DIY Postbacc or Postbacc with linkage?

[MadamMed]

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*posted this in the post bacc thread with no replies so hoping for some help here*

Hi everyone !

Due to the grade replacement policy no longer in place for DO programs I was hoping for some guidance on what to do next.

I'll be graduating with a cGPA of 3.2 and a sGPA of around 2.9. I've only taken general bio and chem and one ochem course. I did the math and after finishing a career changing style postbacc, I'll be able to get both my cumulative and science GPA to around 3.4 or so if I manage all As and a couple high Bs in in the program.

I had originally planned on doing a DIY postbacc because of my undergraduate loans (over 100k), but now I'm not sure how competitive I'll be without the grade replacement policy. I looked into formal postbacc programs with linkages to med schools, but they are pretty expensive and I've been hearing how it's difficult to get into the linkage program to begin with.

How hard is it exactly to get into a linkage program (particularly CSUF and Scripps)?

Should I save money and just DIY my postbacc for the perquisites and consider a SMP if my gpa and mcat end up not being competitive or go into a formal postbacc with the chance of getting into their linkage program?

Thank you !

 

[CJhooper123]

I am kind of in a similar situation as you - although I have taken all of the prerequisites. Formal post-bacc programs can be expensive, especially when compared to a DIY post-bacc.

Fortunately, my SDN colleagues provided some solid feedback for me - I recommend checking this out (https://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/pre-med-osteopathic-advice.1245886/).

 

[MadamMed]

I am kind of in a similar situation as you - although I have taken all of the prerequisites. Formal post-bacc programs can be expensive, especially when compared to a DIY post-bacc.

Fortunately, my SDN colleagues provided some solid feedback for me - I recommend checking this out (https://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/pre-med-osteopathic-advice.1245886/).

Thank you! hopefully I find some info that will help me with my situation.

 

[I'mJustCurious]

Acing a DIY post-bac or SMP would help. I'm in a similar situation as you. I'm doing one year of DIY and one year of SMP, while preparing for the MCAT

 

[gamieg]

from your post, it sounds like you still have physics and half of ochem to go at least, not including recommended upper divs like genetics, biochem, anatomy and physiology etc. that's a good chunk of science coursework to boost up your sGPA, which is the main concern right now. in your case, grade replacement wouldn't play a huge factor unless you weren't taking any upper div sciences and just planned on doing the bare bones of the prerequisites. I don't recommend this because you need to ease the doubt that you can handle rigorous science coursework since your sGPA didn't start off great, so a year of upper divs will definitely help with that.

tbh I think unless you get into a really good SMP (good meaning essentially guaranteed acceptance if you maintain a certain GPA), the results for a formal program and informal postbac would be similar. you'd of course not receive the mentoring and advising from an informal program, but only you can answer whether that's worth the extra money.

 

[MadamMed]

from your post, it sounds like you still have physics and half of ochem to go at least, not including recommended upper divs like genetics, biochem, anatomy and physiology etc. that's a good chunk of science coursework to boost up your sGPA, which is the main concern right now. in your case, grade replacement wouldn't play a huge factor unless you weren't taking any upper div sciences and just planned on doing the bare bones of the prerequisites. I don't recommend this because you need to ease the doubt that you can handle rigorous science coursework since your sGPA didn't start off great, so a year of upper divs will definitely help with that.

tbh I think unless you get into a really good SMP (good meaning essentially guaranteed acceptance if you maintain a certain GPA), the results for a formal program and informal postbac would be similar. you'd of course not receive the mentoring and advising from an informal program, but only you can answer whether that's worth the extra money.

I do have one upper div class (genetics) that I got a C in and everything else are basically C's, unfortunately. I heard doing a DIY can slow down the process a lot because class spots are limited and you have to wait until all enrolled students register first. I guess I'm just really wondering what are the chances of getting accepted into a postbacc linkage program. If it's near impossible/slim, then paying all that extra money is probably not worth it...

Acing a DIY post-bac or SMP would help. I'm in a similar situation as you. I'm doing one year of DIY and one year of SMP, while preparing for the MCAT

I'm thinking of saving the SMP as a backup if I don't get in my first try and/or my scores are still too low after the post bacc.

 

[123456ers]

I do have one upper div class (genetics) that I got a C in and everything else are basically C's, unfortunately. I heard doing a DIY can slow down the process a lot because class spots are limited and you have to wait until all enrolled students register first. I guess I'm just really wondering what are the chances of getting accepted into a postbacc linkage program. If it's near impossible/slim, then paying all that extra money is probably not worth it...



I'm thinking of saving the SMP as a backup if I don't get in my first try and/or my scores are still too low after the post bacc.

I had a somewhat better GPA than you but basically was in the same situation when I graduated last year. Decent GPA but needed a lot of the pre reqs still. I did a DIY post bacc and honestly its been both reasonably affordable and really enjoyable.

Only caveat is that it can be really stressful applying to take classes at the various colleges in your are to get what you need when you need it. It ended up all working out schedule wise for me, but if it hadn't, idk what I would have done.

If you perform well and have around a 3.4 like you predict, your upward trend will also look really, good, and imagine that if the rest of your app is well rounded you will get into a DO school somewhere. Personally, I'm applying this summer, and will prob add a few linked SMPs just in case. I don't think in your situation, if everything goes as planned, that you will definitively need an SMP to get in somewhere.

Long story short, I vote DIY post bacc. I've read a lot of the Adcoms on this site say that's a good route to go.

good luck with whatever you decide!