Do I need post bacc?

[tiktaalik34]

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Hey guys, I'm on track to apply spring 2018 however I'm concerned about my gpa. I spent 3 years in community college before transferring to a UC (top 10 public school). I got a 3.27 cGPA and 3.18 sGPA during my 3 years at CC. I then spent 2 years at a UC and graduated w/ a degree in Biology. My gpa at UC was a 3.84 and upper div science gpa was a 3.798.

My grades were low at CC because I was working near full-time to help my parents out financially. I'm a first generation college student, disadvantaged and a URM (half mexican). Im the first in the history of my father's family to receive a Bachelor's degree

EC's:
-500 hrs hospital volunteering
-300 hrs volunteering at a local clinic that serves latinos
-500 hrs of volunteering at the foodbank.
- worked various jobs throughout 3 years of college (pizza hut, walgreens, mcdonalds)
- tutored gen chem and intro bio at my CC for 1 year
- worked for a tutoring company that helped K-8th graders for 1 year
- 100 total hours of shadowing (Orthopedics, family med, and pain management)

Research:
- Did a 3 month internship at Stanford in 2010 (1 poster)
- Did 1.5 years of research at UC (1 pub)

LOR's are decent

My overall cGPA is a 3.48 while my sGPA is a 3.39. Should I do a formal post bacc despite the steep upward trend (assuming I do well on the MCAT in March)?

 

[theonlytycrane]

Crushing the Mcat silences all doubts.

A low Mcat makes your gpa look weaker. A strong Mcat makes one better understand your story.

With a mediocre Mcat, you might need gpa repair but then it gets more complicated depending on your ecs and state of residence.


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[esob]

It's a lot of volunteering hours that looks good but at the same time begs the question of why you didn't trade some of those hours for better GPA (since the reason you are giving for lower GPA is "lack of time" vs "lack of aptitude"). Not trying to be crass, just playing devil's advocate because med school is uber competitive.

 

[tiktaalik34]

It's a lot of volunteering hours that looks good but at the same time begs the question of why you didn't trade some of those hours for better GPA (since the reason you are giving for lower GPA is "lack of time" vs "lack of aptitude"). Not trying to be crass, just playing devil's advocate because med school is uber competitive.

Thanks for your critique. I didn't do a post bacc because its so expensive. Can't afford it since its $12k for a 1 year program. I am willing to do it if it would make a huge difference however I'm already trying to pay off my undergrad debt and wouldn't want to add onto it.

 

[Goro]

Upward trends and URM status help wonders.

You do NOT need a post-bac!

Hey guys, I'm on track to apply spring 2018 however I'm concerned about my gpa. I spent 3 years in community college before transferring to a UC (top 10 public school). I got a 3.27 cGPA and 3.18 sGPA during my 3 years at CC. I then spent 2 years at a UC and graduated w/ a degree in Biology. My gpa at UC was a 3.84 and upper div science gpa was a 3.798.

My grades were low at CC because I was working near full-time to help my parents out financially. I'm a first generation college student, disadvantaged and a URM (half mexican). Im the first in the history of my father's family to receive a Bachelor's degree

EC's:
-500 hrs hospital volunteering
-300 hrs volunteering at a local clinic that serves latinos
-500 hrs of volunteering at the foodbank.
- worked various jobs throughout 3 years of college (pizza hut, walgreens, mcdonalds)
- tutored gen chem and intro bio at my CC for 1 year
- worked for a tutoring company that helped K-8th graders for 1 year
- 100 total hours of shadowing (Orthopedics, family med, and pain management)

Research:
- Did a 3 month internship at Stanford in 2010 (1 poster)
- Did 1.5 years of research at UC (1 pub)

LOR's are decent

My overall cGPA is a 3.48 while my sGPA is a 3.39. Should I do a formal post bacc despite the steep upward trend (assuming I do well on the MCAT in March)?

 

[zurc2014]

Upward trends and URM status help wonders.

You do NOT need a post-bac!

This.

 

[halo1789]

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[WGSgrad]

Hey all, I am in a similar boat with the OP. I have an incredibly low GPA (3.10) and currently I'm in a gap year to make sure that the medical field is something I really want. Now that I do realize that it's still something I want to do, I feel like my GPA is too low for med school. Should I do a post-bacc program? Or is there any way I can get into a program, maybe with a killer MCAT score?

