Post bacc or Job Advice

[hikerdr]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

The first couple years of my undergrad at a my state university were very poor, due to illness and other family issues. However my last 2 years have been pretty competitive, especially for mid tier medical schools. This drastic upward trend has brought my cGPA up to a very non-competitive 3.07.
After my first couple years I kinda thought my chance at med school had passed, and I came to terms with that, found a great program in the sciences that had great job prospects, and continued on. As I overcame my initial academic challenges my grades drastically improved. But I still figured medical school was beyond my reach.
I pursued my alternate career path and I have been able to secure a great job offer by a large Fortune 100 company. Great salary, good benefits, in a good location, with lots of room for upward growth. But on a whim I also applied to a Post Bacc program with a great linkages into their med program. I wasn't completely sure I would even be a competive applicant because, even though I have done all the prerequisites, I have never taken the MCAT(good GRE score though) or really even planned on med school for over two years.
But as luck would have it, I was accepted into the postbacc program and now I have to make the decision between continuing on with my employment with this large F100 company or to pursue medical school by attempting this post bacc program.
I have always wanted to pursue medicine but due to extenuating circumstances felt I probably wouldn't be able to do it. Right now I am leaning toward the postbacc program, but am wanting a little advice to push me over the cliff of medical school.
So what advice would you give me? Should I take the risk and do the postbacc? Or should I continue on in my employment?

 

[bngli]

I found myself in a similar situation last year (Super conflicted about doing a last ditch SMP or taking a job offer, what would you do?), and I sort of find myself in the same situation now. My advice (and the advice I got when I made my thread): ask if you can defer for a year and do the job. I took this job two years after graduation and wish I took it right after graduation. It feels good to have a little money in the bank. To be able to take a couple of weeks off to travel (I used literally all of my vacation days on international travel).

I notice that your username is hikerdr, which gives me the impression that we may share interests in hiking/travel. Doing that kind of stuff while focusing on academics is hard - and once you start down the med school path, it is hard to get off and do that stuff if you want to. On the other hand, I met many people while traveling who took months off of work to travel.

Originally my plan was to only have this job for a year, but then I quickly got promoted and am debating going to the SMP. Although I am leaning towards the SMP after putting it off for a couple of years, I still like my job and worry that I might burn bridges if I want to come back (I'm leaving three months after my promotion to a new position).

I know you want us to tell you to do the postbacc, I felt the same way when I made my thread. But my true opinion is that you should delay for a year and take the job. That is the same advice I got when I asked, and I am very glad I took it.