USF certification as DIY post-bac?

[amar314]

Hi everybody,

I'm graduating this semester and thinking hard about my future. I'm taking 1-2 gap years no matter what I do but I am considering medical school and will most likely need to do a post-bac to improve my grades. Overall GPA= 3.4, Science 3.1-3.2. I don't have the best trend, it's almost a downward trend which is what's killing my chances. Taking the MCAT in August btw.

I don't want to do an official post bac because the applications are far more complicated and I think doing a couple of upper level science classes should help (right?) would something like the USF certification be of use for me? Graduate Certificaties | USF Health
I'm looking to do the Aging and Neuroscience focus Aging and Neuroscience | USF Graduate Certificate

Thanks!

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[MountainClimber94]

I've seen this before! Really hoping someone that has had experience with this is able to chime in.

 

[Goro]

Looks good! This is like a step up from a DIY post-bac.

I strongly suggest the Anatomy over the Aging/Neuroscience.

Hi everybody,

I'm graduating this semester and thinking hard about my future. I'm taking 1-2 gap years no matter what I do but I am considering medical school and will most likely need to do a post-bac to improve my grades. Overall GPA= 3.4, Science 3.1-3.2. I don't have the best trend, it's almost a downward trend which is what's killing my chances. Taking the MCAT in August btw.

I don't want to do an official post bac because the applications are far more complicated and I think doing a couple of upper level science classes should help (right?) would something like the USF certification be of use for me? Graduate Certificaties | USF Health
I'm looking to do the Aging and Neuroscience focus Aging and Neuroscience | USF Graduate Certificate

Thanks!

 

[Turkishking]

What was the decline from?

 

[amar314]

Looks good! This is like a step up from a DIY post-bac.

I strongly suggest the Anatomy over the Aging/Neuroscience.

Thank you Goro! I wasn't sure which to pick.

 

[amar314]

What was the decline from?

No excuses really, I just signed up for too many extracurriculars and have struggled with time to study. My own fault :/

 

[Turkishking]

No excuses really, I just signed up for too many extracurriculars and have struggled with time to study. My own fault :/

Oh it happens. You learn from your mistakes, hopefully. But I mean the decline in GPA

 

[amar314]

Oh it happens. You learn from your mistakes, hopefully. But I mean the decline in GPA

Well the classes got more difficult and I was still balancing the same number of extra-curriculars. I'm definitely just going to take classes if I end up doing this!

 

[123456ers]

Honestly you're not in that bad of shape. If you do well on the MCAT and take a few classes this summer, next fall, and next spring, I definitely think you will get in somewhere next app cycle if you apply early and broadly. Your GPAs are a bit low but not out of contention... If you handle a year of some kind of post bacc work like you allude to I think you'll be fine this time next year.

 

[amar314]

Honestly you're not in that bad of shape. If you do well on the MCAT and take a few classes this summer, next fall, and next spring, I definitely think you will get in somewhere next app cycle if you apply early and broadly. Your GPAs are a bit low but not out of contention... If you handle a year of some kind of post bacc work like you allude to I think you'll be fine this time next year.

Thanks, really hoping you're right! I'll be studying for the MCAT this summer so I'll only be taking classes Fall and Spring, around 14 credits total. I have a lot of other things under my belt which will hopefully allow me to get in somewhere!

My goal really is to stay in Florida :/

 

[123456ers]

Thanks, really hoping you're right! I'll be studying for the MCAT this summer so I'll only be taking classes Fall and Spring, around 14 credits total. I have a lot of other things under my belt which will hopefully allow me to get in somewhere!

My goal really is to stay in Florida :/

14 credits of A with a solid MCAT sounds like a good place to start from at least.

NOVA is one of the best DO schools and reportedly has a pretty significant instate applicant bias! And there's also LECOM bradenton, so your options are there. Depending on MCAT and how high you can get that sGPA you could be a reach for the Florida state MD schools.

good luck

 

[getfat]

Thought about this route a couple years ago.

Be careful because most of these classes are online.

 

[amar314]

Thought about this route a couple years ago.

Be careful because most of these classes are online.

What did you end up doing instead? I'm also considering UF's program that is 100% online, would that be a problem you think?

 

[getfat]

What did you end up doing instead? I'm also considering UF's program that is 100% online, would that be a problem you think?

Sadly yes it would be a problem. USF designates if class is online. Unsure what UFs policy and that is no bueno for applying to any medical school.

I did a DIY post-bacc at USF. Retook all the pre-reqs (with labs). I took advantage of grade replacement policy that is now null and void.

If the certification program is still online it might be better to either

A) If sGPA/cGPA < 3.0; Take upper level science courses until 3.25
B) If sGPA/cGPA b/w 3.0 and 3.25; Apply to SMP (preferably with linkage)
C) If sGPA/cGPA > 3.25; Focus on competitive MCAT/ECs

 

[amar314]

Sadly yes it would be a problem. USF designates if class is online. Unsure what UFs policy and that is no bueno for applying to any medical school.

