How are post-bacc looked upon by Adcoms?

[relentless11]

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Just curious, since i've been seeing how the majority of people getting into at least a medical school after doing a post-bacc program.

I understand that there are some that have an agreement with a medical school, but what about the other ones? Some claim to have an 88% success rate, while having a minimum GPA of 2.7 in order to apply for the program.

Yes, most of these people are URM's, but how much can a person who is a post-bacc improve their GPA in one year, based on their initial GPA starting at 2.7. Lets say it goes up to a 2.9. So my question here, do the adcoms view people who take the post-bacc program in a different light? Or is it the same as someone who just decided to take anotehr year in school.

Or could this be that the URM's just get in easier with a 2.9 vs. everyone else?

 

[busupshot83]

a very interesting question; unfortunately, I can't answer it... although I am eagerly awaiting someone who can... 🙄

 

[ussdfiant]

Originally posted by relentless11
Yes, most of these people are URM's

Can you post where you got this statistic from?

 

[r_salis]

Originally posted by relentless11
Yes, most of these people are URM's,

😕

but how much can a person who is a post-bacc improve their GPA in one year, based on their initial GPA starting at 2.7. Lets say it goes up to a 2.9.

The improvement would be in science GPA, not overall GPA. The adcoms will put less weight on an overall GPA if you can show a trend of improvement in your most recent grades, and a slam-dunk during your post-bacc would be a great way to do this.

 

[relentless11]

Oh my bad, i just spent about an hour calling the UC's to clarify this all for you guys. My advisor here must have misinterpreted the information or i just misunderstood her.

Pretty much...

"Be either an economically, financially or educationally disadvantaged student."

In most cases according to the advisors this would mainly be a URM, (not tryign to stereotype, but i according to what the advisors have seen)

Good news is, that means i can apply for a post-bacc program🙂, snce i'm not a URM either.

 

[Febrifuge]

I think I can add a little to this disucssion, since I've spoken to a few admissions people, at a variety of med schools. My deal is that I have a BA, but it has virtually no math or science in it. So the question (for me) is whether to hit a postbac or get the prereqs done part-time while I gain healthcare work experience.

Some schools have told me that a postbac adds value to one's academic history because it demonstrates a focus and intensity that not everyone can already demonstrate. I, for instance, can't point to a period of time when I loaded up on credits and still did well. It *may* cancel out an adcom's questions about whether I can hack the courseload and the volume of med school without my head exploding, if I do a postbac and don't fold up like a cheap tent.

On the other hand, some schools have said that postbacs don't necessarily impress them, and every case is different. All they need is a history that fits the applicant. What I mean by that is, whatever your individual strengths and weaknesses, they'd like to see that you have a grasp of what they are, and they'd like to see that you have pursued a plan that takes them into account.

Whatever path you take on the way to applying, if you can articulate why you chose it and what it did for you, you'll be a candidate worth taking a closer look at. My gut instinct after these conversations is that a postbac would be a good thing for someone who'd been out in the world for a while after school, and/or someone who wanted for whatever reason to prove themselves capable of carrying an intense academic load. Hope this helps.

 

[busupshot83]

Febrifuge,

nice response man

 

[mcataz]

A post-bacc is an excellent and often times, the only way to make up for a low GPA.

Post-bacs are different than regular college. First of all, the types of courses you take are all upper-level science classes. You don't take any basketweaving or liberal arts classes. Furthermore, the intesity is high in a post-bacc since you take many of these classes altogether. So adcoms view post-bacc in a very positive manner. I haven't heard any adcom put down a post-bacc. But I have heard adcoms criticize Masters programs particularly the MPH program. They prefer post-bacc over MPH and thesis centered Masters because post-bacc is involved with regular classes.

Every adcom I have spoken with has told me to do a post-bacc especially if your grades are inconsistent and poor. If you partied in undergrad and have a host of W's, C's, D's and F's, post-bacc is your only ticket into medical or dental school.

Only the most elite medical and dental schools will not consider post-bacc and that's because the demand for them is too high and thus they have too many stellar candidates to choose from. It would simply be unfair to accept the student with the 2.5 who has a 3.9 in post-bacc. But most other schools welcome post-bacc especially considering that you are cramming many upper-level science classes together. It shows your work ethic and committment.

However, I woudl refrain from attending a thesis/research oriented Masters program. Adcoms aren't impressed with research classes since they are essentially easy A's. They downgrade those. So if you do engage in a post-bacc, make sure it is one that non-thesis and classroom work oriented. You know regular classes where you have exams etc. The fru fru research based or Masters in Public Health aren't as impressive to adcoms.

 

[CaptainJack02]

What if you messed up in the science classes early on? Can you still do a post-bacc or should you go straight for a 2nd degree? I have a good MCAT score(34R) but my GPA is low(OA 3.1, BCPM 3.07) in electrical engineering.

I obviously have all the med school pre-reqs. My understanding of post-baccs is that they are just for the premed reqs. This right?

I have done sort of consistently better the last few sems, but I was thinking of going straight for a bio, psych or a management major. Can I still consider post-bacc as an option? Which major would you guys do?

Thanks for reading the (sort of) incoherent rambling above,

Capt. jack

 

[mcataz]

Originally posted by CaptainJack02
What if you messed up in the science classes early on? Can you still do a post-bacc or should you go straight for a 2nd degree? I have a good MCAT score(34R) but my GPA is low(OA 3.1, BCPM 3.07) in electrical engineering.

