odd situation

[funfunfunfu]

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hello,
I'm in a bit of an odd situation with regards to whether I should apply for med school or do a post-bac.

I am a current Peace Corps volunteer doing health related work and have not applied to med school yet. My application has some ups and downs:
GPA - pretty low - 3.53 (far, far too much booze and cannabis freshman, sophomore, and junior year!) with a double major in biochemistry/philosophy
MCAT - 37
Research - pretty good, had an independent research project, 1st author in 'Molecular Biology of the Cell' and awarded several research fellowships
Volunteering - Peace Corps and such
Other stuff: the usual. some shadowing, graduated with honors and a senior thesis, and I think I have some good LORs, a book i'm writing in Quichua for children about hygiene is being published, etc...

I'm not quite sure what to do. I think most of my application is pretty competitive, but my GPA is on the low side (it's from OSU). I don't really care too much about rankings and such, but I would like to get into an MD program - hopefully in a place with mountains, California, or NYC.

Do you think I should do a post-bac to make sure I only have to apply once (I'm a bit worried, because the average GPA is about ~3.6 to get into MD eh?)

thanks for all the help, cheers!

 

[Bacchus]

I don't think you'll need to do a postbacc. You have some excellent qualities that will help you out. You also have a great MCAT score. You'd be worse off with the flipside--3.8 and 29 or 28. I'd apply broadly in the upcoming cycle to increase your chances. However, I don't think a postbacc is necessary for you just yet. Since you will commit a year to a postbacc if necessary, why not apply and use the following year for the postbacc if you don't get in? I know its a bit more cost, but you'll be saving a lot if you get in the first time around.

 

[iA-MD2013]

3.5/37 and good ECs...you really don't need a postbacc. You're probably not competitive for top tier schools, but you have a great shot at all others.

 

[Jolie South]

I'm an RPCV and was in your situation last year. I think you should be in good shape. If you have the pre-reqs, I'd even say that you don't need a post bac. You've proven by your MCAT score that you can handle med school.

Schools responded very positively to my PC experience, and it always made for great interview conversation.

Good luck!

 

[Mobius1985]

If you'll be content with mid-selectivity schools, you don't need a post-bac. Apply as you are next season, 6/09. Peace Corp is a great EC. Sounds like you'll have an interesting tale to tell on your PS (but leave out the substance excesses).

 

[alibai3ah]

Drugs/Alcohol and three years of messing up.....and you still ended up with a 3.53 AND YOUR COMPLAINING??? Your gpa may be average, but you have ridiculous MCATS...plus you are doing peace corp which is an amazing extra curricular....you'll for sure get in somewhere