When to send apps if doing post-bacc?

[bersa380]

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Hello all

I just completed my junior year.
By the time I graduate, I will likely have a 2.8 science gpa, and around a 3.3 overall gpa. I definitely feel that my science gpa is holding me back, probably from any acceptances when I apply. I plan on taking the MCAT sometime during the spring and applying for a DO-school postbacc program. After I graduate, hopefully I'll be waiting to be accepted/be accepted to a post-bacc program. During the summer, I plan on retaking some of the science classes that I did poorly in at a community college.

So, broken down in an easier to read format.

2008
spring, apply to post-bacc, take MCAT
summer, retakes at a communit college
fall, post-bacc
2009
spring, finish post-bacc, get accepted to a medical school

Now then, onto my real question (My EC's are stellar and I tend to do really well in standardized tests). When should I send in my applications for medical school after I graduate? I'm thinking if I send in my primary apps as soon as I can (June), then with my science gpa, I'll possibly get rejected BEFORE schools see my post-bacc scores. But, on the flipside, if I wait until I've completed some of my post-bacc to send in my application, then I'll be a "late-application" yeah?
Or will it not matter since I'm in a post-bacc at SOME medical school and they'll likely be the ones to consider me as a matriculant?

Thanks for your input 🙂

 

[HunterGatherer]

Tough call. Personally I would prefer to apply before September to be relatively early. I would wait to see what my MCAT and summer retakes look like. Be sure to retake science courses starting with the lowest one first to give the sci GPA the best boost. If I scored a 28+(above average for DO schools) on the MCAT or got the Sci GPA above 3.0 I'd apply as soon as either happened.

Read the 30+ MCAT thread and try to find a study style that has been successful for yourself. Get some MCAT prep books now and start studying your class material and MCAT material side-by-side.

 

[Jpc984]

I may be wrong here, but... I don't think retakes at a cc replace classes you took at a different school.

 

[HunterGatherer]

I may be wrong here, but... I don't think retakes at a cc replace classes you took at a different school.

grades will be replaced if they are the same course. It does not matter if it is a CC or not or if it is from a different school.

I am confused about the mention of retakes in a CC and post-bacc. A post-bacc would be only found at a 4 year college/university?

 

[bersa380]

I'll be doing the CC courses at a place near my original university. I'll be moving elsewhere for the post-bacc.

I've got 4 C's total; everything else is A/B
I plan on retaking 3 of the C's during both summer sessions which should bump my science gpa well over a 3.0.

So, should I wait until after I've completed the summer courses until I send in my application so I don't get auto-rejected by <3.0 screening?

Thanks again for the input

 

[bersa380]

bump! 😀

 

[lala83]

Hello all

I just completed my junior year.
By the time I graduate, I will likely have a 2.8 science gpa, and around a 3.3 overall gpa. I definitely feel that my science gpa is holding me back, probably from any acceptances when I apply. I plan on taking the MCAT sometime during the spring and applying for a DO-school postbacc program. After I graduate, hopefully I'll be waiting to be accepted/be accepted to a post-bacc program. During the summer, I plan on retaking some of the science classes that I did poorly in at a community college.

So, broken down in an easier to read format.

2008
spring, apply to post-bacc, take MCAT
summer, retakes at a communit college
fall, post-bacc
2009
spring, finish post-bacc, get accepted to a medical school

Now then, onto my real question (My EC's are stellar and I tend to do really well in standardized tests). When should I send in my applications for medical school after I graduate? I'm thinking if I send in my primary apps as soon as I can (June), then with my science gpa, I'll possibly get rejected BEFORE schools see my post-bacc scores. But, on the flipside, if I wait until I've completed some of my post-bacc to send in my application, then I'll be a "late-application" yeah?
Or will it not matter since I'm in a post-bacc at SOME medical school and they'll likely be the ones to consider me as a matriculant?

Thanks for your input 🙂

i would suggest submitting your app as early as possible next summer. i did a postbacc starting fall 06, and i submitted my aacomas app in july. most schools like to see your fall grades before offering you an interview, so you can fax them those in december. i was lucky enough to get 2 interviews before the end of the fall semester and both schools said they wanted to see my grades before making a decision.

they'll put your happ on-hold until they get them, but definitely submit it all early. they know that you're enrolled and will be looking forward to getting an update on grades. some schools did outrightly reject me, but they were well aware that i was taking a post bacc, but even post bacc grades may have not been enough for those schools.

i ultimately ended up getting interviews to 5 schools, and waitlisted at all 5. i sent all the schools my updated spring semester post bacc grades in may and just got my first acceptance. just don't put all your eggs in one basket, it's likely that the school you do your post bacc at will give you a little extra consideration, but by no means is it a guarantee. apply to a lot of schools (especially the new ones) and study hard for the mcat!!

good luck!

 

[Tanner82]

I'll be doing the CC courses at a place near my original university. I'll be moving elsewhere for the post-bacc.

I've got 4 C's total; everything else is A/B
I plan on retaking 3 of the C's during both summer sessions which should bump my science gpa well over a 3.0.

So, should I wait until after I've completed the summer courses until I send in my application so I don't get auto-rejected by <3.0 screening?

Thanks again for the input

If you retake those 3 C's and get A's, you could prob. boost your science gpa up to par.... I don't even think you'd need a post-bac if your mcat is decent, unless of course you want to

 

[Tanner82]

If you only have 4 C's and your sci gpa is 2.8, then you must not have too many sci classes... by retaking w\ a's you could prob. get that to ~3.4 which is fine

 

[MedStudentWanna]

I am confused about the mention of retakes in a CC and post-bacc. A post-bacc would be only found at a 4 year college/university?

Not true. The term post-bacc refers to any coursework done after graduating college. Many people do their post-baccs at a community college.

 

[bersa380]

Well then...is a formal post-bacc necessary for me?

 

[bersa380]

Starting a new thread because I think this discussion is going in a different direction

 

[mpjhballer8]

Hello All,

So I just got accepted into the UNT SMP program and I just got my mcat score back yesterday(2nd time taking). I have to accept my seat within the SMP by the 12th and I have no idea if I should or not. So I graduated spring 2013 from UT with a degree in Islamic studies and minor in bio.
cGPA 3.6 and sGPA 3.5
first mcat: 26 (10/9/7 p/v/b) 2nd: 28 (10/9/9).

As far as ec's go:

• I biked 4900 miles from Austin, TX to Anchorage, AK with a UT student group sponsored by Livestrong. We raised money for cancer research. Was a 70 day trip. Took a year and half of training, planning, volunteering within the austin community before we left, at least 2000 hrs before I even did the ride.
• I worked at an oncolocy clinic during the summer. Paid. checked patient vitals and medical/social histories and shadowed the doc. 300+ hours
• volunteered at dell childrens oncology center 30+ hours
• shadowed ER doc 20 hrs.
• habitat for humanity
• student disability services (96 hours)
• ER scribe
• and trying to get NIH IRTA research or research at UTHSCH or MD anderson. (dont have any research as of yet)

So this is my third time applying and the first two times i applied with the same mcat score. Now my question is, for the next year and to better my chances for acceptance, should I do this SMP program or should I stick with being a scribe and continue trying to get research jobs at any medical school? Any input would be greatly appreciate it as I am at a crossroads right now and need some advice/help. Thank you all!