Post-bacc or Second Bachelors for very low GPA - MD goal

[docgoals90]

If I do a second bachelors and do well, wouldnt that communicate a strong message about my ability and commitment? Or do they average your second and first GPAs?

My GPA is 2.0 (maybe 2.1 - it has been a few years) in political science and I think my credit hours were around 135. My grades improved toward the end but not enough to pull up the average.

Thats my only concern with postbacc option. It doesnt seem like it would be enough to raise my GPA to get into an MD program.

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[ADSigMel]

Medical schools will average all of your undergraduate coursework. The more additional coursework you do, the more opportunity you have to bring up your GPA. So I agree that, in your case, the second bachelor's might be the better option. If you were a poli sci major before, you might need quite a bit of prerequisite work anyway, so you may as well get another degree while you're at it.

 

[Shotapp]

You should also look into DO not just MD.

 

[Robin-jay]

If I do a second bachelors and do well, wouldnt that communicate a strong message about my ability and commitment? Or do they average your second and first GPAs?

My GPA is 2.0 (maybe 2.1 - it has been a few years) in political science and I think my credit hours were around 135. My grades improved toward the end but not enough to pull up the average.

Thats my only concern with postbacc option. It doesnt seem like it would be enough to raise my GPA to get into an MD program.

You have a long way to go.

1. Graduate with your political science degree strong.
2. figure out a DIY post-bac. to get accepted to a SMP
3. Do an SMP to get accepted to medical school

You got about 4-5 years ahead of you if all goes well. Best of luck.

 

[docgoals90]

You have a long way to go.

1. Graduate with your political science degree strong.
2. figure out a DIY post-bac. to get accepted to a SMP
3. Do an SMP to get accepted to medical school

You got about 4-5 years ahead of you if all goes well. Best of luck.

I already graduated with my B.A. in political science a few years ago. I'm going for a second degree, thus the title of this thread. I think I'll double major (same amount of work, just focusing my elective credits on a second major) in Biomedical Sciences (My School's pre-med track) and Behavioral Neurology, which I just find interesting on its own. Yes, I'm planning on 4 years, but I am also open to an extra year if 5 years helps me push it over the 3.0 line.

I feel pretty good about this option, since medical school is not a guarantee, even though I'm going to give it my 1000% effort. If I fail to get it after trying a few times, having another degree and the clinical/research experience during the next 4-5 years would open new doors in my career and maybe even build on what I've been doing/my previous interests. And I definitely feel like a second bachelors is key to building a solid foundation in science to help me do well on the MCAT and do better in medical school.

I don't think an SMP would be necessary if I'll be studying science for 4-5 years, but someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Also, many post-bacc options dont come with financial aid, aside from probably not being as strategic an option in my case.

 

[docgoals90]

I just wish I had been one of these people who wanted to be a doctor from day 1!

Side note - I'm 28 and a woman, and I wont lie...I feel like I'm taking a huge risk and probably nailing the coffin in any hope of having a child, but I'm hoping I realize that this is not as dire as it seems as I continue through this journey. Still, if I want to make it happen, it will take time and I have accepted that.

 

[GetThatAcetoned]

I finished my first degree with around a 2.2 and ~125 credit hours. I ended up doing a second bachelor's degree because my school's post-bacc programs required a minimum GPA. It took me about 2.5 years to get through everything and I still didn't get my GPA above a 3.0 even though I got almost a 4.0. Your GPA is so low that you'll never be able to get it into average matriculant range, but certain schools will highly value your sustained academic success if you're able to manage close to a 4.0 during your second degree / post-bacc. Luckily, you weren't a science major either so your sGPA should be fairly intact like mine was as well.

You gotta make sure you do really well on the MCAT though to have a decent shot at MD, but you need to be okay with going to DO route regardless because it may not pan out. If you aren't okay with going DO then this is probably too big of a risk for you to take on unless you have a plan B for your degree. You may need an SMP to give yourself a better chance at MD as well after your GPA repair, but it may not be necessary.

