Reapplication - No SMPs in my state

[Supadock]

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3.4 GPA (mainly because I failed Biochem the first time I took it, LIKE A BOSS)

34R MCAT

Chizzled Abs

I am on two waitlists, but at the bottom of both so it looks like I'm going to have to reapply.

My question is should I try to take higher level undergrad bio courses (of which I believe there are not that many) or go for non-degree graduate bio classes?

Any advice would help. Thanks.

 

[tartrate]

It doesn't matter too much what you take. Since the goal here is to raise your GPA, take courses that will help you raise your GPA.

Anything else would be illogical.

 

[Gheorgia]

3.4 GPA (mainly because I failed Biochem the first time I took it, LIKE A BOSS)

34R MCAT

Chizzled Abs

I am on two waitlists, but at the bottom of both so it looks like I'm going to have to reapply.

My question is should I try to take higher level undergrad bio courses (of which I believe there are not that many) or go for non-degree graduate bio classes?

Any advice would help. Thanks.

Reapply to more schools (20) and to less competitive ones. Seriously with numbers like those (and chizzled abs) you just barely missed the boat.

 

[Supadock]

Reapply to more schools (20) and to less competitive ones. Seriously with numbers like those (and chizzled abs) you just barely missed the boat.

I lied about the abs 🙁.

 

[premed67783]

I lied about the abs 🙁.

i would hold off on reapplying until you get those abs chizzled.

 

[premed67783]

i would hold off on reapplying until you get those abs chizzled.

that was a joke, obviously.

when you say you want to take upper level bio courses, does that mean you're still in college? or did you graduate (in which case you probably mean a post-bacc)?

 

[Supadock]

I graduated. So now I'm wondering do I do post-bacc undergrad classes or take non-degree graduate classes in bio?

I've read that adcoms look at only undergraduate AND in some other places that they will look favorable on new graduate class work.

 

[FIREitUP]

I graduated. So now I'm wondering do I do post-bacc undergrad classes or take non-degree graduate classes in bio?

I've read that adcoms look at only undergraduate AND in some other places that they will look favorable on new graduate class work.

The issue is that you've taken 120 someodd credits and gotten a 3.4, now, even if you you take another 30 and get a 4.0, your gpa will be 3.52, which is still below average for schools.

 

[Supadock]

The issue is that you've taken 120 someodd credits and gotten a 3.4, now, even if you you take another 30 and get a 4.0, your gpa will be 3.52, which is still below average for schools.

Yeah, so any advice?

 

[FIREitUP]

Yeah, so any advice?

Haha, sorry if I came off cold. 3.52 is still an improvement and an upward trend, so it definitely can't hurt. I don't have enough experience in this area to guide you, unfortunately, but some members here are in favor of MS degrees (although it wont increase your UG gpa).

 

[premed67783]

Yeah, so any advice?

a 3.52 may be below average for accepted med school applicants, but it's certainly still competitive. I think you should do the post-bacc, get your GPA up, and apply. If you can get over 3.5, you're definitely in good shape.

 

[gl0baltrader]

3.4 GPA (mainly because I failed Biochem the first time I took it, LIKE A BOSS)

34R MCAT

Chizzled Abs

I am on two waitlists, but at the bottom of both so it looks like I'm going to have to reapply.

My question is should I try to take higher level undergrad bio courses (of which I believe there are not that many) or go for non-degree graduate bio classes?

Taking undergrad vs. grad classes makes no difference. They are going to be logged into the post-bac grade section, unless you take a formal graduate program (it will be logged into the graduate section). Grad classes are typically grade inflated meaning that it's easier than undergrad because the grad students are required to have a 3.5 GPA (for most science program) and they often have fancy names, which will or will not impress the people who read your apps (if you need to reapply).
For example: Advanced Biochemistry is much sexier than introduction to biochem.

Also, you might want to think of taking a year off instead of applying right away. If you apply right away, the classes you are taking during the application year, may or may not be considered during the cycle (depending on the school).

Lastly, many schools are looking into GPA trend as oppose to the standard cumulative GPA/sGPA.
For example: (Fresh/Soph/Jun/Senior/Post-Bac) GPA of 2.8/3.1/3.6/3.99/4.0 is better than 3.2/3.1/3.3/3.2/-- even though your cumulative GPA is still the same.

I was in your shoes before and took a year off and completed a post-bac. This cycle i received 9 interviews, went to 6 of them, received 3 acceptances (2 of them are top 1/3 in ranking), and 2 of the schools still hasn't released their decision.

Anyway, work hard and you will get in to medical school.

Let me know if you have any more specific question.

 

[Supadock]

Taking undergrad vs. grad classes makes no difference. They are going to be logged into the post-bac grade section, unless you take a formal graduate program (it will be logged into the graduate section). Grad classes are typically grade inflated meaning that it's easier than undergrad because the grad students are required to have a 3.5 GPA (for most science program) and they often have fancy names, which will or will not impress the people who read your apps (if you need to reapply).
For example: Advanced Biochemistry is much sexier than introduction to biochem.

Also, you might want to think of taking a year off instead of applying right away. If you apply right away, the classes you are taking during the application year, may or may not be considered during the cycle (depending on the school).

Lastly, many schools are looking into GPA trend as oppose to the standard cumulative GPA/sGPA.
For example: (Fresh/Soph/Jun/Senior/Post-Bac) GPA of 2.8/3.1/3.6/3.99/4.0 is better than 3.2/3.1/3.3/3.2/-- even though your cumulative GPA is still the same.

I was in your shoes before and took a year off and completed a post-bac. This cycle i received 9 interviews, went to 6 of them, received 3 acceptances (2 of them are top 1/3 in ranking), and 2 of the schools still hasn't released their decision.

Anyway, work hard and you will get in to medical school.

Let me know if you have any more specific question.

Yeah the thing I forgot to mention was that my trend is like 3.8 down to 3.0. What post-bacc classes did you do? I'm not applying again immediately, so I'm trying to get a plan going and apply to places.

Thanks for all the advice.

 

[gl0baltrader]

Yeah the thing I forgot to mention was that my trend is like 3.8 down to 3.0. What post-bacc classes did you do? I'm not applying again immediately, so I'm trying to get a plan going and apply to places.

Thanks for all the advice.

Having a downward GPA trend is definitely a red flag for schools unless you have a good reason behind it. For example, I worked 40 hours a week during xyz years or health/family reasons came up etc.

I took a formal post-bac program at one of the University of California.

You can definitely take a year of classes at a local universities yourself (non-formal post-bac) or move out of state to get into an SMP program. Spending one year at an SMP program might be better since you will be able to focus on studying full time away from distraction.