DIY Post bacc... now what?

[Ruby5674]

Wasn't sure where to post this, but I could really use some advice: I decided a little late (at 25) that I wanted to be a doctor. I just "completed" a DIY post bacc to bring my gpa up. I am not sure if I should continue taking more classes, seems a little too much. I have taken some upper level science courses for the past 2 years to bring my very, very low science gpa up from a 2.3 to a 2.77. I now have a 2.77 sgpa and 3.26 cgpa. I did some volunteering (~200 hours) and I have also been an EMT for almost 2 years now. I have also taken my MCAT and got a 513. I am confused on what I should do next.

I didn't take any community college courses and instead opted to do a "second degree" at a university just so that I could bring my grades up and take upper level science courses for my DIY post bacc. But you can imagine how expensive that was. However, I am confused as to whether I need an SMP now. I now my stats are still really low. I am confused as to what to do at this point because this seem quite expensive. I am just not sure whether it will be worth it. Should I do an SMP or try for a more formal post bacc program. It seems very risky to put in more money. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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[Osminog]

Are you only interested in MD, or open to DO? How many credits did you take in your post-bacc, and what are your cGPA and sGPA from your post-bacc alone? Are you a URM?

 

[Ruby5674]

Are you only interested in MD, or open to DO? How many credits did you take in your post-bacc, and what are your cGPA and sGPA from your post-bacc alone? Are you a URM?

I am interested in both, but more specifically MD. I have taken around 50 credits and my gpa is around 3.9 for both sgpa and cgpa. I would have to look to see what the specifics are. And no I am not URM.

 

[Osminog]

I am interested in both, but more specifically MD. I have taken around 50 credits and my gpa is around 3.9 for both sgpa and cgpa. I would have to look to see what the specifics are. And no I am not URM.

For MD, you’d almost certainly have to do an SMP, preferably with strong linkage. Your GPA unfortunately makes you quite uncompetitive for MD admission at this time.

For DO, you might have a shot if you were to contact admission offices regarding eligibility and then apply as broadly as possible (would recommend checking out the “Official Osteopathic Underdawgs” threads from recent cycles to check out outcomes for some applicants with similar academic profiles to yours).

 

[Ruby5674]

For MD, you’d almost certainly have to do an SMP, preferably with strong linkage. Your GPA unfortunately makes you quite uncompetitive for MD admission at this time.

For DO, you might have a shot if you were to contact admission offices regarding eligibility and then apply as broadly as possible (would recommend checking out the “Official Osteopathic Underdawgs” threads from recent cycles to check out outcomes for some applicants with similar academic profiles to yours).

Thank you so much. I will definitely check it out. Do you know of any SMP with linkages or a thread of SDN that can help me out?

 

[DoctorFate]

How many years has it been since your first degree and diy post bacc and what was your first degree in

 

[Ruby5674]

How many years has it been since your first degree and diy post bacc and what was your first degree in

Around 3-4 years ago I received a bachelors in biology

 

[lanzhou_lamian]

I don't think an SMP should be necessary. Typically the advice I've seen in these kind of situations is either 1-2 years of grade-repair post-bacc or an SMP. You have 50 credits at a 3.9 GPA in your DIY post-bacc. I'd feel like that's shown reinvention enough? Your cumulative GPA is never going to be great since your original undergrad GPA is too low, and some MD schools will likely screen you out because of that, but others are more friendly to re-inventors.

 

[Goro]

Wasn't sure where to post this, but I could really use some advice: I decided a little late (at 25) that I wanted to be a doctor. I just "completed" a DIY post bacc to bring my gpa up. I am not sure if I should continue taking more classes, seems a little too much. I have taken some upper level science courses for the past 2 years to bring my very, very low science gpa up from a 2.3 to a 2.77. I now have a 2.77 sgpa and 3.26 cgpa. I did some volunteering (~200 hours) and I have also been an EMT for almost 2 years now. I have also taken my MCAT and got a 513. I am confused on what I should do next.

I didn't take any community college courses and instead opted to do a "second degree" at a university just so that I could bring my grades up and take upper level science courses for my DIY post bacc. But you can imagine how expensive that was. However, I am confused as to whether I need an SMP now. I now my stats are still really low. I am confused as to what to do at this point because this seem quite expensive. I am just not sure whether it will be worth it. Should I do an SMP or try for a more formal post bacc program. It seems very risky to put in more money. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I don't think that you need a SMP as you have already shown that you have reinvented yourself.

