Seriously second guessing....Is your post-bacc too hard?

[Chrissy]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi all,
I posted this because more often than not I hear about all these people who struggled through undergrad then "got all A's" in post-bacc and everything was all great. Lately I've been feeling very discouraged in my performance as a post-bacc...I graduated from penn with a 3.0 overall....took gen bio and chem 6 or so years ago and did well in both. As a post bacc i've taken 2 upper levels and did well but now i'm struggling with orgo and physics....I am working as hard as i can but I'm afraid i'm gonna end up with around B's (hopefully) in these classes....at this point i feel like i'm on damage control and just trying to not completely screw up....I'm in the Penn program where the basic reqs are extremely competitive and difficult, but the upper levels seem doable....The attitude among post-bacc (especially those with a subpar background) is always A's A's A's....well has anyone just done alright as a post bacc? What I suspect happening is doing around B's in orgo and physics but A's/A-'s in everything else....I'm completing this program over 2 years so after these I will have quite a few upper level grades....but as a post bacc will a couple of lower grades really be devastating? Also, I have great EC's if anyone cares....thanks so much for some thoughts...lately i just feel like i'm in quick sand and i'm working as hard as possible...it's been tough.

 

[relentless11]

Hi all,
I posted this because more often than not I hear about all these people who struggled through undergrad then "got all A's" in post-bacc and everything was all great. Lately I've been feeling very discouraged in my performance as a post-bacc...I graduated from penn with a 3.0 overall....took gen bio and chem 6 or so years ago and did well in both. As a post bacc i've taken 2 upper levels and did well but now i'm struggling with orgo and physics....I am working as hard as i can but I'm afraid i'm gonna end up with around B's (hopefully) in these classes....at this point i feel like i'm on damage control and just trying to not completely screw up....I'm in the Penn program where the basic reqs are extremely competitive and difficult, but the upper levels seem doable....The attitude among post-bacc (especially those with a subpar background) is always A's A's A's....well has anyone just done alright as a post bacc? What I suspect happening is doing around B's in orgo and physics but A's/A-'s in everything else....I'm completing this program over 2 years so after these I will have quite a few upper level grades....but as a post bacc will a couple of lower grades really be devastating? Also, I have great EC's if anyone cares....thanks so much for some thoughts...lately i just feel like i'm in quick sand and i'm working as hard as possible...it's been tough.

First off, breath😉. A 3.0 isn't that bad🙂. True, A's and only A's is what you should be shooting for as a post-bacc. BUT, a B is not the end of the world, and A-'s are nothing to be ashamed about either, in fact that is great.

Score high on the MCAT, and keep pushing for A's. If you end up with a 3.2-3.3 overall undergrad GPA, I think you should be "competative" with a good MCAT score (30+?). You will find that there isn't really any magic number, just do the best you can. You are in a good place compared to others...like me😉. I had a 2.65 after undergrad...haha. Keep up the good work, don't worry about B's, but don't get too many of them...and for god's sake, don't get a C😉...good luck!

 

[Maxprime]

1) They'll look at your average. They're not going to assasinate you for getting a B in one class.

2) If you're not making A's, I'd figure out why (ask the prof if you need to) and try to remedy the problem.

 

[errozion]

i hear ya maan and i'm in the same boat! I have an overall GPA of 3.2 and a science of around 3.0. I'm now in a post-bac program and working almost full time to pay for my expenses and now going to make all A's in my upper level bio classes but sadly going to make a C in biochemistry!!! I already have 4-5 C's in my undergrad days and this latest C in my post-bac biochemistry is really going to hurt my chances of acceptance.

Getting this latest C makes me feel as though this is it for me...don't know what to do, maybe retake biochemistry again next semester before I apply for 2008?? Any suggestions?!?

I have a 28 on my MCAT and with these grades i don't know if I can be accepted cuz I have not shown any trends of improvement.

 

[Gooble]

So this is a great time to ask: "what next?" It is what I am battling over with my own decision on whether to start a post-bac program.

What do you do if your numbers don't pan out like you need them to? What is your backup with a bunch of random undergraduate science courses?

 

[Maxprime]

So this is a great time to ask: "what next?" It is what I am battling over with my own decision on whether to start a post-bac program.

What do you do if your numbers don't pan out like you need them to? What is your backup with a bunch of random undergraduate science courses?

Post-baccs are to show you're worth a gamble - you haven't always wanted to be a doctor or you did poorly in school. There is no room for bad grades - harsh, but true. If you can't make near straight A's, I wouldn't bother - I'd do a master's program or something else.

