My science performance improved as I figured out my study strategies, but it’s still not competitive for medical school. I can’t afford a postbac program: what should I do?
First, the range of “competitive” GPAs is wider than many students think. Holistic review is real: admissions committees consider many academic factors, including pre-college preparation, GPA trends, letters of recommendation, and MCAT scores. Ultimately, they want to feel confident that you can succeed in the biomedical curriculum at their school with the resources they can offer. Please come in for an appointment so that we can look holistically at your candidacy and brainstorm next steps based on your specific situation – it’s hard to give advice without knowing the whole picture!
There’s often a trade-off between time and money when boosting your academic record: you can do it quickly in a formal postbac program, but it can be expensive. You can do it more slowly by working part- or full-time while taking a class or two at a time, using the money you earn to finance the classes. Some alums take full-time jobs for a couple of years while deciding whether medicine is worth the sacrifices, then use the earnings to pay for a postbac program.
We recommend going to the best possible school you can access, but at the same time, if finances are a concern, medical schools will consider this – doing very well in the classes and on the MCAT is key. Many students choose to attend a state school near a place where they can live for free/cheap and look for jobs in that area. If you work at a college or university (or an affiliated institution like a research center), you may have access to tuition benefits for free or reduced-price courses. Working in a science-based job will also provide evidence of your readiness to navigate science courses in medical school. If you still have to take the MCAT, consider working for a test prep company teaching ACT or SAT – you’ll gain communication skills and have access to discounts for your own MCAT prep.
Keep in mind that it’s important to know your limits – don’t try to do too much and sacrifice your academic performance. And be ready to take the initiative: one of the benefits of a formal program is that you’ll have built-in advice and support from your academic institution that you won’t have as a non-degree-seeking student. We’ll help as much as we can, but we won’t be experts on other schools’ curricula. In any case, we’re happy to talk with you about potential timelines and the pros and cons of different preparation routes.
QOTW 2024: Unique Glide Year Activities
QOTW 2023: Summer Classes