"The Borderline Candidate"

[summermeg]

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Hey ya'll,

I'm new to Studentdoctor, so I hope you guys can help me out. I am graduating from an Ivy League in May, and I really want to go to med school, but after applying to 13 schools this year and not getting in yet, I think I'm probably a 2006 rejectee. I've been reading the post-bacc threads, but a lot of them seem to address people with low GPAs, low MCATs, etc. I was curious if anybody had advice for people who were borderline medical school candidates?

My science GPA is at a 3.0, which I think is the main weakness of my application. My overall GPA is more about a 3.5. I was a history major, and my humanities GPA was pretty much 4.0 (yea, I know, why not law school, right? Cuz I don't want to!!). I did quite a bit of extracurriculars in college: tutoring, theater, volunteering at the hospital, helping out at an immuno lab for 3 years (but no publication). I got a 34S on the MCAT, so that's not too bad, right?

Is a post-bacc right for me, and if so, which programs would you recommend? If not, what else should I be doing? I am interested in geriatrics, does anybody have advice on that? I just want to get into med school. Thanks so much, guys!

 

[PurpleHaze]

Well, I'm not sure if I'm giving you the most stellar advice, so i hope someone else posts some of their own.

If you think you're not going to get in this cycle, and you've already taken all of your pre-med requirements, you could apply for a Special Master's Program, or something of that nature to help raise your science GPA. Otherwise, it looks like you're pretty solid.

Good luck!

 

[madonna]

Hey ya'll,

I'm new to Studentdoctor, so I hope you guys can help me out. I am graduating from an Ivy League in May, and I really want to go to med school, but after applying to 13 schools this year and not getting in yet, I think I'm probably a 2006 rejectee. I've been reading the post-bacc threads, but a lot of them seem to address people with low GPAs, low MCATs, etc. I was curious if anybody had advice for people who were borderline medical school candidates?

My science GPA is at a 3.0, which I think is the main weakness of my application. My overall GPA is more about a 3.5. I was a history major, and my humanities GPA was pretty much 4.0 (yea, I know, why not law school, right? Cuz I don't want to!!). I did quite a bit of extracurriculars in college: tutoring, theater, volunteering at the hospital, helping out at an immuno lab for 3 years (but no publication). I got a 34S on the MCAT, so that's not too bad, right?

Is a post-bacc right for me, and if so, which programs would you recommend? If not, what else should I be doing? I am interested in geriatrics, does anybody have advice on that? I just want to get into med school. Thanks so much, guys!

you have three options in my opinion, a solid performance in either will help you
1. stay as fifth year senior, mb pick up a science minor, and just take upper division science classes and/or retake any prereqs if you need to
2. do a postbacc or one year certificate with linkage: drexel, EVMS
3. SMP

options 1 and 2 will raise your gpa while the SMP wont. smp is also expensive.
i'd contact schools that rejected you or your state school and talk to someone qualified. they will give you best advice

 

[jebus]

Hi meg, I'm in a similar situation to you (well, not really, just with regard to my GPA and MCAT scores - other than that I'm very different) and I just want to extrapolate on what Madonna said. It's attractive to think that your MCAT score mitigates your GPA but in my experience that is just not the case. So, as a first order of business, yes, find out what your deficiencies are. Talk to your pre-med advisor; email/call admissions officers at the schools that rejected you or just email/call schools in which you have an interest.
Second, your goals and interests will dictate your next step. If you need to address your low science GPA you have a few choices. Continuing to take upper-division science classes at your undergraduate school may be appropriate - because you are a humanities major I'm unclear about how many of these courses you've completed. Medical schools may have reservations about your ability to handle the rigors of an intense science curriculum because of your low science GPA. A strong showing in a number of 400-level courses may allay their concerns. In this case you get to stay where you are, you won't have to move and disrupt your life. However, you may really want to move. I don't know about the level academic counseling services you'll get, either, or how much the pre-med advisors at your school will continue to help you. That's something to ask them.
On the other hand, there are number of programs available to enhance your academic record - particularly while enrolling in a rigorous curriculum. These are both undergraduate and graduate programs or even special masters programs. Some benefits of an undergraduate or graduate program separate from your undergraduate program include academic counseling services. You'll get things like a letter of rec from the program chair, help with applications, essays and interview preparation, and help procure shadowing or other volunteer experiences. These are things which, as a humanities major, you may not have received from your pre-med advisory committee. Some of the undergraduate programs may have linkages with some medical schools (UPenn's post-bac program has linkages with a few schools) or are just really well-respected and have a strong record of successfully preparing students for a medical school application (Harvard's extension school). Alternatively, you could do an a la carte post-bac program - a self-directed approach in which you enroll in upper-level courses in an effort to improve your BCPM GPA.
Graduate programs may also have these academic counseling services (I understand that some, such as Georgetown's SMP, do not offer all of these services but still have a good record of students matriculating into medical school). Invariably, if your deficiency is a paucity of upper-division science course success these programs will address it. However, I wouldn't suggest this route for you.
I think an undergraduate program with a strong performance in upper-level courses will help you more. It will improve your BCPM GPA (which, as Madonna pointed out, a graduate program will not), and it will likely be cheaper than a graduate program. You will also get guidance in a formal program, which you will not get with an a la carte approach. Also, in a formal post-bac program I imagine you will get more indivualized attention than you would receive by continuing as a super-senior at your current school. These post-bac programs have fewer pre-med students than your undergraduate school at large. That's just something else to think about.
Good luck, I hope everything works out for you!

