Need Advice

[opt_princess]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I recently starting researching postbac programs.(I didn't know about them before). It was the best bit of news I have had in a long time, seeing as I am a graduating senior who is not yet ready to apply to PA school. I have done independent research, as well as reading threads in this forum about SMPs and postbacs. I found it to be very inspirational to know that there are people with <3.0 GPA's who have made it into med school and other programs. I think it is great that there is this forum here that we can share and help each other in our pursuits of careers in medicine.

Here's my story:

I am a graduating senior(Spring07)- BS in Psychology and minor in Biology.
2.8-cumulative GPA(upon graduation)
2.16-science GPA

Here are my Science classes:
Bio I- B
Bio II- C
Chem I- C
Chem II- C
Org Chem- F
Physics- C
Biochemistry- D
Genetics- B
Physiology- B

I will have 1.5 years of part-time work in a doctors office. I have been in two pre-med clubs: one for all four years, one for the middle two years. I volunteered at a hospital for one semester. I worked ALOT during school, usually 35+ hours and two jobs, which is why mygrades suffered(Also personal issues, relaetionship issues, etc). I have taken the time to honestly evaluate myself and my life, in order to find out what went wrong during undergrad. I am now ready to make the necessary changes in order to ensure that any classes I take from now on, I will be sucessful in. I am now just trying to figure out how to go about taking these classes.

It seems to me that most of the people in post bac programs have either taken no pre-reqs or have taken very few. I have taken the majority of the classes I need, but didn't do well in them. I am sure it is not time for me to do a SMP(yet) because I need to improve my undergrad GPA and also my science GPA. I will definently need to retake some of the courses I did really bad in and I also still need: Anatomy & Phy I, II, Physics II, and Microbiology. If I add thos hours to the ones I need to retake it equals about 30 hours I need to take after graduation. I calculated that I need 30 to bring my GPA up to a 3.0(considering they are all As). If I try to get anything over a 3.0, I would need to take 50+ hours and I think that won't be worth it. I feel like I could use that time building up other parts of my app, such as LORS, GRE scores, medical experience, and extracuriculars.

Having heard my story, what do you recommend I do now?

 

[chowchilla]

that science gpa will take a lot of time to fix, as you yourself mentioned. your ecs are awesome though. if you do well in an smp (or a dedicated post-bac), you might have an easier time getting in rather than relying on retaking regular undergrad courses alone. you definitely have to retake orgo though.

 

[seabreeze811]

I recommend doing a postbac either at the University of California system or a postbac at Drexel. Drexel has SO many different types of postbac and SMP...u should see which one suits you better. i heard one of the drexel programs help you with the MCAT as well...

also, UPENN special science program is also a postbac..check that out too...

hope this helps!

 

[opt_princess]

I am really looking for something in Texas, so I don't have to pay out of state tuition and higher living expenses. Any suggestions?