Which postbac? Low (low) GPA, but I'm so much more...

[Rontanamo]

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I've finally redecided to go to medical school. I'm looking at doing a post bac but wanted some advice on how to pursue this.

Some background first. I graduated from Princeton. I have a terrible GPA, ~2.6. I was even suspended. During that time I joined the Army, served with a special operations team, and did time overseas including a year in Iraq.

When I came back - my grades improved, I averaged a 3.4 post deployment.

I ended up working on Wall Street as an investment banker but really want to get into medical school. I took two runs at premed in undergrad but didn't have the maturity to handle it at that time. I got a D in orgo and failed physics.

I've never taken the MCAT. My ACT was 32 in 2005. HS GPA was 4.2.

I know that this is going to be a rediculoisly arduous battle but I am determined to see it through.

What postbac programs do I even have a shot at?

 

[tarheel14]

I highly recommend you look into applying to UNCG Post Bac Premed Program. I applied to several schools for post bac and this one is my safety school. I have heard its not hard to get accepted! Best of luck

 

[PerseveranceMD]

You can look into Barry University's post bacc program. I went to University of Chicago for undergrad (also had bad premed grades) and did the post bacc/ 1 yr BMS program at Barry. Going to those top 10 universities looks good but they aren't pre-med friendly. The Barry program was great in my opinion, as long as you don't mind being surrounded by undergrads...I hated it so I just did my work and didn't really bother making friends until I did the masters program. Long story short, I applied to med school this year, got into 3 of them and will be starting in the fall. Also, there was a kid from Princeton who started the post bacc with me but I don't remeber his name. Hope this helps.

 

[ZedsDed]

Frankly I don't think a postbacc will be enough for you. You will need to do one, but then you will also need to do an smp as well. On top of all that, you will need a killer MCAT Score along with hundreds of hours of clinical exposure. Others have done it before you, but you are at least 3 years away from medical school. Best of luck

 

[Rontanamo]

A postbacc alone may not be enough for me. If it's not I will do an SMP. I will certainly be shadowing and building up EC as I work at whatever postbacc I get into. I am hoping to also work in a lab or maybe as an EMT during this time. Whatever it takes.

 

[ZedsDed]

You remind me of myself, so let me give you some further advice if I may. You need to prove to yourself that you can get straight A's (or at least 3.7+) before jumping into postbacc work. I would go to your local community college and register for 2 science classes, get A's in both. Next semester, take 3-4 science classes and do the same. NEXT year you can take the postbacc, if you can manage to get your GPA to a respectable level than you can stop there. I doubt you will have time to work as an EMT and so on while doing an smp; I suppose it's possible while doing a postbacc. The real danger hear is biting off more than you can chew doing anything other than acing your classes. As I said this will almost certainly take 3 years. If you need an additional year for EC's/MCAT then so be it. It's important to understand that if you screw this up than you are done with med school, really done. You need patience to be a doctor, so I would play the long game.

 

[tarheel14]

A postbacc alone may not be enough for me. If it's not I will do an SMP. I will certainly be shadowing and building up EC as I work at whatever postbacc I get into. I am hoping to also work in a lab or maybe as an EMT during this time. Whatever it takes.

Don't give up! So many people on here will try to discourage you. My greatest advice is to use this website as a platform but don't take everyone's advice at heart. What worked for some may not work for others.

Please keep us updated on what you end up doing!

 

[buffdentist]

You remind me of myself, so let me give you some further advice if I may. You need to prove to yourself that you can get straight A's (or at least 3.7+) before jumping into postbacc work. I would go to your local community college and register for 2 science classes, get A's in both. Next semester, take 3-4 science classes and do the same. NEXT year you can take the postbacc, if you can manage to get your GPA to a respectable level than you can stop there. I doubt you will have time to work as an EMT and so on while doing an smp; I suppose it's possible while doing a postbacc. The real danger hear is biting off more than you can chew doing anything other than acing your classes. As I said this will almost certainly take 3 years. If you need an additional year for EC's/MCAT then so be it. It's important to understand that if you screw this up than you are done with med school, really done. You need patience to be a doctor, so I would play the long game.

This is exactly what I have done and it's worked. This is wonderful advice!! I graduated with a 2.6 with a chem degree. After I graduated it finally hit me that I screwed up big time. I immediately started my post-bac (2nd bachelors in biology) at a big university in my hometown after I moved back home with my parents. I've been in my post-bac program for 1 year and graduate this quarter and will have a 3.8 in all upper division biology courses. My DAT scores are also solid. I got a 19 and scored in the 95th percentile in mathematics. I also have really good EC's (350+ volunteer hours in clinical and non-clinical). I've just received my first acceptance to an SMP and am waiting on more. You can do it! You just gotta believe in yourself!!

 

[slow twitch]

I've finally redecided to go to medical school. I'm looking at doing a post bac but wanted some advice on how to pursue this.

Some background first. I graduated from Princeton. I have a terrible GPA, ~2.6. I was even suspended. During that time I joined the Army, served with a special operations team, and did time overseas including a year in Iraq.

When I came back - my grades improved, I averaged a 3.4 post deployment.

I ended up working on Wall Street as an investment banker but really want to get into medical school. I took two runs at premed in undergrad but didn't have the maturity to handle it at that time. I got a D in orgo and failed physics.

I've never taken the MCAT. My ACT was 32 in 2005. HS GPA was 4.2.

I know that this is going to be a rediculoisly arduous battle but I am determined to see it through.

What postbac programs do I even have a shot at?

What's your state of residence?

 

[Rontanamo]

State of residence has historically been Missouri, Connecticut and New York due to the Army. I am currently a Missouri Resident.

 

[Rontanamo]

You remind me of myself, so let me give you some further advice if I may. You need to prove to yourself that you can get straight A's (or at least 3.7+) before jumping into postbacc work. I would go to your local community college and register for 2 science classes, get A's in both. Next semester, take 3-4 science classes and do the same. NEXT year you can take the postbacc, if you can manage to get your GPA to a respectable level than you can stop there. I doubt you will have time to work as an EMT and so on while doing an smp; I suppose it's possible while doing a postbacc. The real danger hear is biting off more than you can chew doing anything other than acing your classes. As I said this will almost certainly take 3 years. If you need an additional year for EC's/MCAT then so be it. It's important to understand that if you screw this up than you are done with med school, really done. You need patience to be a doctor, so I would play the long game.

This is good advice. I've talked to a couple directors at post-bacc programs and they suggest the same thing. I'm definitely am going to ease into things starting with just a few classes this summer.

 

[Rontanamo]

Got my first post bacc admission today. Columbia. Still waiting on Wash U and UPenn.

Not sure if I'll do the Columbia program.