Post-Bacc Dilemma

[prettylittledoctor22]

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Hey everyone,

I recently got accepted into a post-bacc program at a very good university. A little about myself-- I have a 3.6 gpa (both science and total), and I have not taken the MCAT because never confident enough to take it (in hindsight I think this helped me because I don't have a poor MCAT under my belt). I have until tomorrow to decide whether I will take the offer to attend the prestigious university. I have a lot of things going for me in terms of extracurriculars, volunteering, clinical experience, etc. However, as you can see, my GPA isn't so great and the MCAT scares me to death. I plan on taking the MCAT in May and the program would begin late May. My major concern is that the program is around $40K. Is it worth it? If you were in my shoes, what would you do? I'm taking a gap year and this post-bacc would require me to take an extra gap year on top of the one I was already planning on taking.

Thanks!

 

[darkjedi]

It depends on what you're looking for. Have you taken your pre-reqs already and looking for a GPA boost, or are you switching careers?

In the career changer post-bacc world, prestige of the undergrad university means nothing. Schools like Columbia have impressive ugrad reputations, but in actuality are terrible postbacs. Bryn Mawr, Goucher, Scripps and now Johns Hopkins are probably the best programs. If this is the case, you don't take the MCAT until after your postbac is over.

A 3.6 is also not bad by any stretch. It is probably just under the median for accepted students. If you're doing a postbac for the GPA, you probably don't need one anyway.

 

[prettylittledoctor22]

It depends on what you're looking for. Have you taken your pre-reqs already and looking for a GPA boost, or are you switching careers?

In the career changer post-bacc world, prestige of the undergrad university means nothing. Schools like Columbia have impressive ugrad reputations, but in actuality are terrible postbacs. Bryn Mawr, Goucher, Scripps and now Johns Hopkins are probably the best programs. If this is the case, you don't take the MCAT until after your postbac is over.

A 3.6 is also not bad by any stretch. It is probably just under the median for accepted students. If you're doing a postbac for the GPA, you probably don't need one anyway.

The post-bacc would be at JHU, and I really liked everything I researched about it and the program in general when I had the interview. My GPA isn't too fantastic, and I thought that the post-bacc would definitely give me a higher chance of getting into medical school--especially since the MCAT has given me so much anxiety for the past year.

 

[dellprecision]

The post-bacc would be at JHU, and I really liked everything I researched about it and the program in general when I had the interview. My GPA isn't too fantastic, and I thought that the post-bacc would definitely give me a higher chance of getting into medical school--especially since the MCAT has given me so much anxiety for the past year.

Doesn't Hopkins have a network of linkages to other medical schools? Those can be very valuable if you can pursue them.

A 3.6 isn't a bad GPA, and would already be very competitive for DO schools.As mentioned earlier, are you re-taking courses, or are you changing fields? I assume that it's the latter since my understanding is that JHU's post-bacc is designed for applicants who have completed less than half of their pre-reqs, so most of these courses would be new to you. If you're trying to re-take all your pre-reqs, then I don't know how useful this will be for MD schools, as I would argue that even a SMP would probably be more useful for you (feel free to disagree with me and to provide counterpoints if anyone has them, I don't want to give any misleading info by accident.)

 

[JPA178]

The post-bacc would be at JHU, and I really liked everything I researched about it and the program in general when I had the interview. My GPA isn't too fantastic, and I thought that the post-bacc would definitely give me a higher chance of getting into medical school--especially since the MCAT has given me so much anxiety for the past year.

Are you talking about the career-changer post-bac program at JHU, or the JHU Health Science Intensive post-bac program for GPA improvement?

