<p>Hello everyone, I had a few quick questions about the post-bac process. First off, I'm a Psychology major at UCLA and have around a 3.3 GPA, maybe higher if I do well in my classes this quarter. I have extra curriculars from volunteering in hospitals, leadership, research, and mentorship. I want to take the career-changer path in post-bac or take classes at Pasadena City College (a community college) but one of the highest rank city colleges in California. These are my questions for post-bac:</p>
<p>When is the application for each schools due? I have read their website, but they are very vague about it.</p>
<p>Can I still apply if I have taken a few of the basic science courses at a city college?</p>
<p>Will I be able to get int with a GPA of 3.3? I heard post-bacs are very competitive.</p>
<p>Will taking classes at my city college be enough (it is a highly ranked city college, especially in science).</p>
<p>If not, will I be able to take a year off doing work in health-related fields before applying to post-bac?</p>
<p>Thank you so much! I can't seem to find these answers anywhere!</p>
<p>There are hundred of post-bacc programs in the US. If you could be more specific about which ones you’re considering, it would be easier to answer your deadline question.</p>
<p>AMCAS has a searchable database of post bacc programs here:</p>
<p>[Postbaccalaureate</a> Premedical Programs - Search](<a href=“http://services.aamc.org/postbac/]Postbaccalaureate”>http://services.aamc.org/postbac/)</p>
<p>If you follow the links embedded in each program info, you can easily find application deadlines. (I did at the first 2 or 3 I looked at.)</p>
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<p>Can you? Of course. Is it a good idea? No. Med schools want to see how you stack up against the stronger competition you typically encounter at a 4 year college. Do not take your science pre-reqs at a CC (no matter how strong you perceive it to be) UNLESS you are going to be taking higher level science coursework at a 4 year college afterwards.</p>
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<p>It depends on what programs you’re considering. Some are more competitive than others.</p>
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<p>Probably not–see above.</p>
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<p>Sure. People enter career changer post baccs from all sorts of careers and backgrounds and many enter after taking several gap years after graduation.</p>
<p>Edited to add–you don’t have to do a formal post-bacc to apply to med school. You can pick up your required science coursework in bits and pieces as non-degree student at any college. The downside of this is it may make getting your LORs from your science profs more difficult. (And med schools will require LORs from your BCPM profs as part of your application pkg.)</p>
<p>Thank you for the information! And I was planning on CSU Fullerton, USC, SFSU, the postbacs in California. Will those be competitive at all (especially CSU Fullerton)? What is the average GPA that usually gets in?</p>
<p>And could you expand on what you mean by a non-degree student? I assume it is a student attending college just to go to college, and not degree specific? And I’m also guessing that this applies to any college (extension school)?</p>
<p>Another problem is money. I am living in near poverty will med schools understand my situation in which why I am taking city college courses (a lot cheaper) compared to postbacs? Or will that not matter and they will prefer 4 year university courses either way?</p>
<p>1) I don’t know the average GPA. That’s something you can contact the school and ask. Each of those post-bacc programs has a contact email listed. I’m sure the GPA varies year-to-year.</p>
<p>2) Non-degree means you are not seeking a undergrad or grad degree. You’re just taking coursework. Many colleges will allow non-degree student to enroll in a limited number of classes without formally seeking admission to the school. More common at public universities than private. Be cautious about enrolling in extension courses taught off the main campus–they often do NOT have the required labs and are usually be taught by adjuncts. (Who may or may not be good teachers, but an adjunct is an annual hire and finding that individual later to get your LORs can be very difficult, if not impossible. Med school require 3 LORs from your BCPM profs so you will need their LORs.)</p>
<p>3) Med school adcoms don’t live in bubbles. They understand about real life issues like finances. Many, many non-traditional applicants (perhaps most) don’t do the post-bacc route. They take their pre-reqs part-time over a couple of years or they work full time for a few years to save up money and then take all their coursework at a local U in one very, very intense year.</p>
<p>Do NOT take your science pre-reqs at a CC. It will significantly damage your application. Regardless of whether you go full-time or part-time, take your coursework at a 4 year U.</p>
<p>Okay thank you so much for the clarification! You don’t know how much you have helped me out! Thank you!! I will probably apply to postbacs if there is no financial aid save up and take the non-degree route!! Thank you!!!</p>