Need advice on what to do after being denied postbac admission

[kiwi24]

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Hi all! I am a 32 y/o PT foreign graduate with a bachelor's degree. GPA at 2.67. Been a therapist for 10 yrs, 5 here in the States. I tried entering one post baccalaureate premedical course here in IL and got denied. It says in the letter that I can reapply again after taking some courses. I have taken all the premed prereqs in the past for PT. Now i am not sure what to do next, I wasnt planning on taking the MCAT this early but if i cant get in to a PBC what should i do? Since all of them mostly require 3.0 GPA. 🙁

 

[0919mmk]

Hi all! I am a 32 y/o PT foreign graduate with a bachelor's degree. GPA at 2.67. Been a therapist for 10 yrs, 5 here in the States. I tried entering one post baccalaureate premedical course here in IL and got denied. It says in the letter that I can reapply again after taking some courses. I have taken all the premed prereqs in the past for PT. Now i am not sure what to do next, I wasnt planning on taking the MCAT this early but if i cant get in to a PBC what should i do? Since all of them mostly require 3.0 GPA. 🙁

If you are dead set on this, then you will do whatever you have to do. In your case, that means taking classes, and getting A's until your GPA is 3.0. It can be an expensive endeavor, but, you know, it is what it is. I actually got a job at a university for the sole purpose of getting 2 free classes a semester. If you can't do something like that, then just suck it up and pay for classes at your local state school.

The bottom line is that a post-bacc program (and med school along the road) want proof that you wont get C's in their program after they let you in. As of now, you are an unkown to them. Give them reason to believe that you are no longer a C student, you know?

Also, are you from NZ? Beautiful country...

 

[Lazarus]

Just curious will you be working while taking classes?

If I were in your shoes I would go to this said school's continuing education department and enroll in the classes you need as a cont ed student. (if this is untenable, go another local university or if budget and time is tight CC)

Rock them, then reapply to the program. There are many people who do not do a formal "program" successfully. From my experience the program just helps you get into classes and provides a little bit of guidance (not always correct guidance). Many schools will also let continuing education premed's do their committee letter process.

This process takes a time beating the streets, talking to people and finding things on your own. There are opportunities everywhere its just a matter of talking to the right people.

Good luck! Keep us updated.

P.S. I assume your undergrad work was done out of country...I wonder what this means for your cum GPA, sGPA. I think it may actually be beneficial. So if you take all the premed courses and ace them, you may walk away with a stellar GPA for purposes of application. But then again I could be horribly wrong, and I am sure someone with a more thorough grasp of GPA theory will comment on this situation with more authority than I.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

I'm also assuming the bachelors work is out of the country, if that is the case, that alone may be why you were denied. What was the reason behind only applying to the one program? Regardless, please don't give up hope. If you're heart is set, do it until you succeed!

 

[KING3]

Take graduate classes at your local university. Usually you are allowed to take grad bio classes just by paying the tuition. Youll be able to expand your biology numbers and knowledge and prepare for the MCAT.

 

[Lazarus]

Why graduate over non-graduate? Is there an advantage in taking the graduate?

 

[MightyMoose]

Take graduate classes at your local university. Usually you are allowed to take grad bio classes just by paying the tuition. Youll be able to expand your biology numbers and knowledge and prepare for the MCAT.

This is a bad idea. Don't take grad courses, they won't count towards your UG GPA, which is what you need.


I think you should follow their advice. Enroll in a 4 year university or CC and start taking some classes to boost your GPA. I would recommend taking the pre-med course work so you're not wasting your time, but you should definitely sprinkle in a few other courses so that you can work on bringing up that GPA.

 

[KING3]

I say take grad courses because I have a friend who was in the same boat is you. You cant take enough undergrad courses to really change your record but if you take grad courses and get "A"s in them it will prove that you can do biology at that you can succeed in grad level courses. Get letters of recs from those professors as opposed to your undergrad profs so that they can speak to your ability to succeed I higher level courses and that your undergrad record is not a true reflection of your ability. My buddy was in the same boat as you and turned it around that way. He starts this year at a middle tier school. Good luck.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

I was told exactly the opposite of this. UG classes are all that really matter unless you're going to get an SMP type program. I was specifically told by more than one institution NOT to take grad classes.

 

[MightyMoose]

I say take grad courses because I have a friend who was in the same boat is you. You cant take enough undergrad courses to really change your record but if you take grad courses and get "A"s in them it will prove that you can do biology at that you can succeed in grad level courses. Get letters of recs from those professors as opposed to your undergrad profs so that they can speak to your ability to succeed I higher level courses and that your undergrad record is not a true reflection of your ability. My buddy was in the same boat as you and turned it around that way. He starts this year at a middle tier school. Good luck.

I still think this is bad advice. The OP's science coursework is realistically over 10 years old and he'll need to retake that (for most schools), not only that, this can help to get the OP's UG gpa. S/he needs to get it above a 3.0. Sure it will take some time, but that's what needs to happen.

 

[Lazarus]

Can anyone comment on the implications of having UG GPA from abroad? I have a feeling that the foreign UG GPA, and US GPA will be reported separately. Which is more than likely a good thing.

Oh...and also take every bit of advice with a grain of salt. The med school application process is horribly opaque, and varies from school to school. I would talk to the admissions folks at a school or two that you are interested in to get their advice.

P.S.

I assume you are a U.S. citizen since you have been in the states for 5yrs.

 

[LifetimeDoc]

You don't have to do a formal post-bacc program. Just go to your local 4 year university and take more classes, take a full-load upper-level science courses you have never taken before. Strive to get all A's, in fact get A's in everything.

