NonTrad Update

[montrachet1]

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Here is the skinny:
1. Graduated with BS in Biomedical 9 years ago with a horrific 2.89 GPA following some major family problems
2. Worked my way up the chain of high end restaurants to NYC and became an Advanced Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers (1 of 400 in the world)
3. Have SN2D self studied for the MCAT for 3 months
4. Taking Kaplan Advanced prep in January
5. Taking MCAT in May
6. Applying to Postbacc or SMP after MCAT to bolster said GPA
7. Shadowing MD/PhD and working on a paper with him
8. Volunteering at local hospital on weekends

Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated. A great businessman once said to a group of his peers, "if I am the smartest man in the room, then we are in a lot of trouble."

Many thanks in advance!

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

 

[vc7777]

Here is the skinny:
1. Graduated with BS in Biomedical 9 years ago with a horrific 2.89 GPA following some major family problems
2. Worked my way up the chain of high end restaurants to NYC and became an Advanced Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers (1 of 400 in the world)
3. Have SN2D self studied for the MCAT for 3 months
4. Taking Kaplan Advanced prep in January
5. Taking MCAT in May
6. Applying to Postbacc or SMP after MCAT to bolster said GPA
7. Shadowing MD/PhD and working on a paper with him
8. Volunteering at local hospital on weekends

Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated. A great businessman once said to a group of his peers, "if I am the smartest man in the room, then we are in a lot of trouble."

Many thanks in advance!

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

Welcome! This is very do-able. I think 9 years is enough time to claim you are a different person. If you really crush your post bac and the MCAT, you'll have a great chance of getting in. I think my GPA after post-bacc was around that! It is indeed possible! Root around, use the search function. Good luck!

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

I was accepted with a 3.18c/s, but that is AFTER 80cr of PB work at 3.8+

My MCAT is a 26Q, and I have stellar ECs and LORs...

I would do the MCAT AFTER the PB/SMP work fwiw...

 

[ChE04]

2. Worked my way up the chain of high end restaurants to NYC and became an Advanced Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers (1 of 400 in the world)

This is so cool. "Here's your prescription for cipro, Mrs. Smith. And may I recommend a 2005 Bordeaux to complement it?".

As others have said, the most important thing for you is to kill your post-bacc work and rock the MCAT. And keep up the volunteering while you are at it!

 

[theseeker4]

I was accepted with a 3.18c/s, but that is AFTER 80cr of PB work at 3.8+

My MCAT is a 26Q, and I have stellar ECs and LORs...

I would do the MCAT AFTER the PB/SMP work fwiw...

I agree with this. There is no reason to do the MCAT before the post bach work is done or almost done, both to avoid expiration of the scores and because the classwork will help you with the MCAT. SMP's may require an MCAT score to apply, however, so I am not sure what the best way to do it is. Probably post-bac to get the GPA up, then MCAT, then SMP or med school applications...

 

[montrachet1]

Great comments! Good job on knowing 2005 is latest and greatest Bordeaux vintage! 🙂 being that my BS was in Biomedical, I doubt that I will be able to do a postbacc, given that I have taken chemistry all the way through Biochem as well as all my other prereqs... Or will I? You are on the money with the MCAT before the SMP. Thanks for all the good vibes! Best of luck to all of you! Here's a cheers to a better future...

 

[vc7777]

You can do a DIY postbac - like I did. Of course, it will depend on your local institution's policies as to WHAT you can take. Having a biochem degree doesn't mean you can't. You can make it work.
Edit: I should also mention early on that you should, if at all possible, stick with a brick-and-mortar (i.e. not on-line) postbac program.

 

[MedPR]

You can do a DIY postbac - like I did. Of course, it will depend on your local institution's policies as to WHAT you can take. Having a biochem degree doesn't mean you can't. You can make it work.
Edit: I should also mention early on that you should, if at all possible, stick with a brick-and-mortar (i.e. not on-line) postbac program.

In addition to this, don't get Bs (or worse). As for mAtriculation!

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

My BS is biomed as well. I didn't have to retake any prereqs, I just did UL science on my own. For the record most of my classes were online, but SHHH that doesn't show on my transcript or the descriptions... 🙂 some of the classes were in person... And yeah, PB work is to bring up your gpa because right now you can't even get into an SMP. Get all As and you should be G2G

 

[montrachet1]

Barry University here in Miami has a contingency admission for applicants with GPA between 2.70 and 2.99, where (as I understand it) you take some prerequisite classes to establish academic prowess and therein go to the SMP. Outside of them, though, I am unaware of other PB/SMP programs that offer this, at least not in the Southeastern US.

 

[AD04]

I agree with what was said before. You plan looks pretty good but I would take the MCAT after the post-bac. MCAT score expires in 3 years, so if the post-bac took longer, you don't want to take the MCAT again.

1. post-bac
2. MCAT
3. apply to medical schools

 

[montrachet1]

Quick survey... Are any of you familiar with the post-bacc at Florida Atlantic University? I would love to go there for MD/PhD!

Grateful as always,
JM