question about acceptance in different post-bacc programs

[InshAllah786]

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First, I am sure this type of question has been asked before but I can't seem to find the answer I am looking for. If someone has something rude to say like "do the research yourself" or "you are dumb to even apply" etc., please keep your comments to yourself. I am obviously here seeking help and I feel real students are the best source for this information.

I am currently a Junior at Xavier University of New Orleans (I am Pakistani.)
I have a 2.64 gpa through the spring semester and am expecting to take my mcat twice this summer before applying to medical schools/post. bacc programs/Master's programs. I am hoping to at least get near 3.0 before I graduate, but chances are slim and would probably get a 2.8. My science gpa is also below 3.0 and am expecting to try and take histology, anatomy and physiology, and some other upper level courses to strengthen myself.

At this point, what would be the best route when it comes to applying to medical schools and post-baccs. I do realize I have a VERY LOW, almost 0% chance at being accepted to medical school immediately following graduation.
Could anyone please suggest any post-bacc programs or graduate programs that could be of use to me based on my standing. If there is another place where I could find this answer, please direct me in that direction. Any help would be greatly and dearly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[jslo85]

First, I am sure this type of question has been asked before but I can't seem to find the answer I am looking for. If someone has something rude to say like "do the research yourself" or "you are dumb to even apply" (Does anyone on SDN even say this outright to an OP? 😱) etc., please keep your comments to yourself. I am obviously here seeking help and I feel real students are the best source for this information.

I am currently a Junior at Xavier University of New Orleans (I am Pakistani.)
I have a 2.64 gpa through the spring semester and am expecting to take my mcat twice this summer before applying to medical schools/post. bacc programs/Master's programs. I am hoping to at least get near 3.0 before I graduate, but chances are slim and would probably get a 2.8. My science gpa is also below 3.0 and am expecting to try and take histology, anatomy and physiology, and some other upper level courses to strengthen myself.

At this point, what would be the best route when it comes to applying to medical schools and post-baccs. I do realize I have a VERY LOW, almost 0% chance at being accepted to medical school immediately following graduation.
Could anyone please suggest any post-bacc programs or graduate programs that could be of use to me based on my standing. If there is another place where I could find this answer, please direct me in that direction. Any help would be greatly and dearly appreciated. Thank you.

Hey welcome to SDN even though you seem to have a somewhat negative impression of people around here that might offer you advice. The question itself has been asked but it differs for each person. I do have to say this first though, you really do need to do research as a whole and the stickied posts in the index of the post-bacc forum have a full list of SMP/post-bacc programs from all over the nation. This is not to be condescending towards you (from me at least) but more for you to have a background with which to ask questions and learn what advice is constructive and what is simply biased allegations with no base behind them.

You're still in college, enjoy it while it lasts while try to realize what your fundamental problems are that prevent you from doing well in science classes. If you seem to be struggling with the pre-req science courses in you're not obtaining As, then you need to be honest and upfront with yourself on whether moving to some harder upper division science courses is the best move. Any damage you do to yourself is pretty much magnified in comparison to your earlier undergraduate years because Adcoms look for an upward trend. Keep that in mind.

Do you know which path you want to follow, ie. allopathic or osteophathic? If you have a good idea, it would really make a difference on how best to proceed after graduation. If you want to know more just ask and someone here can step up and give you more information further.

You should dispel any notion that you might have of seeing any notion of going to medical school after graduation come to fruition because you need to look at yourself right now and not project to the future. If you don't solve your problems right at this instant, you're just that much further in the hole. Make improvements now and start deciding what options are available after seeing your status after winter quarter, you should have 3 full quarters worth of grades to help you decide what options are available to you then.

This relates straight back to what programs are available. The higher your GPA the more doors are open. If you reach a 3.0 (i know you said it was unrealistic but it's a goal and I'm trying to explain why this is important) and have a decent (31) on the MCAT you have about 85-95% of the SMP programs available to you as opposed to < 3.0 and <28 MCAT you have about 50% (roughly). Obviously the ones you would aim to be accepted at are the names you see often at the start of each thread here, Gtown, BU MAMAS, Tufts, etc. You want to realize what you want out of each program as well. If you want a program with linkages, you would look more at EVMS or UC. Do some research and find out which programs work for you and don't resign yourself to having to do one of these so early (yes you are early as a junior). These programs are expensive and they could spell an end to your medical school aspirations if you continue along your troubled academic path. There are academic enhancing post-baccs that you might want to look at as well for simply taking more upper division science courses and there are quite a few of them too.

Just do some research and check back in to ask further questions. That's my honest personal advice up there so take it or leave it.

 

[DrMidlife]

Read this: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=125347.

I am baffled as to why you would plan to take the MCAT more than once. Are you thinking there's substantial difference from test day to test day, and that you'll have a chance for a better score just by sitting down again? This is a myth. If you look on the aamc MCAT site, you'll see that the average MCAT retake shows no improvement, and you're as likely to lose points as gain any.

The way to take the MCAT is to take it once. Preparing for the test well is very time consuming; preparing for the test badly, multiple times, is incredibly inefficient and 10x more time consuming.

The way to tell you're ready to do well on the MCAT is to use every opportunity to practice the test, and simply don't take it until you're scoring above your goal multiple times. This method is not foolproof (yes you can have a bad test day), but it puts you in control of as much as possible.

Best of luck to you.