postbac help =(

[Islande]

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Hi,

I have a huge problem that I need sorted out. I am a third year at the moment and recently switched my major to Public Health from Bio. I went through a series of phases where I wanted to do research, then work in epidemiology, but now I realized I really want to be a physician.

So, I was considering applying to a postbac program. The thing is most of the premed classses I took while I was a bio major I didn't do well in, because I had some major family issues at the time. So there is this really bad trend in my grades from summer of freshman yr throughout sophmore year but I'm doing better now and hoping to get my gpa to at least a 3.5 by the time I graduate.

However, my problem is that I've been emailing postbac programs and the career changer programs have been telling me I don't qualify because I took O-chem and G-chem(ochem which can be retaken ) and I need to look into academic enhancer program, but when I emailed them they said I need to complete my pre-med requirements. So I don't know what to do =(

Does anyone know of any postbac programs that would take me?


Thanks

 

[Alvarez13]

Hi,

I have a huge problem that I need sorted out. I am a third year at the moment and recently switched my major to Public Health from Bio. I went through a series of phases where I wanted to do research, then work in epidemiology, but now I realized I really want to be a physician.

So, I was considering applying to a postbac program. The thing is most of the premed classses I took while I was a bio major I didn't do well in, because I had some major family issues at the time. So there is this really bad trend in my grades from summer of freshman yr throughout sophmore year but I'm doing better now and hoping to get my gpa to at least a 3.5 by the time I graduate.

However, my problem is that I've been emailing postbac programs and the career changer programs have been telling me I don't qualify because I took O-chem and G-chem(ochem which can be retaken ) and I need to look into academic enhancer program, but when I emailed them they said I need to complete my pre-med requirements. So I don't know what to do =(

Does anyone know of any postbac programs that would take me?


Thanks

When you say you didn't do well in your pre-med reqs, do you mean you failed, or just got C's or something? Did you actually pass these classes? If you've already completed all these classes and just got B and C's, then you may want to strive for some upper level classes (genetics, biochemistry, immunology) and prove yourself in those classes. If you flat out failed and didn't learn anything in the classes, you may want to retake them.

There's a lot of schools with Special Master's Programs (SMP) out there. Basically, you go back to school for a year and pickup a Masters to help enhance your record and prove you can handle med school. You'll find that most post-bacs are designed for people switching careers or who didn't take any science classes as an undergrad.

http://services.aamc.org/postbac/ has a big list of post-bacs and SMPs.

Also, put some effort into getting involved in shadowing/volunteering and really destroy the MCAT when the time comes. Hope that helps a little.

 

[Isoprop]

Hi,

I have a huge problem that I need sorted out. I am a third year at the moment and recently switched my major to Public Health from Bio. I went through a series of phases where I wanted to do research, then work in epidemiology, but now I realized I really want to be a physician.

So, I was considering applying to a postbac program. The thing is most of the premed classses I took while I was a bio major I didn't do well in, because I had some major family issues at the time. So there is this really bad trend in my grades from summer of freshman yr throughout sophmore year but I'm doing better now and hoping to get my gpa to at least a 3.5 by the time I graduate.

However, my problem is that I've been emailing postbac programs and the career changer programs have been telling me I don't qualify because I took O-chem and G-chem(ochem which can be retaken ) and I need to look into academic enhancer program, but when I emailed them they said I need to complete my pre-med requirements. So I don't know what to do =(

Does anyone know of any postbac programs that would take me?


Thanks

you can do an informal post-bacc arranged at a local state university. you are basically taking undergrad classes even though you already hold a degree. complete the required prereq classes and go from there. you can even retake the classes you did poorly in at an informal post-bacc. i would start there if i were you.

 

[Islande]

Thanks guys!


That helps a lot. The prereqs I took g-chem (I got B's and one C) but Ochem I did horrible in, but it's not because I didn't try I just was going through a hard time at the time. I know it's sounds like bs excuse but it really isn't.

I would retake the classes but I switched my major so I have about 20 units every quarter until I graduate =( and I haven't taken the Bio or Physics.The bio classes I took while in the major are general ed classes that non majors take so I don't think they count as premed courses.

Does anyone know what a Postbac certificate program is? or is the same thing you just get a certificate? Also, do you think the UC schools would take someone like me given my circumstances? I am involved in programs that serve URMs and I know they look at that in applicants.

When you say informal post bac at your local uni, does that include being an extension student? or is that something separate that schools have?