 

[Beth_W737]

However, many of the formal post-bac programs require that students have not taken any or many science courses or the MCAT - these include Bryn Mawr & Goucher. You would not be eligible for these programs, or UPenn's Post-Bac Pre-Med Program but would be eligible for UPenn's Special Sciences Program, which is for those who have already completed and/or want to retake the pre-req requirements and upper level coursework. UPenn's Special Sciences program only has a linkage with UMDNJ - Robert Wood Johnson Med School, whereas the post-bac premed program for UPenn has agreements with numerous med schools. On Syracuse's Website, there is a list of post-bac programs specifically for those who have already taken the science courses. Here is the link:

http://hpap.syr.edu/LISTPB.HTM

Best of luck

Beth

Hi meg, I'm in a similar situation to you (well, not really, just with regard to my GPA and MCAT scores - other than that I'm very different) and I just want to extrapolate on what Madonna said. It's attractive to think that your MCAT score mitigates your GPA but in my experience that is just not the case. So, as a first order of business, yes, find out what your deficiencies are. Talk to your pre-med advisor; email/call admissions officers at the schools that rejected you or just email/call schools in which you have an interest.
Second, your goals and interests will dictate your next step. If you need to address your low science GPA you have a few choices. Continuing to take upper-division science classes at your undergraduate school may be appropriate - because you are a humanities major I'm unclear about how many of these courses you've completed. Medical schools may have reservations about your ability to handle the rigors of an intense science curriculum because of your low science GPA. A strong showing in a number of 400-level courses may allay their concerns. In this case you get to stay where you are, you won't have to move and disrupt your life. However, you may really want to move. I don't know about the level academic counseling services you'll get, either, or how much the pre-med advisors at your school will continue to help you. That's something to ask them.
On the other hand, there are number of programs available to enhance your academic record - particularly while enrolling in a rigorous curriculum. These are both undergraduate and graduate programs or even special masters programs. Some benefits of an undergraduate or graduate program separate from your undergraduate program include academic counseling services. You'll get things like a letter of rec from the program chair, help with applications, essays and interview preparation, and help procure shadowing or other volunteer experiences. These are things which, as a humanities major, you may not have received from your pre-med advisory committee. Some of the undergraduate programs may have linkages with some medical schools (UPenn's post-bac program has linkages with a few schools) or are just really well-respected and have a strong record of successfully preparing students for a medical school application (Harvard's extension school). Alternatively, you could do an a la carte post-bac program - a self-directed approach in which you enroll in upper-level courses in an effort to improve your BCPM GPA.
Graduate programs may also have these academic counseling services (I understand that some, such as Georgetown's SMP, do not offer all of these services but still have a good record of students matriculating into medical school). Invariably, if your deficiency is a paucity of upper-division science course success these programs will address it. However, I wouldn't suggest this route for you.
I think an undergraduate program with a strong performance in upper-level courses will help you more. It will improve your BCPM GPA (which, as Madonna pointed out, a graduate program will not), and it will likely be cheaper than a graduate program. You will also get guidance in a formal program, which you will not get with an a la carte approach. Also, in a formal post-bac program I imagine you will get more indivualized attention than you would receive by continuing as a super-senior at your current school. These post-bac programs have fewer pre-med students than your undergraduate school at large. That's just something else to think about.
Good luck, I hope everything works out for you!

 

[Lindyhopper]

As I've never been on an Adcom, so my opinion is second hand but:
1. Call the schools you are most interested & ask their advice.
2. A good free online resource is EK's Judy Levine advice column. http://www.examkrackersforum.com/index.php Judy was the admission director of NYMC & now is a private advisor.
3. A 34 indicates that you are ready for graduate level work. I THINK if you are ready to make the huge investment of effort & cash, a SMP may work great for you.

