SFSU informal program

[nick_carraway]

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Hi all,

I'm nearly committed to spending next year at SFSU's informal post-bacc to bump up my GPA to reapply to MD programs the year after. I'd like your thoughts on a few things though:

1. If I do well, is there any chance that adcoms will question why I went to SFSU after getting my BS at UC Davis? Will they dismiss SFSU courses as being easier?

2. Will an increase in my GPA to a 3.5 (best case scenario in one year) really change my competitiveness that much? Would my year be better spent at a formal program at the med school level at Loma Linda, for instance, to prove that I can compete with med students?

3. If I don't do well and my GPA essentially stays the same, will this put me at an even worse situation than I'm at now or will I just be back to where I was in June 2007?

4. And finally, specifically pertaining to SFSU: Any nearby clinics that SFSU kids are welcome at? Any feral cat shelters to volunteer at? And where should I live? 😀

 

[Isoprop]

1. no, SFSU is fine. if they question it, it'll be out of curiosity.

2. depends on what your GPA is now. an increase from a 3.3 to a 3.5 is a big difference. also, if you do very well, it'll register as an upward trend. ugrad gpa is split into freshman, soph, jr, sr, and post-bacc. this is probably the best thing about post-baccs... a marginal increase in overall gpa helps very little but continuing an upward trend will help a lot.

3. again, depends... if your overall GPA hasn't changed b/c of GPA drag (too many credits) but you do very well your post-bacc year, it won't hurt; in fact it'll help for reasons stated above. but if you do the same or worse as your senior year, it can hurt you.

4. i'm not from the bay area, but i hear san jose is a nice place to live if you don't mind the hour commute. but seriously, can't answer this one.

 

[nick_carraway]

i'm not from the bay area, but i hear san jose is a nice place to live if you don't mind the hour commute. but seriously, can't answer this one.

I'm actually from Cupertino near San Jose and about 45 min south of SFSU, but I'm not living at home for another year 👎

 

[Isoprop]

judging from your mdapp, i'd think you would have a good shot at an SMP this fall if things don't go well for you this cycle. tulane is probably your best bet. goodluck.