Need advice on my next step. PostBac vs Masters.

[EliteUltra]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello,

I need advice on what to do next.

I am graduating in the spring with a BS in Exercise Science with a concentration in Exercise Physiology.

I struggled a lot and had many setbacks; but I am turning it all around now. I need to get a 4.0 this semester (got one last semester also) so that I can bring my current 3.344 cumulative GPA into the 3.4 range.

What I cant stand is that when I was an immature 18 and 19 year old I took my most important courses: the pre-reqs. My grades in them are not terrible...but by no means are they as good as I am capable of. Biology I & II: B+ and A- General Chemistry I & II: B and B - Physics I & II: A- and B. I have not taken Organic Chem yet.

I plan on either doing a PostBac or a Masters. I know PostBacs are usually for "Career Changers" and are usually not meant for people looking to improve on courses they took before, but Im so pissed that I didnt do better in my prereqs and really want to improve on them. Also, its literally been 5+ years since Ive taken Biology and Gen Chem so I would like to refresh myself [I tried to take an accelerated orgo class; but got behind because my gen chem has been mostly forgotten]. Also, because itll be around 6 years since taking these classes; if I do take a post bac, I think I have a solid chance of getting in.


What do you guys think I should do?

1)Post Bac where I retake my reqs and do some extra classes OR:

2) Masters program plus taking Orgo 1 and 2.


I would really appreciate some responses.

P.S. This is for both MD and DO. I know I might be able to get into DO without a masters or post bac ---- but I would ideally like to become an MD.

 

[ShenanigansMD]

Number 2, then study and beast the MCAT.

 

[Chip N Sawbones]

Med schools don't put much weight in your postgrad GPA, since grade inflation is so prevalent. A postbac of organic and a few other upper-division science classes will be a better use of your time. There's no need to retake Bs, but if you have lower grades in other classes you could retake them to help improve your chances at a DO school as a backup plan.

 

[SilverCat]

Agree with the above. Masters programs are essentially worthless for grades- they will not make up for poor undergrad grades. You might consider doing a Special Masters Program-many are connected to medical schools, and doing well in them will show adcoms you're capable of handling med school courses.

 

[MeGoodManIThink]

look into the NYMC AMP program...great prog and my friend who was in it says almost every student got into an MD program after taking a year of med classes

 

[occams_razor]

Agree with the above. Masters programs are essentially worthless for grades- they will not make up for poor undergrad grades. You might consider doing a Special Masters Program-many are connected to medical schools, and doing well in them will show adcoms you're capable of handling med school courses.

OP, if you can get your GPA into the 3.4 range you probably don't need an SMP if you can score well on the MCAT. SMP's are great but very expensive and generally seem to be for students with GPA's below 3.3