Category III GPA Enhancement program vs just taking the undergrad classes

[Jujin]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Doing a bit more research but first a bit on my background.

I graduated May 2009 with a BS in liberal studies. I started off a computer engineering major in 2004 of my freshman year and hated it. Knew I wanted something science based so I went nursing. Spent about 2 1/2 years before finally coming to the realization that nursing isn't what I wanted in a medical career. Great profession for those two are in it but it had more to do with patient care than it did treatment of the illness and wasn't 'sciency' enough. By then I'm close to graduation so I decided to just graduate with liberal studies. That was 2009... Oh I was also in ROTC which brings me to where I'm at now, Iraq. I'm currently deployed and have a bit more downtime than I would have though so I want to start my long road to preparing for the MCAT because I'm done settling for less than what I want and I know I want to be a doctor... I guess I needed some time away from the medical environment to really know it's where I belong. I love being in the Army but im currently working in the logistics field and it's not me. When I get back to the states I plan on applying for some post baccalaureate pre med programs. I know some of them allow you to take some premed classes, along with the core prereq sciences, and upon completion reserve you or allow you to compete for 'reserved' seats in an upcoming med school class. I really want to make myself competitive for that kind of program and I know a lot of them require you to take the MCAT prior.

Anyways this is copied and pasted from one of my earlier threads and upon further research I realized I don't qualify for the Cat I or II programs because I lack core pre-reqs i.e. orgo, and physics. My question is what is the difference if I go to manhattanville college and take their post bacc pre med program vs me just going back to my university I graduated from and taking the undergrad classes there but not part of a structured program. I ask this because my university offers a 50% tuition discount for alumni. If anyone has any recommendations on other avenues I can take please do tell.

My science GPA is above a 3.0 but my overall is a 2.8 and I'm lacking O Chem and physics... 😕

 

[DrMidlife]

I realized I don't qualify for the Cat I or II programs because I lack core pre-reqs i.e. orgo, and physics.

(looks up category 3)

My question is what is the difference if I go to manhattanville college and take their post bacc pre med program vs me just going back to my university I graduated from and taking the undergrad classes there but not part of a structured program. I ask this because my university offers a 50% tuition discount for alumni. If anyone has any recommendations on other avenues I can take please do tell.

There's no problem at all with going back to your old school. People would call that an "unstructured" or "informal" program and that's fine.

We don't hear much around here about the Manhattanville program, so I don't know if there's a benefit to going there instead of one of the many other NY schools. Be a smart consumer - is there actually a premed postbac program or is there just a webpage?

My science GPA is above a 3.0 but my overall is a 2.8 and I'm lacking O Chem and physics... 😕

See the low GPA thread for strategies to get yourself into med school from where you are. It's going to take multiple years of additional schoolwork. Your MCAT score is absolutely critical.

Best of luck to you.

 

[PTO]

Coincidentally, I did my undergrad at Manhattanville. Their post bacc program is real, though I wouldn't consider it high tier. It has no linkages but from my talks with a professor who is related to the program they do have good relationships with certain med schools.

When I was a junior I had a classmate who was in the post-bacc program, I wish I talked to her more about it then. But, from what I remember, she didn't seem to have many gripes with it though to be fair Manhattanville isn't a science oriented school. It's mostly known for its education programs. I'll try to get some information, I'll be going there to see a professor in a month or two.

 

[Jujin]

(looks up category 3)

There's no problem at all with going back to your old school. People would call that an "unstructured" or "informal" program

Argh I need to familiarize myself more with the premed community jargon. I had no idea thats what informal post bacc referred to. Anyways Im debating what the pros and cons are... I'm not going to lie I don't really see that many pros to a structured post bacc program... At least the ones I've looked at. It looks like they just put together a schedule with all the necessary pre reqs. It does say you get a composite letter of recommendation... I'm wondering what that means or how much weight it'll hold when applying to med school...?

Coincidentally, I did my undergrad at Manhattanville. Their post bacc program is real, though I wouldn't consider it high tier. It has no linkages but from my talks with a professor who is related to the program they do have good relationships with certain med schools.

When I was a junior I had a classmate who was in the post-bacc program, I wish I talked to her more about it then. But, from what I remember, she didn't seem to have many gripes with it though to be fair Manhattanville isn't a science oriented school. It's mostly known for its education programs. I'll try to get some information, I'll be going there to see a professor in a month or two.

If you could find out more information that'd be great! There's almost no info about their program on this forum or on google for that matter...