r/postbaccpremed

I just had my AMCAS application verified and finally saw my official GPA calculations. My cumulative undergraduate GPA is 2.99 and my BCPM/science GPA is 2.83.

I’m a nontraditional applicant and have already completed post-bacc diy coursework, but unfortunately my post-bacc performance was not strong enough to demonstrate the kind of academic reinvention I would want medical schools to see. (I could take more classes such as math)

I also just took the MCAT, so I don’t have my score back yet.

At this point I’m trying to be realistic about my options rather than spending thousands of dollars and months writing secondaries if my application is likely to be screened out.

I’m considering:

1. Additional undergraduate upper-level science coursework to improve/show a stronger trend
2. A one-year SMP or academic-enhancement program, ideally one with a legitimate MD/DO linkage or conditional acceptance pathway
3. Applying DO depending on my MCAT
4. Caribbean medical school

I’m honestly tired of taking more classes and would love to just start medical school, which is part of why Caribbean schools are tempting. At the same time, I don’t want to make a short-term decision out of frustration that limits my residency options later. I also want to enter medical school confident that I can handle the basic science curriculum.

For anyone who had a similar GPA (<3.0 cGPA/sGPA), what did you do? Did an SMP or record-enhancer actually change your outcome? Are there specific programs with strong linkages that you would recommend looking into?

I’m especially interested in hearing from people who have actually been in this situation or worked closely with applicants who have my scores, I'm not looking for just “give up” or “anything is possible” answers. I’m looking for realistic next steps. Thanks.

I'm a recent grad who majored in bio with a minor in chemistry.

I have a gpa of cgpa of 2.3, I was a student ambassador for my uni for 2 years, free clinic volunteer for 3 years (124 hrs), summer camp counselor for 3 months, recreational therapy assistant for 4 months and worked at a reduced cost clinic for 2 years clocking 432 hours(patient care coordinator, front desk and translator). Have not given the MCAT, nor DAT yet.

I don't know whether I should do a postbacc or a masters. I am interested in going into dental or med and considering a masters in entomology. Currently taking a break to figure things out.

Any advice on how to navigate such a situation would be much appreciated. Thanks!

I am an international student with cgpa of 3.45, no MCAT yet. I was recently accepted to an SMP but so many people say contradictory things I have seen people say to do an SMP if your gpa is 3.2-3.5 and some people say do it if it is 3.0 or below. The tuition for the program is extremely expensive so I don't really know if that is worth it or if it is worth it to get a super high mcat score and prolonged clinical hours instead. The program does have extracurriculars and mentorship and other benefits to it too though I should add. I don't know what to really do in this situation.

Hello all,

I am a Non traditional older (35 Years Old) June 2027 applicant. I have a Bachelors of Science in Economics with a minor in Mathematics. I completed 140 credits in undergrad with a cumulative GPA of 2.2 with the last 54 credits at. 3.422. I have worked in Supply Chain for the past 10 years. I am currently volunteering at my local hospital, Hackensack Meridian and have accumulated 60 hours of clinical volunteering. I have not taken the MCAT yet. I am currently attending a 84-credit Post Bacc program in which I am one semester away from finishing and have a 4.0 GPA so far. I have two people who have agreed to prove me with a letter of recommendation, 1 science professor and from the assistant head nurse where I volunteer. I would be extremely grateful for any advice, school recommendation and anything that would help. Thank you in advance :) !

Hi everyone! I’m looking for some advice on what to do academically before applying to medical school in 2027.

I’m about to finish a formal post-bacc program and have completed about 34 credits so far. My post-bacc GPA is currently around a 3.0, which is lower than I was hoping for. At this point, the only prerequisite I have left is biochemistry, so taking just that one class obviously isn’t going to move my GPA very much.

My biggest issue was my first year. I work full-time and unfortunately can’t afford to stop working. I took on way too many science classes/labs at once while working, and my grades suffered pretty badly. I was also diagnosed with ADHD in the middle of the program, which helped explain some of the issues I was having and allowed me to make some changes.

