Postbac or Masters?

[sweetiep384]

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[njbmd]

I will graduate in May 2010, and I plan on pursuing a Masters in Public Health (MPH) before applying to medical school.

Problem is, my undergrad BCPM is below 3.0 while my overall GPA (including BCPM) is over 3.7

I have taken half the pre-reqs (Bio 1 & 2) and (Chem 1&2). I got C+ in 3 of these 4 courses, with an A in the 4th one. I will be taking Physics & Orgo next year. I am pretty sure I can do well now as I was very sick the first two years (hence the 3 C+'s)

While pursuing my MPH, I have the option of dualing up and also get a Masters in Biological Sciences (with some heavy science courses to help me boost up my BCPM GPA).

Alternatively, since most of my MPH classes are evening classes, I can individually re-take Bio 1 & 2, upper-level bio courses, etc. on my own at my alma mater (it's very near my MPH school).

Any recommendations? Thanks!

No graduate coursework outside of a SMP(such as the one offered at Georgetown of VCU) for pre-med grade enhancement will help your BCMP GPA. Post bacc work (repeat the classes at an undergraduate level) will boost your uGPA. A masters in biology will be seen as graduate work (as will the MPH) and will not offset that low uGPA.

My recommendation would be to get postbacc work done and then obtain the MPH if you are interested in public health but don't expect any graduate degree other than the SMPs to boost you for medical school admissions. It's the undergraduate GPA that counts.