Postbacc/SMP decision help: LECOM, PCOM, Temple ACHS, or Rutgers?

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I graduated undergrad with a 3.0 cGPA and 2.8 sGPA. I have roughly 1500 clinical hours, 700 volunteering hours, 350 research hours with 1 publication. Have not taken the MCAT yet.

Currently have acceptances to Rutgers MBS at NJMS, and PCOM MS in Biomedical Sciences. Interviewed for Temple ACHS (postbacc, not SMP like the others) and waiting for a response within a week. Waiting on decisions from Case Western MSMP and LECOM MMS.

Need help choosing a program that gives me the best shot of getting into a medical school the following cycle. The issue right now is that Rutgers and PCOM are the only acceptances I have. Rutgers wants a decision back by today 6/30. What should I do?

Update: Accepted to LECOM MMS as well.

 

[mcmidic]

I am in a similar boat, but I have minimal clinical hours (although I was a lifeguard and made some rescues I dont think that counts though). More than half your volunteering hours (mission trips in South America (it is clinical actually)., 0 research. I took my mcat and im hoping for a 506 or something, my scores come out next month. Do I have a chance or should I go carribean?

 

[Nontrad_FL_LGBT]

I graduated undergrad with a 3.0 cGPA and 2.8 sGPA. I have roughly 1500 clinical hours, 700 volunteering hours, 350 research hours with 1 publication. Have not taken the MCAT yet.

Currently have acceptances to Rutgers MBS at NJMS, and PCOM MS in Biomedical Sciences. Interviewed for Temple ACHS (postbacc, not SMP like the others) and waiting for a response within a week. Waiting on decisions from Case Western MSMP and LECOM MMS.

Need help choosing a program that gives me the best shot of getting into a medical school the following cycle. The issue right now is that Rutgers and PCOM are the only acceptances I have. Rutgers wants a decision back by today 6/30. What should I do?

You should go to whichever one has the strongest linkage flat out. Don't waste your money on one that doesn't have a guaranteed interview program.

 

[Nontrad_FL_LGBT]

I am in a similar boat, but I have minimal clinical hours (although I was a lifeguard and made some rescues I dont think that counts though). More than half your volunteering hours (mission trips in South America (it is clinical actually)., 0 research. I took my mcat and im hoping for a 506 or something, my scores come out next month. Do I have a chance or should I go carribean?

You should never go Caribbean. Spend a year to make your resume better and try for DO or go PA/nurse/some other related career field.

 

[Wamuu]

You should never go Caribbean. Spend a year to make your resume better and try for DO or go PA/nurse/some other related career field.

I cannot agree with this more. I want to put this here in case anyone reads it in the future:

I was accepted to two Caribbean schools last year, one of which was SGU. I know SGU has the best reputation of all of them down there, so that comforted me. But, I decided that I would defer and try again, because I knew that if I was much earlier to the game I would have a better chance than the cycle prior. There are other factors involved, namely residency opportunities, COL/QOL, and education rigor.

I went straight back to the grindstone to get hospital experience again while networking with doctors who could help me figure out how to present my application in a more genuine light, not one that appears as what I think ADCOMs would want to see. I start medical school in the good ole US of A next month. Do not give up your fight if this is what you really want, and do not compromise on the quality of your education because you think that you have to have it now and any waiting is wasted time. That was my mistake... almost.

I still have to go and write that withdrawal email...

 

[mcmidic]

I cannot agree with this more. I want to put this here in case anyone reads it in the future:

I was accepted to two Caribbean schools last year, one of which was SGU. I know SGU has the best reputation of all of them down there, so that comforted me. But, I decided that I would defer and try again, because I knew that if I was much earlier to the game I would have a better chance than the cycle prior. There are other factors involved, namely residency opportunities, COL/QOL, and education rigor.

I went straight back to the grindstone to get hospital experience again while networking with doctors who could help me figure out how to present my application in a more genuine light, not one that appears as what I think ADCOMs would want to see. I start medical school in the good ole US of A next month. Do not give up your fight if this is what you really want, and do not compromise on the quality of your education because you think that you have to have it now and any waiting is wasted time. That was my mistake... almost.

I still have to go and write that withdrawal email...

Any reason why? other than high cost? I want to open my own clinic

 

[Wamuu]

Any reason why? other than high cost? I want to open my own clinic

Well, there are a few reasons why that readily come to mind:

• Lower residency match rates
• High attrition rates, we're talking 20-30%
• Licensing challenges (stricter U.S. requirements and lower USMLE pass rates)
• High costs, risky returns as tuition rivals U.S. schools but with lower return on investment
• Stigma in residency applications

I also want to make it clear that they also make you take a CBSE exam, which they use to make you Step eligible. If you don't meet their threshold, you are at a high risk of dismissal. There are hurdles to get to the actual hurdles, and they will not support you if you have troubles with that or courses. I promise you that the effort to get into a school stateside is worth the peace of mind.

