non-traditionals: need help!

[avaAdore]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hi everyone ,

I tried posting something similar in the post-bacc forums but thought maybe I could get some valuable advice here... since you are all non-traditionals, like me. 🙂

I'm going to start a certificate program at my university for my post-bacc. The purpose of doing so is to boost my undergraduate GPA (BS in molecular biology). All of my medical school pre-requisites are done... but were done at least 8 years ago. I plan on applying to medical schools in the summer of 2014 (seems so far off... gotta keep myself focused), by then, my pre-requisites will be 11 years old.

In this certificate program I'll be taking:
-stats (lower div)
-anatomy and physio (lower div)
-calculus based physics (retake)
-2 upper division biochem courses
-2 upper division molecular and cell biology courses
-1 or 2 humanities courses needed for the certificate

Does this seem like enough for my post-bacc? I could really use your advice since my certificate program does not have any formal pre-med advising... I don't know if I'm taking too little upper division courses to prove myself... or if my pre-requisites would be too old by the time I apply... other than physics I did very well in them.

Thanks so much and happy studying/working/raising kids to all of you~👍

-ava

 

[Morsetlis]

Why do you not try for a post-bacc with formal advising and/or linkages?

Informal post-baccs can be successful, but I have doubts about your prerequisites being accepted at some (most?) med schools.

 

[avaAdore]

Why do you not try for a post-bacc with formal advising and/or linkages?

Informal post-baccs can be successful, but I have doubts about your prerequisites being accepted at some (most?) med schools.

hey Morsetlis,

i have a daughter and am limited as to where i can go to attend a formal post-bacc. there isn't too many in my area (unless i'm an under represented minority, which clearly i am not)... and i'm also afraid my undergrad stats are not enough to get me in (3.05 sGPA). 🙁

so most schools would not take older pre-requisites huh? sigh... i can retake them all during my certificate program/post-bacc that i'm planning on attending. do you recommend i do that instead of trying to take upper div courses?

thank you so very very much for taking time out of your busy medschool schedule. 😀

 

[Morsetlis]

First I would buy the MSAR (from AAMC) and Google LizzyM's worksheet to find out which schools I would have the best chances to apply to, within a given budget.

Then I would go to all those schools' websites and look at their policies on prereqs taken 8 years ago. I would call for clarification if necessary. You should understand that these situations do not arise often, so having personal confirmation on whether or not they accept your prerequisites is better than going in blindly.

Remember, too, that you must require your school(s) to submit transcripts to the AMCAS when applying. This means EVERY post-secondary institution you have attended for which you received a grade in a class, including community colleges and culinary schools (if applicable).

You know, now that I think about it, 8 years isn't that long. Perhaps things are bright, after all 🙂

The whole purpose of the post-bacc is to demonstrate an ability to succeed in the sciences. If you do well there and on the MCAT, attention will be drawn away from your non-traditional application. You will still, however, need to prepare a great personal statement to demonstrate why medicine fits you.

 

[ChE04]

If it helps, the only school I found that specifically stated "expiration dates" for pre-reqs while I was searching was Duke (7 years I think). I think you should be fine in that respect. Some of mine were taken in the 2000/2001 school year and I have recieved a number of MD interviews. In addition, I'll add that I did an informal post-bacc to complete my pre-reqs at the 4 year university close to where I lived. Hope that makes you feel a bit better about it, good luck.

 

[AlphaKeto]

Remember, too, that you must require your school(s) to submit transcripts to the AMCAS when applying. This means EVERY post-secondary institution you have attended for which you received a grade in a class, including community colleges and culinary schools (if applicable).

Really? The transcript I have for my school now has all the info for my previous schools. Will this suffice. If not, will the transcript need to be sent directly from the school to AMCAS or can I send an official copy to them myself? I ask because there is financial dispute with a CC i attended and they may not release a transcript directly from their office, but i have some extras in a folder.

 

[theseeker4]

Really? The transcript I have for my school now has all the info for my previous schools. Will this suffice. If not, will the transcript need to be sent directly from the school to AMCAS or can I send an official copy to them myself? I ask because there is financial dispute with a CC i attended and they may not release a transcript directly from their office, but i have some extras in a folder.

You will need to get that financial dispute resolved, or at least to the point they will send transcripts. To protect their integrity, the transcripts must be sent directly from the school. You cannot simply send a copy you have on hand, even a sealed official copy, unless there is some exception to this I am not aware of.

 

[zebalong]

Hi everyone ,

I tried posting something similar in the post-bacc forums but thought maybe I could get some valuable advice here... since you are all non-traditionals, like me. 🙂

I'm going to start a certificate program at my university for my post-bacc. The purpose of doing so is to boost my undergraduate GPA (BS in molecular biology). All of my medical school pre-requisites are done... but were done at least 8 years ago. I plan on applying to medical schools in the summer of 2014 (seems so far off... gotta keep myself focused), by then, my pre-requisites will be 11 years old.

