Post Bacc questions *please help*

[snoofle]

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I've graduated from my state university with a 3.2 and a BS in psychology and sociology and made a 1210 on the GRE. I'm going to either Emory or Tulane for my MPH in the fall and want to go to med school afterwards, I've taken 2 gen chem classes and made C's in them =/ but am now really focused on going to med school so i think i can succeed at organic, physics, biochem, etc.

My questions are what should i exactly look for in a post bacc program? I need to really increase my science GPA so i know i need to take those classes, but the university (University of Georgia) i graduated from offers a science post bacc program, so would something like that be okay? or should i look for a well known pre med post bacc program?

my other question is if i go to Emory for my MPH, i've been told my students there that you can take as many undergrad or grad level classes as you want in addition to your Masters requirements. So if i were to take organic, physics, etc. would that be okay or should i just go for a separate post bacc program after i get my MPH?

 

[drizzt3117]

Are you getting a MPH for the purpose of being accepted to medical school, or are you doing it because you're interested in it? MPH isn't going to help that much as far as admissions goes, at least not as much as a hard science degree.

 

[prettyslick]

Yes, the consesus seems to be that M.S (unless its SMP) doesnt help much since it does not improve your uGPA. Its a separate GPA. When did you graduate? And when do you plan to apply to medical school?

 

[snoofle]

No im not getting the MPH for med school, I figured it wont help much, but i also figured it wouldnt hurt. I initially did it for public health purposes but want to merge the MD and MPH together for research purposes in the future and I graduated from UGA july 2007.

I realize the MPH and my UG GPA will be 2 different things. So would it be in my best interest to do a separate Post Bacc at a recognized pre med post bacc program? do it at UGA? or would it be ok to take those few science classes (not in a post bacc program) I need at Emory while doing my MPH requirements

 

[drizzt3117]

No im not getting the MPH for med school, I figured it wont help much, but i also figured it wouldnt hurt. I initially did it for public health purposes but want to merge the MD and MPH together for research purposes in the future and I graduated from UGA july 2007.

I realize the MPH and my UG GPA will be 2 different things. So would it be in my best interest to do a separate Post Bacc at a recognized pre med post bacc program? do it at UGA? or would it be ok to take those few science classes (not in a post bacc program) I need at Emory while doing my MPH requirements

Yeah you can take the premed courses at Emory, but you're going to want to raise your UG GPA a bit more than that if you want to have a good shot at med school, most likely.

 

[pamolive]

So you still need to take your prereqs? I'd say, go for an established premed post bac program like drexel, BU, or Georgetown. Make sure that they offer undergrad credit, not just graduate credit. Did you take the MCAT yet? If so, how did you do?

 

[snoofle]

no..no MCAT or anything b/c i still need to take physics, organic, and biochem so i wanted to get those out of the way before i attempted the MCAT

 

[Psychometrician]

Make sure that they offer undergrad credit, not just graduate credit.

This is interesting. I thought the grades you got from post-bac programs were always separate from your uGPA. Are you saying there are programs that include your post-bac grades with your uGPA, thereby raising it?

 

[drizzt3117]

This is interesting. I thought the grades you got from post-bac programs were always separate from your uGPA. Are you saying there are programs that include your post-bac grades with your uGPA, thereby raising it?

Yep. All non-SMP postbac classes will be factored into your cumulative undergrad GPA.

 

[prettyslick]

Yep. All non-SMP postbac classes will be factored into your cumulative undergrad GPA.

Classes taken at post-bacc program like Bryn Mawr would factor in your uGPA?

 

[snoofle]

so even if im not in a formal post bacc program and im just taking my undergrad classes while im doing my masters classes..does anyone know if that will factor into my undergrad gpa?

 

[prettyslick]

so even if im not in a formal post bacc program and im just taking my undergrad classes while im doing my masters classes..does anyone know if that will factor into my undergrad gpa?

hmm. Not sure if you take undergrad classes WHILE doing masters, don't think it will count towards uGPA. Can anyone confirm this?

 

[snoofle]

hmm. Not sure if you take undergrad classes WHILE doing masters, don't think it will count towards uGPA. Can anyone confirm this?

the school im going to for my masters allows students to take as many classes as they want, undergrad and grad, in addition to their masters load as long as they can handle it..itd be a real money saver if it did count to my Ugpa..so if anyone knows..please do confirm

 

[prettyslick]

the school im going to for my masters allows students to take as many classes as they want, undergrad and grad, in addition to their masters load as long as they can handle it..itd be a real money saver if it did count to my Ugpa..so if anyone knows..please do confirm

I am pretty sure it won't count towards your uGPA but I am not a 100% positive on this.

 

[snoofle]

then does it really matter where i go for my post bacc? can i just go to my state college or alumni college if they offer a science post bacc program? instead of drexel, georgetown, etc.

 

[prettyslick]

I asked that GPA question in Pre-Allo forum. Someone will reply.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=493485

 

[drizzt3117]

Classes taken at post-bacc program like Bryn Mawr would factor in your uGPA?

yes.

 

[drizzt3117]

I am not sure what the AMCAS policy is on taking undergrad classes while enrolled in a graduate program. My guess would be that they will not count towards your undergrad GPA. Keep in mind that if they aren't on your transcript for undergrad purposes, they also can't be used as prereqs, AFAIK.

 

[drizzt3117]

then does it really matter where i go for my post bacc? can i just go to my state college or alumni college if they offer a science post bacc program? instead of drexel, georgetown, etc.

Yes, you can. That said, Drexel and GT aren't undergrad postbac programs though, if you're talking about the SMPs, they are special masters programs where you take classes with med students and are completely different than a formal postbac, where you take classes with undergrads and other postbacs. There are advantages to doing postbac at good postbac programs, though, such as committee letters and the reputation of the program, but you need to weigh that against your chances of admission, geography, and cost.

 

[snoofle]

I asked that GPA question in Pre-Allo forum. Someone will reply.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=493485

thanks so much for your help on this!

 

[gman33]

Classes will factor into your UG gpa if they are UG classes. It doesn't matter where or when you take them.
The benefits to a formal post-bacc program are: advising, LORs, class availabilty, linkage and like minded students. Different programs offer this to varying degrees. If you don't feel you need this, then just take the classes at any 4 year school. Med schools don't really care where you take the classes. Just do really well in them.

I wouldn't pursue an MPH until you had your UG gpa in order. Focus on getting into med school first and then do a combined MD/MPH if you are still interested. It won't really help you at all if your UG GPA is low.