low mcat, good sci gpa (all pre-reqs done), post-bacc option?

[shaggy411]

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From what it seems, post-baccs are usually for non-traditionals that need to complete pre-reqs to med school that were not taken in undergrad..

I took all pre-reqs in undergrad. I did decent. 3.5 sci gpa. I was a business major but I still took all the pre-requirements. A "C" in one orgo, physiology, and general chem (fresh year)...at Drexel University..

I did poorly on mcats. I was looking into linkage programs such as the one for rochester, dartmouth, and brown where mcat is not required. To do this, I would need to enroll in the post-bacc program. One in particular, Bryn Mawr.

Is this the correct way to go. I do not believe taking the mcat again will help and I am set on going to medical school so I'm not giving up here.

I plan on applying for post bacc to start this summer and go to medical school in fall 2007 depending on if i get accepted to through the linkage program. will my lost mcat score limit me even if these schools do not require mcats through teh linkage prog?

Can people give me some advice or ideas on what you would do if you were in my situation? would you try the linkage program even if you have the pre-reqs done in undergrad? why or why not?

 

[Sundarban1]

From what it seems, post-baccs are usually for non-traditionals that need to complete pre-reqs to med school that were not taken in undergrad..

I took all pre-reqs in undergrad. I did decent. 3.5 sci gpa. I was a business major but I still took all the pre-requirements. A "C" in one orgo, physiology, and general chem (fresh year)...at Drexel University..

I did poorly on mcats. I was looking into linkage programs such as the one for rochester, dartmouth, and brown where mcat is not required. To do this, I would need to enroll in the post-bacc program. One in particular, Bryn Mawr.

Is this the correct way to go. I do not believe taking the mcat again will help and I am set on going to medical school so I'm not giving up here.

I plan on applying for post bacc to start this summer and go to medical school in fall 2007 depending on if i get accepted to through the linkage program. will my lost mcat score limit me even if these schools do not require mcats through teh linkage prog?

Can people give me some advice or ideas on what you would do if you were in my situation? would you try the linkage program even if you have the pre-reqs done in undergrad? why or why not?

If you've taken the MCAT you have to report it to them. You're incorrect in thinking that you can get by without reporting your MCAT score. Even for those programs where the MCAT is not required for the program itself, it will be required for matriculation to that affiliated medical school.

 

[Law2Doc]

From what it seems, post-baccs are usually for non-traditionals that need to complete pre-reqs to med school that were not taken in undergrad..

I took all pre-reqs in undergrad. I did decent. 3.5 sci gpa. I was a business major but I still took all the pre-requirements. A "C" in one orgo, physiology, and general chem (fresh year)...at Drexel University..

I did poorly on mcats. I was looking into linkage programs such as the one for rochester, dartmouth, and brown where mcat is not required. To do this, I would need to enroll in the post-bacc program. One in particular, Bryn Mawr.

Is this the correct way to go. I do not believe taking the mcat again will help and I am set on going to medical school so I'm not giving up here.

I plan on applying for post bacc to start this summer and go to medical school in fall 2007 depending on if i get accepted to through the linkage program. will my lost mcat score limit me even if these schools do not require mcats through teh linkage prog?

Can people give me some advice or ideas on what you would do if you were in my situation? would you try the linkage program even if you have the pre-reqs done in undergrad? why or why not?

First, there are several different forms of "postbac" and so no, they aren't "usually for non-traditionals that need to complete pre-reqs to med school". Quite a few folks use postbacs to retake courses from years ago, do GPA rehabilitation, or take upper level courses to prove an ability to handle hard sciences. The word postbac really just means nongraduate courses taken after college graduation, and so covers a lot of turf. I don't know a lot about linkage programs, but would be surprised if they wouldn't see and consider an existing MCAT score. But if I am understanding your post, you have a decent GPA, and it's just the MCAT that's holding you back. For that, there is no real postbac remedy - you need to address the actual problem.
Also if you were referring to the regular postbac program at Bryn Mawr, you should bear in mind that not only is it pretty competitive to get into, their website indicates that an applicant will not generally be able to gain admissions to their program if "You have completed too many premedical science courses in the past five to seven years; ... You have taken the MCAT in the past five to seven years." You probably don't qualify. Other formal programs may have similar requirements.
Sounds like you really need to just retake the MCAT and do well. Linkage is great if you can get it, but you may be precluded from at least some of these options due to having already taken the prereqs and MCAT. SMP programs such as Georgetown might be an option, but they will certainly look at the MCAT as well. I defer to more anyone else more knowledgable on the subject. Good luck.

 

[Scottish Chap]

I was looking into linkage programs such as the one for rochester, dartmouth, and brown where mcat is not required. To do this, I would need to enroll in the post-bacc program. One in particular, Bryn Mawr.

Rochester absolutely requires the MCAT if you have an undergrad. degree. The RMED and REMS program can bypass that, but you need to apply from high school or be a current Rochester undergraduate.

 

[BubbleHead]

If by linkage you mean an affiliation to a med school where you're certain they will accept you for successful completion of the post-bacc program then I agree with the above post. The med school will still need to see your MCAT and likely require you to take it again in the spring of the year you plan to start med school. There is NO back way into an allopathic med school. You may not like the idea of them wanting your best work to simply get in, but it will help you get up to speed when you do start.

At US allopathic med schools you'll need to remember that about 100 of the most competitive applicants across the country apply for each seat. When the Professors of Medicine teach to the average student try to remember that that student got an "A" in every pre-med course during undergrad, hit a 29 on the MCAT and rounded out their application with enough extra-curriculars that she/he beat out the other 99 people who wanted that seat.
When I was in post-bacc I remember the people getting "C"s in ORGO, Biochem, and Physics thinking medical school will be easier if I can just get in...

Medical school is an order of magnitude more demanding. Every time you hear of someone failing an exam at an Allopathic School in the US remember that their GPA in undergrad sciences courses was 3.8 or higher. Spend the post-bacc time ramping up for med school and re-take the MCAt to build your own confidence by doing well.


You can't dodge the work in US allopathic med schools, you need to own every fact and detail. People who want to put in half efforts have other options available. Just look around these forums for those considering "less demanding" careers in medicine.