which gpa?

[jeanie523]

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I'm sure a question like this one was asked in the past, but I couldn't find a thread that answered my question specifically....

If someone opts for a post-bac program that emphasizes UNDERgraduate work vs. a 1-year special masters program, say Georgetown, which gpa is weighted more heavily by med school admissions? Is it really true that if your undergrad gpa doesn't meet a certain cutoff then you won't be considered at all? Or is the latest level of education that's completed looked at more?
IF they latter is the case, then what is the purpose of pursuing a "non-degree" post-bac program? I'm a little confused because if one's undergrad gpa cannot be salvaged, then a masters program would be more productive...no? (i.e. getting another degree in the same time spent trying to recover the undergrad gpa). That is unless adcoms puts a greater emphasis on the undergrad gpa.

What is the fine line you guys look at to determine what program to pursue (e.g. non-degree vs. special masters)?


Yup....I'm confused

Thanks...😛 😛 😛

 

[bonez318ti]

I think the post bacc programs focusing on undergrad work are for people who have not yet taken the basic science classes (ie: with career switchers).

If you already have taken bio,phy,chem and orgo and didnt do to well in it, I doubt ad coms would want to see you do it all again just to boost your average.

This is where the grad level post bacc classes come into play. These are marketed as 'enrichment' classes and are typically at the graduate level, some are given as actual medical school classes (your peers are med students).

There has been debate on this (on the georgetown thread i believe), but I think that even if you didnt do too hot in undergrad.. but you prove yourself by getting all A's in a high quality program (georgetowns would probably qualify).. ad com's will most probably take this into consideration because you have shown that you can cut it with the work load.

If you never took any science classes before and did the undergrad classes type post bacc program, I think it would show ad coms that you are serious, capable and dedicated if you got a 4.0 or something in these classes even if you had a less than stellar undergrad gpa.

Tho is all just postulation since I havent even applied to medical school yet.. :-D

 

[RoseLee]

Just wanted to add something for the "older" students out there such as myself. I finished all my prereqs (except physics) 13 years ago. Much has changed in the field of Biology and Chemistry since then. Therefore, I've decided to re-do these courses at the local university. Many schools (but not all) only accept coursework done in the last 7 years (at some it's 10 years). It behooves me to retake these classes to prepare for the MCAT.

As far as a graduate program to "prove" yourself, I've seen threads on SDN talking about the adcoms view of graduate grades being overinflated. Whether that's true or not remains to be seen.

Anyway, just another perspective. Bottom line, call up the admissions folks at the schools you might want to apply to and ask what they recommend.

Roselee