Masters vs. Post-Bacc

[Sunshine85]

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I'm a 20-year-old, third-year undergrad majoring in biology. My grades are absolutely terrible. I have an abysmal 2.6 GPA resulting from a D in orgo, and numerous C's and B's in my science courses. I could make a lot of excuses for these grades, but I've learned to accept that I messed up majorly. However, I'm still considering the possibility of med school in the very distant future, because I have talked to people who were in my situation who had successful turn-arounds. I know the game plan now is to keep working hard for my last three undergrad semesters, and to pursue either post-bacc or a master's program.

My dilemma is: which one? Is it better to go into a post-bacc program and try to improve my GPA (i.e. retake classes such as orgo)? Or is it better to get a Master's degree so that I can still find a decent job if I decide not to go to med school?

I'd appreciate it if anyone could give me advice or input - thank you in advance. 🙂

 

[Law2Doc]

I'm a 20-year-old, third-year undergrad majoring in biology. My grades are absolutely terrible. I have an abysmal 2.6 GPA resulting from a D in orgo, and numerous C's and B's in my science courses. I could make a lot of excuses for these grades, but I've learned to accept that I messed up majorly. However, I'm still considering the possibility of med school in the very distant future, because I have talked to people who were in my situation who had successful turn-arounds. I know the game plan now is to keep working hard for my last three undergrad semesters, and to pursue either post-bacc or a master's program.

My dilemma is: which one? Is it better to go into a post-bacc program and try to improve my GPA (i.e. retake classes such as orgo)? Or is it better to get a Master's degree so that I can still find a decent job if I decide not to go to med school?

I'd appreciate it if anyone could give me advice or input - thank you in advance. 🙂

Well, you are going to need to retake the orgo in either event -- med schools pretty much require a C or better in all prereqs. There's a good chance that with a 2.6 GPA, you are going to need to do a postbac to pull up that average, perhaps even topped off by a masters. (thus not necessarilly either or). Getting a masters won't affect the undergrad GPA, which will continue to be a hurdle for med schools. A masters is regarded positively, but I'd be reluctant to go that route until you get your undergrad GPA to the point that it isn't such a blemish that can't be overlooked. Postbac retake and upper level grades are averaged in with the undergrad in a column on AMCAS (and retakes actually supplant older grades for the DO counterpart), so a postbac filled with A's will eventually pull your GPA up to a palatable level. Graduate grades are always kept separate, and do not help alleviate the undergrad GPA. You are unlikely to get into a formal postbac program, but can certainly go to one of the less formal open enrollment ones, or do an a la carter postbac at your or another university. Just bear in mind that this will be a lengthy process, given your low GPA starting point.

 

[Sundarban1]

Postbac retake and upper level grades are averaged in with the undergrad in a column on AMCAS (and retakes actually supplant older grades for the DO counterpart), so a postbac filled with A's will eventually pull your GPA up to a palatable level. Graduate grades are always kept separate, and do not help alleviate the undergrad GPA.

Great advice. The only thing I wanted to point out is that for osteopathic schools, your GPA is calculated several ways, one of which is with your graduate grades and undergraduate grades combined. I contacted AACOM myself to verify this. However as L2D said, this is not the case for allopathic schools.

 

[Lindyhopper]

You should come to terms that a US MD acceptance will be a long (but not impossible) struggle. You might decide to make your goal a DO or reputable Caribbean acceptance. If you decide to "go DO", check out post-baccs at DO schools. PCOM, LECOM, & several other DO schools have these programs.

 

[PossiblePreMed]

Hi sunshine85,
Good for you. Do not get discouraged or bogged down if medicine is still truly your dream. You have accepted the fact that you have made some mistakes, and when you are ready to turn it around, you can. You are only 20, and have PLENTY of time to do so.

I know that in Phila, they have 3 types of post bac programs, one for those with no science background, one for those looking to deepen their science knowledge before going to med school, and one for those looking to improve their grades to get into med school. So anything is possible.

For now, I would talk to an advisor at your school and ask what you can do to pull up your grades and graduate with a decent GPA. If that means retaking some of your classes, then so be it. Once your GPA has improved, you will have more options. Good luck 🙂

 

[Sunshine85]

Allright thank you everyone for the information, and thanks to PossiblePreMed for the encouragement. 🙂 I fully realize that it'll be uphill all the way, but not everyone gets into med school right away, right? Otherwise we'd all be doctors. I guess I just need to use the time and reevaluate whether it's right for me or not, and to get older and wiser. I'm really still just a kid. I'd rather wait for years and become a good doctor, than just grab at straws and scrape by. Thanks again.

 

[PossiblePreMed]

You have wisdom beyond your years, sunshine...... 🙂