 

[docgoals90]

I finished my first degree with around a 2.2 and ~125 credit hours. I ended up doing a second bachelor's degree because my school's post-bacc programs required a minimum GPA. It took me about 2.5 years to get through everything and I still didn't get my GPA above a 3.0 even though I got almost a 4.0. Your GPA is so low that you'll never be able to get it into average matriculant range, but certain schools will highly value your sustained academic success if you're able to manage close to a 4.0 during your second degree / post-bacc. Luckily, you weren't a science major either so your sGPA should be fairly intact like mine was as well.

You gotta make sure you do really well on the MCAT though to have a decent shot at MD, but you need to be okay with going to DO route regardless because it may not pan out. If you aren't okay with going DO then this is probably too big of a risk for you to take on unless you have a plan B for your degree. You may need an SMP to give yourself a better chance at MD as well after your GPA repair, but it may not be necessary.

Yes, Plan B is important, which is why I prefer a Bachelors in a topic of interest (Behavioral Neuroscience) over multiple years of post-bacc prep work. I would see how to apply that degree to my background of nonprofit work and interest in policy or business in health care, or go into research or clinical psychology. I'll be fine on the plan B aspect, but yes, its definitely important to consider.

I prefer MD but I'm still learning about DO and I'm open to it. I know they are more open to considering improvement and accepting lower GPAs.

 

[mc_bio19]

I already graduated with my B.A. in political science a few years ago. I'm going for a second degree, thus the title of this thread. I think I'll double major (same amount of work, just focusing my elective credits on a second major) in Biomedical Sciences (My School's pre-med track) and Behavioral Neurology, which I just find interesting on its own. Yes, I'm planning on 4 years, but I am also open to an extra year if 5 years helps me push it over the 3.0 line.

I feel pretty good about this option, since medical school is not a guarantee, even though I'm going to give it my 1000% effort. If I fail to get it after trying a few times, having another degree and the clinical/research experience during the next 4-5 years would open new doors in my career and maybe even build on what I've been doing/my previous interests. And I definitely feel like a second bachelors is key to building a solid foundation in science to help me do well on the MCAT and do better in medical school.

I don't think an SMP would be necessary if I'll be studying science for 4-5 years, but someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Also, many post-bacc options dont come with financial aid, aside from probably not being as strategic an option in my case.

I would just make sure that if you're going to double-major you can handle the workload. As you're aware, your current undergrad GPA is too low to have any success, so everything is riding on you proving through this second bachelor's that you can handle the rigors. Just don't over-extend yourself on this second round! I know you said it should be the same amount of work (I'm assuming same number of classes), but generally in-major courses are more difficult than random electives. I wish you the best of luck on this journey!

 

[Shotapp]

A lot of people say they are going to get A's from here on out, but that's not always the case. The biological/chemical sciences are far more challenging than political sciences. You need to ease your way into your courses. I'm about to be 28 this year and I use to think about getting into medical school as quickly as possible. But this long process really humbles you and teaches you that everything will fall into place with time. Your age doesn't mean a thing. Take care of yourself mentally, physically and emotionally because this going to be a long journey (and it's just going to get harder).

 

[Forever Geebs]

Have you addressed the behaviors, study habits, commitment issues, etc. that may have contributed to your poor GPA? If not, double majoring and overloading on natural sciences is going to be really challenging.

 

[docgoals90]

I would just make sure that if you're going to double-major you can handle the workload. As you're aware, your current undergrad GPA is too low to have any success, so everything is riding on you proving through this second bachelor's that you can handle the rigors. Just don't over-extend yourself on this second round! I know you said it should be the same amount of work (I'm assuming same number of classes), but generally in-major courses are more difficult than random electives. I wish you the best of luck on this journey!

Definitely something I've thought about. I think the double major is a necessity tbh, but I'm going to start out the first semester with a balance of classes. For example, at this moment, my goal is to take 4 classes in the fall. One intro to psych class, an intro math requirement, a writing req class, and probably one soft elective. I will have to have a full load of science classes at one point, but I'm easing into it.

If possible, I'd like to take a summer class to make up for not carrying a full 5 class load during my first two semesters. If I could choose, that would be one soft gen ed req and one science class.

But I definitely hear you.

