What Is a Post-Bac?

[NukeAge]

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I don't want to sound dumb but what exactly is a post-bac? Is it dfferent from getting a masters?

 

[Pre-Dent-David]

From my understanding it is classes taken after the person has already recieved their BA/BS. They do this in an effort to raise their gpa or to meet the requirements of professional school.

 

[CatsAreKillers]

Originally posted by NukeAge
I don't want to sound dumb but what exactly is a post-bac? Is it dfferent from getting a masters?

What Pre-Dent-David said.

Also....you don't end up with a degree when you get a post-bac (like you do when you get a Masters).

 

[DrLady]

There are lot of schools that have good post-bac programs. You take extra science classes in order to boost your gpa. Thats about it. If you want to know more, go to AAMC website as it has more info on which schools have good post-bac programs.

 

[wolferman]

http://www.aamc.org/students/considering/postbac/start.htm

 

[jms2002]

postbacs are of 2 types,

1. enrichment programs for people to retake sciences and get better grades or

2. aimed at career changers, people lacking science prereqs

most programs of the 2nd type will not take students aimed at improving their grades - even though it is a degree less program they have advantages over taking courses on your own b/c they are very well structured and many have linkage agreements with medical schools allowing you to skip the "glide" year

glide year = the extra year between the time you finish your postbac and the start of medical school - normal AMCAS process makes it impossible to start the immediate September after you finish your postbac (i.e if you finish in 6/04 you cannot get into medical school w/o "linkage" until 9/05)

 

[NukeAge]

why does a post-bac require a program? why can't you just do it by yourself after you finish your degree?

 

[mamadoc]

You can do a post-bacc sort of program without actually participating in something official - in general, med schools don't care how you do it so long as you end up fulfilling their prerequisites.

A formal post-bacc program will probably give you some med school applicant resources that aren't available to you if you design your own program - e.g. MCAT prep, advice about the application process, LORs etc. (However, I did a "do-it-yourself" post-bacc and still was able to get a pre-med committee LOR.)

 

[wolferman]

I too did a do-it-yourself post-bac program. I just enrolled at Boise State University as a biology major and chose electives that I thought would help me the most in medical school. So far I've taken the following:

Organic Chemistry
Zoology
Microbiology
Pharmacology
Cell Biology
Histology
Human Physiology
Head and Neck Anatomy
Biochemistry
Genetics

Next semester I'm taking a course entitled "Physiological Basis of Wilderness Medicine" in which we'll learn what is going on in the body when it is harmed by common wilderness injuries, i.e. burns, hypothermia, frostbite, altitude sickness, rashes, etc.

From the feedback I've received in my interviews, these types of courses are really encouraged since they will be directly applicable to medical school, and by doing well, it shows that you'll probably do well when it's covered.

 

[NukeAge]

What is the benifit to doing a masters in say, molecular biology instead of a post bac? If you do good in grad school but had, say a 3.0 undergrad GPA, how will the schools look at your undergrad work?

 

[conure]

Any undergraduate level class you take after obtaining a Bachelors degree is a post baccalaureate class whether its through a "formal" program or not.

There is a huge difference between graduate evaluation and undergraduate evaluation. Graduate grades are difficult to use to compare applicants because the grading is pretty liberal. As far as I understand by doing a graduate degree you are proving an overall aptitude and love for a subject. ie I think grades in a graduate program mean little (assuming you complete the masters requirements).

I think its easier to compare undergraduate level grades across applicants because the material is very similar. Of course there may be differences in level of difficulty between schools but that can be corrected for as well.

Overall I believe that admissions committees look at the overall trends in grades (grad and under), as well as commitment and deidcation to an area of interest.

 

[Neuronix]

I'm doing a do-it-yourself postbacc right now. I'm working as a tech in an academic lab with my own project/helping out others in the lab. I am also taking 2 courses across 2 semesters to finish up my one degree (I was a dual major) and to take Biochemistry (which I never knew I should take as an undergrad). I am doing this because not only did I want to look more attractive to adcoms, but I wanted to get more experience in wet-lab research before entering a MD/PhD program.

 

[Tuesday Weld]

A 3.0 could be downplayed (not that it's the worst thing in the world...students have gotten accepted with less), if you take all of your prereqs now and ace them. You don't need a Master's for that. You could just do a post-bac and it will be a lot shorter.

But don't take our advice. Call up the medical schools and ask their Admissions dept for advice.

Originally posted by NukeAge
What is the benifit to doing a masters in say, molecular biology instead of a post bac? If you do good in grad school but had, say a 3.0 undergrad GPA, how will the schools look at your undergrad work?

 

[nina512]

For those of you who did a "do-it-yourself" postbacc, how many semester credits did you finish with? How many classes should I take?

I'm planning to do post-bacc at the school I work at because the classes are free to all employees. I can only take 6 credits/semester (two classes). If I don't get in this year, I'll try to apply for class entering 2005. By June 2004, I'll have 18-24 credit hours. Is that enough? My BCMP was a 3.0

Thanks!

 

[Neuronix]

Originally posted by nina512
For those of you who did a "do-it-yourself" postbacc, how many semester credits did you finish with? How many classes should I take?

I'm planning to do post-bacc at the school I work at because the classes are free to all employees. I can only take 6 credits/semester (two classes). If I don't get in this year, I'll try to apply for class entering 2005. By June 2004, I'll have 18-24 credit hours. Is that enough? My BCMP was a 3.0

Thanks!

I recommend you retake any science or science-related classes you got a C- or lower in right off the bat. Assuming that you have no courses in that range, I would take high level courses in Biology, or if you had another science major, high level courses in that major. You could also take any courses you think would help you prep for med school (Biochemistry, while not required, may be helpful... Histology, microbiology, etc...). If your courses are getting paid for, take as many classes as you feel comfortable taking knowing you need to try to get As.

As for whether you can get in. That is a tricky situation. What is your overall GPA? Your BCPM GPA of 3.0 is pretty low. Your post-bacc may not be able to make up for that, but your situation depends on a number of factors that need to be addressed (total GPA, MCAT, UGrad institution, URM status, ECs, research, etc...). You always have the option of reapplying, and you may also be more competitive for DO programs.

 

[nina512]

Neuronix, thanks for the advice...

Everything on my app is on par with med school matriculants except for my GPA. I hope to prove myself through taking post-bacc programs.

BTW...HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone! 🙂