To continue pursuing a Post-bacc or not?

[Jyoung16]

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Hi all,

I've been perusing the forums for some time now and haven't found much in the ways of recent responses to what I'm wondering. I'm a senior on the verge of finishing my undergrad and I'm in a bit of a pickle. I'm a "career-changer", having studied Global Affairs and decided late in my program to pursue medicine. I applied to Hopkins' Post-bacc this year and got rejected. While it was the only Post-bacc I applied to, I'm still really discouraged. Is there a point to even pursuing a formal Post-bacc anymore, potentially waiting another whole year just to start my premed studies? Should I just continue at my uni and do an informal Post-bacc? I've always been a high achiever and if I continue down this path, won't settle. I'm super determined to get into a top tier school- be it for a formal Post-bacc AND med school or just med school.
Brief run-down: General: 3.71 GPA, tri-lingual, two (I think) stellar internships: US State Department (overseas) and League of Arab States; Med-related: A in Bio this semester (the only technical pre-med class I've taken), A's in the three health-related classes I've taken (Global Health, Health Interventions, Public Health), employed as a medical assistant at a doctor's office (recent), 2 shadowing experiences with physicians, and I'm a certified yoga instructor who teaches privates. Any further questions, please ask!
Sorry for the long post. Just wanting some feedback. Thanks so much!

 

[ZedsDed]

Many amazing applicants with excellent stats get rejected at the top tier schools every year, it is just too competitive. You may very well get in, I'm not saying you won't. But it would be foolish to take an all-or-nothing approach to this. A 3.7 is average for a medical school matriculant. Let's say you ace your post-bacc, and your GPA lands around a 3.8. That would still leave you below Hopkin's average. Many people on this forum would be happy to get into any medical school, so try and have some perspective. That being said, your EC's are great. I don't see why you shouldn't shoot for the stars, just don't complain if you only make it to the moon.

 

[Jyoung16]

... Thank you. I really appreciate your pragmatic perspective. I guess part of me is worried that if I don't do a formal post-bacc for career changers, I'll be at a disadvantage to others who have done them- in terms of advising, linkage opportunities, and a competitive resume. Do med schools prefer formal over informal post-baccs?

 

[ZedsDed]

Obviously the more linkage the better. But I wouldn't say you would be "at a disadvantage" doing an informal postbacc. Just do it at a university, and get as close to a 4.0 as you can; essentially you will be the same as every other premed in this regard. Focus on you local state school, postbacc's are expensive.