 

[LizzyM]

Hey everyone,

I recently got accepted into a post-bacc program at a very good university. A little about myself-- I have a 3.6 gpa (both science and total), and I have not taken the MCAT because never confident enough to take it (in hindsight I think this helped me because I don't have a poor MCAT under my belt). I have until tomorrow to decide whether I will take the offer to attend the prestigious university. I have a lot of things going for me in terms of extracurriculars, volunteering, clinical experience, etc. However, as you can see, my GPA isn't so great and the MCAT scares me to death. I plan on taking the MCAT in May and the program would begin late May. My major concern is that the program is around $40K. Is it worth it? If you were in my shoes, what would you do? I'm taking a gap year and this post-bacc would require me to take an extra gap year on top of the one I was already planning on taking.

Thanks!

If you have taken the courses needed to sit for the MCAT and you are sitting for the MCAT in May, why not just apply for med school and find something to do for the gap year (work, etc)?

What do you expect to get out of the "post bac"? (is it undergrad classes or a graduate degree program?) If you don't get into med school, will this additional coursework help you get a job in some field or other?

 

[prettylittledoctor22]

I am talking about the Health Science Program, not the career changers. I have already completed all my pre-reqs

 

[prettylittledoctor22]

If you have taken the courses needed to sit for the MCAT and you are sitting for the MCAT in May, why not just apply for med school and find something to do for the gap year (work, etc)?

What do you expect to get out of the "post bac"? (is it undergrad classes or a graduate degree program?) If you don't get into med school, will this additional coursework help you get a job in some field or other?

I expected to get a Masters that would look good to med school and perhaps boost my gpa. I'm interested in MD tbh so i'm trying to pursue that first. Not that I am against DO by any means, but I am giving it my best shot!

 

[LizzyM]

I expected to get a Masters that would look good to med school and perhaps boost my gpa. I'm interested in MD tbh so i'm trying to pursue that first. Not that I am against DO by any means, but I am giving it my best shot!

A great graduate GPA doesn't count much in the med admissions process because there is the perception that graduate classes suffer from severe grade inflation compared with undergrad. (And a bad graduate GPA will kill any chance you might have had.)

Will you be a much stronger applicant with a MS? In part, it depends on your MCAT. Frankly, I'd save the $40K and try an admission cycle without the MS and then consider the MS later if at first you don't succeed. But the biggest issue will be the MCAT and you have enough time to prepare for that now and do well. Then get your ducks in a row to submit the AMCAS application.

 

[mehc012]

I am talking about the Health Science Program, not the career changers. I have already completed all my pre-reqs

Sounds like a waste of $40k to me.
If I were you, I would focus far more on rocking your upcoming MCAT than 'fixing' your not-problematic gpa (and on that note, I'd work on getting perspective on how 'bad' your gpa really is).

Check out this thread: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...with-your-cgpa-and-mcat.888650/#post-12108119
In the middle of the range, you get far more traction out of an extra 2pts on your MCAT than the <0.1 extra points which is the MAX you'll add to your gpa even if you pull a 4.0 from now on and took only the bare minimum of credits in only 4yrs of undergrad.

So spend $2k on a prep course, $500 in extra prep materials and practice tests, whatever floats your boat...if you do even slightly better on the MCAT for the extra attention, you'll make the same progress for less money.

 

[candbgirl]

IMO you should take a MCAT course and then take the test, your GPA is solid but we can't advise you on your chances without the MCAT. In the meantime go read up on the rep JHU has for grad deflation. You just might be shooting yourself in the foot enrolling in the program.

 

[prettylittledoctor22]

I did take an MCAT course for the old one, but still wasn't able to succeed on practice tests. I have pretty bad depression/anxiety so it makes me worried if medical school is for me at all. That's why when I got this post-bacc offer I got very happy because it is competitive.

 

[dellprecision]

I did take an MCAT course for the old one, but still wasn't able to succeed on practice tests. I have pretty bad depression/anxiety so it makes me worried if medical school is for me at all. That's why when I got this post-bacc offer I got very happy because it is competitive.

This sounds like you're willing to spend a lot of money for a chance to marginally improve an aspect of your application that isn't even that weak.