Since then, I’ve cut back to 1–2 classes per semester, and there has been a clear upward trend. I’ve generally been averaging around a 3.3–3.5 each semester since changing my course load.

Since I want to apply in 2027, I’m considering continuing to take upper-division science courses after I technically finish the requirements of my formal post-bacc.

For anyone who has been in a similar situation:

• Is it common to continue taking classes after finishing a formal post-bacc specifically for GPA/academic enhancement?
• Can I take the additional classes at a community college?

I know a 3.0 post-bacc GPA isn’t ideal, so I’m trying to be realistic rather than rush my application. I’d especially appreciate hearing from people who worked full-time during their post-bacc or had a similar GPA/upward trend.

Thanks!

Graduated biochem major this year. Overall GPA 3.22, science gpa 2.98 (no upward trend). I am planning to retake five prerequisites I got C’s in and then one or two upper level science courses. Should I do an SMP after or continue taking more upper level science courses after through community college? Please advise

Edit: I will apply to DOs but I’m mostly aiming for MD schools

I am starting a DIY postbacc this year.

I already finished all my basic prereqs in my first undergrad with a C or higher. Now, I mostly want to take upper-level biology courses (like Immunology).

Every class is offered with and without a separate lab. I do not have a job right now, so I have the time, but I am wondering if there is any real point to taking the labs.

My Questions:

• Do admissions committees care about upper-level labs, or do they only care about lecture grades and total credits?
• If I skip labs, my fall credit load drops below my 15-credit goal (I already did 8 credits this summer). Is it worth adding the labs just to pad the credits?

For example: Should I sign up for the Immunology lab alongside the lecture, or just stick to the lectures? thank you.

Hi! I have a rough undergraduate transcript and a GPA around 2.6 and feeling lost on what academic repair programs (like post-baccs or Special Master's Programs) I should look into.

The big question on my mind is would a strong MCAT score, post-bacc or master's GPA actually be enough to overcome a 2.6, or is it a lost cause? Any advice or personal stories would be greatly appreciated!

The SMPs require a 3.0 undergrad gpa to get in and if i do a diy post bac before SMP it still isn’t enough to reach the threshold due to my total credit units.

MCAT: 521
Gpa: 3.3
Sgpa: 3.17
graduate computer science (MS) gpa: 3.6

100 clinical hours
100 service hours

2 genetics papers, non primary author

I’m a non traditional student looking to apply to schools in 2027, graduated undergrad in 2020. Wondering what schools I could potentially target and if I have a shot. I’m in Illinois.

Also, did generally well on premed courses (A orgo I, AB orgo II, A physics etc) but took a lot of high level math that really tanked me.

I’ve worked in tech since undergrad and have worked for some health tech companies since then.

Appreciate any help on schools!

I’m a 28yo nurse and have about $40k in 403b with the hospital I work at, but due to pursuing med school, I had to drop to prn part time to focus on my program and do extra curriculars. Which has worked great so far for necessary study time i didn’t have previously. Problem is I am no longer eligible to get company match for the 403b as a prn nurse, it used to be 6.5% match if I put in 10%, but I can still put contributions toward the 403b if I want. Should I?

I know I shouldn’t invest in a retirement account if it means having to take more in loans, which I would need to. Currently I am borrowing $20k for the remaining last year of my 2 year program. Trying to do some physician shadowing, lots and lots of volunteering, research, etc while studying requires me to work only 1-2 a week to be as competitive as possible.

If I pull back contributions then when would I begin contributions again, after med school during residency? That would mean not investing except just that $40k I have until mid 30s

Hi everyone!

First Reddit post because I’m in a pickle. I’m trying to figure out the best route for me to improve my undergrad GPA and eventually apply DO with my low gpa. I had a rough couple of years and gave up, but want to go back to working towards my biggest goal.

I graduated from UCI this year with a degree in Psychological Science and around a 2.6 GPA. I’ve already taken a good amount of science classes, including bio, general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and biology—but did fairly poor in them besides a few A-Bs.

