Post-Bac/Masters Advice

[Member 238710]

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Hey SDN,

I am a current senior at a top 15, prestigious university and have a 3.1 major GPA, a 2.9 science GPA and got a 19 on the MCAT (5-V, 7-PS, 7-BS). I am going to re-take the MCAT during this summer in August/September. Prior to that I am planning on taking the GRE within the next month to strengthen applications for post-bac/masters programs. My goal is to apply to medical schools in the upcoming fall for admission in Fall 2014.

I am planning on either doing a post-bac or masters program during the gap-year. I know that I am not nearly competitive for applying to med school right now and that I have a lot of work to do. I am ready to buckle down and get ready to crush the MCATduring this summer as well as put all of my effort into getting a 4.0 at the post-bac/masters program. (MCAT practice tests were around a 29).

I have been researching quite heavily on different programs that I can apply to. I am interested in programs that have some type of linkage program to a medical school or something with a potential guarantee or interview. I have looked into Drexel, NYMC, Case Western, and a few others. Other programs are fine as well, but they need to be academic enhancers.

Questions for SDN:
1) Any suggestions/thoughts on different programs you or friends have attended?
2) Do I need to submit my MCAT score to these programs if they do not require an MCAT score for admission? I would be planning on sending the GRE scores.

Thanks.

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

Hey SDN,

I am a current senior at a top 15, prestigious university and have a 3.1 major GPA, a 2.9 science GPA and got a 19 on the MCAT (5-V, 7-PS, 7-BS). I am going to re-take the MCAT during this summer in August/September. Prior to that I am planning on taking the GRE within the next month to strengthen applications for post-bac/masters programs. My goal is to apply to medical schools in the upcoming fall for admission in Fall 2014.

I am planning on either doing a post-bac or masters program during the gap-year. I know that I am not nearly competitive for applying to med school right now and that I have a lot of work to do. I am ready to buckle down and get ready to crush the MCATduring this summer as well as put all of my effort into getting a 4.0 at the post-bac/masters program. (MCAT practice tests were around a 29).

I have been researching quite heavily on different programs that I can apply to. I am interested in programs that have some type of linkage program to a medical school or something with a potential guarantee or interview. I have looked into Drexel, NYMC, Case Western, and a few others. Other programs are fine as well, but they need to be academic enhancers.

Questions for SDN:
1) Any suggestions/thoughts on different programs you or friends have attended?
2) Do I need to submit my MCAT score to these programs if they do not require an MCAT score for admission? I would be planning on sending the GRE scores.

Thanks.

You mean you're applying this cycle, summer 2013, with a 3.1 and a 19? I don't think you'll have much success. I would hold off and do the courses and MCAT stuff before dropping an app.

 

[Doctor Strange]

If you're applying for admission in Fall 2014, then that would mean you would be applying this coming cycle. In that case, a August/September MCAT would be very late. Given that fact and your abysmal GPA, there's no way you're getting into shape for a Fall 2014 matriculation. I'm telling you flat out that there is no way. You're going to need to work on your application for longer than that.

No, of course you don't have to send an MCAT score to a program that doesn't ask for one. *facepalm*

 

[Member 238710]

Sorry- let me clarify.

I would like to apply for post-bac/master's this semester and do that during the Fall 2013 to Spring 2014. I would like to apply during the Fall of 2013 for med school with the hopes that they will take into account the first semester post-bac/masters grades and the late MCAT before making a decision.

Multiple post-bac/master programs I have spoken with have suggested that this is a possibility if I am capable of doing well during the program and MCAT this summer.

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

Sorry- let me clarify.

I would like to apply for post-bac/master's this semester and do that during the Fall 2013 to Spring 2014. I would like to apply during the Fall of 2013 for med school with the hopes that they will take into account the first semester post-bac/masters grades and the late MCAT before making a decision.

Multiple post-bac/master programs I have spoken with have suggested that this is a possibility if I am capable of doing well during the program and MCAT this summer.

Yeah I'm gonna say no way. You will be applying way too late and will not have one semester of grades until December. That will not affect your GPA very much, even if you murder the MCAT and your classes. Don't rush it and waste your parents money.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Sorry- let me clarify.

