Huge dilemma!! HELP

[eksoset]

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My 1st post here. 🙂

Ok, heres my story. Aced high school, fudged first 2 yrs of college. I graduated w/ a double major in bio n chem w/ an overall gpa of 3.31 and a sci gpa slightly lower. I basically aced all my advanced classes but low freshman, soph gpa brought the overall down. I did ok on the MCAT (32: 10, 10, 12) and have participated in a **** load of extra curricular (from work,lvolunteering, research, clubs....). I have also worked fulltime for almost a yr as a lab tech as well as undergrad researcher. It came time to apply to med school n I applied very late. As of right now, I got accepted to Drexel, Finch, and am waiting for an answer from NYMC.

However, I do not know if Id like to go to any of the above mentioned schools (especially the former 2). I am considering applying to post-bac programs (have already started the process), acing them over 1 yr and applying again. However I do not know if my chances of being accepted will rise (acceptance to top tier schools that is) and whether being a 2 time applicant will lower my chances of matriculation.

So I guess in short, should I settle for one of those 3 schools named above or post-back?? 😕

thanx. 🙂

 

[kito]

What are you nuts? You're in you fool!

 

[voltron77]

My 1st post here. 🙂

Ok, heres my story. Aced high school, fudged first 2 yrs of college. I graduated w/ a double major in bio n chem w/ an overall gpa of 3.31 and a sci gpa slightly lower. I basically aced all my advanced classes but low freshman, soph gpa brought the overall down. I did ok on the MCAT (32: 10, 10, 12) and have participated in a **** load of extra curricular (from work,lvolunteering, research, clubs....). I have also worked fulltime for almost a yr as a lab tech as well as undergrad researcher. It came time to apply to med school n I applied very late. As of right now, I got accepted to Drexel, Finch, and am waiting for an answer from NYMC.

However, I do not know if Id like to go to any of the above mentioned schools (especially the former 2). I am considering applying to post-bac programs (have already started the process), acing them over 1 yr and applying again. However I do not know if my chances of being accepted will rise (acceptance to top tier schools that is) and whether being a 2 time applicant will lower my chances of matriculation.

So I guess in short, should I settle for one of those 3 schools named above or post-back?? 😕

thanx. 🙂

My question is: Why would you have applied to these schools and not want to go?

 

[eksoset]

well honestly w/ my gpa I didn't think I have a chance to get in period so i wanted to test the waters.

And I am not saying I do not want to go to those schools, what I am saying is that id rather (obviously) go to better schools.

And at the time I applied, I was not aware of post-bac programs.

 

[LvlyBlkPreMed]

i say take one of the accptances and join me at finch this summer 🙂 (unless i get into UCSD off of the waitlist!!!)

 

[CalBeE]

Re-applying can go either way: You may end up getting into a school that you like more or you may get into nowhere at all. Also, some schools discourage you to apply again after your 2nd or 3rd time.

Will the post-bac help? Probably, especially if you did well. Are you definitely gonna do well? Not neccessarily.

From what you said, it does seem like you have an upward trend and did well in your upper-divs. It also doesn't seem like your EC's are not enough. Your MCAT is decent. So maybe the problem's not even any of these stuff. Could it be your Personal statement? LOR? Interview?

 

[eksoset]

well it couldn't be my interviews. I got 2/3 so far n waiting for the 3rd. 🙂

But frankly upward trends, I don't think, matter much if a lot of schools have cut offs and won't even look at your profile unless u got that overall gpa above the cut-off. My statement, from what everyone has told me is ace as well.

Basically, what hurt me are my gpa and late application.

 

[wanderso]

People would give their left nut to have an acceptance. Allopathic medical education in the United States is primarily the same. I know you have heard this from many different sources, at least I have. Obviously a name is nice to have on your CV, also nice for Match placement. But, for God's sake, it isn't going to make that much of a difference. Unless you have a crystal ball that can tell you that you will get into Hopkins, Harvard, Yale etc. . . then don't reapply. Be thankful for your acceptance.