A big part of my struggles in undergrad were related to undiagnosed ADHD, which I was diagnosed with recently. I had a really hard time with things like focus, procrastination, time management, and staying consistent academically. Now that I understand what was going on and have been managing it better via therapy and psychiatric treatment, I feel like I’m in a much better position to perform well academically.

I’m thinking about doing 30+ credits of post-bacc science courses and trying to get mostly A’s to show a strong upward trend. Ideally, I want to work as a medical assistant while completing the program, so my hope is that it’s either online or nearby. I live in Orange County.

I came across UNE’s online post-bacc and was wondering if anyone here has done it or knows much about it. I have an advisor meeting scheduled next week.

A few things I’m wondering:

Is UNE actually good for GPA repair?
Are the classes more difficult from undergrad STEM?
Can you take enough upper-level science courses?
Do DO schools look at UNE favorably?
Is it better to do UNE or an SMP with a low GPA like mine?
Has anyone gotten into med school after doing UNE’s post-bacc?
Would you recommend UNE over Touro, Scripps, SCU?

I’m really trying to make sure I choose a program that will actually help me rather than just spending money on another degree. Any advice or personal experiences would be really appreciated!!

I am writing as the mother of a student pursuing the long and demanding path toward medical school. I am deeply concerned about the impact that the new federal student loan limits may have on students who have the academic ability, dedication, and qualifications to become physicians, but whose families do not have the financial resources to pay for their education out of pocket.
Much of the public discussion surrounding student loans has focused on debt forgiveness and on reducing excessive student borrowing. Those are important issues, but I believe we are overlooking another serious consequence: access to education itself.
Medical and other professional programs can cost tens of thousands of dollars each year. When federal borrowing options are restricted, the remaining financial gap does not simply disappear. Students are increasingly expected to obtain private loans, often requiring substantial income, strong credit histories, or a qualified co-signer.
But what happens to a capable student whose parents cannot afford to contribute tens of thousands of dollars every year?
What happens when that student has limited credit history because he or she is young?
What happens when the parents themselves cannot qualify as co-signers?
That student may have excellent grades, complete all of the prerequisites, work for years toward admission, and even earn a seat in medical school—yet still be unable to attend.
That is not simply a student debt problem. It is an access problem.
We should be extremely careful about creating a system in which becoming a physician, dentist, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional increasingly depends on a family’s financial resources or its ability to qualify for private credit.
Our country continues to discuss physician shortages and the need to encourage talented young people to enter healthcare. At the same time, we should ask whether our financing policies are unintentionally creating another barrier for exactly those students.
I understand the need to control the rising cost of higher education and excessive borrowing. Universities must also be held accountable for tuition and program costs. But limiting federal financing without ensuring a realistic alternative for students from middle- and lower-income families could have consequences far beyond student debt.
There must be a balance between responsible borrowing, institutional accountability, and educational opportunity.
A student’s ability to become a physician should be determined primarily by talent, preparation, perseverance, and commitment—not by whether his or her family is wealthy enough to finance medical school or fortunate enough to qualify for a large private loan.
I respectfully ask policymakers to consider this issue as future student loan policies are evaluated and amended. Please protect pathways that allow academically qualified students from families of all economic backgrounds to pursue medical and professional education.
The solution to the student debt problem should not be to make these professions inaccessible to everyone except those who can afford them.

Pretty much the same question as the title. I keep hearing from people that wanting to help people + a deep fascination with science isn’t enough, so was wondering what is? Im considering applying into medschool in a couple of years and trying to get a decent exposure into med through volunteering, shadowing and trying to find any applicable books for someone without the clinical knowledge (would greatly welcome recommendations if you have any). But basically how do you make sure that your reasoning is enough to commit to a lifetime of hard work and mentally taxing work?

