in need of some serious advice

[dumplings]

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[mute360_CO]

Take the GRE and study your *ss off! Score really high and you might get a chance at some one year programs. Have you contacted any admissions officers for programs (MD and post-bacc) you were thinking about attending?

Short of that you would have to take a lot of non-metriculating post-bacc classes to boost your GPA at this point... 🙁

 

[bw07]

When you do apply, and you should, I would apply to both MD and DO schools. Obviously, DO schools are more lenient than MD schools regarding raw numbers, and you're a physician either way 🙂 The 27 will get you looked at by some schools at least. How's your science gpa?

 

[dankev]

Post bacc programs are generally for non-science majors who need to take the pre-reqs. Being a bio major, you should have those done already. You need to take the GRE, like mute said, and do a masters.

Good luck.

 

[Mouseman]

What dankev said is not the whole truth. There are programs out there for people who have taken the pre-reqs but need to boost their GPA. Some of these programs include the IMS and MSP programs at Drexel and the SMP program at Georgetown. These are proven programs and do get a lot of people into medical school. However, (you knew this was coming) your GPA still might be a little low for these programs. Your MCAT is also a little low too, but not really low (avg is 28 or 29). You might want to work in a lab for a year and take some classes on the university's tab. THis gets you research Exp and boosts your GPA (providing you do well). The only draw back to these post-bac programs is that they cost a ton of money and your undergrad GPA will always be your undergrad GPA. You can only worry about the future so get to work whooopish (whip sound)

 

[SaraMac13]

I would suggest that unless you get into a post-bac program and REALLY improve your GPA and maybe try the MCAT again to gain a few more points you should consider saving the $$$$ on the application, considering you will probably have to apply to many schools for hopes of an acceptance. However, numbers aren't everything and if you have some amazing extracurriculars it could really help you out

I have a question though, and I really don't intend to be mean, but how do you expect to handle the coursework in medical school if you did so poorly as a bio major? Assuming that you get an acceptance somewhere, are you sure that you will be able to keep up? I think you should honestly think about that instead of focusing on just getting in because you really want to be a doctor.

 

[sunflower79]

I agree you should look at post-bac programs (there is a list of them on aamc.org) and call and see if you'd be eligible, BEFORE you consider a masters (unless you want to do one).

And definitely apply to DO schools!

good luck 🙂
sunflower79

 

[exmike]

I have a suggestion if you truly want to go to medical school. At many universities, and I'm thinking Johns Hopkins in particular, if you work full time in a laboratory, you are allowed to enroll in the graduate school for a Masters in Biotechnology without applying into the program. As an added bonus, the program will be free. I believe it takes two and half years to get the masters, and you get to take graduate level biology courses. Such a program will give you several things. First, you dont need to apply to grad school to get a masters, Second, you get extensive research experience AND you might get published, Third, you might get an awesome recommendation from a world reknown researcher, and Fourth, you'll get a masters degree and if you ace your classes, some schools will look at you AND it'll make you look better if you want to take a post bacc after that.

FYI my friends just walked into a lab at Johns Hopkins and asked if they needed help, and got research positions like that.

 

[Ubu]

Hi dumpling,
I am in your *exact* shoes. I can give you some ideas as to what I've be told to do since graduating and what I've done, but rather than boring everyone who reads this thread, PM me. I'd be glad to help.

 

[LoneCoyote]

Originally posted by dumplings
I just graduated from a UC with a degree in Biology and have a terrible gpa. My overall is around a 2.3/4.0 and I got some D's in classes due to personal reasons (working full time etc). I think my only choice is post bacc but I'm afraid that I won't even get looked at by any of the post bacc programs. I thought about just taking classes on my own but realize that I would benefit more from a structured program. Anyone know of any post baccs that are a bit more lenient on their acceptances?

Look into the post-bac program at CSU-Hayward. I considered it and looked into it and it seemed pretty good. There were tons of Cal grads there working on raising their GPAs. You take regular CSUH classes but have access to a special advisor. The students I talked to seemed pleased with it and it is cheap. PM me if you want to chat about post-bac. Good luck.

http://www.sci.csuhayward.edu/PPHA/postbacc.html

 

[Chronotropic]

I would be cautious of 1 year post bac programs. They are not magic bullets that get you into school. And they will only be beneficial if you excel, not just flounder there for a year. I'm not saying that you will but it's something to think about. Plus they are expensive. I don't know if the extra money is really worth the "structure" that they provide.

I think your best bet is to work for a year while taking some upper division classes.