Month: May 2020

Exposure to medical school level coursework

This is truly a plus. In some programs you get to take classes alongside first-year medical students, giving you a glimpse of what it’ll be like. Most importantly, because of the exposure, you’ll learn how to study EFFICIENTLY – which (I’ve been told) is key to succeeding in medical school. 

A chance for a new or improved GPA

Depending on the type of postbacc you participate in, this can mean either increasing your undergraduate GPA or getting a new, graduate GPA. Either way is a chance for you to showcase academic improvement to medical schools. I will go into further details on these two possibilities in a later post 🙂

Possible matriculation into medical school

This is never a guarantee, but most programs have affiliations with their own or surrounding medical schools. Therefore, if you meet certain requirements, you may have a chance of gaining admission into an affiliated medical school. Such a sweet idea, but be ready to put in the work. Getting that seat will take a lot of hard work, some sweat & maybe even a few tears (guilty!).

More mentorship and guidance

Depending on the program, you may be assigned an advisor and/or have the opportunity to interact directly with the program director. You’ll also have a chance to meet alums from your program that will give you the ins and outs, so you don’t have to figure things out blindly. It’s a very humbling experience and it was one of the things I loved most about my program. 

The people you meet

This may sound cliche, but I think it’s underrated. Oftentimes these individuals are one of the few who can relate to your present situation 100%. Why? Because they’re going through the same workload as you & may even share similar struggles! The African in me wants to point out that you’re obviously not attending any school or program to make friends, but try to get to know some, if not all, of your classmates. You’ll be surprised at the support system you can find through them and vice versa.

Everyone’s reason is different, but here are some common ones that I’ve encountered. My own are included.

if you weren’t successful with the current application cycle.

Don’t let this discourage you. Depending on the type of program you’re looking for, a post-bacc could be a good plan B. Many people have received admission to medical school after completing & showing improvement with a post-bacc, so there is still hope for you.

if you do not feel adequately prepared to enter medical school without an introduction to the rigorous coursework.

This was one of my reasons & I’m glad I allowed myself the chance to explore this. By doing so, I felt I would be better preparing myself for when the opportunity came!

for academic enrichment.

For example, if you need extra coursework to redeem your academic record from undergrad (guilty!). This could also help you build a stronger foundation for the basic sciences.

if your MCAT score is lower than expected for the regular admission cycle, but meets post-bacc requirements.

Where one door closes, another one opens. There is more than one way to get into medical school. Don’t fall into the trap of assuming that all other paths are closed just because your MCAT score is not “good enough”.

if your MCAT score is lower than expected and you want to improve it.

Exposure to more science coursework can help you learn relevant MCAT material (especially for the Biology section). In general, doing a post-bacc can also help you gain better studying techniques before retaking the exam.

There’s no shame in identifying with any of these reasons. Whatever yours may be, own it and make it work for you! And if you need help, don’t be afraid to reach out! 🙂