What would you do? Unformal postbac, formal post bac or SMP?

[redwings54]

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Hello all. I am writing to ask for a little advice as to what options would be best for me. Here is a little about me. I graduated from a top liberal arts school with a chem major and philosophy minor. GPA was 3.05 and 2.79 science. I took the MCAT and got a 25 than a 24 the second time after finding out my dad had cancer 2 weeks before the test. I have tons of ECs ranging from being a RA, TA, reseach assistant with a pub in chem and a soon to be 1st author in med anthro, sub teacher, student government, captain of rugby team, chair of volunteer organization, shadowed Docs and more. I won a fellowship to study holistic medicine in Russia and Scotland. I now work in a lab as a clinical lab assistant doing phlebotomy and processing work for all kinds of samples so I am getting great clinical experience. I think I am pretty set on all the stuff that completes your application and my drawbacks are my grades and MCAT. I plan to take classes this summer but dont really plan to retake the MCAT, although it will expire if I dont use it by next year. I am applying to DO schools because they more closely fit with my ideas and what I want to do in medicine. And I think I have a better chance at matriculating there than its allopathic counterpart.

So with all that, should I look to continue with an unformal postbac like I plan on doing or should I go with something more structured? I have completed all my pre-reqs so I will be taking upper level classes. I live close enough to Harvard to do a post bac there by travelling 2 hours each way to the classes. I dont have a 4-year school close by me to take classes other than travelling to Boston. Would relocating to do a SMP be the best way to go and would I even get into an SMP? Money is also a big factor for me, hence CC classes and Harvard Extension. I also need to work and just started this new job so quitting anytime soon would be pretty bad. SO, my question is what should I do? Do I do a formal postbac, a SMP or just continue with the unformal postbac through my CC and maybe Harvard Extension like I am planning? Advice from those who have done just this would be really appreciated. Really, advice from anyone would be appreciated too.

 

[RoxyKaur]

Isn’t the extension program at Harvard meant for people who have not completed their prereqs?

 

[Lindyhopper]

So much depends on your personal situation. I don't know too much about the classes offered by Harvard Extension or local CC but there is often useful affordable education to be found. If you keep plugging do well & keep deeping your experiences in health care you can get there.
The quickest, most direct, most intense, & most expense route would probably to do a one year post-bacc certificate or two year master's at a DO school. Check out PCOM's program. But bring your A game. THe study habits that got you a 2.8 BMCP will need a high motivation overall.

PS Hope things worked out with your Dad.