DIY post bacc or formal program?

[ha806222]

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Hi there -

I graduated in 2017 with a BS in molecular biology and have been working at Johns Hopkins as a Research Specialist for the past two years. Through my job I have gotten tons of patient contact/clinical shadowing/research experience and have been published (though as 11th author). During undergrad I had little direction and worked 40 hours a week serving to cover the cost of living expenses; consequently, my undergrad GPA was not what is could have been (3.34 cGPA, 3.0 sGPA). I discovered my passion for medicine while working in research and now I am unsure of how to proceed to achieve my dreams of being a doctor. I have not taken the MCATs yet, but I did apply to the Hopkins AAP Health Science Intensive and was accepted. This program is extremely expensive, but it has MCAT prep built into the program. A physician/scientist I work with offered me a position in his lab and promised to help me get more published. I am wondering if it would be better to take that job, get more publications, study for the MCAT and maybe somehow take additional science courses at a local college as a DIY post bacc to save money or if I should attend the HSI? I should mention the HSI program advised against working while attending. Please help!

Thanks,
HA

 

[ha806222]

Your GPA is wholly noncompetitive and no amount of research, papers, or exceeding great MCAT will help. Trying to increase GPA via CC is a very weak way to do so. You need GPA and focus on solely on that. If you really want to get into medical school then the HSI would seem that path. And it may come to either doing that with a greater chance of getting into medical school or working as you may not be able to do both. Doing poorly in HSI would be a death knell. You really need an SMP

Hi gonnif thanks for the response! Upon completion of the HSI I would be awarded with a Masters in Biotechnology, which I thought was a nice plus and I would be taking graduate level science courses, but I don’t know if doing well in a program like that would be enough to compensate for my poor undergrad GPA. Would you mind elaborating on the benefit of doing an SMP vs a program like the HSI? Thanks again for the advice!

 

[paradoxic_toxic]

Your GPA is wholly noncompetitive and no amount of research, papers, or exceeding great MCAT will help.

Well...

@ha806222 If it helps, I have similar stats with an okay MCAT and got a DO acceptance. I'm not trying to brag or rub it in your face--just letting you know it's possible to get into a med school. I'm not sure DO is your goal, but that path is there. It'll be difficult and the chances are slim, but don't lose hope.

[I know this is the MD forum. I'm just throwing it out there]