Personally, I don't have a backup plan because I don't think one exists. If I bomb my post-bacc classes, that's the end of the road - I don't have what it takes to be an MD. Again, sad - but true.

 

[Gooble]

I'm not saying for me, I'm saying those that are IN this position. I mean what do you do to cut your losses?

 

[Maxprime]

I'm not saying for me, I'm saying those that are IN this position. I mean what do you do to cut your losses?

I don't know if you can "cut your losses" - if you're not going to make A's in your future classes, don't take future classes.

 

[Gooble]

You are missing the point. I am asking what those that didn't end up with the GPAs they wanted in post-bac are planning on doing.

From your posts, you aren't even IN a post-bac yet, so why are you chiming in here? What is with these sites and people commenting on things they really have no clue about firsthand?

 

[Maxprime]

You are missing the point. I am asking what those that didn't end up with the GPAs they wanted in post-bac are planning on doing.

From your posts, you aren't even IN a post-bac yet, so why are you chiming in here? What is with these sights and people commenting on things they really have no clue about firsthand?

"Sites". 🙂

Take a deep breath and relax. I am actually "IN" a post-bacc program, and the opinions I expressed are just that. I feel that my being a post-bacc student does give me knowledge about being a post-bacc student, but I don't make B's so I'm apparently not much help - I hope someone who does make B's can chime in and help.

 

[Gooble]

LoL, aren't we arrogant max. Keep your arrogance for getting INTO med. school then come back with it.

I was basically just looking to see what those did that went this route and didn't get into medical school did. There are plenty of "A" students that still don't get accepted.

 

[Gooble]

Oh, also, my quick and dirty typo isn't the end of the world hot shot. I fixed it just for you haha.

I go to Georgetown Law, you are in the Harvard Extension School where the motto is - "if you have money, we'll take it." Your arrogance is def. unfounded since you haven't proved yourself in anything yet.

 

[Maxprime]

Oh, also, my quick and dirty typo isn't the end of the world hot shot. I fixed it just for you haha.

I go to Georgetown Law, you are in the Harvard Extension School where the motto is - "if you have money, we'll take it." Your arrogance is def. unfounded since you haven't proved yourself in anything yet.

I really don't want to get into a keyboard warrior session here - best of luck. For future reference, assuming a person's entire history is usually a mistake. And, for the record, HES has a lot more Harvard med school graduates than Georgetown Law.

 

[relentless11]

Oh, also, my quick and dirty typo isn't the end of the world hot shot. I fixed it just for you haha.

I go to Georgetown Law, you are in the Harvard Extension School where the motto is - "if you have money, we'll take it." Your arrogance is def. unfounded since you haven't proved yourself in anything yet.

Curious as to how this helps Chrissy. Proving oneself is relative. Proving oneself as a pre-med = getting into med school and becoming a successful physician...PERIOD. Where you went to school, and how you got there is irrelavent. Georgetown Law, Harvard Extension School, or a no-name university means nothing if you don't do well in classes that best simulate the foundations which med school courses are based upon (e.g., science classes). If you can't master acid/base chemistry, then you will not survive the MCAT let alone med school biochemistry.

Maxprime makes a good point that one should do well in classes, especially classes that relate most to med school, such as those during post-bacc. Doing progressively worse, or having shown NO improvement from a sub-par GPA is not good. Sure there are people with all A's that don't get into med school. But there are far more of those people that DO get in vs. those with sub-par GPA's. Maxprime and Chrissy should be applauded for their efforts as post-bacc students, rather than be reprimanded for their lack of "proving themselves". Regardless of the reasons for this digression from the topic, the key point is to do well to prove yourself to the adcoms. MCAT and GPA are important indicators of academic success as shown by the numerous research publications (http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/research/bibliography/).

Based on these publications, I feel that Chrissy and Maxprime shouldn't have any problems to quantitatively (e.g., GPA and MCAT) to win the hearts and minds of the adcoms. But what really matters is the interview, and just getting an interview goes beyond what your GPA/MCAT are, or where you went to school. Good luck to all!

 

[Gooble]

Max, I have a few PMs from people in your post-bac classes with you. Apparently I'm not the only one that sees you for the lil snot that you are. I hear you are coming froma sub 3.0 gpa. I don't think you are getting into harvard med. with that so keep on talking haha.

Your HES to Harvard Med. v. GULC to Harvard med. is ridiculous. I don't imagine many GULC grads. ever attempt at ending up in medical school. My point was I have proven myself in life at least to some extent. You have consistently failed and yet you come on here and talk down to me. Kinda funny.

