Really Stuck. Definitely Need Some Advice

[Zee Ree 1]

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Hey all,

I'm stuck in a really unfortunate position. If you have any sort of advice or feedback, I'd greatly appreciate it.

I just completed a post bac program and fell a few points short of the 3.0 GPA requirement to get into the medical school. Unfortunately it was in a 5 credit hour class so it really had an impact on my GPA bringing it down to a 2.87.

My undergraduate cGPA = 3.59 and sGPA = 3.61. Two MCATs (1st = 23 and the 2nd = 26). Decent ECs and medical experience.

What do I do now? Do I apply to grad school and if so, in what sort of programs? Or should I attempt to reapply to a post bac/SMP program? Academics wise, I was stronger before the post bac so I don't even know if I have a chance at getting into a DO school if I apply straight out this cycle.

I know I can be successful in medical school (especially since I fell just a few points short in this post bac) but I just don't know what to do next. My advisor hasn't been much help either.

Thanks in advance!

 

[deleted480308]

With a 3.5 and a 26 you had the stats for a DO school a year ago....i would apply

 

[SLC]

Hey all,

I'm stuck in a really unfortunate position. If you have any sort of advice or feedback, I'd greatly appreciate it.

I just completed a post bac program and fell a few points short of the 3.0 GPA requirement to get into the medical school. Unfortunately it was in a 5 credit hour class so it really had an impact on my GPA bringing it down to a 2.87.

My undergraduate cGPA = 3.59 and sGPA = 3.61. Two MCATs (1st = 23 and the 2nd = 26). Decent ECs and medical experience.

What do I do now? Do I apply to grad school and if so, in what sort of programs? Or should I attempt to reapply to a post bac/SMP program? Academics wise, I was stronger before the post bac so I don't even know if I have a chance at getting into a DO school if I apply straight out this cycle.

I know I can be successful in medical school (especially since I fell just a few points short in this post bac) but I just don't know what to do next. My advisor hasn't been much help either.

Thanks in advance!

I think the main unfortunate thing is that you had stats which would most likely have given you admission to DO school before the post-bacc. Now you've gone and shown them that in medical school courses you didn't measure up to expectations. (I'm assuming this was a med-school course program).

Why on earth did you not apply DO in the first place?

Unfortunately I think you may have dug yourself a huge hole. There is an ADCOM (Goro) who regularly posts here, hopefully he/she will chime in soon.

 

[Zee Ree 1]

I know :/ I never expected to do so horrible in the post bac. I did apply to a few DO schools but sent in secondaries really late (was too swamped with post bac finals to get them sent in on time).

So it wouldn't be a good idea to apply to another post bac program? I don't know what school will take me after seeing that horrible 2.87 on my transcript. I've considered the carribs but I really did want to go down the DO route.

 

[hallowmann]

Hey all,

I'm stuck in a really unfortunate position. If you have any sort of advice or feedback, I'd greatly appreciate it.

I just completed a post bac program and fell a few points short of the 3.0 GPA requirement to get into the medical school. Unfortunately it was in a 5 credit hour class so it really had an impact on my GPA bringing it down to a 2.87.

My undergraduate cGPA = 3.59 and sGPA = 3.61. Two MCATs (1st = 23 and the 2nd = 26). Decent ECs and medical experience.

What do I do now? Do I apply to grad school and if so, in what sort of programs? Or should I attempt to reapply to a post bac/SMP program? Academics wise, I was stronger before the post bac so I don't even know if I have a chance at getting into a DO school if I apply straight out this cycle.

I know I can be successful in medical school (especially since I fell just a few points short in this post bac) but I just don't know what to do next. My advisor hasn't been much help either.

Thanks in advance!

Why did you go to a post-bac with a 3.59/3.61 and 26? Did you apply broadly and not get in? What post-bac were you in? What is your final cGPA/sGPA with the combined post-bac?

If I were you, I would try my luck applying early and broadly to as many DO programs as you can afford (except the one you were linked to with the post-bac, unless you can get some face time with the dean).

Obviously the post-bac is going to hurt you since its your most recent academic performance and its a reflection of your performance in med school (I'm guessing). You will likely have to have an explanation for it (it definitely shouldn't be that you were just a few points away).

You might be OK, if you can get them to look past the post-bac, but if not, you can apply to another post-bac (maybe?) or reevaluate your goals. The Caribbean is very risky at this point, but they would take you.

 

[SLC]

I know :/ I never expected to do so horrible in the post bac. I did apply to a few DO schools but sent in secondaries really late (was too swamped with post bac finals to get them sent in on time).

So it wouldn't be a good idea to apply to another post bac program? I don't know what school will take me after seeing that horrible 2.87 on my transcript. I've considered the carribs but I really did want to go down the DO route.

No my question was why on earth didn't you apply straight out of undergrad? You had a great GPA and an acceptable MCAT. Stats wise you would have been the ideal candidate.

Why did you do a post-bacc?

 

[pathologyDO]

Yikes. Well, in all honesty, I think it would be worth trying at least. You really never know.