More about me:
Graduated May 2016
Volunteer hours: >750
Shadowing hours: ~200
Currently a medical scribe
Taught high school level algebra I&II, Geometry, Pre-cal, science, Biology, Chem, and Spanish
URM

Your cGPA (I assume) is significantly lower than the OPs...just being real.

Is this your GPA after repair? (Like you had an abysmally low cGPA and then to classes to improve and this is it now? More details are needed.


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[halo1789]

Your cGPA (I assume) is significantly lower than the OPs...just being real.

Is this your GPA after repair? (Like you had an abysmally low cGPA and then to classes to improve and this is it now? More details are needed.


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My GPA is 3.10 before repair. I'm not sure what my science GPA is, but its probably in the high 2s. I haven't retaken any courses yet, but I've already graduated with a BS. So I may retake classes at a community college? I'm not even sure if that is possible.

 

[GaStu1994]

Hey guys, I'm on track to apply spring 2018 however I'm concerned about my gpa. I spent 3 years in community college before transferring to a UC (top 10 public school). I got a 3.27 cGPA and 3.18 sGPA during my 3 years at CC. I then spent 2 years at a UC and graduated w/ a degree in Biology. My gpa at UC was a 3.84 and upper div science gpa was a 3.798.

My grades were low at CC because I was working near full-time to help my parents out financially. I'm a first generation college student, disadvantaged and a URM (half mexican). Im the first in the history of my father's family to receive a Bachelor's degree

EC's:
-500 hrs hospital volunteering
-300 hrs volunteering at a local clinic that serves latinos
-500 hrs of volunteering at the foodbank.
- worked various jobs throughout 3 years of college (pizza hut, walgreens, mcdonalds)
- tutored gen chem and intro bio at my CC for 1 year
- worked for a tutoring company that helped K-8th graders for 1 year
- 100 total hours of shadowing (Orthopedics, family med, and pain management)

Research:
- Did a 3 month internship at Stanford in 2010 (1 poster)
- Did 1.5 years of research at UC (1 pub)

LOR's are decent

My overall cGPA is a 3.48 while my sGPA is a 3.39. Should I do a formal post bacc despite the steep upward trend (assuming I do well on the MCAT in March)?

You probably don't need post-bacc, but it almost certainly couldn't hurt (provided you performed well in your post-bacc coursework). Your upward trend and URM status will be of significant benefit to your application. Will you be applying MD, DO, or both?

 

[halo1789]

You probably don't need post-bacc, but it almost certainly couldn't hurt (provided you performed well in your post-bacc coursework). Your upward trend and URM status will be of significant benefit to your application. Will you be applying MD, DO, or both?

I'm taking some classes at a CC Spring 2017, while studying for the MCAT, and working as a scribe. I just want to do whatever it takes to be a unique and viable candidate.
I'm honestly not sure, should I apply to both? Should I apply to PA school as well or would that be frowned upon?

 

[tiktaalik34]

You probably don't need post-bacc, but it almost certainly couldn't hurt (provided you performed well in your post-bacc coursework). Your upward trend and URM status will be of significant benefit to your application. Will you be applying MD, DO, or both?

I see, Thanks. I guess its up to me to decide if a postbacc is worth it.. I most likely won't do a postbacc due to the cost. I'm going to be applying to MD schools with a few DO's thrown in (most likely Touro-CA and Western)

 

[GaStu1994]

I'm taking some classes at a CC Spring 2017, while studying for the MCAT, and working as a scribe. I just want to do whatever it takes to be a unique and viable candidate.
I'm honestly not sure, should I apply to both? Should I apply to PA school as well or would that be frowned upon?

If you are comfortable with both MD and DO philosophies, then by all means, apply to both. However, you should definitely NOT apply to PA school simultaneously with medical school applications. Not only do PA schools generally require a massive amount of PA shadowing (so as to discourage pre-med hopefuls who couldn't make the cut from using PA school as a "fall-back plan"), but if you are even considering applying to PA school, you may need to reconsider just how committed you are to being a physician. Even within primary care, while there are many smiltatiries between physicians and their PA colleagues, the differences prove even more stark with respect to education length, knowledge fund, and professional capabilities. Only apply to medical school if you literally cannot imagine being happy/fulfilled in any career other than that of a physician, or you may ultimately regret the gargantuan investment of time, money, and youth that are medical school/residency.

