Postbac help...

[Zaboo]

Hello All,

So I am having a hard time deciding what to do. I have been looking for a post-bac program but with AAMC down that isn't simple. I know most programs want a 3.0 but I am only at 2.84 for undergrad and I have only taken that basic biology course. I know SF state has a postbac program and I did my undergrad there. I love SF but I dont really want to go back to SF for my post bac. I also dont really have any medical/health experience in terms of volunteering or working and what not. Any suggestions? Thanks.

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[johnnyscans]

Hello All,

So I am having a hard time deciding what to do. I have been looking for a post-bac program but with AAMC down that isn't simple. I know most programs want a 3.0 but I am only at 2.84 for undergrad and I have only taken that basic biology course. I know SF state has a postbac program and I did my undergrad there. I love SF but I dont really want to go back to SF for my post bac. I also dont really have any medical/health experience in terms of volunteering or working and what not. Any suggestions? Thanks.

how do you know that you want to pursue a career in medicine when you haven't even stepped foot in a clinical setting?

 

[Zaboo]

how do you know that you want to pursue a career in medicine when you haven't even stepped foot in a clinical setting?

I am stil considering my options. I have been focused on going into an MPH program and am now considering MD/MPH programs. I want to know if it is even a viable option before redirecting my entire educational plans. I worked a lot in college which made getting experience difficult at the time but if I decide this is the route I want to take I will more actively pursue clinical experience before beginning a program.

 

[johnnyscans]

I am stil considering my options. I have been focused on going into an MPH program and am now considering MD/MPH programs. I want to know if it is even a viable option before redirecting my entire educational plans. I worked a lot in college which made getting experience difficult at the time but if I decide this is the route I want to take I will more actively pursue clinical experience before beginning a program.

You're approaching it backwards. Get clinical exposure and make sure there's nothing else you want to do before you pursue this path.

 

[JSReed]

You're approaching it backwards. Get clinical exposure and make sure there's nothing else you want to do before you pursue this path.

Agreed. Get clinical exposure, make sure this is something you really want to do. Then go back and do the postbacc and/or SMP to get yourself into med school.

Also, the standards for getting into an MD/MPH are the same for the MD. You don't do the MPH until after third year. So if you're trying to do that, your stats need to be good enough to get you into the SPH and med school, not just the former.

 

[thlaxer]

Also keep in mind the extra time you'll need to increase your GPA even after taking the basic pre-reqs. Is that something you would be willing to do? Not trying to discourage you, but your path will be longer than most people's unfortunately. As others have said, definitely get more clinical experience to make sure you want this before you start taking classes. Good luck

 

[smiley27]

Hello All,

So I am having a hard time deciding what to do. I have been looking for a post-bac program but with AAMC down that isn't simple. I know most programs want a 3.0 but I am only at 2.84 for undergrad and I have only taken that basic biology course. I know SF state has a postbac program and I did my undergrad there. I love SF but I dont really want to go back to SF for my post bac. I also dont really have any medical/health experience in terms of volunteering or working and what not. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Hi Zaboo,

I was in a similar position as you. I had a 2.7 gpa and was rejected by the health careers program at harvard extension. Ive never had clinical experience before starting on this premed journey. Ive never had a primary care physician growing up and can recall being in a hospital probably less than 5-10 times in my entire life. But i had a gut feeling that this is what i wanted to do. I had a burning desire, can't really articulate it. Maybe you feel the same way as i did.

I packed up my bags and moved to boston and took classes at HES anyway. Fast forward a year later i finished up a year of genchem and physics and will be completing bio and ochem this year. I went from no clinical experience to now being a patient escort in one of the nation's best (if not the best) hospitals, clinical research experience at another very good hospital and a lot of shadowing too. I'm also doing well in my classes and have never looked back or questioned my desire to wanting to become a physician. There is no second option for me. It's not a matter of if, but when.

The advised thing to do is get clinical experience first but i typed this out because maybe you have the same burning desire as i. School/postbac is expensive. Good luck with your decision.

 

[smiley27]

I was looking at doing my postbac at SFSU because i read on here that they're more forgiving to low gpas. Try looking uc berkeley or ucla extension. If you can't get into a formal postbac program you could look at any 4-year school and doing it on your own.