mcat and post-bac/smp question

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hi all,

can someone please clear up my confusion

ok heres my situation,

Cum gpa 3.5 (Health Science major/ Biology minor)
Sci gpa 3.0
MCAT-23 ---horrible I know!

the 2 problems with my stats are my sci gpa and obviously my MCAT score-- I always planned on doing some SMP program or post-bac program before applying to med school due to my low sci gpa and was assuming i would do better on the Aug 05 MCAT than i scored when applying to the SMP. Am i correct in thinking that the 23 has pretty much taken me out of the running of gettin into most (or all) of the SMPs out there (like Gtown which i know requires around a 29--BU, Drexel, etc)?

Someone mentioned I look into the Barry Univ and UMDNJ programs, but I am really really confused now as to what are my options--OH YA, THE COMMON ANSWER IS TO SAY--JUST TO RETAKE THE MCAT AND DO BETTER THEN APPLY TO THE PROGRAMS BUT, i kinda wanted to work on improving the sci gpa part of my stats 1st, THEN retake the MCAT when my gpa is stronger (mostly b/c im anxious to get back into some "structured" learning rather than just studyin and studyin for the MCAT like i did the 1st time and still end up bombin it (I took Kaplan and was scoring around 29--guess i just choked)

can someone please tell me some options i have? do any smps take people with a 23 MCAT?? i am in no rush to hopefully get into medical school and am willing to do whatever it takes.

thank u 😱

 

[USArmyDoc]

hi all,

can someone please clear up my confusion

ok heres my situation,

Cum gpa 3.5 (Health Science major/ Biology minor)
Sci gpa 3.0
MCAT-23 ---horrible I know!

the 2 problems with my stats are my sci gpa and obviously my MCAT score-- I always planned on doing some SMP program or post-bac program before applying to med school due to my low sci gpa and was assuming i would do better on the Aug 05 MCAT than i scored when applying to the SMP. Am i correct in thinking that the 23 has pretty much taken me out of the running of gettin into most (or all) of the SMPs out there (like Gtown which i know requires around a 29--BU, Drexel, etc)?

Someone mentioned I look into the Barry Univ and UMDNJ programs, but I am really really confused now as to what are my options--OH YA, THE COMMON ANSWER IS TO SAY--JUST TO RETAKE THE MCAT AND DO BETTER THEN APPLY TO THE PROGRAMS BUT, i kinda wanted to work on improving the sci gpa part of my stats 1st, THEN retake the MCAT when my gpa is stronger (mostly b/c im anxious to get back into some "structured" learning rather than just studyin and studyin for the MCAT like i did the 1st time and still end up bombin it (I took Kaplan and was scoring around 29--guess i just choked)

can someone please tell me some options i have? do any smps take people with a 23 MCAT?? i am in no rush to hopefully get into medical school and am willing to do whatever it takes.

thank u 😱

I am pretty sure Drexel is a good place for you to go. However, I don't know much about it.

 

[jebus]

hi all,

Cum gpa 3.5 (Health Science major/ Biology minor)
Sci gpa 3.0
MCAT-23
i kinda wanted to work on improving the sci gpa part of my stats 1st, THEN retake the MCAT when my gpa is stronger (mostly b/c im anxious to get back into some "structured" learning rather than just studyin and studyin for the MCAT like i did the 1st time and still end up bombin it
can someone please tell me some options i have? do any smps take people with a 23 MCAT?? i am in no rush to hopefully get into medical school and am willing to do whatever it takes.

thank u

Hi, I admire your persistence and optimism and I hope this all works out for you.
A lot of people do exactly what you want to do: work on the BCPM GPA and then take the MCAT. There are many programs designed to do just that. Read this this for a nice explanation of academic record enhancement programs and what you should consider if you want to enroll in one. If you go here you can enter your query terms and find programs that will cater to your needs.
I would suggest a post-bac program. Most SMP programs I've seen require a minimum GPA and MCAT score. Your GPA should meet these requirements but your MCAT will not. (It's usually a minimum of 27.) Undergraduate post-bac programs do not have this same MCAT requirement. Additionally, an SMP program will not address your GPA, as graduate work does not affect undergraduate GPA. The undergraduate post-bac will both help you work on your BCPM GPA and they claim their programs also help students prepare for the MCAT.
This website is another nice resource describing post-bac and SMP programs.
Good luck!

 

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thanx so much for your response,

I was researching those links you sent me and was curious if you could suggest some good post-bac programs that are offer ONLY UPPER DIVISION ADVANCED SCIENCE COURSES--- a lot of the programs i was researching on those links require students to take chem, orgo, physics, etc--ive taken all those already and wanted to exclusively take like 300 or 400 level biology classes like neurobio , virology, etc

maybe i was not looking in the right places but all i seem to find that fit my situation was DUQUESNE UNIV. ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM and also the DREXEL MSP??

if its not too much trouble could you list any others,--ive been searching other threads but it seems all the programs that fit for me are SMPs but i am looking for post-bac to boost my undergrad sci gpa (not SMP)

thanx! hope that wasnt confusing

 

[jebus]