I graduated this past spring (2026) with a BS in Neuroscience and minors in Chemistry and Chinese. I'm first-gen, so I've been figuring all of this out on my own, and lately I can't shake the feeling that I'm falling behind. A lot of people I graduated with already have something lined up, and I'm still searching. What I really want is a lab or research assistant role where I can keep growing before I apply to MD/PhD programs, and I'm especially drawn to neurotech and anything at the intersection of neuroscience and tech.

My experience runs across both bench and clinical work. I've done imaging and expansion microscopy on brain tissue, immunostaining, and built image analysis pipelines in ImageJ and CellProfiler. On the clinical side I ran patient interviews for a hospitalist study and was promoted to a senior role within a year, and I've also done qualitative research on end-of-life care. I have a preprint and a few conference presentations too.

Here's what keeps stopping me. My GPA is a 3.51, and I've talked myself out of applying to so many postings because I'm scared it isn't good enough and I'll get screened out before anyone sees the work I've actually done. So for anyone who's been through this or hires RAs: are these roles usually open to recent grads and post-bacc applicants, and does a 3.51 really matter that much next to hands-on experience?

Any honest advice, or even a lead on a place that hires post-bacc RAs, would mean the world right now. I'm trying to stay hopeful.

Hi everyone! I’m an RN currently working toward applying to MD programs in 2028, and I’d really appreciate advice from anyone who has gone from RN/BSN → MD or DO, especially people who were working as nurses while completing their prerequisites.
I’m trying to be very intentional about building my application over the next ~2 years rather than waiting until application season to figure everything out.

My background:
● BSN/RN graduate(graduated with a 3.76)
● Currently working as an RN at a pediatric long-term care facility
● Because I work in long-term care, there are relatively few physicians around compared with an acute-care hospital. Most of the providers I work around are NPs, which has made physician shadowing more difficult.
● I currently have 8 hours of physician shadowing in peds and am actively trying to get more.
● 36 hours of volunteering so far, with plans to continue building this substantially before applying.
● 600+ hours of research, including research experience/poster work.I also have a publication but it’s nursing based.The poster isn’t nursing based.
● 2,000+ hours of clinical experience from nursing/clinical work and training.
● Nursing leadership/extracurricular experience as well as the secretary of my schools Student nursing association as well as just being charge nurse.
● I’m currently completing a post-baccalaureate program to complete my pre-med prerequisites but its undergrad classes so idk if it will be its own gpa or no.
● My post-bacc will provide a committee letter/evaluation if I finish with a 3.5+ GPA, which I’m aiming to do.
● I’m planning to take the MCAT in March 2028.
● Planning to apply during the 2028–2029 application cycle.
Current post-bacc timeline:
Fall 2026:
● General Chemistry II
● Physics I
● Pre-professional seminar
Spring 2027:
● Biology II
● Organic Chemistry I
Summer 2027:
● Slight MCAT preparation
● Continue volunteering/shadowing
● Physics II
Fall 2027:
● Organic Chemistry II
● Biochemistry
Spring 2028:
Studying for the MCAT

Then MCAT in March 2028 → apply May/June 2028.
My goal is primarily MD, although I’m not completely closed off to DO.
I know my nursing background gives me a lot of clinical experience, but I also know that I can’t just rely on that. My biggest concerns right now are whether I’m building enough of the non-nursing portions of my application, particularly physician shadowing and volunteering.
For people who have actually made the RN → MD/DO transition:

