Looking for advice please

[hopefool]

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My situation is as follows:

I graduated from Cornell University in May with a low 2.35 gpa in Human Development. Switched majors around a bit, was interested in medicine high school but wasnt sure with many other options out there. Had some issues to work through in college but emerged a better mature person. My plan is to attend a post-bac to take the core 8 science requirements then pursue a masters all the while participating in volunteer programs and research. I am doing both volunteer and research work right now. I would like to attend Harvard for a few reasons;A.) they seem like they are willing to give low gpa'ers a shot into their extension school as the matriculation is large and there are no set gpa requirements to enroll and B.) the reputation is somewhat significant, not that other schools are lacking.

Im confident in my ability to do well, I didnt focus in college until it was too late to salvage a respectable gpa but I know I can successfully complete the work it will take to become a physician and more importantly I know this is what I really want to do with my life. The process of getting to know myself and maturing in college led me to these conclusions and so while I dug myself a hole, so to speak, the experience was valuable at the same time.

I seek advisement into whether or not Harvard is indeed somewhere that I would be able to attend with my low gpa. I have looked into other programs as well including Stony Brook and Hunter college, all of which do not have set gpa requirements.

Thanks everyone

 

[dut99002]

I can't speak to Stony Brook or Hunter, I've not really looked into them, but I have been researching Harvard's Extension School fairly deeply. I have not attended Harvard Extension School and am looking into applying to it and other postbaccalaureates myself.

To answer your question about admisison to their program it's OPEN ENROLLMENT. Since you finished your undergrad already you can attend. Here's what their website says currently:

To be admitted to the Health Careers Program, a student must:

Possess an accredited bachelor's degree.
Be in good financial standing with the Division of Continuing Education.

To apply to the program, a student must submit an application form and nonrefundable $100 fee. Students must have official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities sent directly from the registrars to the HCP Office.

http://www.extension.harvard.edu/2006-07/programs/hcp/admit/

So you could indeed be accepted there, assuming you are "good financial standing with the Division of Continuing Education".

One thing to keep in mind for their program that they can sponsor your application to medical school if you meet certain requirements. From what I've read and understand that is a huge help for getting accepted to Med schools. They have the requirements for sponsorship spelled out on their page. Since you're GPA is a little lower than you'll have to meet higher requirements than say a student with a 3.25 GPA. I don't know the details off-hand. Your MCAT score may or may not effect the sponsorship, I am not sure. You'll have to check on that yourself.

If you want more information on their program you can:
1. Go to their website.
2. Contact them through the form on their website (I did so last night and have already receieved a response from one of their administrators).
3. Another great source of info on the school is at the "Official Harvard" thread on this very "Postbaccalaureate Programs" forum. It's long, but I basically skimmed through the whole thing yesterday and found the people on their to be pretty informative and helpful. They already answered one of my posts as well.

Good luck and thank you for sharing your story. I'm sure that you will go far.