In this certificate program I'll be taking:
-stats (lower div)
-anatomy and physio (lower div)
-calculus based physics (retake)
-2 upper division biochem courses
-2 upper division molecular and cell biology courses
-1 or 2 humanities courses needed for the certificate

Does this seem like enough for my post-bacc? I could really use your advice since my certificate program does not have any formal pre-med advising... I don't know if I'm taking too little upper division courses to prove myself... or if my pre-requisites would be too old by the time I apply... other than physics I did very well in them.

Thanks so much and happy studying/working/raising kids to all of you~👍

-ava

I second what everyone else says.. also your prerequs. seem pretty old (11yrs). Your class schedule seems light in the classes that are tested in the MCAT, depending on how well you learned the material the first time and whether or not your kept up with it it will be quite hard to just jump into the MCAT. Unfort. physics is very important. I'd at least audit all of the necessary courses for the mcat. Screw taking more upper division courses unless you need them to boost your gpa - focus on the lower divisions and kill the mcat.

A 34+ MCAT will make up a lot for a poor gpa and/or lack of any upper division courses. I took one upper division science course (was not a science major) but did well on the MCAT and got so many interviews that i find it hard to believe that most med schools care about any upper division science courses unless they are necessary prerequs. (biochem at some schools for example).

 

[avaAdore]

I second what everyone else says.. also your prerequs. seem pretty old (11yrs). Your class schedule seems light in the classes that are tested in the MCAT, depending on how well you learned the material the first time and whether or not your kept up with it it will be quite hard to just jump into the MCAT. Unfort. physics is very important. I'd at least audit all of the necessary courses for the mcat. Screw taking more upper division courses unless you need them to boost your gpa - focus on the lower divisions and kill the mcat.

A 34+ MCAT will make up a lot for a poor gpa and/or lack of any upper division courses. I took one upper division science course (was not a science major) but did well on the MCAT and got so many interviews that i find it hard to believe that most med schools care about any upper division science courses unless they are necessary prerequs. (biochem at some schools for example).

would it help if i tried auditing where i felt rusty, take about 4-6 months before taking the mcat to study, as well as taking a prep course?

i can definitely understand how important these pre-reqs are to "kill" the mcat. seriously, i can see where you're coming from... screw the upper divs, and do exceedingly well on the mcat... which carries alot of weight. but... i have a downward trend; did well in the pre-reqs and first 2.5 years of undergrad and did horribly for personal reasons the last 1.5. so i was assuming that medical schools would like to see that i'm actually capable of doing well in these hard upper-div courses rather than retaking courses i did pretty well in...

thanks SOOO much, realllllly need to figure this out!

 

[avaAdore]

If it helps, the only school I found that specifically stated "expiration dates" for pre-reqs while I was searching was Duke (7 years I think). I think you should be fine in that respect. Some of mine were taken in the 2000/2001 school year and I have recieved a number of MD interviews. In addition, I'll add that I did an informal post-bacc to complete my pre-reqs at the 4 year university close to where I lived. Hope that makes you feel a bit better about it, good luck.

thanks so much for the info... it really helps. 🙂

...best of luck to you on your interviews! 🙂

 

[zebalong]

would it help if i tried auditing where i felt rusty, take about 4-6 months before taking the mcat to study, as well as taking a prep course?

i can definitely understand how important these pre-reqs are to "kill" the mcat. seriously, i can see where you're coming from... screw the upper divs, and do exceedingly well on the mcat... which carries alot of weight. but... i have a downward trend; did well in the pre-reqs and first 2.5 years of undergrad and did horribly for personal reasons the last 1.5. so i was assuming that medical schools would like to see that i'm actually capable of doing well in these hard upper-div courses rather than retaking courses i did pretty well in...

thanks SOOO much, realllllly need to figure this out!

My personal opinion is if your cum gpa is equal to or above 3.6 and your sci gpa equal to or above 3.5 then put all your focus into the MCAT. If your gpa is lower then go ahead and take those upper division courses, but it is hard if you're working full time while study for the MCAT AND taking other courses to boost your gpa - I've been there it sucked worst then anything med school has thrown at me the first two years.

 

[avaAdore]

My personal opinion is if your cum gpa is equal to or above 3.6 and your sci gpa equal to or above 3.5 then put all your focus into the MCAT. If your gpa is lower then go ahead and take those upper division courses, but it is hard if you're working full time while study for the MCAT AND taking other courses to boost your gpa - I've been there it sucked worst then anything med school has thrown at me the first two years.

my gpa is lower. 🙁

i plan on working full-time while preparing for the MCAT. this will come after i've completed my post-bacc.

thanks so much for your advice, zebalong. hope medical school is treating you well. 🙂