 

[GaStu1994]

I see, Thanks. I guess its up to me to decide if a postbacc is worth it.. I most likely won't do a postbacc due to the cost. I'm going to be applying to MD schools with a few DO's thrown in (most likely Touro-CA and Western)

Sounds like a plan. I wish you the very best of luck in your application cycle!

 

[WGSgrad]

I'm taking some classes at a CC Spring 2017, while studying for the MCAT, and working as a scribe. I just want to do whatever it takes to be a unique and viable candidate.
I'm honestly not sure, should I apply to both? Should I apply to PA school as well or would that be frowned upon?

Wires got crossed...GaStu1994 was responding to the stats from the the OP (thread starter). Reread the post after theirs and it will become clear where it happened.

If you sGPA is in the twos, you probably need to be retaking your prerequisites at a minimum. And you can do this after you have graduated with a bachelors either in a formal post bacc or in a DIY post bacc which is much cheaper. I would browse through threads from poster DrMidLife. You'll get a bit of leeway due to your URM status but her advice is direct and she has addressed folks with stats like yours a ton.


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[halo1789]

Wires got crossed...GaStu1994 was responding to the stats from the the OP (thread starter). Reread the post after theirs and it will become clear where it happened.

If you sGPA is in the twos, you probably need to be retaking your prerequisites at a minimum. And you can do this after you have graduated with a bachelors either in a formal post bacc or in a DIY post bacc which is much cheaper. I would browse through threads from poster DrMidLife. You'll get a bit of leeway due to your URM status but her advice is direct and she has addressed folks with stats like yours a ton.


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Gosh thank you so much for everyone's help in this forum. I really appreciate the helpful comments and encouraging tips

 

[halo1789]

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[oOKawaiiOo]

Hey all, I am in a similar boat with the OP. I have an incredibly low GPA (3.10)....Should I do a post-bacc program? Or is there any way I can get into a program, maybe with a killer MCAT score?

More about me:
Graduated May 2016
Volunteer hours: >750
Shadowing hours: ~200
Currently a medical scribe
Taught high school level algebra I&II, Geometry, Pre-cal, science, Biology, Chem, and Spanish
URM

Low GPA = no problem. The chances of getting into a medial school is obtainable. Post-bacc? sure. Grade repair = a must.

Remember, MCAT and GPA is just a factor (a big one) but it's not everything. You have to delivery the whole package. Your hours are good. Focus on repairing those grades and LORs from the doctors you work for.

My GPA is 3.10 before repair. I'm not sure what my science GPA is, but its probably in the high 2s. I haven't retaken any courses yet, but I've already graduated with a BS. So I may retake classes at a community college? I'm not even sure if that is possible.

I used to be in the same position as you. Yes you can retake classes from a comm. college. On top of that, they are relatively cheaper than your say.... universities.

I'm taking some classes at a CC Spring 2017, while studying for the MCAT, and working as a scribe. I just want to do whatever it takes to be a unique and viable candidate. I'm honestly not sure, should I apply to both? Should I apply to PA school as well or would that be frowned upon?

PA = less time in school, flexible opportunities to switch from specialities, better lifestyle, but at the price of reputation and income.

I know many SMART students who wanted to go to medical school - they had the capacity and drive. But due to their situation (prefer less time in school, wanted a life outside of work/school), they chose to go to PA school. Is it look down upon? Of course not. One of the best providers I know is a PA student. She provided far superior comprehension care than most of the doctors I've scribed with.

Hey guys I'm back. I've been up researching about post-bacc and diy for retakes and reading other threads. So does that mean if I begin to retake classes Spring 2017, my timeline should look like:
Retake classes- Spring and Summer 2017
MCAT- April 2017
Application- May 2017
Interviews-2017-2018?

Remember, apply when you're ready. Apply with the best package you got. This is not a race. I knew people who applied 3x before they got accepted. That's ridiculous and $$$ wasted -- unless your parents are loaded.

 

[halo1789]

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