Online Post-Bac - how crippling?

[Sno66NJ]

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I am considering completing my post-Bac online but have some obvious concerns. I maybe deployed in 2014 (Navy) and being 33 years old I am not getting any younger; the proverbial clock is ticking. This is something I am considering as a solution, so I do not have to delay my potential medical career any further. I am somewhat of an underdog, I have no science classes under my belt and an undergrad GPA of 2.92 and a grad GPA of 3.7. Even given my military situation are online classes an immediate dismissal of your med school app and your ability to perform in med school?

 

[CastleG8]

I would save all the science pre-requisites for when you return. Most of these classes have a lab component that require a physical presence in a lab. I think a good MCAT score will back up the quality of your education, whether it was from online or at a small University or CC. I think it's preferred to be done mainly in person, but deployments are a good excuse for online classes.

I would just accept that you will have to take extra time and perhaps you can work on other aspects of your application while you are deployed. Can you get any shadowing done or clinical experiences? Having these built up will allow you to relax more on the final stretch before you are ready to fill out applications. Maybe others know about online pre-requisite, but I think labs must be done in person. My advice is shadow and volunteer while you are deployed, if possible.

 

[DrMidlife]

Agreed. Your 2.92 is a red flag. Doing online prereqs on top of a 2.92 gives you a massive red flag in a strong wind that flicks people in the eyeballs. Grad GPA for a non-science endeavor does nothing for you here.

Work on raising that 2.92 online by taking good beefy English & humanities & social sciences classes, preferably with a writing component. When you get back, work on premed classes in a classroom.

You won't be alone as an older veteran. My med school (ahem) in Norfolk (ahem) has vast teeming hordes of Navy vets.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

My med school (ahem) in Norfolk (ahem) has vast teeming hordes of Navy vets.

One would be hard pressed to find anything on land, sea or air in Norfolk not teeming with Navy vets 🙂

 

[Sno66NJ]

Thanks Midlife and Castle, I figured as much, just needed to hear the tough love. Appreciate all the solid, straight forward info you contribute. Thank you!