 

[DrHuang]

I highly recommend doing a SMP as they are usually designed for people with decent to good MCAT scores but are lacking the GPA department...if you search on these boards you'll find a few SMPs, the more notable ones being the Georgetown SMP and the Boston program...personally, I'd go with Georgetown not because Boston's program is worse but because Ive been through the Georgetown program and it got me into med school. cheers.

 

[junebuguf]

oops..double post

 

[junebuguf]

I second most of what jebus said. Coincidentally, I have the exact same MCAT as you--34S--but my overall gpa and science were much lower when I started, nearer a 2.25 and 3.0, respectively. I did two years of post-bacc at the undergrad level retaking all the pre-reqs (because I didnt learn anything the first time, though you seem to have grasped something judging by your MCAT). I then spent another year taking upper level bio (Biochem, Physio, Molecular, Genetics, Micro, et). I also did some research. I could have applied after that, but I heard too many horror stories of people failing to matriculate after just undergrad post-bacc so I opted for an SMP. I can tell you that SMP work is high risk, high reward. Getting an A in any medical school class is simply not easy--it will be the hardest thing you have done academically (think about 2-3x the effort you expended to get an A in Orgo...oh wait, you probably didnt get an A but anyway...sorry about that). There is a very high probability that you will end up with something like a 3.3-3.4 gpa for smp coursework, which is pretty good (its med school after all) but considering that you are not in med school yet, but are waiting to be judged for entry, that is a rather poor showing. ADCOMs repeatedly state that they can fill their class three times over with qualified candidates, people who, presumably, can get a 3.7+ gpa, so why would they want to take a gamble on you when you've already shown that you are (perhaps) not capable of doing as well? This is a line of reasoning that you should consider before going to an SMP. Why did you do poorly in science classes? Dont jump into advanced level sciences if you didnt have the patience/concentration/desire/whatever to do well at the undergrad level. Also MCAT science is very different from what most of us are taught in basic bio, chem and physics. Its far more conceptual with much less straight memorization. Med school is very conceptual but also has a lot of memorization. You have to do well in both.

If I were you, I would start with upper level bio at the undergrad level, honing my study skills and also getting a better feel for the sciences. At the end of that year, if you feel you need it, you can apply while simultaneously attempting an SMP.

Good Luck.

Hi meg, I'm in a similar situation to you (well, not really, just with regard to my GPA and MCAT scores - other than that I'm very different) and I just want to extrapolate on what Madonna said. It's attractive to think that your MCAT score mitigates your GPA but in my experience that is just not the case. So, as a first order of business, yes, find out what your deficiencies are. Talk to your pre-med advisor; email/call admissions officers at the schools that rejected you or just email/call schools in which you have an interest.
Second, your goals and interests will dictate your next step. If you need to address your low science GPA you have a few choices. Continuing to take upper-division science classes at your undergraduate school may be appropriate - because you are a humanities major I'm unclear about how many of these courses you've completed. Medical schools may have reservations about your ability to handle the rigors of an intense science curriculum because of your low science GPA. A strong showing in a number of 400-level courses may allay their concerns. In this case you get to stay where you are, you won't have to move and disrupt your life. However, you may really want to move. I don't know about the level academic counseling services you'll get, either, or how much the pre-med advisors at your school will continue to help you. That's something to ask them.
On the other hand, there are number of programs available to enhance your academic record - particularly while enrolling in a rigorous curriculum. These are both undergraduate and graduate programs or even special masters programs. Some benefits of an undergraduate or graduate program separate from your undergraduate program include academic counseling services. You'll get things like a letter of rec from the program chair, help with applications, essays and interview preparation, and help procure shadowing or other volunteer experiences. These are things which, as a humanities major, you may not have received from your pre-med advisory committee. Some of the undergraduate programs may have linkages with some medical schools (UPenn's post-bac program has linkages with a few schools) or are just really well-respected and have a strong record of successfully preparing students for a medical school application (Harvard's extension school). Alternatively, you could do an a la carte post-bac program - a self-directed approach in which you enroll in upper-level courses in an effort to improve your BCPM GPA.
Graduate programs may also have these academic counseling services (I understand that some, such as Georgetown's SMP, do not offer all of these services but still have a good record of students matriculating into medical school). Invariably, if your deficiency is a paucity of upper-division science course success these programs will address it. However, I wouldn't suggest this route for you.
I think an undergraduate program with a strong performance in upper-level courses will help you more. It will improve your BCPM GPA (which, as Madonna pointed out, a graduate program will not), and it will likely be cheaper than a graduate program. You will also get guidance in a formal program, which you will not get with an a la carte approach. Also, in a formal post-bac program I imagine you will get more indivualized attention than you would receive by continuing as a super-senior at your current school. These post-bac programs have fewer pre-med students than your undergraduate school at large. That's just something else to think about.
Good luck, I hope everything works out for you!