the notion of getting into a "great" medschool, as you put it. Why does the med school have to be "great" and what exactly do you even mean by great? I guess to be completely honest if you have your heart set on a "great" med school, a 3.1 undergrad GPA may be a hindrance. Not 100% sure about that, but I think it's going to hurt you a little.

Best of luck!

 

[DrMidlife]

From a 3.1, prestige isn't going to be part of your story. You aren't getting into a prestigious postbac with linkage. Those programs have no motivation to take low GPA students and about 10 squeaky-clean applicants for every seat.

Focus on not getting clobbered in the prereqs, which will be the hardest classes you've ever taken. Every grade you get that isn't an A is a step away from med school.

You'll hate the suggestion that most people will give you, which is this: look at DO schools. Read the Gevitz book, shadow a DO. You'll brush this aside now, and you'll brush it aside the next 3 times it comes up, and then when you're in enough pain you'll look into DO.

Best of luck to you.