That wasn't confusing at all.
It looks like every post-bac program available for academic record enhancement also requires students to retake those introductory science courses. I know you want to avoid that but this might not be a bad thing. You've had the material before so you should do very well in these courses. If you both take those classes seriously (ie. don't half-ass them because you've already had that material) and engage in some kind of clinical volunteering these programs might end up looking very good on your application. After you complete these lower-division courses you will complete upper-division courses. The lower-division courses will still show up as A's on your transcript and will improve your GPA just as much as an A in an upper-division course.
Judging by this page it looks like the Harvard Extension School may be appropriate and fulfill your needs.
American University has a post-bac program that looks good, as well. Again, you will have to complete some lower-division courses.
Miami's program B looks like exactly what you are looking for.
Wellesley's post-bac description is sufficiently vague that I can recommend you consider it.
Cal State Fullerton looks very direct and I'm sure they won't care if you have not yet applied to medical school.
Barry University has a masters program, I can't tell you anything about it though. It might be worthwhile to email them with specific questions.
Loma Linda has a program at which you meet the requirements.
Another option might be an a la carte post-bac. You would essentially take upper-division courses on your own. You would lack the advising that a formal post-bac program might provide but you would be able to take courses of your own choosing.
As you said, Duquesne and Drexel will also meet your requirements - so you should take a hard look at both of those.
We fill find you a program!

 

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We fill find you a program![/QUOTE]


THANK U SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP I REALLY APPRECIATE IT

i did some research and found the American Univ post-bac premedical certificate really appealing. I live in washington DC as well so this is a bonus. they require a 3.2 overall and 3.2 sci gpa to apply--i just recalculated my sci gpa and it is actually 3.15 not 3.0 so i plan on calling the AU coordinator and asking if this 3.15 is close enough to apply or do they strictly require a 3.2 sci gpa minimum (I HOPE THEY ARE SLIGHTLY FLEXIBLE)-- i havent heard much info about the AU program on sdn but from what i read it sounds like just what i need---- u are required to take a 4 credit cell bio and a 5 credit genetics course as well as a biochemI&II cluster but then u are free to pick and choose the remaining calsses to fulfill the 24 credits to graduate. I LIKE IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE BASIC CLASSES SUCH AS GEN BIO, CHEM, ORGO, PHYS AS WELL AS ADVANCED CLASSES SUCH AS NEUROBIO, MOLEC BIO, IMMUNOLOGY, ETC---SO AS WE WERE DISCUSSING BEFORE I THINK I WILL CHOOSE TO FOCUS ON THESE ADVANCED CLASSES SICNE IVE TAKEN ALL THE BASIC CLASSES ALREADY.

i do not think they require mcat scores to apply which is also a plus for me considering my score was bad and i plan on taking it again as soon as i patch up my sci gpa.

i hope i can still apply for this upcoming fall

thank u again

 

[riceman04]

We fill find you a program!

THANK U SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP I REALLY APPRECIATE IT

i did some research and found the American Univ post-bac premedical certificate really appealing. I live in washington DC as well so this is a bonus. they require a 3.2 overall and 3.2 sci gpa to apply--i just recalculated my sci gpa and it is actually 3.15 not 3.0 so i plan on calling the AU coordinator and asking if this 3.15 is close enough to apply or do they strictly require a 3.2 sci gpa minimum (I HOPE THEY ARE SLIGHTLY FLEXIBLE)-- i havent heard much info about the AU program on sdn but from what i read it sounds like just what i need---- u are required to take a 4 credit cell bio and a 5 credit genetics course as well as a biochemI&II cluster but then u are free to pick and choose the remaining calsses to fulfill the 24 credits to graduate. I LIKE IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE BASIC CLASSES SUCH AS GEN BIO, CHEM, ORGO, PHYS AS WELL AS ADVANCED CLASSES SUCH AS NEUROBIO, MOLEC BIO, IMMUNOLOGY, ETC---SO AS WE WERE DISCUSSING BEFORE I THINK I WILL CHOOSE TO FOCUS ON THESE ADVANCED CLASSES SICNE IVE TAKEN ALL THE BASIC CLASSES ALREADY.

i do not think they require mcat scores to apply which is also a plus for me considering my score was bad and i plan on taking it again as soon as i patch up my sci gpa.

i hope i can still apply for this upcoming fall

thank u again[/QUOTE]

They probably would not care even if it was a 3.0

That program is not hard to get into...and the advisor is really nice.
I was looking there...got in...and decided to go elsewhere.

Penn has a program too!
I am here right now
You should apply

 

[jebus]

i did some research and found the American Univ post-bac premedical certificate really appealing. I live in washington DC as well so this is a bonus. i plan on calling the AU coordinator and asking if this 3.15 is close enough to apply or do they strictly require a 3.2 sci gpa minimum (I HOPE THEY ARE SLIGHTLY FLEXIBLE)
I LIKE IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE BASIC CLASSES SUCH AS GEN BIO, CHEM, ORGO, PHYS AS WELL AS ADVANCED CLASSES SUCH AS NEUROBIO, MOLEC BIO, IMMUNOLOGY, ETC---SO AS WE WERE DISCUSSING BEFORE I THINK I WILL CHOOSE TO FOCUS ON THESE ADVANCED CLASSES SICNE IVE TAKEN ALL THE BASIC CLASSES ALREADY.

i do not think they require mcat scores to apply which is also a plus for me considering my score was bad and i plan on taking it again as soon as i patch up my sci gpa.

i hope i can still apply for this upcoming fall

I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to apply for the fall.
Good luck!