Need help with post-bacc plans

[nopurposeflour]

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I'm an undergraduate computer science student interested in pursuing the medical track. The only problem is that I'm currently a sophomore and thus I doubt that I'll be able to fit all of the MedSchool Prereqs into my remaining time at my current university. Combine this with less-than-ideal GPAs of 3.63 cGPA and a 3.32 sGPA (two Bs, two B+s, one A in Physics II), I'm thinking a post-bacc program is the best path for me to take.

I'm also in a unique situation where the general chemistry course (geared towards engineers) I took freshman year is Chem 1 and Chem 2 combined into one semester (ended the class with a B+, probably would have gotten an A if I showed up for the final - but that's another story).

I've been bounced back and forth between wanting to go to medical school vs. not doing so since I started university. (I applied to universities as a Medical Laboratory Sciences major with the intention of going to medical, then decided I wanted to do mechanical engineering before I started freshman year, then switched to computer science after my freshman year, decided I wanted to tack on pre-med, then decided to drop it.) It's never been a matter of changing interests, I just think I psyched myself out thinking that I couldn't get a good enough GPA to go to medical school. Then, last year, I finished with a 3.97 GPa the first semester and a 3.85 my second semester. I've always been interested in medicine.

I'm a little scared now to tell people that I want to do pre-med again, I don't want to get even more of a reputation of not knowing what I want to do.

Anyways, I'm not a URM, CA resident, have ~100 hours of research so far (mostly in astrophysics research, but some in lab with my university's Center for Genomics), one publication as a co-author (I really only just did data work), but no volunteer or shadowing hours since starting university (there's nowhere convenient to volunteer around the university I attend), and don't attend a target university.

I have a few options I'm considering how to complete my prereqs.

1. Next semester, I can fit in Bio I, and potentially Orgo I. over the summer. Since I switched majors, it's pushed my graduation back a semester. I can push this back to a full year, and spend the extra semester taking Bio II (evolution, ecology, etc.), Orgo. II, Biochem II, and one of psychology/sociology/genetics/physiology (taking the remaining three of what I don't pick over the summer and my senior year).

2. Not worry about cramming everything in, and do a DIY post-bacc program to complete the prereqs.

The first option is easily the cheaper, quicker option, but I'm betting it'll be a lot more stressful than II (not that that should be a huge deciding factor).

The nice thing about the second option is that it'll give me more time to plan things out and consider whether or not I truly want to go to med school. If I do do a post-bacc program, I'd most likely spend another 1.5-2 years in school just doing the prereqs. By the time I've studied and taken the MCAT, I'll be around 26 years old (which I think I've heard is now around the average MD matriculant age). I think I could get away with living at home for that time, which will be nice. This also lets me finish the prereqs continuously, as I'd be concerned about forgetting topics from one course if I take a pre-req now.

I'll continue doing research at my university, and will most likely volunteer/shadow over the summers and our winter breaks when I'm back home and will have better access to places to work at. I'm hoping to have okay ECs (>300 hours of research, >300 volunteering hours, minimum) and at least one more publication.

I'm not sure when I'd target taking the MCAT. I won't have completed two of psychology/sociology/genetics/physiology until after the summer before my last year at university. I might be able to target taking it second semester that year, as long as I start studying that summer, first semester, and over winter break. Does that sound correct?

Anyways, thanks for reading my post. I'd love to hear any feedback you all have.

 

[BOAO523]

Hi, sorry that this won’t be a concrete answer but I do have a few thoughts.

1) cramming courses/studying is rarely ever the way to go. I would definitely do the DIY (which if you find the right institution shouldn’t be too expensive given that you’ve got most of your prereqs done) which as you said would give you more chance to deliberate and to bolster your app. Speaking of which....

2) I think between now and when you apply the name of the game for you should be clinical volunteering and shadowing. A couple hundred hours between the two at least, if you can.

3) MCAT is critical and you should not cram for this. Another reason why the “long game” is the preferred option imo. You’ll still be young when it’s all said and done.

4) you mentioned genetics, soc, psych, and physiology as courses you’re planning to take. These usually aren’t actually required by MD programs and you can still do well on the mcat without them with disciplined studying. When it comes to the other courses you’re going to take I recommend focusing on the “universal prereqs” (1 year bio, 1 year gen chem, 1 year physics, orgo, biochem, sometimes a stats, sometimes 1 year of English) and from then on adding courses that will contribute to your science gpa assuming you do well (physiology, genetics, or go 2, other higher level bio courses).

5) if you decide you do want to go the med school route I don’t think you’re poorly positioned at all at the moment. I just highly recommend doing your research/due dilligence to have a concrete plan for the next couple of years and build a strong app.

Good luck!!

 

[BOAO523]

One more thing to add. If you’re only a sophomore you might be able to fill in the prerequisites during your time in undergrad anyway. Maybe all you’ll need is a gap year for mcat and application bolstering (volunteer/shadowing).

As for what others might think about you being indecisive and going back and forth....to hell with anyone who isn’t supportive of your cause (that’s a general life tip 😉 )

 

[nopurposeflour]

One more thing to add. If you’re only a sophomore you might be able to fill in the prerequisites during your time in undergrad anyway. Maybe all you’ll need is a gap year for mcat and application bolstering (volunteer/shadowing).

As for what others might think about you being indecisive and going back and forth....to hell with anyone who isn’t supportive of your cause (that’s a general life tip 😉 )

Thanks for the feedback! I'm actually only kinda sophomore. I switched majors after my freshman year, and it set me back one semester. My plan is to push this out to a full year and spend a semester studying abroad. I

I'm planning on taking 4 or 5 classes (one of which is only two credits out of 4 though) every semester until senior year (except for the study abroad semester), so there's not much time to fit in prereqs. If I'm not cramming my premed prereqs into one semester, I'd be cramming them in with my other CS courses. Besides, I'm not sure if I'd be comfortable taking the prereqs so spread out with little application of what I'm learning in them until the MCAT. I'd prefer to take them closer together, so I'm more likely to remember the material for the MCAT and other courses.

I'm also thinking of re-doing Chem 1 and Chem 2 in a DIY post-bacc program, since I'd need a second semester of Gen. Chem anyways (it wouldn't make sense to take the courses I did and then randomly tack on Chem 2) and I'd want to give myself a strong underlying knowledge of chem for the MCAT and other prereqs.

I am a little concerned with costs (and convenience), so I would consider doing a DIY post-bacc at a local community college at home, but I've heard doing so is a little bit of a controversial idea. It'd let me spread things out a little more, is cheaper, and I think would give me more time to work/volunteer/etc.