Hello, I’m looking for some advice given my current situation and wondering if anyone else is in the same place as me. I just graduated this semester but my cGPA is barely 3.0 and sGPA is even lower. I do have an upwards trend in my GPA but I wasn’t able to take many upper division science classes since I double majored. I was thinking about doing a DIY Post bacc at my local 4 yr college but I’m not sure what classes to take, should I retake my Pre-reqs (I got C’s) or just take higher-level bio courses. This will also cost me money so I’m wondering if instead maybe I should do a master’s program next fall then apply. Or do both? I’m just really stuck at this point so any advice is appreciated.
The post-bacc is the better option. MD programs disregard or devalue most master’s GPAs because of rampant grade inflation in many grad programs. Graduate coursework will not be included in final GPA calculations for cGPA and sGPA so grad classes won’t improve your GPA for application screening purposes.
Osteopathic med school will include some grad classes in GPA calculations and a grad degree may help there. Not all degrees but certain classes from a graduate science degree may be included in final GPA computations. Please check AACOMAS rules on what graduate classes are acceptable.
For your do-it-yourself post bacc, do not retake pre-reqs unless you earned a C- or lower. Instead take higher level elective science classes— like biochem 2, genetics, A&P, immunology, advanced neuroscience, embryology, etc.
Adcomms want to see that you are able to perform at a high academic level in challenging science classes similar to those required by med school.
Thanks for your input! I see so even though I got C’s I should still take upper-division science courses. Do you think it’s still worth doing the master’s programs even after I do the DIY post bacc? I am aiming for mostly Caribbean and DO, I didn’t know some DO’s do consider some grad courses, I’m going to have research that
Do NOT go to a Caribbean school unless you have exhausted all possibilities for US DO acceptance. Less than 40% of Caribbean grads get a US residency position. Without a US residency your degree is worthless.
Also Caribbean med schools are all for-profit businesses whose business model depends on failing out a large percentage of thei entering classes each year since they don’t have enough clinical training slots for all their students.
Caribbean med schools should be a last resort and only for those who have failed in 3 rounds of US applications, allowing for time in between each round to improve one’s CV.
If your sGPA is above a 3.0 and you feel like you’re a strong student, considered a SMP after your post bacc. A SMP is a special type of grad program that simulates the difficulty of med school. At the best SMPs , students take classes side by side with actual med students and the top SMP students are guaranteed admission interviews at the associated med school.
Be aware that SMPs are high risk- high reward. Do well and you will get some strong
consideration by med schools; finish outside the top 15-25% of the class or with a GPA below 3.75 and any chance of a med school acceptance is gone forever.
Oh wow didn’t how last resort the Caribbean was until now. I was trying to aim for an SMP but my sgpa is way below 3.0, my cgpa is barely 3.0 so there aren’t any programs that would take me. I was looking at some masters from the AAMC website such as MS in Medical Sciences or Columbia University’s MS in Nutrition. Do you know how many credits would be considered “ok” for a DIY post bacc? It’s going to cost me money so I’m wondering if 3 or 4 courses are ok.
The Columbia program is a SMP and it’s very rigorous. A MS in Medical Science may be a grade enhancing post bacc or it may be a SMP, depending on the school which is offering it.
Here’s a list of grade-enhancing post-baccs and SMP programs: http://manoa.hawaii.edu/undergrad/pac/health/post-bacc-special-masters-programs/
Since you’re aiming for DO programs, you should especially consider SMPs offered at DO schools.
As for how many credits–that depends on what your current GPA is and how many classes it will take to boost above 3.0 or 3.25–which are the typical minimums for SMPs. Use a GPA calculator to find out how many credits you’ll need.
If you want to skip the SMP and apply directly to DO programs, you’ll need at least 18-30 credits (6-10 classes, depending on how low your current sGPA is is) of post-bacc science classes, all with A grades to make yourself a creditable applicant. The average GPA/sGPA for DO program is now around 3.45.
Here’s a GPA calculator designed for DO applicants.
What’s plan B professionally? The path you’ve laid out looks expensive and risky. If you don’t do a post bacc, how can you use your interest in medicine and healthcare in a different field?
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@blossom is right. Every pre-med needs a Plan B.
There are tons of medically related jobs-- most of which you’ve never even heard of.
Here’s a website to help you explore more options:
Thank you so much! And yeah I figured way back I’m gonna need something to fall back on. I doubled majored in English and Biology so I figured I would try med school first and if it doesn’t work out I will go do a master’s. I have looked at positions in technical writing but I have to research a little bit more. Thank you for the links by the way! Much appreciated.
I think I’ll take upper-division science classes at a local 4 yr just enough to push me towards the 3.2,(I’ll have to calculate how many credits I need my GPA is 2.9 right now), and then try to get in an SMP, if not masters at least and then apply. And for backup I am looking at options, I have worked as a medical assistant for 3 years so I still hope to be in the medical field.
If you have low grades in stem, you’ll need to pay extra attention to getting those top grades in a post grad program. You may not be coming to more rigorous courses with the depth of mastery and understanding in the areas they cover.