Stuck. Post Bacc Pre-med Q

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>Hello and thank you for taking the time to read/reply to this post.</p>

<p>I am currently a senior at CSU long beach and will be completing my degree in music performance as a cellist. Last year I had decided to reach for my dream and transfer to Boston University as a double major in Music and Neuroscience, my two absolute passions in life. Unfortunately, family issues and finances forced me to transfer back to CSU long beach. </p>

<p>I did not want to give up my medical passion to become a neurosurgeon. I am currently working as an intern at a hospital but am STUCK. Of course I thought I can just complete my premed classes at CSU long beach but they are forcing me to graduate due to "budget cuts" since I transferred and have been there 2-3 years and I have 120% credits.</p>

<p>So I now have to graduate next spring with just my music degree and I will be 20 at the time. I've done hours of research into post bac premed, but would love some advice. </p>

<ol>
<li>Considering this situation, is post bac pre-med the way to go?</li>
<li>Do they require the GRE? I have not taken it yet.</li>
<li>I know prestige is normally good, but there are many "prestigious schools out there with lame advisors for premed." School recommendations from experience? </li>
<li>Will my age (20) and only one yr intern experience look elementary compared to others?</li>
</ol>

<p>just fyi, I have only taken chem 1 and bio 1. Also, my gpa is 3.95.</p>

<p>ADVICE on anything in this post would be very appreciated.</p>

2

<p>1) I don’t see any other option for you. However, you don’t need to do a formal post-bacc program. Since you’ve already completed some of your med school pre-reqs, you can enroll in the rest of your required coursework as non-degree seeking student at any 4 year college. Or you can enroll in a formal post-bacc for career changers. Getting into med school is never a “sure thing” no matter what the post-bacc program director will tell you (especially in CA!). Please don’t go into debt for post-bacc!</p>

<p>2) Most career changer post-baccs so not require a GRE.</p>

<p>3) AMCAS has a searchable database of post-bacc programs here:</p>

<p><a href=“https://services.aamc.org/postbac/[/url]”>https://services.aamc.org/postbac/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>No recommendations. Sorry. </p>

<p>4) Your age may be an issue for med school admission, but since you’ll be a year or more older by the time you complete the rest of your pre-reqs that should take care of itself. Your lack of physician shadowing, community service and research experience will be a bigger issue.</p>

<p>~~~~~</p>

<p>And a word—you are a world away from choosing a medical specialty. Please don’t fixate on neurosurgery. Concentrate on the first step–that is completing your pre-reqs and strengthening your CV so you can get accepted into med school.</p>