Drexel IMS, should I?

[juryyu]

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Here's my situation:

-I didn't do well in undergrad. Did post-bacc for past 1.5yrs with 3.94 gpa
-BCPM = 3.36 Cum = 3.48
-MCAT 31Q (11,10,10)
-have decent clinical and volunteer exp
-applied 2009-2010 cycle, waitlisted but now chances for acceptances dwindling 🙁

I am strongly considering the Drexel IMS program in Sacramento. I'm in norcal and it would be more convenient right now than moving to Philly. Deadline to apply is fast approaching, but can anyone give their opinion if I should attend (if accepted)?

 

[aidama]

Here's my situation:

-I didn't do well in undergrad. Did post-bacc for past 1.5yrs with 3.94 gpa
-BCPM = 3.36 Cum = 3.48
-MCAT 31Q (11,10,10)
-have decent clinical and volunteer exp
-applied 2009-2010 cycle, waitlisted but now chances for acceptances dwindling 🙁

I am strongly considering the Drexel IMS program in Sacramento. I'm in norcal and it would be more convenient right now than moving to Philly. Deadline to apply is fast approaching, but can anyone give their opinion if I should attend (if accepted)?

With your MCAT score, B's in Drexel's IMS program you will definitely get an interview. If you were waitlisted.... what does your pre-med advisor say and the school you were waitlisted at say? Is there some part of your application that you are deficient with, like volunteering or clinical experience? Your post-bac GPA is pretty strong. Your undergrad GPA isn't terrible either. What are the grades of your prereqs?

If you do Drexel-IMS in Nor-Cal, realize that it's isolated, and you are on your own with studying (they will have TA's at the graduate campus). It might be harder to make a connection with your advisor. You'll be in school all day.... where are you commuting from? 😀

 

[jslo85]

What was your GPA prior to your post-bacc and was it done as a premed formal program (you were a non-traditional) or was it as an informal at a local university?

Your sGPA is below average competitive applicants and your cGPA isn't terrible but on the very low end of the competitive scale. If you were waitlisted I would have sent out an app to Tulane ACP but that's not something that's productive to get into. Are you lacking like Aidama said in either clinical experience or LORs? With a bit of help (if this was a problem prior) it could gain you a couple interviews if you applied broadly and early enough.

I'd be hesistant on telling you to enter SMPs in general because you're in the narrow GPA range where it's troublesome to advise you one way or another. If you were to attend an SMP, you'd need to demonstrate improved grades in harder classes (medical school level or equivalent) in a more competitive environment/grading scale than what you've been used to before. If your cGPA is already at a 3.4, it would mean you'd be needing to score an A- at the very least. Doing worse in the program would actually lower Adcoms impression of the "on paper applicant" that you are currently projecting yourself out to be which is a step in the wrong direction, not to mention you'd be wasting money/time/effort doing so.

If you're confident that you'd have an exemplary performance in said program and have the money on hand to do so, I don't see a problem. It's just up to you whether you want to take that risk or not. As for as SMPs go in Norcal, I think the Sac Drexel IMS is the only one I know of. Theres an osteopathic Masters program at Western if you were considering osteopathic but I think your stats are good enough to apply in as it is right now for that direction.

Good luck