Need Helpful advice...Post-bacc or not?

[DreamChazer]

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Hello all. I am an urm African American male; I come from an urban community. I am currently an undergrad double science major (chem & bio). I am in my upcoming senior academic year, my gpa is a 2.6. Just a run down of my semesters:

Orgo I (lec) B
Orgo I (lab) A-
Orgo II (lec) B-
Orgo II (lab) B
Cell Physiology B
Independent research for credit (Organic Chemistry) for two semesters A, A
Biochem B+
Genetics A-
Analytical Chem B-
Zoology C+
Pre-calc C-
Calculus I C+
Both Physics C

So I mean I have about 8 more science courses to go. I am currently studying for my MCAT, hopefully I'm ready by end of August early September. I am on the executive board in black student union organization on campus, medical scribe and volunteer in the urban community shelters. What is my chances? Any advice? Should I just stop wasting my time pursuing?

To put my background into context, the grades in calculus and my math based science courses maybe because I was never exposed to this type of math in high school, I never even used a calculator in high school. I know that is not an excuse but I know I lacked the foundation coming into college and I still see these grades as an accomplishment.

P.S. Am I non-traditional? I am 24 and still an undergrad..

 

[Nickraj13]

Hey man, don't give up. There is always hope. My advice is for you focus on getting your GPA to around a 3.0 aka focus immensely on your science courses. After senior year, take a gap year, in which you pad the resume big time (scribe, shadow, volunteer) and study for the MCAT. I'll suggest taking MCAT Feb 2020 and applying spring/fall of 2020.

For reference (this is for MD schools):
https://www.aamc.org/download/321514/data/factstablea24-2.pdf

Best of luck.

 

[MakeLifeHappen13]

AACOMAS doesn't calculate math classes into your sGPA. Even then your sGPA might still be under 3.0 which is a problem. If I were in your position I would do an SMP with linkage.

Other option would be to re-take all classes below a B and try to bump your sGPA and cGPA >3.0, just remember that AACOMAS now calculates both the re-take and the original course.

Score >502 on the MCAT.

 

[curbsideconsult]

Did you leave out the gen chem and bio series in your list? Or are you going to take the MCAT without having taken those fundamental classes?

Do you need to double major in chem and bio? It's been a while since I've been in undergrad (for context, we were all in a tizzy when the TI-83 came out when I was in high school...), but it seems like a lot of extra work (for nothing, really) and that may be hurting your GPA. If you can pull a significant upward trend (like nothing less than an A-, maybe a couple B+s, for the next year), you definitely have a shot. There's no point in re-taking the C classes.

Your ECs look good.

It's not necessarily your age that makes you non-trad or not. What did you do before undergrad? Did you start late? Or are you taking your time through undergrad (no judgment here, just asking)?

 

[curbsideconsult]

So i came back home after my freshman year due to financial problems. Started taking classes at my local CC, only 1-2 class a semester for about 2 years; during that time I took gen chem I three times yes THREE times and got a D,D then a B. Took gen chem II there also and got a B first time (yay). Moving on I got accepted to a D1 school; after the first semester I end up oweing so I left went back to my local CC for one year, now I am at my current D2 state school. I would kind of consider that non-traditional but not sure.

So my plan is to study these three months, take the MCAT the end of aug/early sept. since the SMP linkage programs I researched requires a MCAT score. I came into this school with a 2.4 sgpa, now its 2.6 so I have complete confidence that I can get my gpa up to 2.9-3.0. With an upward trend and a good MCAT score (lets say >505) do i have a shot applying next summer? My target schools are HBCU’s, schools with mission statements similar to HBCU’s, a handful of DO schools and a couple SMP linkage programs to be safe.

The 3 rounds of chem with low grades might impact you pretty negatively even with a very good upward trend, but that's a specific question for adcoms. If I were you, I would try to take more upper level science courses during a gap year after graduation and apply for the 2020-2021 cycle. I don't think it's impossible to get into med school with your GPA, but it's not likely just based on pure numbers alone. You also have to think about why you didn't do well in some of those science courses because if it's due to you not understanding the material, you have to think about whether or not it's actually feasible for you to get a 505 or above. I think your chances will be better gauged once you get your MCAT score.

I don't know much about SMP programs, but from what I do know, the ones with linkage programs are extremely competitive. Even if you get into an SMP program with a linkage, there's no guarantee that you'll get into their med program. Hopefully someone else with more experience with this will be able to chime in.

 

[Goro]

AACOMAS doesn't calculate math classes into your sGPA. Even then your sGPA might still be under 3.0 which is a problem. If I were in your position I would do an SMP with linkage.

Other option would be to re-take all classes below a B and try to bump your sGPA and cGPA >3.0, just remember that AACOMAS now calculates both the re-take and the original course.

Score >502 on the MCAT.

Agree 100%