I had a 3.2 GPA from years prior, and took 2 years of full-time upper-level courses at my local university with a 3.95 GPA for those years. If they have a pre-med advising office at the university, then that is a major help in the application process. You'll need to kill the MCAT, 30+ plus overall (10 or greater in each section). I got a 33, (10, 10, 13). I got into an allopathic medical school, however I applied to many programs and only got into one but it was my top choice.

I just recently match into a categorical general surgery 5 year residency at age 39.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

"Courses over 10 yrs old" I have asked several schools about this, and they never state or seem to care how old the classes are, they say the only reason it matters is for your MCAT... I have found that the 'general' advice that is perpetuated on here is not always completely factual. Additionally, as far as the prereqs go, call the schools of choice and ask... don't assume...

 

[Lazarus]

"Courses over 10 yrs old" I have asked several schools about this, and they never state or seem to care how old the classes are, they say the only reason it matters is for your MCAT... I have found that the 'general' advice that is perpetuated on here is not always completely factual. Additionally, as far as the prereqs go, call the schools of choice and ask... don't assume...

Hmmm....I agree and disagree with what you are saying. From my experience there are many schools that do explicitly state how old your pre-reqs are. But I am sure you are also speaking from experience that many schools do not.

The med school application process is horribly opaque, and one school can have wildly different guidelines than another. As you said, do you due diligence and call the school up. I would also agree that there is a large amount of false information drifting around on this here interweb, and everything should be taken with a grain of salt. I will bet that many of the conflicting statements put forth regarding med school applications have some merit to the specific school that it was gleamed from.

Also OP, remember you can tailor your premed studies to which schools' criteria best suit your specific situation.

P.S.
I just realized that good advice has already been given and I am simply continuing to blather on.
Also, congrats LifeTimeDoc! That is awesome to hear. So you took 2yrs of courses, but what did you do doing your gap year? Also do you think you could have gotten away with 1yr? Or was two necessary to show that track record?

 

[LifetimeDoc]

Also, congrats LifeTimeDoc! That is awesome to hear. So you took 2yrs of courses, but what did you do doing your gap year? Also do you think you could have gotten away with 1yr? Or was two necessary to show that track record?

Thanks! I might have been able to do 1 year, but my advisors said to do 2 years. I needed to show a good track record. I worked in industry and started my own company during the many gap years.

 

[ICD 3]

Hi all! I am a 32 y/o PT foreign graduate with a bachelor's degree. GPA at 2.67. Been a therapist for 10 yrs, 5 here in the States. I tried entering one post baccalaureate premedical course here in IL and got denied. It says in the letter that I can reapply again after taking some courses. I have taken all the premed prereqs in the past for PT. Now i am not sure what to do next, I wasnt planning on taking the MCAT this early but if i cant get in to a PBC what should i do? Since all of them mostly require 3.0 GPA. 🙁

If you're near the Chicago/Evanston area you should look at Northwestern School of Continuing Studies. It's pretty reasonable cost wise, you don't have to be "admitted" and they offer quite a few UG and Grad level courses. I just finished the "post-bac" program but being part of the program really gives you nothing... I think maybe access to the pre-med advisor but she provided more useless information than a simple internet search on the same topic.

 

[HatWobble]

If you're near the Chicago/Evanston area you should look at Northwestern School of Continuing Studies. It's pretty reasonable cost wise, you don't have to be "admitted" and they offer quite a few UG and Grad level courses. I just finished the "post-bac" program but being part of the program really gives you nothing... I think maybe access to the pre-med advisor but she provided more useless information than a simple internet search on the same topic.

This. I take classes at Northwestern but am not part of the post-bacc program-- I take them "at large". The program doesn't do anything for you.

I also have access to the pre-med advisor.

 

[ShyRem]

Lifetime has it right. Just start taking classes at your local college. I would seriously consider retaking some of your pre-reqs as there are schools that want those within the last 10 years. You don't need a formal post-bac program. You just need good grades.

 

[kiwi24]

Thank you guys for giving feedbacks. I have actually inquired in several schools here in Chicago for the post bacc programs. One is Northwestern School of Cont Studies, i am not eligible for the formal post bacc program because of my PT background. I can apply though at the Bridge to Graduate School program similar to the post bacc premed but probably more suited for people with science background. Anyways, because i was a foreign graduate she is not sure if the 90 semester credits/prereqs should have been done here in the States or if some of my sgpa coursework will suffice or carry over. She suggested Bachelor's in Human Biology vs Post Bacc Courses due to enormous amount of credits that I need while satisfying the premed coursework. She also told me that I dont have to obtain another Bachelor's, just enought to fulfill the credits needed. Post Bacc at Northwestern, i'll be earning 31+ credits in 2 yrs if i will be a part time student. So basically the 90 credits will be say 6 yrs! Anyone knows about this? Is there any other shorter route that I can opt for?

 

[mauberley]

Anyways, because i was a foreign graduate she is not sure if the 90 semester credits/prereqs should have been done here in the States or if some of my sgpa coursework will suffice or carry over.

I would definitely contact some med schools to find out what their recommendation is about credits earned at foreign schools. From what I remember of past discussions in this forum, any credits earned outside of the US/Canada won't count for admissions.

 

[clausewitz2]

The consensus has generally been on this topic (my bachelor's is also from overseas) that you should take as many pre-req courses in the United States as possible. Whether this is an absolute requirement or simply a good idea varies from school to school; there are a few that will simply refuse to consider you without 90 odd hours of U.S. credits, some that are satisfied with having taken pre-reqs Stateside, and some that are much more accommodating (last time I checked, Harvard was one of these).

Best of luck with your situation.