 

[Zee Ree 1]

It was LECOM's post bacc program. I didn't take my MCAT till april last year and when I got the 23 I thought it would be a good idea to increase my chances of getting in by applying to both post bacs and DO schools together. I didn't retake my MCAT until after I started the program.

In retrospect, it was def a bad idea to do the post bac. I had a 4.0 in all my upper level science classes in undergrad so I thought there would be no way I wouldn't get the 3.0 Underestimated the difficulty of medical school no doubt, but now I got to figure out my next move.

 

[TriagePreMed]

It's definitely ridiculous how people here are throwing around being okay for DO school. This person just got slammed in a post-bac at an osteopathic school. I highly doubt any school will take them.

 

[Dr.TurkandJD]

There are underdogs with significantly lower stats that also received numerous ii's. Apply, you will get in somewhere I think. Your situation is trickier because of the Grad Gpa, but its worth it.

Did you apply out of college with those stats and didnt get in, thats why you did LECOM's post back?

 

[survivordo]

Dug yourself a hole man. I don't even know how you would go about doing grade replacement with these post-bac courses. Unless there was some major extenuating circumstances you have just gone and shown them that you are likely NOT to be successful in medical school. Sorry but I really don't have any great advice expect to talk to your advisor and/or adcoms to get an idea of if repeating the post-bac and performing better would help. Alternatively, you could just apply broadly and hope they throw you a bone, but this could be an expensive lesson in frustration.

Survivor DO

 

[hallowmann]

It's definitely ridiculous how people here are throwing around being okay for DO school. This person just got slammed in a post-bac at an osteopathic school. I highly doubt any school will take them.

I don't think anyone said OP'd be OK for DO. They said that with OP's old stats, they would have been OK for DO. Everyone is saying OP could try. I think maybe my post comes closest with me saying "You might be OK with DO, IF...".

Realistically you are right, but its worth a try if OP has the money, who knows maybe they'll get lucky. There's really not many other options beside Caribbean, attempting to get into another post-bac, or a career change.

 

[TriagePreMed]

I don't think anyone said OP'd be OK for DO. They said that with OP's old stats, they would have been OK for DO. Everyone is saying OP could try. I think maybe my post comes closest with me saying "You might be OK with DO, IF...".

Realistically you are right, but its worth a try if OP has the money, who knows maybe they'll get lucky. There's really not many other options beside Caribbean, attempting to get into another post-bac, or a career change.

That's fair criticism, but I was going mostly by the first reply and another one in the discussion.

I think a career change is in order, unless the OP can magically make it into an SMP program. Failing out of a DO post-bacc is pretty much the kiss the of death.

 

[advair250]

"It was LECOM's post bacc program."

Yeah. I wouldn't hold my breath with getting into DO now, at least not LECOM, unless they really liked you.

 

[Amberofthemomen]

Hey all,

I'm stuck in a really unfortunate position. If you have any sort of advice or feedback, I'd greatly appreciate it.

I just completed a post bac program and fell a few points short of the 3.0 GPA requirement to get into the medical school. Unfortunately it was in a 5 credit hour class so it really had an impact on my GPA bringing it down to a 2.87.

My undergraduate cGPA = 3.59 and sGPA = 3.61. Two MCATs (1st = 23 and the 2nd = 26). Decent ECs and medical experience.

What do I do now? Do I apply to grad school and if so, in what sort of programs? Or should I attempt to reapply to a post bac/SMP program? Academics wise, I was stronger before the post bac so I don't even know if I have a chance at getting into a DO school if I apply straight out this cycle.

I know I can be successful in medical school (especially since I fell just a few points short in this post bac) but I just don't know what to do next. My advisor hasn't been much help either.

Thanks in advance!

Tell them that you had a change of heart about wanting to go to DO school, so you lost enthusiasm for succeeding in the DO postbac.

"... and at that point, I realized that I just didn't want to attend an Osteopathic University. It was a tremendously challenging time in my life, and to make matters worse... I lost my puppy Samuel to a throat infection." *adcoms are sobbing gently*

Clear your schedule for 3 months, study for the MCAT and get a 31+ and apply MD.

Lol, I'm kind of joking. But seriously, you sustained a 3.6 science GPA throughout all of undergrad. You're med school material. Find a way past this. You can do it.

 

[advair250]

That 3.6 means nothing if they couldn't get above 3.0 in a post-bac.

 

[Goro]

This is important to know:

what is your overall GPA (UG + PB)?

What is your uGPA?

What is your PB GPA? It's not clear from your post. I can betetr advise you with those numbers.

Also, what did your PB consist of? You don't need to delinetae all the grades...just tell me the coursework.

PM me if you want to.

Hey all,

I'm stuck in a really unfortunate position. If you have any sort of advice or feedback, I'd greatly appreciate it.

I just completed a post bac program and fell a few points short of the 3.0 GPA requirement to get into the medical school. Unfortunately it was in a 5 credit hour class so it really had an impact on my GPA bringing it down to a 2.87.

My undergraduate cGPA = 3.59 and sGPA = 3.61. Two MCATs (1st = 23 and the 2nd = 26). Decent ECs and medical experience.

