Declined to Post-Bac. I have a plan B but would like some feedback!

[wasp973]

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Hello all,

I will give a quick backstory so where I'm at makes sense. I am a poly sci major turned science major. I switched to Bio officially in the first semester of my junior year and my grades took a bit of a hit. I graduated May 2015 with a cGPA of 3.2 and sGPA of 2.9. I have not yet taken the MCAT.

Realizing I needed some academic enhancement, I took a step back and looked at why I struggled. Short answer is that I went from not really needing to study in poly sci to really needing to study in bio and I did not have the necessary habits built. With that in mind, I started off my DIY post-bac slow; I decided to take Gen Chem I (a class I had trouble with) at a CC to go back to basics, so to speak. I got an A there so this Fall I enrolled in Gen Chem II and Microbio I at CC to continue to build good habits, address my shortcomings, and add 2 more A's to my transcript. I had hoped to get into the Post-Bac at SF State with a spring 2017 start date so I could start with upper div's at a 4 year but, as I found out today, I was rejected.

I was kind of expecting that because even though I addressed my academics in the essays and outlined what I have done to improve them, only the 1 Gen Chem class appeared on my transcript with the other 2 classes being in progress, so no real basis to support my claim that I had done any improvement. I am now facing a decision of what to do next.

My plan right now is to take Ochem I in the spring but I am kind of on the fence on where to take it and what else to take concurrently. I plan on registering for Ochem I and Anatomy I at the CC so I have classes to take. What I'm questioning is whether or not I should forget the CC at this point and take Ochem I and one or two other classes at SF State open university. Looking at their registration data, the classes I am looking at have had open seats so I should be able to get a spot and I feel like I should get out of the CC classes ASAP and move to a 4 year. In the same vein, I am apprehensive about taking Ochem I and Anatomy I concurrently, regardless of institution.

On one hand, I feel kind of forced to take Ochem and Anatomy if I stay at the CC since I seem to be running out of applicable courses to take there (things like Immuno which I feel would be better at a 4 year). On the other hand, if I'm able to get into Ochem at SF State via open university, I could take some other classes (like Cell Biology which is a lecture only, easier to balance with work and MCAT prep).

To make it more simple my plan is as follows:

• Register for Ochem I and Anatomy I at the CC since the registration date is sooner than SF State Open Uni
• Attempt to register for Ochem I, probably Cell Bio, and maybe one other class at SF State Open U and go if space is available
• Possibly reapply to the SF State Post-Bac in the spring for summer admission

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Part of the reason I wanted to get into the Post-Bac was for guidance so that I am not trying to ad hoc the basis for the most important path of my life. I am admittedly a little concerned that I might not be taking the right steps. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

 

[WGSgrad]

Is there any particular reason that you want to matriculate through the formal post-bac program? There is nothing wrong with completing/repeating the prerequisites at any other four year university as a second degree or non-degree student. Also, do you know the mission/purpose of SFSU's program? Post-bac programs make distinctions between career changers (someone who never did coursework in the sciences) and grade enhancement (someone who is trying to compensate for a past poor performance in the sciences). Depending on the focus of the program, it could explain why you didn't get in and why you may not get in even with additional coursework.

I think you are correct: it's time to leave the community college. Especially since you are doing grade enhancement. That is, you need to demonstrate to the admission committee members that your previous lackluster performance was due to poor study habits and not aptitude. I think the community college class were okay when you were trying to rebuild confidence. But you really need to move on.

Also, given your stats, you need to step back and ask yourself what it really important to you (and I don't say this lightly as it is a conversation I had with myself). If the goal is to become a doctor, then you need to put up the best performance you can in your additional coursework and apply broadly. AND you should seriously consider taking advantage of the fact that DO allows grade replacement.

Best of luck with whatever decision you make.

 

[wasp973]

Median non-URM matriculant to MD has around a 3.8/3.8 on an sd of about .25 and about a 510 and decent ECs. Probably not realistic starting from where you are. It drops to about 3.6 and 3.5 for DO, which you can grade replace with. This certainly is realistic. There's also UCBx - why so hung up on SFSU

If it makes a difference, I am a first generation American of Mexican decent with a ñ in my last name and the first in my family to go to college!

Being serious now, I am totally considering the DO route as well and did not mean to imply otherwise. I am hung up on SF State because it is the closest campus to where I live/work and would simply be more convenient to balance school, work, and volunteering (which I am still working on balancing as it is). Also, I thought UCBx wasn't all that great as a way to complete courses in terms of competitiveness, is that inaccurate? Admittedly, part of the reason that I wanted the formal post-bac was for guidance; kind of feel in the dark on some of these things.

 

[wasp973]

Is there any particular reason that you want to matriculate through the formal post-bac program? There is nothing wrong with completing/repeating the prerequisites at any other four year university as a second degree or non-degree student. Also, do you know the mission/purpose of SFSU's program? Post-bac programs make distinctions between career changers (someone who never did coursework in the sciences) and grade enhancement (someone who is trying to compensate for a past poor performance in the sciences). Depending on the focus of the program, it could explain why you didn't get in and why you may not get in even with additional coursework.

I think you are correct: it's time to leave the community college. Especially since you are doing grade enhancement. That is, you need to demonstrate to the admission committee members that your previous lackluster performance was due to poor study habits and not aptitude. I think the community college class were okay when you were trying to rebuild confidence. But you really need to move on.

Also, given your stats, you need to step back and ask yourself what it really important to you (and I don't say this lightly as it is a conversation I had with myself). If the goal is to become a doctor, then you need to put up the best performance you can in your additional coursework and apply broadly. AND you should seriously consider taking advantage of the fact that DO allows grade replacement.

Best of luck with whatever decision you make.

Thanks for the advice. I am definitely considering the DO route. SF State does state they have a focus on both career changers and academic enhancers, that's why I was comfortable applying there. There were a few reasons I looked at going there. I know that the science classes are competitive, enrollment wise, so I was hoping to take advantage of being able to actually get classes. Also, I was hoping to get some advising on all of this.

I am most definitely putting up the best performance I can. I recognize that I will not get anywhere with B's and the best shot I have is to ace everything I take. I can honestly say I'm 3 for 3 on that front and I have laid a better foundation and gained confidence for the next steps.

As I said in an earlier post, the reason SF State is prime for me is because it is the closes campus to where I live, work, and volunteer. I'm glad to hear I am correct in thinking of getting out of the CC ASAP. I will plan on sticking to my plan of registering at the CC (so I have classes if SF State classes fill up) then getting classes at SFSU via Open U.