I obviously have all the med school pre-reqs. My understanding of post-baccs is that they are just for the premed reqs. This right?

I have done sort of consistently better the last few sems, but I was thinking of going straight for a bio, psych or a management major. Can I still consider post-bacc as an option? Which major would you guys do?

Thanks for reading the (sort of) incoherent rambling above,

Capt. jack

Each post-bacc program is different. Some programs are designed to provide just the pre-med requirements for those who were non-science majors or non-premed during their undergraduate years.

However, others are designed to help one overcome a poor GPA. My post-bacc is an example of this. My program is a baby medical school if I may say so. All of our classes are ones that medical students take in their first two years. So my program offers more than just the pre-required classes. Biochemistry, Physiology, Embryology, Human Anatomy, Genetics, Histology, Immunology, Pharmacology, Neuroscience, Molecular Biology etc are not pre-req's. I doubt you have had any of these if you majored in electrical engineering. Take these classes in a post-bacc.

Based on your situation, you have demonstrated that you have the intelligence to succeed in medical school. But they may want to see evidence of proper work habits and discipline. THis is where a post-bacc comes into play. Most schools want to see 2 to 4 semesters(3-6 quarters) worth of consistent acadameic succes (3.5 GPA). Don't kill yourself, but take at least 12 credits per quarter or 15 credits per semester. A minimum of three of those classes should involve upper level science-related classes.

I would do a one year post-bacc and average a 3.5 GPA. It will show evidence that you not only have the brains but the work habits to succeed if they admit you to medical school.

 

[busupshot83]

Originally posted by mcataz
Each post-bacc program is different. Some programs are designed to provide just the pre-med requirements for those who were non-science majors or non-premed during their undergraduate years.

I am an example of this. Any thoughts on THIS type of post bac program? Is it better than, say, taking the classes on your own at a CC?

 

[svalenzuela02p]

HEYYYYYY I am finishing my MPH in Epidemiology and it is anything but Fru Fru. Lot's of biostats for reserach and the modeling classes kill many people>>>>>>>

 

[mcataz]

Originally posted by svalenzuela02p
HEYYYYYY I am finishing my MPH in Epidemiology and it is anything but Fru Fru. Lot's of biostats for reserach and the modeling classes kill many people>>>>>>>

There are exceptions to the rule, unfortunately most adcoms aren't aware of many of them.

 

[mcataz]

Originally posted by busupshot83
I am an example of this. Any thoughts on THIS type of post bac program? Is it better than, say, taking the classes on your own at a CC?

Just take the pre-req's at CC. Get straight A's and apply. If you get rejected then enroll in post-bacc for year and take upper level biology classes.

If they ask why you took your classes at CC vs. 4 year school. Just say you were working at that CC was cheaper and allowed you to schedule your classes at night.

 

[busupshot83]

mcataz,

sounds great... but what about Letters of Rec? CC professors' LOR look alright?

 

[mcataz]

Originally posted by busupshot83
mcataz,

sounds great... but what about Letters of Rec? CC professors' LOR look alright?

Well, if they saw you attend CC, why would they care that the letters of recc came from CC professors? Most of the CC professors around here have PhD's so I wouldn't worry about their qualifications.

 

[yearningone]

It seems like the general understanding has been stated, but let's do it again for the cheap seats in the back!

If you have a weak undergraduate record or you came from a non-science background (I graduated with a BA in Communication and a minor in Business Econ), a post-bacc program is perfect.

I've heard repeatedly, don't bother with the second degree. Perform well in the post-bacc and the adcoms won't worry about your undergraduate performance as much. Do everything with a heavy load (full-time work while taking 2-3 hard core classes simultaneously) and the adcoms will see that you are capable of taking on the burden of full-time medical studies.

Positives to consider:

Successful post-bacc students are more mature, working harder towards accomplishing their goals.

Post-baccs are less likely to give up once they have matriculated.

Post-baccs have a wealth of experience and knowledge in life and in other areas making them better "well-rounded students" adding to the diversity of their enrolling class.

Post-baccs kick butt and take no prisoners. Okay, maybe I made this one up, but it's true.

On a personal note, I have done all I could to help my classmates with their coursework and it proved very beneficial to me. Explaining material allows the "teacher" to retain up to 90% of the material covered.

I did just get an invite for an interview with NJMS at UMDNJ. I took the August 03 MCAT (BS-12, VR-9, PS-9). It was my second try (April 03 BS-8, PS-12, VR-9), but I was told by RWJMS to improve my bio score for consideration. I royally messed up on my second writing sample, but hopefully, the adcoms will overlook that and recognize I did fine on the first one. I hate that they take off points on the WS without providing explicit instructions. Garbage.

yearningone

 

[WISC-ite]

Well, for me a post-Bacc was very favorable and I spun it like a new beginning. When interviewing, I would stat that it was a new beginning.... way from undergrad, way from home, new intense environment, etc....


I also think it depends upon the individual school and their success and failures with specific students. Also, many schools (well, at least interviewers...) didn't/don't know what a post-Bacc program is until you clearly explain it to them.

Nothing but a positive experience for me (well, maybe except living in Philly for two years🙂).

Cheers,
WISC-ite