What do I do now? Do I apply to grad school and if so, in what sort of programs? Or should I attempt to reapply to a post bac/SMP program? Academics wise, I was stronger before the post bac so I don't even know if I have a chance at getting into a DO school if I apply straight out this cycle.

I know I can be successful in medical school (especially since I fell just a few points short in this post bac) but I just don't know what to do next. My advisor hasn't been much help either.

Thanks in advance!

 

[as1212559]

You are in some difficulty OP. No real advice, just good luck.

 

[cabinbuilder]

It was LECOM's post bacc program. I didn't take my MCAT till april last year and when I got the 23 I thought it would be a good idea to increase my chances of getting in by applying to both post bacs and DO schools together. I didn't retake my MCAT until after I started the program.

In retrospect, it was def a bad idea to do the post bac. I had a 4.0 in all my upper level science classes in undergrad so I thought there would be no way I wouldn't get the 3.0 Underestimated the difficulty of medical school no doubt, but now I got to figure out my next move.

Totally dug a hole. I mean LECOM"s post bacc IS MINI medical school. The real thing is double the work and twice the material. Don't see any way out of this becuase their program is a very well structured and very focused one. It's taught by the same intructors as the medical school. OUCH.

 

[Mehd School]

This thread makes me sad and anxious for OP. 🙁

This, folks. This is the real risk of post bacc's and SMP's.

 

[edgerock24]

Awkward question: why not just apply to DO schools without reporting any SMP grades?

Is this possible? Just wondering.

 

[Mehd School]

Awkward question: why not just apply to DO schools without reporting any SMP grades?

Is this possible? Just wondering.

I believe it isn't acceptable to withhold any transcript from any accredited institution you attend.

 

[advair250]

Awkward question: why not just apply to DO schools without reporting any SMP grades?

Is this possible? Just wondering.

There's a word for that: Fraud.

 

[Zee Ree 1]

Thank you all for your feedback. I knew my chances of getting in drowned with that GPA but just hoped I was missing something.

 

[cabinbuilder]

Awkward question: why not just apply to DO schools without reporting any SMP grades?

Is this possible? Just wondering.

No even worth going there since the OP took LECOM's post bacc program. That person is already in the system. Apply DO and don't report the post bacc grades will be a huge red flag. Won't ever happen.

 

[SecretIdentity]

Totally dug a hole. I mean LECOM"s post bacc IS MINI medical school. The real thing is double the work and twice the material. Don't see any way out of this becuase their program is a very well structured and very focused one. It's taught by the same intructors as the medical school. OUCH.

It's easy to say that LECOM is min-med school, but the truth is that while the material is very similar, the grading is not. Most med schools curve grades, give extra credit, or work on a sd system, or throw out questions on exams that everyone has gotten wrong, so that the school is working with the students to make sure that they are successful. The post Bac has none of that, so each grade you receive, is the grade you receive, and it is block grading. Also, most med school programs don't test all subjects at one time as the post Bac does. and while it may be considered to be med school lite, other than labs, it is same books, same exact chapters, even same powerpoints. Everything is pretty much the same, except med school actually is more forgiving,

 

[hallowmann]

It's easy to say that LECOM is min-med school, but the truth is that while the material is very similar, the grading is not. Most med schools curve grades, give extra credit, or work on a sd system, or throw out questions on exams that everyone has gotten wrong, so that the school is working with the students to make sure that they are successful. The post Bac has none of that, so each grade you receive, is the grade you receive, and it is block grading. Also, most med school programs don't test all subjects at one time as the post Bac does. and while it may be considered to be med school lite, other than labs, it is same books, same exact chapters, even same powerpoints. Everything is pretty much the same, except med school actually is more forgiving,

But that's the whole point right? The post-bac is the opportunity given to you to show that you really deserve to be there, not that you'll barely make it when you go.

 

[SecretIdentity]

Yes, but I think that when almost 70% of the class gets a C or below on an exam (when these same students are getting high Bs and As in material that is just as difficult), then the issue more likely is due to how the material is approached on the exam, and not that most of the class is incompetent. I think discretion should be given by professors that if everyone is getting a particular question wrong, then there is an issue with the question, and that question should not count. Many of the people in class were extremely intelligent, studied continuously, actually knew the material, but were tripped up on the exam due to how questions were worded, blurry images, and focus on material beyond the scope of what was actually covered.
A Postbac is an opportunity that you can handle med school, but I think those that run the program should be fair.

 

[cabinbuilder]

It's easy to say that LECOM is min-med school, but the truth is that while the material is very similar, the grading is not. Most med schools curve grades, give extra credit, or work on a sd system, or throw out questions on exams that everyone has gotten wrong, so that the school is working with the students to make sure that they are successful. The post Bac has none of that, so each grade you receive, is the grade you receive, and it is block grading. Also, most med school programs don't test all subjects at one time as the post Bac does. and while it may be considered to be med school lite, other than labs, it is same books, same exact chapters, even same powerpoints. Everything is pretty much the same, except med school actually is more forgiving,

I went through LECOM's post- bacc program. I'm pretty sure I know what I'm talking about in this instance. Trust me when I say it's the SAME MATERIAL, SAME test questions (only less) because it's taught by the SAME professors.