skicu said:
Your GPA is pretty competitive but I would still do the postbac program. You will be taking the actual med school classes and this will help you tremendously once you are actually accepted into med school. Also, if you aren't able to bring up your MCAT you may still get accepted if you do well in the postbacc. If you do teh job and don't bring the MCAT score up, it doesn't seem like it will really help you that much.
I agree with your comment about the job and not bringing the MCAT score up, that is why I don't think Shaun should take the MCAT if his practice test scores aren't in the 30's.
I would not do the VCU postbac without retaking the MCAT. If Shaun can pull a 30+ this August, he'll be in good shape and can even do the VCU postbac this Fall. Alternatively, he could also take the August MCAT after doing the program, but I think that could put him at a slight disadvantage in the application cycle.
Not too long ago, I also thought the VCU premedical certificate program allowed you to take courses with the MCV med students, but this is not the case, unless VCU changed the curriculum. My understanding is you take courses with the MS and PhD students and that you take courses similar to the med students, but you don't take the actual MS-1 classes.
I think 3.5 cume, 3.5 bcpm, 25 MCAT, 3.8+ grad VCU premed certificate GPA would not be nearly as competitive as 3.5, cume, 3.5 bcpm, 30+ MCAT without the premed certificate.
Special masters/certificate programs are most effective for those who have competitive-fantastic MCAT scores (29+), but need to prove they can handle an MS-1 courseload (due to poor-borderline undergrad cumulative/science GPAs).
Those who score in the upper-20s and have low-borderline GPAs could probably benefit from special masters/certificate programs as well. Reasoning: If you have a 27-29 MCAT and a 3.2ish GPA prior to entering an SMP, do well in the SMP (e.g., 3.7), and then take the MCAT in August, you might still be in okay shape. The upper-20's MCAT score may at least get you past early pre/post-secondary rejections and your application won't be as delayed as first-time August MCAT test-takers because you already have an MCAT score at the time of application.
Those with non-competitive MCAT scores should deal with their MCAT issue first. Reasoning: if you struggle in Chemistry, Physics, Verbal, or Organic, the SMP is not going to help you score that much higher. It'll help in Biology, tremendously I'm sure, but the program won't help you too much with the sections you're struggling with. Additionally, you'll have little time to study while enrolled in an SMP-type program. An MCAT score of 25 is simply not competitive for US allo schools (however, it is for US osteo schools). Even with a solid VCU postbac performance, a score of 25 would be a major hurdle in the application cycle. The national matriculant average is around a 29. Those with lower scores that successfully gain acceptances are often atypical applicants (URM, disadvantaged, amazing ECs, etc.).
The only special masters program I would consider with a mid-20's MCAT score would be Rosalind Franklin's MS in Applied Physiology program due to the strong linkage.
Just my opinion on that.
🙂
jeq5q said:
Attending VCU's postbac program won't make up for a lackluster MCAT score. Even if you attend the graduate postbac program you should still retake the MCAT to pull of you score in order to make yourself more competitive.
Agreed.
shaunx said:
If I am require to retake the MCAT even with successfull completion of postbacc then postbacc program to me is uesless. Any inputs?
I don't think it's the best option for you. I'm a little unclear about which August you're talking about (Summer 2005 or Summer 2006). I would not recommend that you take the August 2006 MCAT (it will delay your application), especially if you can take the MCAT in August 2005 or April 2006.
