My Question

[hoodz]

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Hey all, I'm new here and I have run into a dilemma. I am graduating this may with a degree in engineering. I have taken a year of general chemistry in my freshman year, but got C's in both of them (I wasn't thinking about med school back then, so I didn't try hard enough). I have also taken physics I (the calculus based one) at my university, but got a B+ and took physics II at a community college during the summer and got a B (again, I wasn't serious enough). Now I have two options:

1. Take both semesters of general chemistry and physics (or biology) during summer. Then take organic chemistry and biology (or physics) during the fall and spring semesters.

2. Just go ahead and take organic chemistry and biology during summer. Then apply to med school with C's and B's for chemistry and physics.

Which option should I go with? If I should choose option 1, should I take biology in summer or fall (I can easily do physics since I aced the AP in high school)?
Also, is there any advantage to a post-bacc vs. just taking pre-reqs as a non-degree seeking student?

Thanks in advance!

 

[spicedmanna]

Well, there are several factors that could impact your choice. First, are you intending to apply to allopathic, osteopathic schools, or both? If you intend to apply osteopathic at all, I'd retake the courses, because AACOMAS (osteopathic primary application service) allows you to replace your grades. On the other hand, the AMCAS (allopathic primary application service) does not; it averages all of your grades, regardless of whether it is a retake, or not. In either case, both will see all of your grades. Depending on your BCPM and overall GPA, you might want to take more upper-level science classes to balance out any poor grades you received in BCPM, or otherwise, and to raise your average. Don't apply until you have done your best to increase your BCPM and overall GPA to a decent average (at, around, or above the average for a matriculant), if possible, to maximize your chances. Try to earn all A's from now on. Ace the MCAT, if you can. Make your school work your first priority. Undergraduate GPA, along with your MCAT score, is a critical factor in the allopathic application process. Maximizing your numbers and applying early and broadly do much to skew things in your favor.

All non-graduate, post-secondary courses taken after you graduate are considered post-baccalaureate. I believe you are making reference to whether a you should choose a formal vs. informal post-baccalaureate program. Check out the post-baccalaureate forum for more information. In general, the former usually provides a set curriculum, guidance, and sometimes a linkage with a medical school; they can be expensive, however, and usually have a particular group of people in mind (you will want to research them), like for example, people with liberal art degrees who have never taken the prerequisites. Informal programs involve simply taking undergraduate classes at a college after receiving your degree; there are many ways this can be done. If possible, I'd recommend taking a full load of classes each semester to demonstrate you can perform well with many classes. This type of program provides little to no guidance and can be less expensive, especially if you are taking your classes at a state college, where you receive in-state tuition. Some colleges have a quasi-formal program for working adults where you take night classes, for example, the Science-in-the-Evening Program at the University of Maryland.

Depending on your individual situation, either type of program can be beneficial, so I can't really speak to that. Talk to a qualified advisor and/or seek support in the post-baccalaureate forum.

Good luck!

 

[NashvilleWill14]

I was in a similar situation... I had taken 1 semester of chemistry (b-) and 2 of physics (c) for an engineering degree. I had finished the b.e. before figuring out I wanted to be a doctor so I took a year of more advanced postbac (phys 3, phys thermo, orgo, and lots of bio -- no set program, just a bunch of classes) without retaking any classes.

Just prove your mastery of the basic science on the mcat and your determination by good postbac grades and you will be fine. Also you should talk with the premed adviser at your current school. Even if you aren't a current premed they can tell you exactly what you need to do before applying. The one at my undergraduate school was very helpful.

Best of luck!

 

[hoodz]

Thanks for the helpful replies! I probably need to go with option 1 and do really well on the MCAT. I plan on applying to allopathic schools here in VA, but may also consider osteopathic if I find a doctor to shadow. My GPA freshman year, during the time I took chem and phys, was 2.8. Now its at a 3.25 overall and has been climbing every semester, so maybe adcom will take that and the difficulty of my major into account. I want to matriculate in 2009, so to take those upper-level bio classes I will need to take into bio in summer along with gen chem and then take orgo chem with phys and an upper-level bio during fall and spring semester. Taking that should give me a full load and improve my chances, right? Also, is the upper-level bio really necessary?

 

[hoodz]

Okay, so I will be finished with orgo chem by the end of this summer. I will be taking bio in the fall, but am unsure as to what I should do:

1) Take gen chem and physics and some other course as a full-time student, even though I already took them earlier.

2) Accept a position as a full-time medical scribe and just take bio for the semester. I wouldn't be a full-time student, but at least I will have tons of clinical experience from the scribe job.

Any opinions, given what I have posted above about my previous academic record? Should I just volunteer at a hospital on the weekend and go full-time school to undo my past mistakes?

 

[Krazed_Medic]

Sounds like you have a tough situation on your hands. How have your grades been in your sciences since you took the gen chem and physics classes? I would say that if your grades have been good to excellent since then, don't take the classes over. If your grades haven't been that great, it would be worth considering to retake those classes. I would also probably take the job as the scribe and get in as many classes that you can comfortably handle.

Now keep in mind, I"m not a med student, yet. However, from all of my research into getting into medical school, adcoms really like to see an improvement in your grades if there were problems in the past. It may just show that you really want to be a doctor and land you an acceptance. Anyhoot, that's all I know. Good luck!

 

[hoodz]

Thanks for the reply Krazed. In the first summer session I got a B in orgo lecture and an A in the lab, 3 and 2 credits respectively. Right now, I'm unsure if I can pull off an A in lecture since the whole curve is messed up, even though I'm well above it. I'm expecting to do well in lab again. It's definitely a tough choice, but I did finish my engineering major with a major GPA of 3.6, so perhaps some of those classes will count towards my science GPA? I feel like I'm making a huge decision right now and I don't know which route to take.

 

[lainey234]

Maybe I missed this, but how long ago did you take gen chem and physics? If it hasn't been that long then it is probably no big deal, but if it's been a few years it may serve you well to consider re-taking at least gen chem (it sounds like you are pretty solid in physics). The PS section of the MCAT can be a beast, especially if you are rusty like I was 🙂

For me it had been 12 years since I took gen chem and I chose not to re-take. I still think it was a good choice for me since gen chem and o-chem are so different anyway, but I'm sure I would have done better on the MCAT if I had re-taken.

It sounds like your overall gpa is good even if you didn't ace these clasees the first time around, I would focus on getting a good MCAT score at this point. Good luck!