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This may be a bit long to explain, but any and all advice is welcome as I am driving myself crazy trying to figure out what to do.
I completed my undergrad in 2014 and within the past 2 years decided to pursue medicine. My main concerns are my low undergraduate GPAs (both cumulative and science) and I am in the process of trying to see if a post-bacc program or a masters program would be better for me. While trying to figure this out, I realized I had some questions pertaining to each course of action:
1) I know it has been several years since I have completed my pre-requisite courses for medical school and I understand some schools require these courses be completed within a certain number of years of applying. I was considering taking a pre-medical post-bacc to make sure all my pre-reqs are current and within the given time frame some schools require, but I am not sure if it matters that I have taken these classes in the past (in some cases I have even already repeated the class during my undergrad, so taking them during a post-bacc would mean taking them for a third time). Is this something I should be concerned with or is it okay since the classes would have "expired" for some schools and would need to be retaken regardless? (I understand I would have to do very well in the post-bacc since I have already taken the classes before) Would pre-medical post-baccs even allow me to apply as I have already taken the classes but may need to retake them?
2) I have missed the deadlines to apply for programs for this year and thought I would take some courses at my undergrad university in the meantime to increase my undergraduate GPAs and stay in the studying mentality. My concern with this is that I would like to take upper level courses (such as endocrinology and immunology). Should I happen to apply to a masters program, many of the programs offer graduate level courses like endocrinology and immunology and other courses that could also be taken at an undergraduate level. Since most masters programs are structured and give students no real choice as to which classes they can take other than what the program's curriculum offers, would medical schools look poorly upon seeing a student having taken a class, such as endocrinology, at an undergraduate level and then again at a graduate level? I would like to continue taking classes while I wait to enter a program, but am afraid it will be to my disadvantage if I take an undergrad course and then the graduate course in the masters program.
3) If I were to just stick with a pre-medical post-bacc, would taking upper level science electives during this coming fall and spring until I hopefully enter a program for Fall 2019 (during which I retake the pre-reqs) seem like an ok plan? (as to not waste this year and take classes that will help increase my undergrad GPA)
Additionally, is there a forum or website that exists that lists what school have a limit in the number of years within which the pre-reqs must be taken within the time of applying?
I understand there are a number of questions that I have asked, but any input would be greatly appreciated!
I completed my undergrad in 2014 and within the past 2 years decided to pursue medicine. My main concerns are my low undergraduate GPAs (both cumulative and science) and I am in the process of trying to see if a post-bacc program or a masters program would be better for me. While trying to figure this out, I realized I had some questions pertaining to each course of action:
1) I know it has been several years since I have completed my pre-requisite courses for medical school and I understand some schools require these courses be completed within a certain number of years of applying. I was considering taking a pre-medical post-bacc to make sure all my pre-reqs are current and within the given time frame some schools require, but I am not sure if it matters that I have taken these classes in the past (in some cases I have even already repeated the class during my undergrad, so taking them during a post-bacc would mean taking them for a third time). Is this something I should be concerned with or is it okay since the classes would have "expired" for some schools and would need to be retaken regardless? (I understand I would have to do very well in the post-bacc since I have already taken the classes before) Would pre-medical post-baccs even allow me to apply as I have already taken the classes but may need to retake them?
2) I have missed the deadlines to apply for programs for this year and thought I would take some courses at my undergrad university in the meantime to increase my undergraduate GPAs and stay in the studying mentality. My concern with this is that I would like to take upper level courses (such as endocrinology and immunology). Should I happen to apply to a masters program, many of the programs offer graduate level courses like endocrinology and immunology and other courses that could also be taken at an undergraduate level. Since most masters programs are structured and give students no real choice as to which classes they can take other than what the program's curriculum offers, would medical schools look poorly upon seeing a student having taken a class, such as endocrinology, at an undergraduate level and then again at a graduate level? I would like to continue taking classes while I wait to enter a program, but am afraid it will be to my disadvantage if I take an undergrad course and then the graduate course in the masters program.
3) If I were to just stick with a pre-medical post-bacc, would taking upper level science electives during this coming fall and spring until I hopefully enter a program for Fall 2019 (during which I retake the pre-reqs) seem like an ok plan? (as to not waste this year and take classes that will help increase my undergrad GPA)
Additionally, is there a forum or website that exists that lists what school have a limit in the number of years within which the pre-reqs must be taken within the time of applying?
I understand there are a number of questions that I have asked, but any input would be greatly appreciated!
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