 

[skiz knot]

My 1st post here. 🙂

Ok, heres my story. Aced high school, fudged first 2 yrs of college. I graduated w/ a double major in bio n chem w/ an overall gpa of 3.31 and a sci gpa slightly lower. I basically aced all my advanced classes but low freshman, soph gpa brought the overall down. I did ok on the MCAT (32: 10, 10, 12) and have participated in a **** load of extra curricular (from work,lvolunteering, research, clubs....). I have also worked fulltime for almost a yr as a lab tech as well as undergrad researcher. It came time to apply to med school n I applied very late. As of right now, I got accepted to Drexel, Finch, and am waiting for an answer from NYMC.

However, I do not know if Id like to go to any of the above mentioned schools (especially the former 2). I am considering applying to post-bac programs (have already started the process), acing them over 1 yr and applying again. However I do not know if my chances of being accepted will rise (acceptance to top tier schools that is) and whether being a 2 time applicant will lower my chances of matriculation.

So I guess in short, should I settle for one of those 3 schools named above or post-back?? 😕

thanx. 🙂

Why would you waste money on a Post Bacc

Go to school! you've already been accepted!

Those schools are just fine.

Do you know what they call the person who graduates last in his class from the worst medical school in the country?



























Doctor!

 

[eksoset]

hehe skiz, my concern is centered more towards the day after I get my MD, and have to start lookin for a residency match. But yes, I know what you mean. 🙂

and thanx to all for replying 👍

 

[MoosePilot]

Most of your skill as a doc will be based on your residency (so I've heard).

What residency you get into will be based much more on your performance than where you did the performance (again so I've heard).

Go to school, do well, get the residence you want, and rock out!

Congrats on the acceptances!

 

[WatchingWaiting]

My 1st post here. 🙂

Ok, heres my story. Aced high school, fudged first 2 yrs of college. I graduated w/ a double major in bio n chem w/ an overall gpa of 3.31 and a sci gpa slightly lower. I basically aced all my advanced classes but low freshman, soph gpa brought the overall down. I did ok on the MCAT (32: 10, 10, 12) and have participated in a **** load of extra curricular (from work,lvolunteering, research, clubs....). I have also worked fulltime for almost a yr as a lab tech as well as undergrad researcher. It came time to apply to med school n I applied very late. As of right now, I got accepted to Drexel, Finch, and am waiting for an answer from NYMC.

However, I do not know if Id like to go to any of the above mentioned schools (especially the former 2). I am considering applying to post-bac programs (have already started the process), acing them over 1 yr and applying again. However I do not know if my chances of being accepted will rise (acceptance to top tier schools that is) and whether being a 2 time applicant will lower my chances of matriculation.

So I guess in short, should I settle for one of those 3 schools named above or post-back?? 😕

thanx. 🙂

Go look at the Drexel and Finch matchlists. If you're at the top of your class, you can still match in competitive specialties at competitive programs. You will, of course, have to work very hard, suck a lot of **** during your third year rotations, but going to a not-too-hot med school won't keep you out of top programs if you're an otherwise stellar applicant. What type of residency do you think you're interested in? If it's internal medicine, psych, peds, or the like, you won't have any problem getting into university programs regardless of your med school.

Also, do you really want to waste two years of life (one with the post-bacc and one reapplying) to get a minor boost to your candidacy? The reality is, you're not going to get your gpa much over a 3.5 even with a 4.00 in your post-bac, which still won't make you competitive at top-25 programs. And, being a reapplicant is generally considered a negative if you actually got in at multiple schools and declined them because they weren't up to your expectations of where you would like to go. Med schools generally interpret this as you're going into medicine for the wrong reasons (prestige rather than service to others).

 

[krebse]

How are you going to explain to schools you apply to the next time around that you lacked the foresight to not apply to schools that you didn't want to attend and that you lied to or at least misled these schools and told them you wanted to attend during your interview? I say don't go to the schools you got into that you're not excited to attend, nobody wants you there is you don't want to be there, least of all your classmates who likely want to be there and may have their education adversly affected by having to deal with people who don't want to be there...

Sorry if this comes off harsh, I'm not trying to personally attack you, but your post makes me angry

 

[skypilot]

Consider yourself lucky to have gotten admitted with a BCPM under 3.3 and go become a doctor already! You will almost never be asked where you went to med school anyway. Unless you want to match into Dermatology it won't make a damn bit of difference where you go.



