I need some advice

[Colonel_Forbin]

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Ok, I have several questions, and a little about me so you can see where I am coming from. I have decided that I want to pursue a career in medicine, specifically as a physician. I graduated college in 2001 where I received a B.S. degree (non science). I worked for a couple of years (non medical) and decided to get into the fire service; I became certified as a firefighter and an EMT-b. EMT was very interesting to me so I went on to paramedic school, and that is where I am currently. After spending hundreds of hours in the ER and other areas of the hospital, I have realized that I would love to be a doctor. I plan on finishing medic school, and working as a Firefighter/medic, because I enjoy it and I feel that it will be great experience.

I have a very low undergrad GPA, but that was 4 years ago, and I am a much more focused and motivated student now. I am hoping that recommendations from my Medic instructors will prove that. Do I have a chance of being accepted into a post bac progam, or did I shoot myself by performing poorly in college? (Will being a paramedic help me)?

How difficult is it to get into a post-bac program? When I apply at med school, will my undergrad GPA be a big factor, or will they concentrate more on my science GPA? Can my cumulative undergrad GPA be raised? I was under the impression that post bac, was just a certificate program and that it had no effect on your Undergrad cumulative GPA. I live in Texas, and there are not many post bac programs here? Is it difficult to get into an out of state program? Should I focus on going out of state? Are there any programs that are designed for people with my background (low GPA)?

Sorry for the length of this post but I am full of questions, and I could seriously use some advice. I hope it wasn't too confusing. Thanks

 

[harpua]

Colonel,

I like your username, which is one of the reasons why I am responding.

You've posed a lot of questions, too many to answer. But let me try and give you some advice, based upon my own experience.

In general, there are two types of post-bacc programs: structured programs where you have to apply to get into (and need good undergrad grades for), and then less structured programs where you essentially just take the pre-reqs at a state school somewhere. Some of the structured programs that I know of are Tufts, Bryn Mawr, Brandeis, Goucher, and others. You'll need good undergrad grades for those.

In my experience, I had a 3.0 undergrad GPA and had no chance of getting into one of the post-bacc programs I listed above. So I took classes at my state university. There was no structure, no hand-holding, but I did well in my classes, kicked ass on the MCAT, and got into school.

If you do well in your post-bacc and the MCAT, you can partially "erase" your low undergrad grades. When I was interviewing, no one questioned my academic abilities, despite my 3.0 undergrad GPA. It was really my post-bacc grades and MCAT that was helping me. So if you can do well in your classes and the MCAT, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Your EMT experience will help you a lot. So all you need to focus on now is taking the classes, doing well, and the MCAT. IMHO, the MCAT is the most important factor, especially for a post-bacc student.

For your other questions, if you spend time reading a lot of old threads, the answers will be buried in those. Good luck.

Harpua

Ok, I have several questions, and a little about me so you can see where I am coming from. I have decided that I want to pursue a career in medicine, specifically as a physician. I graduated college in 2001 where I received a B.S. degree (non science). I worked for a couple of years (non medical) and decided to get into the fire service; I became certified as a firefighter and an EMT-b. EMT was very interesting to me so I went on to paramedic school, and that is where I am currently. After spending hundreds of hours in the ER and other areas of the hospital, I have realized that I would love to be a doctor. I plan on finishing medic school, and working as a Firefighter/medic, because I enjoy it and I feel that it will be great experience.

I have a very low undergrad GPA, but that was 4 years ago, and I am a much more focused and motivated student now. I am hoping that recommendations from my Medic instructors will prove that. Do I have a chance of being accepted into a post bac progam, or did I shoot myself by performing poorly in college? (Will being a paramedic help me)?

How difficult is it to get into a post-bac program? When I apply at med school, will my undergrad GPA be a big factor, or will they concentrate more on my science GPA? Can my cumulative undergrad GPA be raised? I was under the impression that post bac, was just a certificate program and that it had no effect on your Undergrad cumulative GPA. I live in Texas, and there are not many post bac programs here? Is it difficult to get into an out of state program? Should I focus on going out of state? Are there any programs that are designed for people with my background (low GPA)?

Sorry for the length of this post but I am full of questions, and I could seriously use some advice. I hope it wasn't too confusing. Thanks

 

[pufferfish]

Hi Colonel--

I would design your own post-bacc. You do not need an official program. Research the pre-reqs needed for medical school, find a 4-year university, and start taking courses to get a feel for the sciences. Your EMT work is admirable. I worked on a surgical floor in a hospital and am a proponent for hands on clinical experience. That is a positive.

Don't be weighed down by feeling the need to apply to a post-bacc program. If you decided to get enrolled in an offical program, you can apply to the several that accept students who have taken science coursework.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Law2Doc]

Research the pre-reqs needed for medical school, find a 4-year university, and start taking courses to get a feel for the sciences.

The previous two posts are good to a point, but how much of a "postbac" (official or unofficial) you need to undertake will really depend on how poorly you did in undergrad. If you did at or slightly below the minimum for likely admission to med school, then taking just the prereqs for A's could be sufficient to bring your GPA into the desired range. If you did really poorly (C level) in undergrad, then you will need to take many more course hours of sciences (prereqs and upper level) and ace them to be competitive. Your extracurricular/work experience is strong but probably not going to be enough to overcome a bad GPA on its own.

