Need help deciding on post-bacc vs master's program

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I am 2 years out of undergraduate currently teaching high school English. I am looking into post-bac/master's programs and have gotten into a couple. I am trying to raise my science GPA. My cumulative GPA is 3.50 and my science GPA is 2.75. My MCAT score is 34. I have gotten into the following post-bac/master's programs:

VCOM Post-Baccalaureate Program (1 year)

NYMC Master's of Basic Medical Sciences Program (2 years)

Loyola Master's of Medical Physiology (1 year)

UNC Greensboro Post-Baccalaureate Program (1 year)

I am leaning toward the VCOM Post-bac due to cost of the program and cost of living in the area, but I am hesitant to accept my offer because I feel that other programs may be more prestigious, thus giving more weight during medical admissions' decisions. I would like some advice on which program to choose.

Thanks so much, guys.

 

[lazyindy]

depends on if you are willing to go the DO route. If yes, you can take advantage of the grade replacement and retake science courses you did poorly in the first time around and go the post-bacc route (doesn't matter which one).

If you are set on MD, you have a great MCAT but your below 3.0 science gpa will result in automatic screen-outs. If you have great experiences, go for an SMP.

 

[AnonymousD.O.]

Obviously with a 34 MCAT you get the basic science req. for med school. But Lazyindy is right, 2.7 science would be weened out of the vast majority of DO and MD schools. Period. Say you get a 4.0 in your post bac/masters. That goes into your undergrad science GPA. It will bring it up, but still may be a little low for both, especially MD. Look for post bacs and masters that allow you enroll straight into the medical school if you do good in the program. I believe, that VCOM has a 3.5 GPA cut off or something. i.e. if you get a 3.5 in the program you have a very good chance. Email the schools directly and ask them this. It would stink to go to a program and still be weened out of the application process because of the low science GPA automatically. For instance, I did the masters program at TCMC. Some of the students there had such low GPAs entering the program that unfortunately for them the program was......well you get the point. so take into account the "deal" the programs give to their students coming out.

 

[Catalystik]

Keep in mind that a masters will do nothing to raise your undergrad GPA. Those grades go on a separate line on the application.

 

[AnonymousD.O.]

Keep in mind that a masters will do nothing to raise your undergrad GPA. Those grades go on a separate line on the application.

They do go on a separate line but they ARE most certainly incorporated into the overall science GPA for AMCAS. Same thing for AACOMAS. So what the poster is concerned about is the 2.7 science GPA from undergrad. The masters program will get factored into this score on the AMCAS and AACOMAS application. As for noncience GPA, that isn't going to change because all the classes being taken are science classes, so essentially the overall undergrad GPA remains unchanged.

And lets be real, they are going to look at that science GPA. that's what matters

 

[Catalystik]

I agree that regardless of the GPA-boosting program above, it is the science GPA from the program that will matter.

The AACOMAS grade point summary does merge undergrad and grad GPAs. But as you can see from the image below, the AMCAS summary does not have a line for for overall GPAs and keeps the undergrad and grad grades separate.

 

[AnonymousD.O.]

I agree that regardless of the GPA-boosting program above, it is the science GPA from the program that will matter.

The AACOMAS grade point summary does merge undergrad and grad GPAs. But as you can see from the image below, the AMCAS summary does not have a line for for overall GPAs and keeps the undergrad and grad grades separate.

Ok cool. I am correct though in saying that the BCPM(AKA the science GPA) is both Graduate and Undergrad correct? I don't want to give this person the wrong message

 

[Catalystik]

For AMCAS applications the cumulative undergrad BCPM and graduate (masters) BCPM GPAs are listed separately. For AACOMAS, they are merged.

 

[DK2014]

How useful is obtaining a MPH before medschool for someone with average stats (3.5gpa, 31 mcat)? I'm interested in public health, but I'm debating between an MPH and taking more post-bac courses?

 

[JJMrK]

How useful is obtaining a MPH before medschool for someone with average stats (3.5gpa, 31 mcat)? I'm interested in public health, but I'm debating between an MPH and taking more post-bac courses?

Useful if you are interested in public health. Not particularly useful as a method for gaining a medical school acceptance.

 

[AnonymousD.O.]

Useful if you are interested in public health. Not particularly useful as a method for gaining a medical school acceptance.

How useful is obtaining a MPH before medschool for someone with average stats (3.5gpa, 31 mcat)? I'm interested in public health, but I'm debating between an MPH and taking more post-bac courses?

JJMrK is right. When I got rejected from my undergrad institution, they had a note at the bottom saying you could meet with one of the deans to talk about future plans. Well I took advantage of that. Now this is one person, but he told me they really don't look at an MPH as showing your ability to handle a medical school curriculum. Which to me makes sense, it just isn't the same curriculum. He said post bac's are good, but the degree of the Masters program is worth something to him so try for the masters program. Again just one person, albeit one of the head deans, and hey it makes sense.

I chose to go to TCMC's MBS program and it worked out for me. Lots of money, time and effort but if you are gonna put in this extra time and money $$$, might as well go all out.

If you are interested in Public Health, TCMC does have a really good Epidemiology course and Student Project that you complete in the MBS (and the MD) program