Postbacc help please

[plee]

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Hi,

Background edu:
I recently graduated from a UC with a GPA slightly under 3.0 (2.9x). I know a lot of postbacc programs require you to have a minimum of 3.0 and are very strict upon this rule. I looked through many threads and have written down some information on a couple of schools. I took the MCAT once and got a 23. My financial situation is not that great either, but I'm willing to sacrifice a couple of bucks to go to a post bacc that can give me higher chances to getting into med school..

I don't mind out of state too much, again if the post bacc can give me higher chances, but my preference would be in California somewhere. If anybody could help me with some information that would be great.

Also, should I apply to take a couple of additional classes to bump up my GPA to a 3.0?

Thanks for input/thoughts

 

[DrMidlife]

1. Get a competitive MCAT score. Whatever it takes. Competitive is 32+. Get that score before you try to get into an SMP.
2. Get over 3.0.
3. You can say "postbac" all you like, but understand that this term is useless.

You can do a "postbac" that is additional undergrad work, wherever you want, where you take more classes that are averaged into your cumulative undergrad GPA. You could do more than 2 years of this and still not see a 3.3. Because of that "A" in "GPA".

You can do a "postbac" that is a structured program for academic enhancement, specific to getting into med school, such as VCU, UT Dallas and the HCP at Harvard extension.

You can do a "postbac" that (usually) gives you a graduate degree for doing a year (or two) of (technically) undergrad medical school coursework (usually plus a light thesis). That's an SMP (special masters program) or medical masters. See the top of the forum for more info.

Best of luck to you.

 

[plee]

If the applications for SMP and structured postbac programs are rolling right now, should I still be studying for MCAT?

I've been looking at a couple of different schools, mainly the academic-record enhancers.. but what would be the best route? To go through a set postbac program and then take MCAT and apply to med school, or take MCAT, and then apply to SMP and then to med school?