Post-Bac Help/Advice please!

[joshmd13]

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Hi! I have a strange profile deciding to pursue a medical career. I am graduating from UCLA in June 2016 with a BA in economics (and a minor in neuroscience). I currently have a very low 2.3 science GPA and a 3.0 cumulative GPA. I have taken about 2/3 or 3/4 of typical medical school prereqs, but I didn't do well on them. I haven't taken the MCAT. I also have minimal recent experiences and extracurriculars in the medical field.

And yeah I know my record is horrible and I should be discouraged and all of that but if people can decide to pursue medical school years after their undergraduate career I believe I can turn my life around this much earlier. I know I will have to do post-bac work, but what are my best options?

I've been doing research and usually post-bac pre-med work falls into two categories of academic record enhancers or career changers. I don't even know which one I fall into with my profile. My science GPA is too low for most formal post-bac programs and graduate programs, and I don't know if I can really retake my premed requisites since I already technically passed them here. If anyone has advice or even a place to start let me know!

 

[bobdole112]

Definitely raise your gpas to at least a 3.0 so you will at least be 'in range' of being looked at by Medical Colleges. Then you need to do Great on the Mcat, probably higher percentiles.

As you said, you can't get into post baccs with your low gpa. Just keep taking classes to raise the gaps to a 3.0, do your best on the mcat, and get some extracurriculars in... Another tip is to work and take classes and study for the mcat. Not easy, but you have to adapt to have the best chance of getting into DO school.

MD I think is too much of a stretch at this point.

 

[fireflygirl]

I would also recommend perhaps taking a break from all the schooling and looking into working for a university or medical school that has research opportunities and perhaps putting some space between your record and applying. It might be helpful to gain some real experience in the field to also reiterate your interest and get a sense if this is truly what you want. You can also find post-bacs that are affiliated with major universities and maybe work and take a class at a time (this is what I did). Also prep well for the MCAT and don't rush trying to get into medical school. Take your time, bring up your sGPA and look into all of your possibities for schooling.