I would like to apply for post-bac/master's this semester and do that during the Fall 2013 to Spring 2014. I would like to apply during the Fall of 2013 for med school with the hopes that they will take into account the first semester post-bac/masters grades and the late MCAT before making a decision.

Multiple post-bac/master programs I have spoken with have suggested that this is a possibility if I am capable of doing well during the program and MCAT this summer.

I wouldn't recommend applying at all this year. You're most likely going to have a bad time, even if you do well on the MCAT. Just finish the post bac/masters, take the MCAT when you're ready, and apply the following cycle. There's no use wasting your money this year on a pipe dream.

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

Although I eye rolled at the "prestigious top 15 university" thing, I'm legitimately curious why you yhink you bombed the MCAT and science courses? Did you just not study or just have a really bad run? I'm always interested in understanding why some people max their performance and others don't.

 

[LizzyM]

I concur... applying in Fall 2013 for matriculation in medical school 2014 would be a crap shoot if you had a gpa of 3.5 and an MCAT of 30. With your stats, it is pure madness!

A science gpa of < 3.0 and an MCAT of < 20 are predictors of disasterous results in medical school. Maybe you can do a "180" and excell in a special master's program, retake the MCAT, and apply in June 2014 or June 2015 and get admitted but trying to rush this will wear you out, impoverish you, and leave you in dispair.

 

[Member 238710]

Thank you for the prompt responses.

Okay- so let's say that I wait until Summer 2014 to apply for med school admission, after having done the post-bac/masters program (getting an awesome GPA) and re-taking the MCAT (getting around a 32).

Any suggestions on good post-bac/masters programs that I should look to apply to right now for the Fall of 2013?

 

[Spinach Dip]

Retake the MCAT. The chances of getting in anywhere with a 19 are just about 0.00%.

My suggestion would be this: Apply for your SMPs/Post-Bacs now. This summer, study for and take the MCAT again. Given your GPA, you should aim for a 30 or better to have a chance at any school. (Even the bottom-tier schools.)



So to summarize:

Spring '13: Apply to SMP/Post-Bac programs
Summer '13: MCAT
Fall '13-Spring '14: Focus on classes. Work on ECs
Summer '14: Apply to schools.



JMHO

 

[Cambino]

I concur... applying in Fall 2013 for matriculation in medical school 2014 would be a crap shoot if you had a gpa of 3.5 and an MCAT of 30. With your stats, it is pure madness!

A science gpa of < 3.0 and an MCAT of < 20 are predictors of disasterous results in medical school. Maybe you can do a "180" and excell in a special master's program, retake the MCAT, and apply in June 2014 or June 2015 and get admitted but trying to rush this will wear you out, impoverish you, and leave you in dispair.

Retake the MCAT. The chances of getting in anywhere with a 19 are just about 0.00%.

My suggestion would be this: Apply for your SMPs/Post-Bacs now. This summer, study for and take the MCAT again. Given your GPA, you should aim for a 30 or better to have a chance at any school. (Even the bottom-tier schools.)



So to summarize:

Spring '13: Apply to SMP/Post-Bac programs
Summer '13: MCAT
Fall '13-Spring '14: Focus on classes. Work on ECs
Summer '14: Apply to schools.



JMHO

/thread

 

[OneTwoThreeFour]

Retake the MCAT. The chances of getting in anywhere with a 19 are just about 0.00%.

My suggestion would be this: Apply for your SMPs/Post-Bacs now. This summer, study for and take the MCAT again. Given your GPA, you should aim for a 30 or better to have a chance at any school. (Even the bottom-tier schools.)



So to summarize:

Spring '13: Apply to SMP/Post-Bac programs
Summer '13: MCAT
Fall '13-Spring '14: Focus on classes. Work on ECs
Summer '14: Apply to schools.



JMHO

I wouldn't even take the MCAT again, yet. I'd do the post-bacc, retake the courses (since he/she probably didn't get a full understanding of the material--hence the 2.9 GPA and the 19 MCAT), and then if you do well take the MCAT after that. There are plenty of programs with summer classes, so that could be started right away.