Question for other N.T. Students

[BlueNotePreMed]

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I have met with several admissions people and it looks as though I am going to have to do either post-bacc. or graduate school before I apply to grad school b/c of my uGPA. I finished my B.S. in Biology/Neurobiology at UW-Madison and finished with a 2.999 overall.😡 (upward trend though, 3.53/3.5 senior year in upper level coursework) I haven't taken the MCAT yet but will most likely study/take Kaplan/TPR this winter/spring and take it when I feel good and ready. I currently am working in a research lab and have realized that this is 'definitely not for me.' The thought of spending 2 years in a grad program doing more research really doesnt appeal to me at all. Are there any non-research based masters programs or would a I possible be a good candidate for a SMP? Or should I simply just take more undergrad classes at UW-Madison while study for MCAT. Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[spicedmanna]

I have met with several admissions people and it looks as though I am going to have to do either post-bacc. or graduate school before I apply to grad school b/c of my uGPA. I finished my B.S. in Biology/Neurobiology at UW-Madison and finished with a 2.999 overall.😡 (upward trend though, 3.53/3.5 senior year in upper level coursework) I haven't taken the MCAT yet but will most likely study/take Kaplan/TPR this winter/spring and take it when I feel good and ready. I currently am working in a research lab and have realized that this is 'definitely not for me.' The thought of spending 2 years in a grad program doing more research really doesnt appeal to me at all. Are there any non-research based masters programs or would a I possible be a good candidate for a SMP? Or should I simply just take more undergrad classes at UW-Madison while study for MCAT. Thanks for the suggestions!

I'm certainly no expert on this matter... I think there are several considerations in your case, however. One is that allopathic schools tend to focus a lot on your UGPA and MCAT, regardless of what else you might have. If your GPA is sub-3.0, this could cripple your application significantly. It would behoove you to do a post-bacc, in my opinion, to raise that UGPA as high as possible, to the point of diminishing returns. If you receive all A's from now on and take full semesters, I think it will be viewed favorably; it will definitely help out your GPA, and perhaps place you in a totally different category. If I were in your position, I would try to fix your GPA first before going for an SMP. These master's programs are expensive and pretty intense; they are good if you have already tried applying, but didn't get in, and your GPA is not favorable.

Also, it goes without saying that you need to do as well as you can on your MCAT. So study like mad and rock it.

Lastly, I didn't note any clinical experiences in your post, but you probably didn't list your entire CV. If you haven't had any exposure, I'd do that, too, while you are doing your post-bacc.

Good luck!