CURRENT Post-Bacc Looking for Advice

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Hello all,
I am currently in a post-bacc program in CA (CA resident also) and I'm in need of some advice... I'm wondering if I should continue another year of post-bacc, apply to SMP, or just go ahead and apply this cycle (which is my current plan -- MD, DO).

A little about myself.. I was a transfer student from a state school to a private university. My gpa pre-transfer was around 3.5, post transfer was about 2.9 for many reasons (I don't want to give a sob story) -- working too much, taking 5 classes per semester, had a hard time adjusting and had a lot of personal problems, etc, well anyway I don't want to focus too much on that.
Ultimately, after 5 years of undergrad (mostly Cs in UD bio) I ended with up with a cGPA of 3.19 and sGPA of 2.86

I'm doing a 1 year post-bacc right now and will most LIKELY end up with a post-bacc GPA of 3.72, cGPA of 3.26, sGPA 3.04. I'm wondering if another year of post bacc will do me any good, because it will only raise my gpa at most to like 3.3 and 3.1.

Also, right now I'm trying to focus all my efforts on the MCAT. I have until June and am only taking 2 science classes. Obviously I am aiming for a 30+, more so toward a 35, but I don't want to be unrealistic. Because I am taking in the MCAT in June, I am afraid I might be too late to apply to an SMP.

Any advice? Thank you!

 

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Not sure if this matters, but I'm also URM, female and disadvantaged status.

 

[The Helpful Aye Aye]

Not sure if this matters, but I'm also URM, female and disadvantaged status.

Disclosure: I'm also in a 1-year postbacc and will end with a 3.3/3.1, so I feel your pain. No matter what your personal story is, your GPA story is inconsistency. Did you take a low courseload last semester as well? If you want GPA redemption, you need to take as many courses as possible and get solid A's. SMP's are unlikely to give you a break without an MCAT at the time of application. You can apply broadly to these programs and hope you get on a wait-list, but acknowledge that by the time your June MCAT score comes out many of those classes will be filled up.

There are reasons other than increasing your GPA to take a full course load- you need to show adcoms that you can do well in upper division science classes over many semesters. If you want to make a convincing case for yourself, you should do well with a heavy course load this semester and kill the MCAT over summer. After you have an objectively forgivable application, you can apply to SMP's with relative confidence. Some of them, like Wayne State, allow you start in spring so you don't need to take another year off.

It's a long journey when life happens- best of luck!

 

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[The Helpful Aye Aye]

How are your EC's?

 

[darklabel]

You're going to have to wait to apply to an SMP next year if you take it in June.
I would continue your postbacc another year and then apply to an SMP.

However, if your MCAT is high (like maybe 34-35+) then it may be worth it to throw in an AMCAS app assuming your ECs are up to date. As an AA you'd have a 70 - 80% chance of matriculating into a school
https://www.aamc.org/download/321514/data/2012factstable25-2.pdf

And if you're hispanic, you'd have a 60 - 80% of getting in somewhere
https://www.aamc.org/download/321512/data/2012factstable25-1.pdf

So yes, it certainly matters that you're URM and disadvantaged. However, I think female applicants are on parity with male applicants so it may no longer be an advantage.

 

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Thank you all for your advice. Now it's a bit more clear what my options are! 🙂

 

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