Stopped being pre-med, but returned after graduating

[holyguacamole14]

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My story is a bit strange, I started off as a strong premed/bio at a top college. I did really well (3.8/3.7 gpa) for the first two years of rigorous prereqs, but at the extreme expense of sanity and having a real college experience. At that point, I was really exhausted and bitter about school and life because I was not enjoying the process and feeling uncertain about the life long commitment to this lifestyle. Beginning of junior year, I decided to leave the premed path, but had no idea what I was going to do. I remained a bio major and my grades started slipping (successive downward trend). I did what most people do, taking risk and exploration in a smattering of different areas during the beginning years, instead during the back half of college years. I started thinking about going into biotech/pharma or healthcare admin, so I knew I had to keep up my grades no matter what I decided to do. But, it was really hard to do well in classes when I didn't have a definite end goal. During the last semester of senior year, I did the worst I've ever done because of looking for jobs, stress of the unknown, and holding down hard courses. In the end, I graduated with a 3.4 cgpa and 3.35 sgpa and finished all the pre-reqs, but took minimal courses in the upper-level sciences.

After graduating, I landed a internship at a strategic communications firm in pharma, but I absolutely HATED it. It was only then that I finally realized how much I still really love biology and want to pursue my original goal of medicine. I quit working there and currently studying for mcat and getting involved in clinical research.

I know i have to remedy my downward trend and low gpa, so I'm planning to apply to a postbacc for 2015 matriculation, but not sure what's the best plan. I'm worried that a low gpa will be screened out, so was thinking of a post bacc at UPenn Specialized Studies to boost gpa? or should i apply to a SMP (Temple, UCinn, Gtown, or NYMC) to prove that I can handle the rigor of medical school? My only problem with this is that it wouldn't change my gpa. If I successfully do well in a postbacc program and mcat, which MD/DO schools would I realistically have a shot at? Appreciate any advice! Thanks for reading.

 

[Goro]

Your GPA is fine for these types of programs. I would recommend a SMP, preferably one given by a medical school. Yes, it won't boost your GPA all that much, but if you can ace it, and do well on MCAT, there are medical schools that reward reinvention. Albany, Tulane, Tufts, BU, Duke, Case, Vandy, your state schools, and ANY DO program come to mind.


I know i have to remedy my downward trend and low gpa, so I'm planning to apply to a postbacc for 2015 matriculation, but not sure what's the best plan. I'm worried that a low gpa will be screened out, so was thinking of a post bacc at UPenn Specialized Studies to boost gpa? or should i apply to a SMP (Temple, UCinn, Gtown, or NYMC) to prove that I can handle the rigor of medical school? My only problem with this is that it wouldn't change my gpa. If I successfully do well in a postbacc program and mcat, which MD/DO schools would I realistically have a shot at? Appreciate any advice! Thanks for reading.[/QUOTE]