need help picking a post-bac within 2 weeks

[HurricaneSeal]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi all,
It looks like the post-bac game is pretty much over for me. I applied to 12 and got accepted at several (waitlisted at 2, and rejected from 1.. hello Georgetown).

My deadline is coming up really soon and despite searching and reading through tons of old threads on SDN, I am still at a loss as to where to pick! I was wondering if any of you had insight or advice as to where to go?

The two that I am deciding between are UPenn's Special Science and Drexel's IMS program. I've heard good and bad things about both, and I am aware that ultimately it is my performance in the program that really counts, not so much which one it is. However, I just don't know which one would be a better fit for me!

For some background on me:
- 3.16 undergrad GPA, 3.45 excluding freshman year. (late bloomer/victim of violent crime during my first year, exciting stuff.)
- 31Q mcat, retaking in May
- a senior Chemistry major right now at Carnegie Mellon (so have taken all prereq's as well as a million science courses, it seems)
- I do not plan on applying to AMCAS this summer. I am cool with the concept of the "glide year" and plan to obtain a research position/volunteer during that year.
- blah blah extracurricular's, research, etc.

Any advice?

 

[Lokhtar]

You never told us where you got in, so how can we help you pick?

 

[HurricaneSeal]

I wrote in my original post that I am deciding between UPenn Special Science & Drexel IMS.

 

[Lokhtar]

I wrote in my original post that I am deciding between UPenn Special Science & Drexel IMS.

One is a SMP, and the other is undergrad. Do you need improvement in undergrad grades? I'd pick the undergrad one over SMP, because SMPs are tough to recover from if you do badly.

 

[Isoprop]

i disagree, i'd pick the SMP over the postbacc. OP established upward trend so more undergraduate classes won't help as much. GPA will increase but not by much.

but SMP is riskier in that doing poorly will eliminate almost any chance at U.S. med school.

i also recommend not retaking the 31.

 

[Lokhtar]

i disagree, i'd pick the SMP over the postbacc. OP established upward trend so more undergraduate classes won't help as much. GPA will increase but not by much.

but SMP is riskier in that doing poorly will eliminate almost any chance at U.S. med school.

i also recommend not retaking the 31.

I don't know, if he does well, he might be able to push it up over 3.4, which means he may have no need for a SMP if he does well on the MCAT.

 

[Four]

Well, about the MCAT: is it your first time? Then retaking it even though 31 is solid is not a bad idea.

 

[Lokhtar]

Well, about the MCAT: is it your first time? Then retaking it even though 31 is solid is not a bad idea.

Only if he is getting 35+ on practice, otherwise its not worth it!

 

[drizzt3117]

I don't know, if he does well, he might be able to push it up over 3.4, which means he may have no need for a SMP if he does well on the MCAT.

3.16 to over 3.4? That doesn't seem likely... SMP is the way to go... they're made for people with this sort of profile. Postbac is probably best if your GPA is above 3.25 but even then it's tough sledding if you're a science major, esp at Penn.

 

[Isoprop]

with an smp this fall, i think OP has a good chance at next cycle if everything else is in order. MCAT retake is unnecessary IMO. OP: look for other areas to improve on your app.

 

[xeulee]

I would do the SMP and not take the MCAT unless they advised you to. The reason I choose that is because since you are a Chemistry major, you already had a upper level classes and as you said had a lot of science classes. The SMP will allow you to take medical school classes which allows you to show that you can do well in medical school. Since you probably already have a strong upward trend, I don't think the Penn program will help show something different.

 

[HurricaneSeal]

Thanks for the help, guys!