Postbac do I need it? Could it hurt?

[drholiday]

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Hey so here is my predicament I don't know whether I need to do a whole program a few classes.
I have earned As my Physics and Math/Statistics courses.
I earned Bs in Chemistry
Organic 1&2, B and C+ respectively
however, I received and A & A- in Human Physiology & Anatomy respectively.


So would it make sense to enroll in a post bac program even where I chose the courses or do I just take those two advanced courses?

This is my first post and maybe I wrote too much or maybe not enough.
Ask more questions if you think you could give advice

what would you recommend?

Thanks ahead of time. This is my first post so if someone has asked a question like this just send me a link.

 

[Lokhtar]

You may want to join a program like Special Science at Penn or Harvard and take upper level classes while studying for the MCAT. You will improve your GPA, maybe get a nice committee letter and not need to go through a dangerous SMP.

 

[Perrotfish]

what would you recommend? GPA is a 3.35 which I hear might be borderline since post bac programs are for those those who maybe scored 3.1 or lower. So if I do so/so I could hurt myself rather than just studying for the MCAT doing well and applying first.

First studying for the MCAT and doing well isn't really optional. You need to do that before the SMP admissions. Are you planning on taking the April MCAT?

In general, as you said, your grades are borderline. You seem to be aware of the risks and the costs of an SMP. You're also probably aware of the extremely high success rates for SMP applicants who do well. Also I hope you know that you might be borderline competitve for DO admissions with a good MCAT score. What you do next is really your decision.

 

[Essex]

• 1st year gpa: 3.0
• 2nd year gpa: 2.9
• 3rd year 1st term gpa: 3.9
• expected 3rd year gpa: 4.0
• expected overall gpa after 3rd year: 3.35
• assuming I continue my current trend of getting near 4.0s, I will finish my 4th year with about a 3.4
• MCATS untaken

I suppose now is the time to decide between whether to apply to med school (w/3.35 gpa), a postbac, or even possibly take a 5th year at my undergrad institution.

Q: Would 5th year grades be factored into the BCMP gpa? That would be a much-needed grade booster.

Q: I could also finish with a 3.4 and not go straight into a post-bac but have a lag year, but would a 3.4 wouldn't be that competitive, right?

 

[Lokhtar]

3.4 is low for allopathic medical school. A 5th year would certainly count in your undergrad and that's certainly an option. You may be able to pick up another minor or even a major in a related field in that time.

 

[drholiday]

Thanks guys.

 

[JMT]

Hey so here is my predicament I don't know whether I need to do a whole program a few classes.
I have earned As my Physics and Math/Statistics courses.
I earned Bs in Chemistry
Organic 1&2, B and C+ respectively
A's a freshman my school had a weird grading system so I earned a B/C in both Bio 1 & 2. (you can look at is as a B- or C+)gpa wise it counted like a C+
however, I received and A & A- in Human Physiology & Anatomy respectively.


So would it make sense to enroll in a post bac program even where I chose the courses or do I just take those two advanced courses?

This is my first post and maybe I wrote too much or maybe not enough.
Ask more questions if you think you could give advice

what would you recommend?

Thanks ahead of time. This is my first post so if someone has asked a question like this just send me a link.

From what I have read in the Post BAc programs, they don't except students who have completed many of the premed courses. It's only for students who have not taken any or only completed 1 or 2 premed courses