I did a DIY post-bacc at USF. Retook all the pre-reqs (with labs). I took advantage of grade replacement policy that is now null and void.

If the certification program is still online it might be better to either

A) If sGPA/cGPA < 3.0; Take upper level science courses until 3.25
B) If sGPA/cGPA b/w 3.0 and 3.25; Apply to SMP (preferably with linkage)
C) If sGPA/cGPA > 3.25; Focus on competitive MCAT/ECs

Thanks! The main problem with SMP's for me is that they usually ask for the MCAT which would keep delaying my application even more. Although all the courses at UF's program are online their professors teach at UFCOM and the program is specifically for students to improve their app to med school.

 

[ejaymes]

Sadly yes it would be a problem. USF designates if class is online. Unsure what UFs policy and that is no bueno for applying to any medical school.

I did a DIY post-bacc at USF. Retook all the pre-reqs (with labs). I took advantage of grade replacement policy that is now null and void.

If the certification program is still online it might be better to either

A) If sGPA/cGPA < 3.0; Take upper level science courses until 3.25
B) If sGPA/cGPA b/w 3.0 and 3.25; Apply to SMP (preferably with linkage)
C) If sGPA/cGPA > 3.25; Focus on competitive MCAT/ECs

I know this thread is oldddd and I'm so sorry for bumping, but I'm kinda desperate.

I graduated from USF in 2014 with a BS in biomedical science and a "soso" science gpa (2.9 - yikes, i know). I am currently researching the idea of going to grad school, but of course I would need to work on my science GPA beforehand. I saw that you did a DIY post bacc at USF. Can you tell me how you went about it? Would USF require that I obtain an entirely new second bachelor's degree or can I go my own way and just pick science classes that I feel would help my chances of getting accepted into school if I did well enough (A's)? The USF postbacc page is like gibberish to me. I tried to attend HCC to retake courses, but they would not allow it since I already graduated with at least a C in these courses. I am currently out of state and unable to visit campus, but the clock is counting down so I'm trying to get answers in any way that I can.

 

[Magus5454]

I know this thread is oldddd and I'm so sorry for bumping, but I'm kinda desperate.

I graduated from USF in 2014 with a BS in biomedical science and a "soso" science gpa (2.9 - yikes, i know). I am currently researching the idea of going to grad school, but of course I would need to work on my science GPA beforehand. I saw that you did a DIY post bacc at USF. Can you tell me how you went about it? Would USF require that I obtain an entirely new second bachelor's degree or can I go my own way and just pick science classes that I feel would help my chances of getting accepted into school if I did well enough (A's)? The USF postbacc page is like gibberish to me. I tried to attend HCC to retake courses, but they would not allow it since I already graduated with at least a C in these courses. I am currently out of state and unable to visit campus, but the clock is counting down so I'm trying to get answers in any way that I can.

It's been repeated alot, but don't retake courses you've gotten a C or better in. Take new upper level science courses and ace them

 

[ejaymes]

It's been repeated alot, but don't retake courses you've gotten a C or better in. Take new upper level science courses and ace them

Thanks! I probably should have read through the forum a little more before jumping the gun. I'll take new courses. So, would it be best to enroll as a second degree student and not finish the entire degree or as non-degree seeking? I'm going to have to pay out of pocket either way.

 

[Magus5454]

Thanks! I probably should have read through the forum a little more before jumping the gun. I'll take new courses. So, would it be best to enroll as a second degree student and not finish the entire degree or as non-degree seeking? I'm going to have to pay out of pocket either way.

If youre having to pay out of pocket it doesn't matter, sometimes you can get FA as 2nd degree

 

[ejaymes]

If youre having to pay out of pocket it doesn't matter, sometimes you can get FA as 2nd degree

Thanks. I'll just do a 2nd degree just to be safe.

 

[getfat]

I saw that you did a DIY post bacc at USF. Can you tell me how you went about it?

It got the job done. I had already had an MCAT score I was satisfied with and wanted to help my resume by improving my GPA. Wouldn't suggest this to anybody else but I basically retook all my pre-reqs in a span of 12 months (Bio, Gen chem, organic chem, physics, biochem, genetics, cell biology and biochem).

Would USF require that I obtain an entirely new second bachelor's degree or can I go my own way and just pick science classes that I feel would help my chances of getting accepted into school if I did well enough (A's)?

USF doesn't require you to get a new bachelor's degree. Register as a post-bacc and take the classes you need. Only possible deterrent could occur is if you failed (or got Ds)s in > 3 classes. USF has a special rule deterring people from retaking upper level science classes. If this is the scenario would suggest transferring to another school that allows you to take the classes you need.