Chances at Postbacc - Please help

[jmhh67895]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello everyone,

I have been researching postbacc programs and am looking for some input regarding my chances of acceptance given my background. I majored in Finance and Accounting from a respected business school with a 3.3 GPA but had As in my psychology and sociology classes. I took the ACT once before applying to college and got a 27.

To be honest, in high school and college I certainly did not achieve my academic potential. However, since starting my professional career I've passed all three levels of the CFA exam - I know this might not matter but these tests are rigorous and can be compared with the MCAT in terms of dedication and time requirements. I think it proves I have the drive and the ability to work full time and independently put in the late nights and early mornings and that I have improved since my younger days.

I have no volunteer or clinical experience up to this point. To bolster my application I plan to work as a scribe in a clinical setting, do 40-50 hours of shadowing, and complete volunteer work over the next year.

My questions:
Do I have a shot of getting admitted to postbacc programs like BM, Goucher or JHU? If not, can I do anything that improves my chances or are these programs simply out of the question? What are some other programs I could reasonably get into? I looked at Tufts, GW, and UVA but I'm not sure if I could get into those programs as well. Outside of the elite three programs, which programs are the best to go after in terms of med school acceptance? I have looked at a number of sources online and I can't find any rankings.

If someone could offer some guidance I would really appreciate it.

Thanks!

 

[theITcrowd]

I don’t think it would be out of the question to apply to any of the programs you mentioned. They look for people with the motivation and ability to become doctors, and you would need to show that through your personal statements and experiences. It might be helpful to get some clinical experience first (volunteer is fine) before shadowing to really prove your commitment to medicine, but articulating that commitment well in your application is important.

I’m familiar with the CFA so if you’ve passed all three levels you certainly have the smarts to attend a post bacc. You should make clear how rigorous the designation is in your application.

You can also consider a DIY post bacc. Not always possible depending on where you live and you sacrifice some benefits, but they are flexible and generally much cheaper than a full time program.

Good luck!

 

[jmhh67895]

theITcrowd, thank you for responding!

How much of a difference would it make to adcoms if I did the DIY postbacc at a local state school vs. a formal postbacc? I know most of the programs offer MCAT prep, research opportunities, among other resources for career changers that enroll in the postbacc. I agree that the cost would be much cheaper, but I might be willing to sacrifice some more money to 1) cut back on the amount of time I would spend getting my science courses and 2) get solid advising on how to really polish my med school application.

I think I have a legitimate story: I want to transition to medicine to help people. business/banking reduces people to numbers and I can't see myself spending the rest of my life ultimately working for the single purpose of increasing someone's net worth. I want to improve the quality of life of others and serve a purpose beyond $$$.

thanks again for the response/advice.

 

[theITcrowd]

I decided to go the DIY route because it worked for my schedule and family life. I love the flexibility it affords and the fact that I can work full time (not always possible for everyone, but usually can be figured out).

That being said, I think formal post bacc programs have many advantages. In my mind it's kind of a "you get what you pay for" situation. I had to work hard to figure out my own volunteer/clinical experiences and organize a curriculum schedule. I don't have any formal advisors to consult (although I'm fortunate enough to know many physicians and other medical professionals who can offer guidance). And there really is no guarantee that the classes I need each semester have spots available; this isn't a concern with formal programs. If you're starting off from square one more or less, the structure of a formal post bacc is super nice to have.

However, in the end, schools look to see if you have proved your ability to handle the medical school workload and could do so successfully. By finishing a DIY post bacc, you could demonstrate your ability to juggle a difficult schedule while getting good grades in the sciences. You can also demonstrate this by volunteering and/or researching during a formal post bacc. It all comes down to your personal situation and what you think will prepare you best.

That was long-winded, but I hope it helped.

 

[InferiorToSuperior]

Csu neomed post bacc saves you a spot in med school as long as you complete the pre reqs, maintain solidarity gpa, and get a 500 or better on the mcat.

The program focuses on primary care