my situation: should i do a post bacc?

[bravesfan113]

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Here's my situation:

graduated May 2007 after 5 years of undergrad, with a BS Biology and BS Genetics from my state university (UGA). I finished with a 3.38, and my science GPA is about the same (i don't know it off the top of my head, but it's between a 3.3-3.5). My first three years my gpa was ok, and my last year and a half i have about a 3.7ish on a plus minus system taking all upper level science classes. I have a C in organic chemistry 1 and 2 other c's, one in genetics and one in evolutionary biology, and have 4 W's, 2 of which are in biochemistry (i know this is very bad). i have been a TA for introductory biology for one semester, and done genetics research for one semester. I've worked in a hospital as a radiology tech assistant (transporter) for a summer, and shadowed a bit (currently shadowing more). I volunteered at the georgia aquarium for a summer and i've done a little volunteering with a kids afterschool program, but my extracurriculars are poor. I've been hesitant about what i want to do for a long time, changing my mind for a long time, but now i am sure that iw ant to go to med school. I haven't taken the MCAT yet but i play to january 27 and to apply to med school for August 09. I think i could get into a DO program with a decent MCAT score, but i want to go to the best school that i can.

So my question: What should i do to give myself the best shot at getting into an MD program in august of 09? I've been looking at harvard extension and a few other post bacc programs, but i don't know a ton about them. Do you think that with my situation a post bacc would be beneficial? i've taken all of the prerequisite coursework but i could take more upper level coursework to try and boost my gpa at a post bacc, and perhaps get sponsored at a place like harvard extension. if a post bacc is my best option, i will do it, but i don't want to do one if it won't benefit me. If i hadn't taken the prereqs already i would for sure do one but i have already taken them (i probably have a 3.2 or so in the prereqs - A's in biology 2 and organic 2, and a C in organic 1). thanks for the help!

 

[DrMidlife]

I suggest that you sit down and spreadsheet your grades, and then see what kind of effort will raise your GPAs. You might need 3 more years of undergrad at a 4.0, to get up over a 3.5, which would be good information. Your MCAT score is crucial.

People get into MD/DO with your stats, and with C's and W's, if they're otherwise outstanding candidates. So in your shoes, I'd be looking for ways to be an otherwise outstanding candidate. Like a Peace Corps gig.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Instatewaiter]

You might also want to consider SMP's or special masters programs. These are programs where you take the first year medical curriculum to prove that you belong. Good programs have very high acceptance rates. I think EVMS and Georgetown boast >70% acceptance rates. Unfortunately you are probably too late to apply for this year, but could do it next year and be completing it while applying. These programs do an excellent job of getting people w/ lower GPAs into medical school if they do well. However, if you do poorly in these programs it will work hurt you more than help.

 

[bravesfan113]

so you think it would be more beneficial for me to do an SMP than a post-bacc? i'm looking at georgetown's program, and it seems really good

 

[Instatewaiter]

W/ a good MCAT, say a 31+ you should have a decent shot at getting in to an MD program w/o doing any grade remediation. You should come up w/ a valid excuse for your 2 Ws in biochem though. If you are intent on doing a post-baccalaureatte program I feel that SMPs give you more bang for your buck but at the same time, they do carry significantly more risk. Do the math for post-bacs. See how many credits it would take to get you up to a 3.5+. Remember you can always just take classes in Ga to save yourself some $ instead of doing a formal post-bac or SMP.

At this point you definitely need to strengthen your clinical exposure. There are various options to do this. I feel the best is volunteering at a free clinic. You are filling a very needed niche since they are usually low on personel, volunteering in a medically related setting and also getting some of the best clinical exposure you can as a non-medical student. Really free clinics allow you to do much more than a hospital can. Other options include getting EMT certified (takes a long time) volunteering at a hospital (boring and dont let you do much) or shadowing a bunch of docs. I would really recommend the last one just so that you can say you have shadowed physicians from various fields and have a well rounded perspective of medicine. Try to get at least 5 from various fields esp: EM, various IM fields, and Surgery. You cant ever have too much clinical experience.

 

[bravesfan113]

thanks for the help instate. i just read a lot about SMP programs in braluk's sticky, and i think this would be the best option for me, pending my MCAT scores in january. i am taking the MCAT january 27, and if i do well enough (perhaps 33+) i may not do an SMP. i have like 146 hours, so i would need to take a ridiculous number of classes to bring my gpa up to a 3.5 (it would probably take me another full year of classes to bring my GPA up to a 3.5... i took two classes this summer got A's and brought it up .03). but between now and then i really need to work on my ECs and clinical exposure. so far i have shadowed a neurosurgeon for a day (i got to see a spinal fusion - it was ridiculously awesome) and this wed and thurs i am shadowing a geriatric internist, but i really need to work on more of this. as for the job i had during the summer working as a radiology tech assistant at my local hospital - do you think this shows that i have clinical exposure, or is it more important to be working alongside doctors (i wasn't working with doctors that often, mostly with radiology techs, nurses, etc). time to start buckling down for the january MCAT!

 

[Instatewaiter]

I think that the job as a rad tech could count as clinical experience but you need to frame it appropriately. In your secondary experiences (ie the 15 slots for ECs) you get a chance to describe each thing that you have done. In this section make sure that you talk it up and make it sound as clinically relevant as possible.

I think w/ a strong MCAT you may not need grade remediation. Remember the average is a 3.5 meaning there are plenty of people who get in w/ 3.3s. That said, is it worth waiting around another year if your grades are too low?

Also what will you be doing in the year off?

 

[bravesfan113]

i'm not exactly sure... until the january mcat i'll be shadowing, working a little, and studying... i may look into taking some classes in the spring, if i could bring up gpa up .05 or so it may be worth it (from 3.38 to 4.43) but it is a lot of work for a small jump. 3.4 looks better than 3.3 though. i'm not really sure what i could take though, i could possibly redo organic 1 and take an advanced biochemistry course (human biochemistry is offered at my school) to hopefully ease some adcom hesitancy over my biochem w's. when filling out your EC's, do you put different shadowing experiences (say, dif doctors if you shadow the doctor a bunch of times) on different lines?