Need some help.. Advice would Help

[Poliscidoc]

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So here is the story I am a Junior and I am a Biology and Political Science major. I won't end up taking the MCAT until the middle of senior year (March 2011). I will graduate in May 2011 and then I will start applying to medical school. My stats are below and the main questions I have are 1) Should I go do SMP? 2) Should I do Post-Bad 3) Should I just get a job as a CNA or EMT and do more volunteering

I know what SMP is but I am unsure what Post-Bac is.....

My stats
GPA- 3.55
Volunteering- 400 Hours
Shadowing- 50 Hours
Research- None
MCAT- WHAT do I need, I have heard 30+ since my GPA isnt so hot.

 

[Poliscidoc]

Anybody

 

[Gogogirl]

well..the two things you need to improve is your research experience and GPA..or you do really really good on MCAT...If Post-bac courses will raise your GPA and give you some chance to get into research, I will go for that...just my 0.02..your volunteer and shadowing experiences are good!

 

[djd2187]

I personally do not think you need to take a smp, just rock the mcats. IF you do bad on them, then there is a question of doing a smp. Also, try to get some research experience in the mean time, it can only help.

 

[Poliscidoc]

Thanks for the imput, research is on the top of my list. But I am a little confused about post-bac. Is it simply taking more classes or retaking old ones?? Sorry for being an idiot on the subject..

 

[djd2187]

Thanks for the imput, research is on the top of my list. But I am a little confused about post-bac. Is it simply taking more classes or retaking old ones?? Sorry for being an idiot on the subject..

it depends on what type of post-bacc you take, there are some post-bacc's you can do where you take advanced classes (so graduate level classes).

 

[Nimzy328]

im sry i was just reading the thread but could someone explain what an smp is?

 

[Poliscidoc]

SMP= Special Masters Program, it is advanced science work that is supposed to get you ready for med school. Some only take a year

 

[sindadel]

As I understand it, there are three kinds of "programs" an aspiring pre-med could take:

SMP: designed for people with low GPA (3.0) - you basically take 1st yr med school (for lots of $$) and they typically have good linkages with a med school so if you succeed, you're in.

formal post-bacc: for non-science majors with excellent GPAs who haven't taken any of the pre-reqs. You take all the undergrad pre-reqs in a group with lots of support. Some have good linkages with med school to aid in admissions.

informal post-bacc: misc pre-reqs and upper-division science classes taken either in a non-degree seeking or second bachelor's fashion often in order to improve a poor GPA - say 3.2 to 3.3 or so.

My advice to you is that your GPA is ok (not stellar) so if you've taken all your pre-reqs, prepare to rock the MCAT, apply broadly and wisely and you'll get in somewhere. You can continue to take undergraduate courses to raise your GPA, but it's a long slog.

Good luck!

 

[Poliscidoc]

Yea I will have 184 credit hours when I graduate so just raising my GPA by .02 is hard as all get out...

 

[Poliscidoc]

Just did the math and it seems I can pick up a 3rd major (currently a double major) with only an extra semester plus a summer session. So my question is-"is it worth it"???

I would have 3 majors and 1 minor

majors- political science, biology, and Business Administration
minor- Pre professional studies

 

[Stratego]

Med schools don't care about how many majors or minors you have, so don't add another one thinking you'll impress an adcomm. Rather do so if you need to in order to get access to upper-level courses you want to take, or to have an excuse to stay in school, or to qualify for more financial aid.

With a 3.55 cGPA, an MCAT of 32 will get you consideration at the less selective med schools.

 

[physicsnerd42]

More majors = colossal waste of time. One is not enough (or, in your case, two)?

I'm not really seeing what your problem is. A 3.5 is not terrible. It's not great, but it's not terrible. You're not even graduating for 2 years, so you can pull it up. Do well in the rest of your classes. Do research+shadowing. Do well on the MCAT. Apply.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

why why why are you getting ahead of yourself with postbac and smp thoughts. you still have a chance to pull up the gpa. alot.