Do I need a postbac?

[dotflamo]

---

Members don't see this ad.

So here's what I've got:

UCSD, 3.5GPA, 35 MCAT
4+ years work (2 psych, 2 medical),
4+ years volunteer (hospital + counseling),
2 years clinical research (currently working on getting published),
plus other EC's

I had one interview and no acceptances, trying to find out why, but I'm wondering if my GPA is the limiting factor here.
Is a GPA boosting postbac advisable? Would a masters be a better fit?
I'm currently working and relocating would be huge (not disadvantaged enough for UC postbacs).

What do you guys think?

 

[Angulimala]

So here's what I've got:

UCSD, 3.5GPA, 35 MCAT
4+ years work (2 psych, 2 medical),
4+ years volunteer (hospital + counseling),
2 years clinical research (currently working on getting published),
plus other EC's

I had one interview and no acceptances, trying to find out why, but I'm wondering if my GPA is the limiting factor here.
Is a GPA boosting postbac advisable? Would a masters be a better fit?
I'm currently working and relocating would be huge (not disadvantaged enough for UC postbacs).

What do you guys think?

I'm pretty surprised you only got 1 interview. If you are interested in science, I'd say do a masters, but your GPA isn't *that* low. I'd think that your MCAT would make up for some of that too. Can't help but think there might be something else at work here... you sound like a solid candidate. Maybe just unlucky?

 

[Morzh]

I don't think you need a Post-bac or masters. People on SDN are way to quick to send people down that road, when in reality it only helps in certain situations. Post-bacs are for non-trads and people whose GPA is so bad (usually 3.2 or lower with no upward trend) that no med school will consider them capable of handling graduate level science classes without proving it first.

If you are still in school, maybe take some more upper-division science classes to boost the GPA some if that's what you feel like you need.

Honestly the 35 MCAT suggests that it isn't the GPA that kept you out. How many schools did you apply to? Perhaps you committed the cardinal sin of not applying broadly enough, which means applying both to a LOT of schools and applying to plenty of schools that aren't "top 20" or whatever. If you applied well, then perhaps you had an awful PS or LoRs with red flags or you failed to meet some basic application requirements.

Since you only had one interview, my bet is that you just applied to nowhere near enough schools (like applying to CA schools only).

 

[Godric]

You didn't mention what schools you applied to. So without that info its really hard to construct a full picture of why you haven't gotten any acceptances. Though I have to agree with others, that have said you sound like a solid candidate. However were you applying to top 10-20 ranked schools ?

 

[Catalystik]

As long as you don't have a downward grade trend, I don't think you need a post bac. Provided you applied broadly across the country and early in the season (complete everywhere by September), then I'd be concerned about a red flag in a LOR or a PS that set the wrong tone.

You might try calling some schools that rejected you and ask for a phone appointment with a dean to discuss what you can do to improve your application. It's possible to get some hints about the problem that way.

 

[dotflamo]

Thanks everyone for the input, I just scheduled to talk to some of the schools and hopefully that'll clarify some things. And yea, I could have timed my application submissions better.

I applied somewhat broadly to 35 schools, about 5-10 of which I would consider "top tier" institutions.

I hadn't considered "red flags" in my LOR's, although that's a really valid point. I had 5 letters (2 science, 1 non science, 1 doctor employer, 1 psychologist employer) but one of my science letters was pretty weak, although i doubt it was overtly negative.

hm. lots of things to examine more closely.

 

[WeAreNotRobots]

WHEN did u submit the primary and secondaries? WHEN were u marked complete?

How much effort did u put into the secondries and tailoring your story to fit each individual school?

 

[gravitywave]

1) timing: you may have been late. September is late for anyone, 3.5s need to get complete sooner.

2) PS: Don't underestimate it.

I'm inclined to discount the possibility of a bad letter unless nothing else seems out of place.

 

[UbuntuGM]

OP, my app and yours is pretty much the same in terms of numbers and medically related ECs. I only got 1 acceptance this year, applied to 35 schools as you did. I applied pretty much as early as possible, with all secondaries done by end of June/Beginning of August. It's just getting harder to get in to med school nowadays. Don't fret. Just an unlucky app cycle.

 

[hiphopcrates]

Only one interview, with your stats? That really surprises me. How confident are you in your personal statement? Maybe that's the missing link.

 

[Catalystik]

hm. lots of things to examine more closely.

Any legal issues or institutional actions that might reflect negatively on your application?