Retaking Classes vs PostBac Pre-Med Program

[CaraS]

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I want to go to medical school, but had issues that impacted my grades for one year and it severely brings down my GPA. I finished undergrad with a 3.3 BCPM and 3.54 overall. If I retake the five classes I got Cs in for the year I was sick I will end up with a 3.57 BCPM and a 3.71 overall. I always hear on forums that its better to take more challenging courses and do well than retake classes you got Cs in. However, if I do a postbac pre-med program for one year, the best I will end up with is a 3.53 BCPM and a 3.65 overall (and will cost more money and take more time than just taking 5 classes). I am wondering which would likely have a bigger impact into pushing admissions committees towards accepting me.

 

[Var_Surfin23]

I would do the established pre-med postbacc because that essentially comes with a team of advisers that will be advocates (i.e potential letter writers) for you applying to medical school. I understand the cost is a major factor but retaking a few classes doesn't carry the same weight as you doing a formal postbacc program that medical schools are familiar with. A good postbacc program can do a lot in convincing a school to overlook subpar past performance. Also how are you calculating that huge improvement in GPA from just taking 5 classes? Amcas averages all the grades from all duplicate courses so nothing gets dropped out. That being said your GPA isn't horrible, people get in all the time with lower scores. If a medical school likes you, they will accept you and they will also accept a kid with a 4.0 to balance out your GPA.