Disenchanted Post-Bacc Student

[Mantis__TobogganMD]

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Hello all,

I'm a current post-bacc looking to matriculate to medical school in the 2016 year, but I had a mediocre first semester. I was taking only two upper-level science courses and managed only a B in both.

I started this post-bacc journey most because I was looking to get reacclimatized to the classroom but also improve my science GPA which to this point was only a 3.45. Now its a sad 3.35.

My cumulative GPA remains around 3.6 with a 31 MCAT.

I'm at a loss of what to do. I slaved over these courses and put forth my best effort on the exams, but it didn't turn out the way I wanted or even expected.

I will be taking three summer courses and if I manage As in all three, I will have a sGPA close to a 3.5. Unfortunately these classes will be concluded in early August which is waaaaay after I want to submit my AMCAS application. I will also be taking three science courses in the Fall which (if I manage As in them) would bring me to a 3.53, which is more acceptable to ADCOMs.

I really need some advice and guidance about what to do with regards to my application. I would also appreciate any help about breaking that damned B-barrier in science classes. I'm a master of doing well, but just not well enough.

 

[DrMidlife]

the first problem here is that for whatever reason you couldn't come up with the oomph to hit your goal of GPA enhancement with those two classes. As you're investigating study strategies to get A's, also consider your energy level and emotional health. don't take more classes if you can't get A's. Get real with yourself about your limitations, because those limitations as they stand will make med school incredibly difficult and miserable. your success over the next 2-5 years is going to be inversely proportional to your level of denial.

as for what to do as AMCAS gets ready to open, that depends on what state you're in. If you're in California then you're very simply not ready to apply yet. If you're in the southeast or midwest then you have a chance at the lower tier publics. Your chances at private/OOS schools is poor with your stats. Too much competition.

If you can't make friends with the idea of waiting to apply until you have a better academic story, then you need to make friends with DO.

best of luck to you.

 

[Mantis__TobogganMD]

the first problem here is that for whatever reason you couldn't come up with the oomph to hit your goal of GPA enhancement with those two classes. As you're investigating study strategies to get A's, also consider your energy level and emotional health. don't take more classes if you can't get A's. Get real with yourself about your limitations, because those limitations as they stand will make med school incredibly difficult and miserable. your success over the next 2-5 years is going to be inversely proportional to your level of denial.

as for what to do as AMCAS gets ready to open, that depends on what state you're in. If you're in California then you're very simply not ready to apply yet. If you're in the southeast or midwest then you have a chance at the lower tier publics. Your chances at private/OOS schools is poor with your stats. Too much competition.

If you can't make friends with the idea of waiting to apply until you have a better academic story, then you need to make friends with DO.

best of luck to you.

Thanks for the advice. And well, the truth of it all is that I feel more prepared and ready than ever to go to medical school. I'm just a bit upset that my mediocre numbers don't reflect that.

I'm only 25 and pursuing medicine for me doesn't really have a timetable, but the practical realities of life are there. Maybe I was a bit rustier than I thought academically and jumping headfirst into advanced science courses was a mistake. I regret the outcome somewhat, but those were hard-earned Bs that really solidified my understanding of the subject matter on a deeper level.

I purchased an audio recorder for the summer courses I plan on taking and that's certainly a start to improve my GPA. I just need to keep focusing on the end goal.

I still plan on applying exclusively to MD schools this year and if I get rejected from them, oh well. By next year, I'll be ready all over again and the numbers will be better.

 

[Goro]

I can tell you than doing mediocre like this in a post-bac will mean a rapid trip to the wait list at my school.

If you can't make friends with the idea of waiting to apply until you have a better academic story, then you need to make friends with DO.