 

[mcmidic]

Well, there are a few reasons why that readily come to mind:

• Lower residency match rates
• High attrition rates, we're talking 20-30%
• Licensing challenges (stricter U.S. requirements and lower USMLE pass rates)
• High costs, risky returns as tuition rivals U.S. schools but with lower return on investment
• Stigma in residency applications

I also want to make it clear that they also make you take a CBSE exam, which they use to make you Step eligible. If you don't meet their threshold, you are at a high risk of dismissal. There are hurdles to get to the actual hurdles, and they will not support you if you have troubles with that or courses. I promise you that the effort to get into a school stateside is worth the peace of mind.

I need to take a year of org chem and a year of physics, but I have a 3.0 gpa, so I dont think I will be able to get in. I just never paid attention during my undergrad but Studying for the mcat that has all changed but its been years since I was in college, I have no idea where to get LORs and stuff like that for med school applications. My online org chem and physics coursework makes me eligible for SGU but not us schools as they dont want online coursework, was forced to take online bc of covid. I am still waiting on my MCAT score. I dont want to miss out on GRAD Loans plus, I got accepted to SGU and I can go in august. That way I will be grandfathered into the loans, otherwise there is no way to pay for me. Do you still think I should risk getting rejected and delaying and waiting after all this info?

 

[Nontrad_FL_LGBT]

I took online Orgo and physics and am at a USMD school right now. There's at least 30 schools you're eligible to apply at. DO schools don't care at all about online or not and would be a 500x better option for you than Caribbean. In your situation, I would submit right now for DO/your state MDs and see what happens.

The Grad PLUS situation is total bull**** and I don't have any advice there, but having to take out private loans in your later years is still probably less bad than going Caribbean imo.

 

[Wamuu]

I need to take a year of org chem and a year of physics, but I have a 3.0 gpa, so I dont think I will be able to get in. I just never paid attention during my undergrad but Studying for the mcat that has all changed but its been years since I was in college, I have no idea where to get LORs and stuff like that for med school applications. My online org chem and physics coursework makes me eligible for SGU but not us schools as they dont want online coursework, was forced to take online bc of covid. I am still waiting on my MCAT score. I dont want to miss out on GRAD Loans plus, I got accepted to SGU and I can go in august. That way I will be grandfathered into the loans, otherwise there is no way to pay for me. Do you still think I should risk getting rejected and delaying and waiting after all this info?

As @Nontrad_FL_LGBT said, I would send it with DO now. I would sooner go the PA route or even nursing before I would do Caribbean if I had the option again. All the schools I applied to accepted online courses since I took three during COVID and one this past year because it was a complementary course to biochem lecture. This is just to illustrate that even after the pandemic, they were still accepted.

To address your concern about LORs, this can come easily with spending some time in direct patient experience. Did your mission trips involve any doctors that you can get in touch with about letters? If you can acquire at least two from a doctor, the rest should be easy.

Please consider other options, including the private loans mentioned above, before going to SGU. You do not want to risk your career chances because it means going right this moment.

 

[redking10000]

Update: I got accepted to LECOM. So currently between LECOM, PCOM, Temple (assuming I interviewed well), and Rutgers.

 

[Wamuu]

Update: I got accepted to LECOM. So currently between LECOM, PCOM, Temple (assuming I interviewed well), and Rutgers.

Doesn't LECOM have a pathway from their MMS to the DO program? If you can keep up that 3.0 and other requirements, it seems pretty solid.

 

[mcmidic]

Did your mission trips involve any doctors that you can get in touch with about letters? If you can acquire at least two from a doctor, the rest should be easy.

I really really like this idea, I did not even think of that. Thank you so much.

I took online Orgo and physics and am at a USMD school right now. There's at least 30 schools you're eligible to apply at. DO schools don't care at all about online or not and would be a 500x better option for you than Caribbean. In your situation, I would submit right now for DO/your state MDs and see what happens.

The Grad PLUS situation is total bull**** and I don't have any advice there, but having to take out private loans in your later years is still probably less bad than going Caribbean imo.

