Opinions please! Should I do postbac work?

[OrkidLover]

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[vman51]

A little bit about me: cGPA is 3.58, sGPA is 3.37 or 3.39 (I forget which but low in either case). MCAT score is 35P.

I am really torn as to whether I should take postbac classes at nearby comm colleges to raise my science GPA. It is too late for me to register for spring 2010 quarter at most of them, and if I register for summer 2010 then the grades don't show up until after i submit applications anyway. There's also the financial issue. It is so expensive trying to fix your GPA. And I don't know if it will even help. The most I can raise it to is a 3.5 maybe. To be completely honest, I totally didn't put any effort into about half of my science prereqs but did stellar with the classes I did like. There's no excuse, I had no motivation and just wanted to get the classes over with ASAP.

I realize my mentality then was so childish. But I felt very lost the first couple of years in college and basically just took classes that my friends signed up for. I always knew it'd be medical, but for a very long time it was for all the wrong reasons. It wasn't until I started volunteering that I found my motivation, completely fell in love with the profession and busted my ass studying for the MCAT (and saw how weak my foundations were). Is forgiveness possible for me? Thank you for your help. I'm ready for all types of comments so please be honest...

your gpa is low, but not THAT low..whats the trend? better the last few years/even spread, etc?

if its an upward trend, i personally wouldn't do a post-bac..I'd just make sure to apply early and be prepared to explain any grades

you're mcat is outstanding, how was it split?

If the science sections were good (10-11+), then i def wouldn't do the post bac

 

[J ROD]

postbac would help....but your MCAT SHOULD cover you.

It depends on what instate you have, ECs, etc.

Elaborate more and we can better provide an answer....

 

[theWUbear]

A's in summer BCPM courses would provide you with a meaningful update letter at least, if I understood correctly that you would be doing this in the middle of your app cycle. Personally, I would stay away from community colleges and go for a campus of State U if that is a possibility.

 

[Morsetlis]

35 MCAT means you're smart.

Have you thought about Special Master Programs? You'll probably do well in those, and your stats are competitive. Check the post-bacc forum.

 

[illegallysmooth]

I'd say no. It's not that low, and the MCAT will help. Cross Harvard off your list, but otherwise go ahead and apply (broadly). I would also apply DO.

 

[OrkidLover]

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[J ROD]

instate?

 

[starl3tte]

Since you already took the MCAT and all of the pre-req's (I'm assuming), you probably should not go to a community college, since you'd only be able to take more lower div at a CC, which you obviously don't need. It'd be best to take upper div courses at a 4 year college. However, before you even do that, you should calculate how many courses you'd need to ace in order to bring your GPA up to a 3.5 (or whatever you are aiming for). You may end up deciding that it costs too much time and money to take all of those courses. I agree w/ previous posters' advice to go ahead and apply broadly this coming cycle. Your MCAT is high, and it sounds like you have a lot of relevant EC's.

 

[OrkidLover]

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