Like I said before, give advice AFTER you take the MCATs and get into medical school.

Relentless, where do you get the concept that getting an interview goes beyond your GPA/MCAT? That is generally EXACTLY how you get an interview. In the end its a numbers game.

 

[Gooble]

Ha ha ha. This is directly from a PM I received Max "the hot shot" Prime (I had asked if I could use the PM in my post):

"Yes you can mention it - but instead of the GPA mention he was not accepted on the program, and is doing it via open enrollment due to poor grades. It is slightly less specific.

Also only 1 person from last year got into HMS."

So basically someone from your own program basically laid down that a) your comment about more HES students going to Harvard law than Georgetown Law is obviously unfounded. Second, you apparently have NOTHING to be boasting about. It must be that insecurity creeping up on you. HES isn't exactly known for being tough to get into and yet you are taking classes via open enrollment.

Finally, as I said before, the fact that people are actually PMing me to tell me about your attitude at HES and how full of yourself you are is really amusing.

 

[relentless11]

Relentless, where do you get the concept that getting an interview goes beyond your GPA/MCAT? That is generally EXACTLY how you get an interview. In the end its a numbers game.

GPA and MCAT are not independent predictors of receiving an interview or admission. Going beyond GPA/MCAT = taking in additional variables that are independent of GPA and MCAT. Based on your statement, it appears that you are saying that letters of recommendation and personal statements are irrelavent. Now if you would like to discuss that then a new thread would probably be justified.

As for this process "in the end" being a numbers game, it is hardly that. Elam et al clearly found that GPA and MCAT are not statistically significant predictors of vote change (e.g., admit, rject or hold to accept). (http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/research/bibliography/elam002.htm)

Anyway, I leave it up to you to search the forums as to what other clues you can find about the process. Ultimately it comes down to everyone on these forums having no idea what ones chances are for getting into med school regardless of your stats, and accomplishments. Making such a specific claim that it is this ONE event that determines getting an interview or admission to med school is myopic at best. 😕

Anyway, as much as I like SDN, I'm going to get back to pharmacology now. Oh how I love ADME😉

 

[Gooble]

Good luck with your studies relentless. However, it is still reality that schools screen GPA and MCAT scores prior to sending out a secondary request.

 

[Maxprime]

Max, I have a few PMs from people in your post-bac classes with you. Apparently I'm not the only one that sees you for the lil snot that you are. I hear you are coming froma sub 3.0 gpa. I don't think you are getting into harvard med. with that so keep on talking haha.

Your HES to Harvard Med. v. GULC to Harvard med. is ridiculous. I don't imagine many GULC grads. ever attempt at ending up in medical school. My point was I have proven myself in life at least to some extent. You have consistently failed and yet you come on here and talk down to me. Kinda funny.

Like I said before, give advice AFTER you take the MCATs and get into medical school.

Relentless, where do you get the concept that getting an interview goes beyond your GPA/MCAT? That is generally EXACTLY how you get an interview. In the end its a numbers game.

We're absurdly off topic - but the reason that people know I have a sub par GPA is that I have told them. It's in my past and that's that. As for saying everything I've done is a failure, you may believe what you wish - but I'm not getting into an online pissing contest with you dropping names. Shoot me a PM and we can bitch and whine at each other all we want.

As for on topic - you're correct in saying that getting secondaries and interviews is a numbers game. Secondaries are much more numbers based, but there is wiggle room in getting interviews if a candidate has good EC's.

 

[Maxprime]

I also wanted to toss in that my original posts that were taken as being so arrogant and hostile were meant to be honest. ANY advisor will tell you not to take post-bacc classes if you're not going to make A's in them. Personal jabs aside, if you are in a post-bacc program and you are making B's - you need to fix whatever the problem is.

 

[Gooble]

Right, but its impossible to predict what you are going to do there. Also, some of the more competitive programs are on a curve. UPENN is a curve, so that means some people (most) are flat out not going to get As.

Anyway, give advice when you get into medical school. Everytime I see a post of yours it has an attitude in it, which is funny coming from someone trying to recover from a 2.5 or lower gpa from what I read.

 

[Maxprime]

You just can't let it slide, can you? I tried.

First off - I don't give two craps that you are in GTown law school. I had lawyers at my beckon call for the past year - most of them quit because an arrogant 22 year old was making almost twice as much as them without wasting time in law school. Obviously, you're realizing how much it sucks or you wouldn't be trolling around post-bacc forums trying to get out of the crap you're stuck in.