🙂

 

[kito]

Wow if you ace your classes and get 250+ on step 1 I don't care if you go to Badonkadonk SOM you'll go where you want.

 

[911Med]

Yep...you are right.

We should trade identities and I will GLADLY go to Drexel or Finch and you can GLADLY take my spot at School X post-bac.

Just to fill your ridiculous post-bac in light of 2 acceptances fantasy.

This is either a BS post - or you've had a post-acceptance brain fart.

Either way - stop it. Don;t be an idiot.

Your in - move on. 🙂

Start stressing about step 1 and jump into that first year feet first.

 

[exmike]

Wow, you need to reasess the situation.

You did really well considering your GPA. Is it worth another 2+ years doing a post bacc and reapplying without any guarantee that you'll get in a better school? In fact, those schools you declined the first time around might not be so receptive when you reapply, so your'e basically counting on getting in a "better" school. Your stats aren't "stellar" enough to ensure you'll get in a "better" school no matter how well you do on your post-bacc. Your post-bacc probalby wont even change your GPA all that much since you already have 120+ units from undergrad.

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. You should be elated w/ what you have.

edit: Actually I have several friends who would LOVE to go to the schools you dont want to go to that are waitlisted. So please do the post-bacc so my friends who actually would love to go to those schools will have a chance this year.

edit2: and what is "top tier" to you? If you mean a US News top 20 school, acing your post bacc will at best give you a 3.5/32. That is still well below average for "top tier"

 

[nottooshabby]

Ankitovich,

Badonkadonk SOM ?!! Ha Ha that was awesome!!

 

[CalBeE]

well it couldn't be my interviews. I got 2/3 so far n waiting for the 3rd. 🙂

But frankly upward trends, I don't think, matter much if a lot of schools have cut offs and won't even look at your profile unless u got that overall gpa above the cut-off. My statement, from what everyone has told me is ace as well.

Basically, what hurt me are my gpa and late application.

Well, friends are not neccessarily good judges on Personal Statements. In fact, I think unless an essay really sucks, people will just say it's good.

And I'm not sure what schools you applied to, but there are quite a number of schools out there that don't really cut off people strictly based on GPA. I still think it's GPA plus something else.

 

[cher25]

It must be really nice to have such options. I think it would be absolutely insane for you to reject your admissions and do a post bac. If anything...pick one of the schools, ace step I and try to transfer. But full on rejection? No way!!!

 

[a*brown]

i agree with everyone. i'd give anything to just start already. i wouldn't want to wait any longer.

plus, as long as it's not a school in the caribbean, it's decent, right?

but here's a question: would it help to call up the schools you got rejected from and ask specifically what made them reject you?? then you'd know if post-bac is the way to go or not 😕

 

[Adapt]

I will be the first to say you should give up your acceptances to do your 2 year post-bac program.
























HAHA Yea right. You'd be crazy to do so. I'm sorry but I had to do that in the form of a joke to emphasize that you SHOULD NOT give up your acceptances for a some post-bac. 👍

 

[krebse]

I will be the first to say you should give up your acceptances to do your 2 year post-bac program.







HAHA Yea right. You'd be crazy to do so. I'm sorry but I had to do that in the form of a joke to emphasize that you SHOULD NOT give up your acceptances for a some post-bac. 👍

Sorry dude, I was the first to say he should give up the acceptances, but I meant it 🙂

 

[cher25]

In my humble opinion, the only dilema here is what school, out of the ones in which you gained acceptance, should you choose. That should be your dilema. Not whether or not to throw it all away. By the time you finish a post bac, you could have been two years into med school. Preparing for USMLE and clinicals and only two years away from your dream of being an MD. Don't put it off for the sake of a name. Choose the school that you think is best and make the best of it. You may even enjoy it 🙂

 

[LvlyBlkPreMed]

Wow if you ace your classes and get 250+ on step 1 I don't care if you go to Badonkadonk SOM you'll go where you want.

BADONKADONK!!!

for you ebonically challenged people...that's an EXTREMELY large booty!! Like mine!