1. How did you handle shadowing while working as an RN? Did schools care that you had fewer shadowing hours because you already had extensive clinical experience?
2. How many physician shadowing hours did you ultimately have when you applied? Did you shadow multiple specialties or primarily one?
3. If you worked somewhere like long-term care where there aren’t many physicians, how did you find physicians to shadow?
4. How did you present your RN experience on your application? Did you list it primarily as clinical experience, employment, or both?
5. Did admissions committees actually view your nursing background as an advantage, or did you feel like you had to explain why you were going from nursing to medicine?
6. How much volunteering did you have when you applied? Did you focus on clinical volunteering, non-clinical service, or both?
7. For those who had nursing research/QI/research experience, how did medical schools view it? Did you feel like you needed traditional wet-lab/basic science research in addition to your nursing research?
8. How much research did you have when you applied, and did you have publications/posters?
9. For people who completed a post-bacc, how did medical schools view the post-bacc GPA compared with your undergraduate GPA? Did the upward or downward trend make a significant difference?
10. Has anyone had a committee letter from their post-bacc program? Did it help your application?what does it entail?Do I still need from physicians if I have that?
11. How did you balance working as an RN with a full prerequisite course load? Did you eventually reduce your nursing hours or stop working during MCAT preparation?
12. For the MCAT, how much time did you realistically need while working as an RN? Would you recommend taking significant time off work?
13. For those who applied as RN → MD/DO, what do you wish you had started doing earlier?
14. Were there any parts of your application that you initially thought were strong but later realized were weak?
15. Did anyone successfully get into MD schools without having hundreds of physician shadowing hours? If so, what did the rest of your application look like?
16. Finally, if you were in my position right now, what would you prioritize between now and applying in 2028?
    I’d especially love to hear from people who were working nurses while completing a post-bacc, rather than applicants who went directly from BSN into medical school.
    I’m still early enough in the process that I can fix weaknesses now, so I’d genuinely appreciate honest feedback—even if there are parts of my current plan that you think I need to change.
    Thanks!
    PS I unfortunately have bills so I can’t take time off work for the MCAT so if you studied while working I would love that input as well as what you did

I feel like taking that class was a mistake. At this point I'm just hoping for a B, maybe B-. I have 37 credits of 4.0 work in my postbac prerequisite work so far over the last year. My undergrad gpa from ten years ago was 2.88, so the grades really matter now, and the way this class went feels very discouraging and like I broke my streak. I felt like I could not apply the material I was quite literally studying at minimum 5 hours a day for the last 42 days straight once the tests came, even though I understood it when I worked through it while studying. Idk how much of this can be attributed to "pregnancy brain" and the fact that my 6-hour sleeps were consistently disrupted every night because I had to pee...or to not being able to truly retain things at the speed the class went; It felt like I could learn all of the material just in time for the exam but not have it mastered enough to apply it. This made me feel really discouraged for the future journey as classes get harder (100% will not be taking accelerated classes anymore), despite having aced my Gen Chem I class in the regular semester. Can anyone offer any words of encouragement, advice, similar stories, etc.? My situation is so niche that it's hard to know if it's my brain or what.

Career changer here looking for some advice. I graduated in 2021 with a BS in Computer Engineering with a 2.68 AMCAS cumulative GPA and a 2.209 BCPM.

I did some math and the most I can repair my GPA after taking pre-reqs and higher level science classes is about 3.13 (cumulative) and 3.28 (bcpm) assuming 3.9-4.0 through 70 credits or so.

I know I probably won’t get into a MD school even with a stellar MCAT but has anyone done this before and seen success in DO schools? I am considering a DIY post bacc at a 4 year university.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

So, for context, I graduated from my undergrad with a 2.32 GPA (Bad yeah). Since then Ive done about 80-90 credits of DIY at a local 4 year CUNY with all A's. Say I raise the total cumulative GPA to a 3.0 at least, would I have to do an SMP to guarantee an acceptance, or can I simply just apply straight away. Will be taking the MCAT next year, but have been scoring around 512-515 on the practice Kaplan exams (AAMC will be done closer to exam date). I currently have about 6000 PCE as a MA/Medical Coordinator, and gathering more research until next May (Maybe around 500 hours?). I just need some inspiration because this road has been long and hard, and I have moments of doubt. I really want to become a physician (IDC about DO/MD, either I would happily accept). I just want to know that this road will hopefully lead somewhere. Ive changed much from the student I used to be, and working at a cancer center has really reaffirmed my love for medicine.

Please just be blunt and honest with me, I really need it more than ever. I'm nearly at a 3.0 cumulative GPA, I'm just taking a few more upper division BIO/CHEM courses to pad my transcript. Currently enrolled in Inorganic Chem, Genetics and Nutrition for this Fall while working full time.