 

[docgoals90]

Have you addressed the behaviors, study habits, commitment issues, etc. that may have contributed to your poor GPA? If not, double majoring and overloading on natural sciences is going to be really challenging.

My grades drastically improved the last year of my BA in Poly Sci because I was actually doing the work. I just wasn't doing most of the work before. I believe it was a combination of growing out of maturity issues, discipline, bad habits extended from adolescence, fear of trying and then failing, perfectionism and procrastination, and beginning to work via internships. Once I started interning and being faced with the potential consequences of my actions in the real world ("I wont be able to have this life after school if I don't graduate and demonstrate improvement), everything changed. I was also changing a lot as a person at the time, I became a more positive, confident person, my relationships improved, and I just generally felt more energized to work for what I wanted. I'm sure actually working, trying and succeeding, contributed to this result. Not only that, but being humbled by not graduating on time and having to go back and repeat a couple classes was really a wake up call. Too late for my GPA, but that shift in mindset has carried me well since then.

But I'm absolutely conscious of the need for a good study strategy. I've been researching ways to be more efficient in my study habits, and I'm going to talk to advisement about this for further advice during my first couple weeks of school.

Also, I'm paying for it this time. I never intentionally wasted my parents' money, and I think the details I mentioned above were the most critical to my improvement. However, I do think theres something to be said for everything being on your shoulders. Kind of adds to the fire under your ass.

But if anyone has good links to effective study strategies, please post! 😍

 

[Goro]

If I do a second bachelors and do well, wouldnt that communicate a strong message about my ability and commitment? Or do they average your second and first GPAs?

My GPA is 2.0 (maybe 2.1 - it has been a few years) in political science and I think my credit hours were around 135. My grades improved toward the end but not enough to pull up the average.

Thats my only concern with postbacc option. It doesnt seem like it would be enough to raise my GPA to get into an MD program.

Read this:
Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention

 

[Forever Geebs]

My grades drastically improved the last year of my BA in Poly Sci because I was actually doing the work. I just wasn't doing most of the work before. I believe it was a combination of growing out of maturity issues, discipline, bad habits extended from adolescence, fear of trying and then failing, perfectionism and procrastination, and beginning to work via internships. Once I started interning and being faced with the potential consequences of my actions in the real world ("I wont be able to have this life after school if I don't graduate and demonstrate improvement), everything changed. I was also changing a lot as a person at the time, I became a more positive, confident person, my relationships improved, and I just generally felt more energized to work for what I wanted. I'm sure actually working, trying and succeeding, contributed to this result. Not only that, but being humbled by not graduating on time and having to go back and repeat a couple classes was really a wake up call. Too late for my GPA, but that shift in mindset has carried me well since then.

But I'm absolutely conscious of the need for a good study strategy. I've been researching ways to be more efficient in my study habits, and I'm going to talk to advisement about this for further advice during my first couple weeks of school.

Also, I'm paying for it this time. I never intentionally wasted my parents' money, and I think the details I mentioned above were the most critical to my improvement. However, I do think theres something to be said for everything being on your shoulders. Kind of adds to the fire under your ass.

But if anyone has good links to effective study strategies, please post! 😍

That's great to hear. What's your upcoming schedule for fall semester look like?

 

[docgoals90]

That's great to hear. What's your upcoming schedule for fall semester look like?

Well, actually now I'm not so sure. An advisor from my alma mater just confirmed today that they no longer allow students to pursue second bachelor's degrees. I can still do the post-bacc program, but I've already expressed how I feel about that here. Today I've been emailing admissions/advisors at different bachelors programs of interest throughout NYC. (If anyone has any good suggestions in NYC, let me know!) I may have to do one year of post-bacc and then use that to get into a bachelor's program. I'd really rather not do all that, but, gotta do what you gotta do.

I'll update after I figure out what's going on for sure. Given the time, it may be a spring semester deal, which is not my preference but could also be a positive thing. I could get a job in a hospital throughout the fall. I'm going to try to get into something for fall though.

 

[NoSleeptilBKLN]

Have you addressed the behaviors, study habits, commitment issues, etc. that may have contributed to your poor GPA? If not, double majoring and overloading on natural sciences is going to be really challenging.

Best advice I've heard all day.