Post Bacc Plans

[Kb1234]

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I wanted to know if my planned route to medical school sounds okay. I recently talked to my major counselor and he wasn't very supportive.

I will be graduating in two years with a BA in psychology. My plan was to go to a post bacc pre med program after graduating because I don't want to take my science classes while being an undergrad going for my bachelor. The reason for this was because science is my weakest subject and I don't want it to jeopardize my GPA. I'd have to balance them out along with my other undergrad subjects.

The counselor told me however that by completing all the required classes for a BA in psychology I still have a lot of blank credits. My counselor suggested that I fill these up with the science classes that are the prerequisite for med school. I said I'd rather not since I'm going with the post bacc premed program route. And since I don't want to jeopardize my GPA cos I know I'll probably get C's in those science class if I took them now. I'll probably minor in something to fill up those credits. And I don't want to take a lot of science classes now, I just need one to graduate, since most post bacc require you have less than a certain amount of credits in science. NYU only suggests 2 science as an undergrad & Hunter college was less than 15 credits.

He seemed displeased with this and I know that I'm not going with the traditional route where you try and do the prerequisite for med school as an undergrad and take the meat & hopefully get in to med school. I'm going the long route but I fee that it'll be better. If I were to take all prerequisite for med school now my GPA wouldn't be as high as it could if I didn't have them (assuming I get C's and B's which I know I will) and what if I don't get into med school? I'd basically be forced to take a post bacc too to increase my grades for those science classes.

My counselor doesn't seem to get my point and I'm worried I'm doing it wrong.

 

[SeverusSnape]

Hmm well first of all, don't go into things with the attitude that you'll definitely get B's and C's. Have some confidence.


I feel like it's important to let you know that science courses at a post-bac program aren't going to be any easier than taking them with other courses. As someone currently in a postbac program, I can honestly tell you it is intense. You're taking all your science courses at once with no "easy" classes thrown in there to balance things out. It's a lot of science, all at once, and you are expected to do well.

If you take some science courses now, but not so many that you exclude yourself from postbac programs, you may open up your schedule for some elective sciences while in a postbac program. Just something to think about.

Goodluck! Let me know if you've got any other questions.

 

[SeverusSnape]

and take the meat & hopefully get in to med school.

Also, what? I assume you meant MCAT? 🙂

 

[Kb1234]

Hmm well first of all, don't go into things with the attitude that you'll definitely get B's and C's. Have some confidence.


I feel like it's important to let you know that science courses at a post-bac program aren't going to be any easier than taking them with other courses. As someone currently in a postbac program, I can honestly tell you it is intense. You're taking all your science courses at once with no "easy" classes thrown in there to balance things out. It's a lot of science, all at once, and you are expected to do well.

If you take some science courses now, but not so many that you exclude yourself from postbac programs, you may open up your schedule for some elective sciences while in a postbac program. Just something to think about.

Goodluck! Let me know if you've got any other questions.

I struggled in high school with physics and chemistry and I know that med school is all about science but I really do want to become a doctor and I know if I give enough attention and really focus I'll really struggle but I'll pass them. I'm thinking of taking chemistry now since I need that to graduate. Also, what do you mean by elective science? Are those science classes that aren't a prerequisite to med school but would be nice to take? Like the recommended classes?

And yes I meant MCAT

 

[SeverusSnape]

Yup, that's absolutely what I meant by elective classes. A few people in my programs who have already taken a class or two are taking biochem, or assorted public health or psych classes. Especially for someone who's still two years away from graduating, maybe you want to check and see what classes are going to be suggested after the MCAT changes in a few years. I know there are some social sciences and stats along with some other recommended stuff. Maybe get those done rather than your 'hard sciences,' if you really want to do them in a postbac program?

Here's a link from University of Michigan's med school as an example: Click Here

 

[Kb1234]

Yup, that's absolutely what I meant by elective classes. A few people in my programs who have already taken a class or two are taking biochem, or assorted public health or psych classes. Especially for someone who's still two years away from graduating, maybe you want to check and see what classes are going to be suggested after the MCAT changes in a few years. I know there are some social sciences and stats along with some other recommended stuff. Maybe get those done rather than your 'hard sciences,' if you really want to do them in a postbac program?

Here's a link from University of Michigan's med school as an example: Click Here

Thank you so much for that link! The NYU & Hunter college wasn't as specific with the recommended class as that one. Would those recommended class by the michigan med school be somewhat similar to what other med schools would suggests?

 

[RegisBioMedMS]

Don't forget the $$ angle... a post-bacc like what you describe is pretty spendy.

I'm sorry I don't mean to offend, but I can see why your advisor was hesitant; I think you sound a lot like you are just putting off classes that you don't really want to take, which just won't work out in the long run. Are you sure you want to go into a science career? There are so many great things you can do out there beyond science. (Become a pre-health advisor, for example 🙂 ) What about OT? Take some time to look at other options... I really think you will find something that is more interesting for you. Not to sound trite, but you really need to be passionate about science and medicine to go through the wringer of medical school. It just won't happen otherwise.

Please go spend an hour in the office of your very favorite professor or career counselor type person. Open your mind to them and ask for their help. I think talking through this with someone supportive will help you a lot.

Best of luck as you find your path.

 

[Kb1234]

Don't forget the $$ angle... a post-bacc like what you describe is pretty spendy.

I'm sorry I don't mean to offend, but I can see why your advisor was hesitant; I think you sound a lot like you are just putting off classes that you don't really want to take, which just won't work out in the long run. Are you sure you want to go into a science career? There are so many great things you can do out there beyond science. (Become a pre-health advisor, for example 🙂 ) What about OT? Take some time to look at other options... I really think you will find something that is more interesting for you. Not to sound trite, but you really need to be passionate about science and medicine to go through the wringer of medical school. It just won't happen otherwise.

Please go spend an hour in the office of your very favorite professor or career counselor type person. Open your mind to them and ask for their help. I think talking through this with someone supportive will help you a lot.

Best of luck as you find your path.

I don't want to take them now because they'll jeopardize my GPA. Before I was aware of a post bacc program I already was planning to take all the prerequisite for med school during undergrad. It's not that I absolutely hate science classes but I'm just not that good in them. If I do take the science now I also don't think I'll be able to graduate in time since I've taken none so far. And if I do it now I'll probably have to double up the science classes. It's do-able but it's absolutely going to be tough having to balance it along with my foreign language class, math, etc. I've also always wanted to become a doctor so I don't really want to think about anything else, sadly I'm not naturally gifted to be extremely smart so it'll be tough for me