New dude, working on Post-bacc

Nontraditional Premed Discussion
1

Hello everyone,


So decided to extend my graduation date…I took a year off (got my head straight), worked part-time and studied for the MCAT simultaneously. I decided that after 4 years (120 cr. @ 3.2 GPA, only needed 3 more to graduate) I needed to do some sort of “post-bacc” work in order to increase my chances.

  • I did well during my first two years (4.0’s in both orgos…a few 3.0’s and 3.5’s in the other prereqs, school is based on a .5 scale)

  • Third year got introduced to Biochem and Physiology…freaked out

  • Got severely depressed due to external circumstances and pressure from school

  • Now I have taken the advice of my pre-med adviser to work on upper-level science courses

  • So far…Genetics-3.4 (different school)


    Microbiology-3.7 (different school)


    Pharmacology- 3.5 (current school)


    Immunology 400-level- 4.0!! Whaaa???


    …Currently taking Cell Bio 400-level (thinkin im in 3.5-4.0 range)


    and a biophysics course 400 level but based on essay format so not so bad

  • Was a voulnteer coordinator for my schools pre-med association, have voulnteering at two hospitals, shadowed a D.O. orthopedic surgeon.

  • Oh yes… MCAT 26 :(…PS 9, VR 7, BS 10…planning on taking it again this summer

  • Since I have had a year off I picked up this book called verbal reasoning mastery…it said to read for 8 months from a diverse selection of book s, and online resources


    (please dont tell me this is useless, I need the reading help) So yea been reading two hours a day for the past year on top of studying the sciences (IF THIS DOESN’T INCREASE MY VERBAL SCORE BY AT LEAST A POINT I DON’T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO!!!)

  • Last but not least…applying for 2013…In my year off I plan on receiving a quick masters or working as an EMT (I know the EMT thing is not a guarantee but I think it is cool after seeing “Bringing out the dead” with Nicholas Cage).

  • Please let me know of any tips for my year off…I know the statistics as well as everyone else here about GPA and MCAT scores…just looking for some help and support from people like me


    Thanks for listening
2

Hey, and welcome…


Seems like you have your hands full and your head on straight. Good for you! Trust me at this stage of the game you need all the reinforcement you can get. I would never think that a reading assignment like yours would be for nothing. Here’s to a better score on your VR.


Many on here are in similar rat races, juggling family, work, relationships, mental health…to name a few.


I think that for your off year (glide year) maybe you should travel abroad with a humanitarian group or something. This may be a breath of fresh air from the grind of classes, study, sleep, work, study…study some more…


Of course this is my 2 cents…


Welcome aboard and feel free to vent when you need to. Lord knows we’ve all been there!


Cheers!