No my classes are like ineligible cuz I didnt take them in the us. SGU accepts that but I am pretty sure the DOs don't, so I need to retake those at a school. Do you have any idea if I should do a DIY post bacc (I have a degree but without Physics and Org/biochemistry and labs.) Or can I find a program that helps me get the prereqs I need + adds to my gpa + helps me get LORS and research and stuff like that to strengthen my applications. I am about to turn 26, feels like I am running out of time. Advise?

 

[Nontrad_FL_LGBT]

Do a DIY PB at your local CC if you need to retake. Any post-bacc program will have its own app cycle that you've probably missed and they cost a ton of money, not worth it imo. I got LORs from profs at my CC. Research isn't really necessary as a nontrad, focus on volunteering and clinical since they're more attainable. I matriculated at 31, so chill out about being super old lol. The average matriculant is 24-26 now so you're not very far off.

 

[mcmidic]

Update: I got accepted to LECOM. So currently between LECOM, PCOM, Temple (assuming I interviewed well), and Rutgers.

possible to share your stat

Do a DIY PB at your local CC if you need to retake. Any post-bacc program will have its own app cycle that you've probably missed and they cost a ton of money, not worth it imo. I got LORs from profs at my CC. Research isn't really necessary as a nontrad, focus on volunteering and clinical since they're more attainable. I matriculated at 31, so chill out about being super old lol. The average matriculant is 24-26 now so you're not very far off.

and this would boost my gpa even after I graduated? Should I take only the classes I am missing or should I retake some earlier classes and do better on those too? For volunteering I only do a 3 week mission trip every year to a South American country, would that be enough or should I seek more opportunities? I am in georgia but I am having a hard time finding opportunities like this.

 

[mcmidic]

Do a DIY PB at your local CC if you need to retake. Any post-bacc program will have its own app cycle that you've probably missed and they cost a ton of money, not worth it imo. I got LORs from profs at my CC. Research isn't really necessary as a nontrad, focus on volunteering and clinical since they're more attainable. I matriculated at 31, so chill out about being super old lol. The average matriculant is 24-26 now so you're not very far off.

thank you for the great reply btw this really helps

 

[mcmidic]

I cannot agree with this more. I want to put this here in case anyone reads it in the future:

I was accepted to two Caribbean schools last year, one of which was SGU. I know SGU has the best reputation of all of them down there, so that comforted me. But, I decided that I would defer and try again, because I knew that if I was much earlier to the game I would have a better chance than the cycle prior. There are other factors involved, namely residency opportunities, COL/QOL, and education rigor.

I went straight back to the grindstone to get hospital experience again while networking with doctors who could help me figure out how to present my application in a more genuine light, not one that appears as what I think ADCOMs would want to see. I start medical school in the good ole US of A next month. Do not give up your fight if this is what you really want, and do not compromise on the quality of your education because you think that you have to have it now and any waiting is wasted time. That was my mistake... almost.

I still have to go and write that withdrawal email...

I also want to try and get a job in the field because I dont want to work in a field thats not related I feel like im wasting my time, do you have any suggestions?

 

[Nontrad_FL_LGBT]

possible to share your stat

and this would boost my gpa even after I graduated? Should I take only the classes I am missing or should I retake some earlier classes and do better on those too? For volunteering I only do a 3 week mission trip every year to a South American country, would that be enough or should I seek more opportunities? I am in georgia but I am having a hard time finding opportunities like this.

Yeah it would go in a category called PB GPA which is viewed alongside undergrad. Counts as part of your UG GPA.

You need more and sustained volunteering. Find Habitat for Humanity, a local hospital, hospice, low income assistance of some kind type stuff. I bet the church you do the mission with has a volunteering department. Aim for 150-250 hours over 6-12 months.

 

[mcmidic]

Yeah it would go in a category called PB GPA which is viewed alongside undergrad. Counts as part of your UG GPA.

You need more and sustained volunteering. Find Habitat for Humanity, a local hospital, hospice, low income assistance of some kind type stuff. I bet the church you do the mission with has a volunteering department. Aim for 150-250 hours over 6-12 months.

Thank you for this, any suggestions for jobs? Did you do anything clinical before you got accepted? Also you really think ititss not worth it to do an official postbacc even though they have linkages and stuff?

 

[Nontrad_FL_LGBT]

Thank you for this, any suggestions for jobs? Did you do anything clinical before you got accepted? Also you really think ititss not worth it to do an official postbacc even though they have linkages and stuff?

If you have the money to spend, go for it. I didn't have the money for stuff like that. But if you pick one, pick one you'd want to go to med school at for the linkage. Huge waste of money otherwise.

I mostly did clinical volunteering in the hospital, bringing people water and talking. I also worked very part time as a medical assistant. I wasn't able to quit my prior career early because I have a family.