 

[Colonel_Forbin]

The previous two posts are good to a point, but how much of a "postbac" (official or unofficial) you need to undertake will really depend on how poorly you did in undergrad. If you did at or slightly below the minimum for likely admission to med school, then taking just the prereqs for A's could be sufficient to bring your GPA into the desired range. If you did really poorly (C level) in undergrad, then you will need to take many more course hours of sciences (prereqs and upper level) and ace them to be competitive. Your extracurricular/work experience is strong but probably not going to be enough to overcome a bad GPA on its own.

Thanks for the advice,
My Undergrad GPA was 2.4, however it involved no science, and very little math. I am interested in Post bac. because I am 26 and I feel I am running short on time, and it would take much longer to do pre reqs on my own, and much more frustrating. I feel confident that I would do well in all of the courses, but I feel that the 2.4 for will keep me from getting into any programs. What are my choices, w/ that type of GPA. However, I do plan on becoming a licsensed Paramedic, which would give me an associates degree.

 

[grapeflavorsoda]

Thanks for the advice,
My Undergrad GPA was 2.4, however it involved no science, and very little math. I am interested in Post bac. because I am 26 and I feel I am running short on time, and it would take much longer to do pre reqs on my own, and much more frustrating. I feel confident that I would do well in all of the courses, but I feel that the 2.4 for will keep me from getting into any programs. What are my choices, w/ that type of GPA. However, I do plan on becoming a licsensed Paramedic, which would give me an associates degree.

i think the only option that is left for you might be restarting the school.

if you are really determined and focused as you have stated, you should be able to finish the school in 3 years, which is 1 extra year added to the usual time spent doing the post bac program.

 

[NeoMorpheusJ]

Hey Colonel,
I can definitely relate to your situation. I am also 26 and an EMT working in Florida. I didn't know I wanted to be a doctor until after I became an EMT my junior year in college. I had to scramble to finish pre-reqs and recently took the MCAT. Now I am applying to special master's programs to try and prove myself, as my undergrad gpa is too low to apply (I lacked motivation before I found medicine).
I know you feel anxious in being an older applicant, but consider yourself lucky that you have found what you want to do with your life. Having few science courses during your undergrad is actually an advantage to you because you are now motivated and can do great in those courses. Any post-bac you do will improve your undergrad gpa because the pre-reqs are all undergrad courses. I wouldn't dismiss just taking the pre-reqs at your local college because that is a good option. As I'm sure you know, one advantage of working in EMS and being in school is that there is often down time that you can use to study. Focus on getting A's in all the pre-reqs, and take some science electives as well. The dramatic improvement in your grades, the resulting high science gpa, doing well on the MCAT, and your strong motivation and clinical experience may be enough to get you in without doing any graduate work. Being an EMT goes a long way because you are already a medical practitioner and are responsible for your patients, and you will have a lot to talk about at your med-school interviews. I wish you the best of luck.

 

[Colonel_Forbin]

Thanks yall.

I am going to look into taking the pre reqs on my own. But I was wandering what my chances of getting accepted into a formal post bacc pre-med program would be, with a 2.4 GPA (one of the programs that is designed for someone with little or no science). Is it common to relocate to another state to pursue this( Has anyone had to relocate?). There isn't much here in Texas, so I was wandering if relocation was a good option? I think a formal program would benefit me the most, should I bother Trying?

 

[2010 Hopeful]

my situation is slightly different than yours, but i'm a similar age and yes, i did relocate to go to a postbac program. i graduated with a bs in bio (sci and cum gpa around 3.0) and taught high school bio for 2 years. all of this was in va in the washington dc area. the only real postbac program there was georgetown, which required having taken the mcat (i hadn't until 4 weeks ago) and i think actually applying and not getting into med school. so i moved last august and i'm glad i did. i came to ny, but i considered moving further because, after all, med school is obviously what we are all willing to do anything for. i used the aamc website to search for programs, then contacted the programs that i thought looked promising. i would recommend talking to the person in charge of the program or to the premed counselor (sometimes this is the same person). that will give you both an idea of who you would be dealing with at that school and hopefully an idea of what they, in their (hopefully experienced) minds, think you need to do to make it. good luck. here's the website if you haven't been yet:

http://services.aamc.org/postbac/

 

[Colonel_Forbin]

my situation is slightly different than yours, but i'm a similar age and yes, i did relocate to go to a postbac program. i graduated with a bs in bio (sci and cum gpa around 3.0) and taught high school bio for 2 years. all of this was in va in the washington dc area. the only real postbac program there was georgetown, which required having taken the mcat (i hadn't until 4 weeks ago) and i think actually applying and not getting into med school. so i moved last august and i'm glad i did. i came to ny, but i considered moving further because, after all, med school is obviously what we are all willing to do anything for. i used the aamc website to search for programs, then contacted the programs that i thought looked promising. i would recommend talking to the person in charge of the program or to the premed counselor (sometimes this is the same person). that will give you both an idea of who you would be dealing with at that school and hopefully an idea of what they, in their (hopefully experienced) minds, think you need to do to make it. good luck. here's the website if you haven't been yet:

http://services.aamc.org/postbac/

When I call and talk to someone, would be OK to ask specific questions, about my chances for addmission. Should I tell them my GPA, and ask if I have a chance at admission. Alot these place have a fee to pay when you apply, and I would rather not pay if there is no shot.