 

[prettylittledoctor22]

This sounds like you're willing to spend a lot of money for a chance to marginally improve an aspect of your application that isn't even that weak.

Really? I constantly hear on SDN how you need to have a top notch GPA?
I started doing really well my freshmen sophomore years, but junior year I took on way too much than I can handle and as a result suffered tremendously in many aspects.

 

[candbgirl]

No matter how prestigious the program is you will
still have to take the MCAT to get into med school. And that is just the first of many tests you will be required to take in your medical career! Your focus really needs to be on conquering your phobia with the MCAT. Why spend $40k + when what you really need is to take a test? By enrolling in the JHU program you are just putting off the inevitable or do you think med schools will just somehow waive the MCAT for you?

 

[dellprecision]

Really? I constantly hear on SDN how you need to have a top notch GPA?
I started doing really well my freshmen sophomore years, but junior year I took on way too much than I can handle and as a result suffered tremendously in many aspects.

Could your GPA prevent you from being accepted to a top MD school? Depends on your definition of "top", and most likely, yes (assuming you don't have superstar EC's and a killer MCAT score).

But if you apply broadly and smartly (research schools and apply early), there will plenty of MD schools who will be willing to give you a chance to present yourself with your stats assuming that all other aspects of your app (clinical experiences, EC's, MCAT score, LoR's, PS) are strong.

 

[prettylittledoctor22]

Honestly, I just want to get into an MD program--don't care which one, I just want to get in. I see what you all are saying, and I really appreciate your advice. Not doing the post-bacc looks like it is in my best interest, and I really should focus on beating the MCAT, because I think all my other qualifications are pretty good. Sorry to change the subject, but what would you suggest for someone like me? I studied for the MCAT twice and had to cancel both times because my practice scores were terrible. I really need to rock the MCAT (in May). Any suggestions?

 

[cidem2065]

I studied for the MCAT twice and had to cancel both times because my practice scores were terrible.

Define this.

 

[prettylittledoctor22]

Define this.

sub 20's.

 

[cidem2065]

sub 20's.

How about each section? Were the scores consistent?

 

[prettylittledoctor22]

yeah they were pretty much very low for every section. The timing is my major problem--i get very anxious.

 

[mehc012]

yeah they were pretty much very low for every section. The timing is my major problem--i get very anxious.

This sounds like a MUCH bigger obstacle to tackle than your gpa, which again is on the good side of decent. If you're going to spend $$$ anywhere, it's on taking the time to address your test-taking issues before you get into a high-speed race of standardized testing that determines your future.

 

[Goro]

One of the perversions of SDN is that one has to has a 4.0 GPA to get into medical school. Pay careful attention: You don't.

A 3.6 cGPA and sGPA are the medians for accepted MD students (~3.4+ for DO schools). A 3.4 is at the low end of competitive for MD schools, and even that might not be lethal depending upon your state of residence.

So, to summarize:

Your GPA is competitive for medical school right now.
The postbac won't help you all that much and might even hurt you
All you need now is a decent MCAT (90th%+ for MD schools, equivalent to a 30+)

If you had a downward GPA trend, then the postbac might indeed be helpful. But if it's U- or V-shaped curve, forget the post-bac.

Go see a therapist about your test-taking anxiety. Do NOT take the MCAT until you fix this problem. Only take the MCAT when you're 100% ready.

Really? I constantly hear on SDN how you need to have a top notch GPA?
I started doing really well my freshmen sophomore years, but junior year I took on way too much than I can handle and as a result suffered tremendously in many aspects.

 

[cidem2065]

yeah they were pretty much very low for every section. The timing is my major problem--i get very anxious.

Well you made a smart move in not taking it yet. Your GPA is not the issue here and I think it's clear what is. If you can find a way to overcome that I think you'll find a lot of success come application time.

 

[prettylittledoctor22]

Thank you everyone, I really appreciate your insight! I will do everything I can to make sure that the MCAT won't deter me from medical school.