Thanks!! =)

 

[sunsfan]

You're still in your 3rd year, so isn't it too early to be thinking about postbac? I say do what you can do now. There's plenty of time to turn your situation around. If you failed the prepreqs, retake them like Alvarez said. If you just didnt get the grade you want but passed, don't worry, move on and do better in all other prereqs and upper div sciences from now on. If you can demonstrate an upward trend, and raise your GPA to 3.5 when you graduate like you said, you'll look great.
You may want to rethink your plan of taking 20 units per semester. Remember you want to do well. Extend a semester or two if you need to. With an improving GPA, good MCAT, solid ECs, you can apply to med school.
If it's still not enough, then consider postbac at that point.

 

[Islande]

See the thing is, the med school prereqs are not part of my major(Public Health) so that's why I can't take them during undergrad and was looking into doing a postbac.

To be honest, I don't want to be where I am right now. I just want to graduate with the highest gpa I can and get into a postbac where I can start over on a clean slate. If this is possible, I don't know.

There is definitely an upward trend in my grades. So only my last year looks really bad, do you think I should graduate and then maybe enroll as an extension student if I can't get into a postbac program?

 

[gman33]

I'd retake any prereq that you get less than a B- in and then just take the rest over the next two years. You may need to add a semester or two to get everything done. A postbacc program is nothing more than a way to take classes after you graduate. Just do well in the prereqs, get your gpa up and then focus on the MCAT.

 

[Islande]

Thanks again for all the advice!

I was just wondering, do medical school look down upon students who retook science classes? =/

 

[sunsfan]

(2x post... sorry)

 

[sunsfan]

See the thing is, the med school prereqs are not part of my major(Public Health) so that's why I can't take them during undergrad and was looking into doing a postbac.

Does your school has a hard-and-fast rule that you cannot take subjects that are not counted towards your major? I'm not an expert at university rules obviously, but do check that out. I think you can take med school prereqs regardless of major. In my school, I've met a number of Music/History/Psych majors taking medschool prereqs with us Science majors. Granted some of them declared Bio as a minor, but not because it was absolutely necessary to do so first before taking the classes.
If you can't do this at your university, then what I will do if I were in your shoes is I'll just suck it up, switch back to my old Bio major, DO BETTER from this point on, try to ace all the remaining prereqs and science classes. After you successfully turn your GPA around, it will be quite a story to tell the adcoms - how you dealt with an episode of indecision about Sci major /medical career and how you bounced back. 👍

To be honest, I don't want to be where I am right now. I just want to graduate with the highest gpa I can and get into a postbac where I can start over on a clean slate. If this is possible, I don't know.

Well, it's not going to be exactly the "clean slate" that you want in the sense that your undergrad record will not go away. UGRAD and POSTBAC (wherein you take ugrad classes) GPAs are pooled together.

There is definitely an upward trend in my grades. So only my last year looks really bad, do you think I should graduate and then maybe enroll as an extension student if I can't get into a postbac program?

An upward trend is a VERY good sign. Look no further. You can do something about your situation right now, no need to wait for postbac.

 

[Islande]

Does your school has a hard-and-fast rule that you cannot take subjects that are not counted towards your major? I'm not an expert at university rules obviously, but do check that out. I think you can take med school prereqs regardless of major. In my school, I've met a number of Music/History/Psych majors taking medschool prereqs with us Science majors. Granted some of them declared Bio as a minor, but not because it was absolutely necessary to do so first before taking the classes.
If you can't do this at your university, then what I will do if I were in your shoes is I'll just suck it up, switch back to my old Bio major, DO BETTER from this point on, try to ace all the remaining prereqs and science classes. After you successfully turn your GPA around, it will be quite a story to tell the adcoms - how you dealt with an episode of indecision about Sci major /medical career and how you bounced back. 👍


Well, it's not going to be exactly the "clean slate" that you want in the sense that your undergrad record will not go away. UGRAD and POSTBAC (wherein you take ugrad classes) GPAs are pooled together.


An upward trend is a VERY good sign. Look no further. You can do something about your situation right now, no need to wait for postbac.

My school doesn't have any strict rules to taking classes, if you're early in the process. I tried to switch back to bio earlier in the year but they would not let me because I have to be able to graduate in 4 years. They want to have everyone in and out within 4 years. So this is where I'm kinda screwed.

 

[Lokhtar]

Why not just stay at you univ for a bit extra and get the pre-reqs? And if you're in your third year, you can even take them as electives in addition to your workload. If you have two years, or a year and a half, thats plenty of time, especially if you take something over the summer.