The cGPA will still hurt at some schools. But if you don't apply, your rejection rate will be 100%. Think about applying to an SMP if you get shut out int he app cycle.

I suggest targeting:

Dartmouth
Temple (maybe)
EVMS
Emory
Jefferson
U VM
Miami
Drexel
Albany
Tufts
NYMC
TCU/UNT
Your state schools
Rush
Loyola
Rosy Franklin
Tulane
Wake
MCW
SLU
Creighton
Wayne State
Netter
NovaMD
NYU.LI
Any DO program. Include UNECOM if you’re from the NE, OSUCOM if you’re from the Plains states and PacNW if you’re from that region. I can't recommend LMU, ARCOM, RVU, Nova, BCOM, ICOM and LUCOM, for different reasons. MSUCOM? Read up on Larry Nasser and you decide. Avoid those new schools that haven't graduated a class yet, if possible.

 

[Osminog]

But if you don't apply, your rejection rate will be 100%. Think about applying to an SMP if you get shut out int he app cycle.

I’m not sure if OP is wealthy enough to donate application fees to schools when the odds are completely stacked against her. Back when the AAMC was less afraid of political correctness, they published grids for each racial category of applicants with MCAT ranges, GPA ranges, and acceptance rates. During the 2013-2016 cycles, white applicants with OP’s stats had around a 17% chance of MD admission. (Some, if not most, of the applicants within that 17% likely had SMPs, family connections, or other major mitigating circumstances.)

OP, in my opinion, only apply to MD schools now if Goro is footing the bill. 🙂 Otherwise focus on DO schools or SMPs with linkage to MD schools.

 

[Osminog]

Thank you so much. I will definitely check it out. Do you know of any SMP with linkages or a thread of SDN that can help me out?

Here’s the official guide to SMPs on SDN: **The Official Guide to Special Masters Programs**

Post-Bacc Programs sub-forum: Postbaccalaureate Programs

 

[Goro]

I’m not sure if OP is wealthy enough to donate application fees to schools when the odds are completely stacked against her. Back when the AAMC was less afraid of political correctness, they published grids for each racial category of applicants with MCAT ranges, GPA ranges, and acceptance rates. During the 2013-2016 cycles, white applicants with OP’s stats had around a 17% chance of MD admission. (Some, if not most, of the applicants within that 17% likely had SMPs, family connections, or other major mitigating circumstances.)

OP, in my opinion, only apply to MD schools now if Goro is footing the bill. 🙂 Otherwise focus on DO schools or SMPs with linkage to MD schools.

It's not about the stats anymore. That's the entire purpose of reinvention. The OP has shown that the student of then is not the student of now.

 

[Goro]

One more thing, @Ruby5674, contact your UG school and see if you can retroactively withdraw from the bad grade courses. This is a thing at some schools, and the worst thing they'll tell you is "no".

Also, formal post-bac programs are designed for career switchers.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Moving to WAMC

It's not about the stats anymore. That's the entire purpose of reinvention. The OP has shown that the student of then is not the student of now.

I more or less agree up to a point. I think "a point" is exceeded when you're at an sGPA <3.0 for MD admission without any realistic possibility of bringing it up. There is some non-zero chance of MD admission without SMP, but it's low enough that without Daddy Warbucks footing the bill I'd probably focus on DO schools.

I also can't recommend an SMP; in fact I think it would be a terrible decision. You can probably get into med school NOW if you focus on DO schools. Spending $$$ to effectively arrive at the same endpoint just seems insane to me. Furthermore, it's RISKY--everyone thinks they're going to go in and be at the top of the class, but if you go in and have a bad year (family medical emergency, personal medical or mental health issues, plan dumb luck, etc) then you could effectively nullify all of the good work you've already done.

To me the answer is clear. Apply DO for sure and never look back. If you have the funds to apply to some of the MD schools that @Goro suggested, go for it and let us know how that goes.

Good luck!

 

[Ruby5674]

Thank you guys so much and I will try to keep you posted.