Secondly, my undergrad GPA sucks. This is because I wasn't wasting my time in classes learning things I didn't need to know and working on a GPA I didn't think I'd ever need. The work that I did got me offers from all but one of the bulge bracket firms (Goldman snubbed me, not even an interview) - despite such a low GPA. I probably have credit for roughly half as many graduate hours (in mathematics, hard science - you know, the stuff that requires talent) as you with two undergrad degrees to boot - in 3.5 years. I worked my way through college and graduated with extra money. I did all of this while taking care of someone close to me with a mental illness. I just sold my first house that I paid off - which will pay for med school. I've made advances in finance that you probably couldn't comprehend.

I chose HES because they were one of the only options I had. I made a mistake in thinking that my GPA wouldn't ever matter because I didn't think I'd ever switch careers because of the pay cut. I chose to leave a higher salary than I'll have as a doctor to help people. I am proud to be at HES, no matter what anyone says. I am proud of the people that I go to class with everyday in my program - they're some of the brightest, kindest, and most wonderful people I've ever met. I've had complete strangers offer to give me a copy of notes upon overhearing that I had to miss a lecture. Don't knock HES because I rub you the wrong way.

If you make B's in post-bacc, fix it or else med schools are going to say how the f can you make a B when you're taking TWO classes that freshmen in college take? I am an arrogant person, but I don't come on here (aside from now, apparently) to toot my own horn or talk myself up. I didn't know jack squat when I began this process and this forum helped me. For that, as I learn about the admissions process and go through actually being a post-bacc student (not a law student), I come back to offer advice I think will help people.

I can't even believe I'm wasting this much time on this - I'm done.

 

[Gooble]

"I had lawyers at my beck and call" gimme a break haha. Maybe some third or forth tier graduates, but I assure you that you weren't pulling the avg. of around $135k plus bonus that first year GULC associates make Mr. Hot Sh#t.

Your undergrad. excuses are a joke. "I failed because I was taking classes that were useless" is basically your argument. Welcome to the real world. We all take classes we don't like or need and those of us that care, excel in them nonetheless. Your inability to adapt goes to show alot about your character.

I believe you about HES. As I said before, and copied and pasted an actual PM from someone in your class, they don't like you either apparently.

Also, as a full-time post-bac I believe you take 3 sciences with labs, which is definitely more rigorous than a normal freshman fuzz load (that you blew).

Finally, the "I am an arrogant person" is the best part of your post. What exactly do you have to be arrogant about? You have a crap UGPA, are in an open enrollment program, and have proven nothing as of yet. Come talk your talk after you take your MCATs. But see, you won't do that because you will likely fall flat come MCAT time and then you will disappear from the site, or continue trolling and lying about how great you are.

 

[mshheaddoc]

Just an observation but the personal attacks between users on threads probably isn't where the OP was looking for. I suggest both of you get over yourselves and move on. 😀

Thanks.

 

[Chrissy]

well thanks for some of these constructive posts...

I understand where some of the more discouraging posts are coming from, but I do think the "Not all A's no med school" attitude is a bit off. The advisors at Penn are very encouraging and straight forward....maxprime: if you dont mind, I think i'll take their advice over yours. I think my op was a result of a long night of orgo and some careless errors on an exam....I've since pulled my grade up quite a bit and feel alright about everything for the moment....again, i appreciate all the good advice. I'm doing this program over 2 years so i think in the long run everything will be fine. good luck to all of you

 

[Chrissy]

If you make B's in post-bacc, fix it or else med schools are going to say how the f can you make a B when you're taking TWO classes that freshmen in college take?

maybe if you're working full-time, go to a very difficult school, and trying to raise a family....

 

[MsAirForce]

Anyway, give advice when you get into medical school. Everytime I see a post of yours it has an attitude in it, which is funny coming from someone trying to recover from a 2.5 or lower gpa from what I read.

Gooble

You really need to relax. This has to be one of the most hypocritical post you've put out there yet. This is not to attack you, but to give CONSTRUCTIVE critism. In reading most of your post from multiple threads, you tend to get very arrogant and temperamental. This site is meant to help, encourage, and guide, NOT to discourage, belittle and demean.

Humble yourself. Offer up the knowledge you may have that can help someone else. And get as much as you can from others experiences, to avoid making the same mistakes.

I will PM you. 😀

 

[Gooble]

I simply put Max back in his place. You think I am arrogant, go read his posts.

 

[riceman04]

I simply put Max back in his place. You think I am arrogant, go read his posts.

In the process you fell out of your place!!!! Who will now forcibly mold you again? 😉 😉 😉