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Hi everyone,
I just recently graduated from UC Berkeley as a Biology major. Before UC Berkeley, I attended a local community college for 2 years. I had done well in community college (GPA - 3.51), and I took most of my prerequisites including gen Chem, ochem, and physics. Because I had wanted to transfer within 2 years, I chose to take bio at UC Berkeley. I guess that had been my mistake. After transferring to UC Berkeley, I did not do well and it was really hard to deal with the competition that exists at Berkeley. I felt that trad Berkeley students were at an advantage because they know the available resources while I still had to navigate resources as a transfer student. The first semester, I got a C in Biology 1a and then another set of C's in Biology Ib and Biochem during spring semester. I did well in other courses including anatomy (B+) and physio lab (A). My gpa was around 2.97 by the time I graduated this May. I decided to take additional public health courses this summer online, and I got A's in both of these courses. I did exceptionally well, and I wished that I had chose public health as my major rather than Bio. Now, my gpa is 3.187. My cumulative gpa is 3.35, and my sGPA should be at least 3.3.
In terms of my extracurricular activities, I volunteered as a reading/homework buddy for 7th/8th and high schools seniors who were struggling with reading and homework such as calculus. I started this during my second year of community college because I had just turned 18 and got my driver's license. I also did research through a program at my local community college. After transferring to UC Berkeley, I was looking for research positions and I was rejected multiple times. I had been looking for local clinic volunteer positions, however, I was not successful. In the meantime, I decided to volunteer for a year as a reading buddy for 1st graders. During the second semester, I was accepted for a cancer research position and medical scribe at UCSF.
I am still working as a medical scribe remotely, however, research was discontinued for undergraduates in March, 2020. For my research position, I was very involved in terms of knocking out genes and doing post-doc level work. I think I have good lab and clinical experiences although I did just start recently.
I am posting on this forum because I would like to have advice about local available post-bacc/SMP programs preferably in CA. I had talked to my prehealth advisor that I don't think I can even apply to med schools at this year, and I want to consider doing post-bacc programs. He suggested that I should do the UC post-bacc programs, but I told him that I am unable to get 3 letters of recommendation because I have not done well in my science courses. I could try getting a letter of rec from my cc gen chem professor, if needed.
Please suggest any programs, and I am open to consider out of state post-bacc programs. I am also currently studying for the MCAT. I will be taking the test on 09/04. I am hoping if I do well, then I will consider applying this year. Also, I would appreciate any other advice or suggestion. Thanks!
I just recently graduated from UC Berkeley as a Biology major. Before UC Berkeley, I attended a local community college for 2 years. I had done well in community college (GPA - 3.51), and I took most of my prerequisites including gen Chem, ochem, and physics. Because I had wanted to transfer within 2 years, I chose to take bio at UC Berkeley. I guess that had been my mistake. After transferring to UC Berkeley, I did not do well and it was really hard to deal with the competition that exists at Berkeley. I felt that trad Berkeley students were at an advantage because they know the available resources while I still had to navigate resources as a transfer student. The first semester, I got a C in Biology 1a and then another set of C's in Biology Ib and Biochem during spring semester. I did well in other courses including anatomy (B+) and physio lab (A). My gpa was around 2.97 by the time I graduated this May. I decided to take additional public health courses this summer online, and I got A's in both of these courses. I did exceptionally well, and I wished that I had chose public health as my major rather than Bio. Now, my gpa is 3.187. My cumulative gpa is 3.35, and my sGPA should be at least 3.3.
In terms of my extracurricular activities, I volunteered as a reading/homework buddy for 7th/8th and high schools seniors who were struggling with reading and homework such as calculus. I started this during my second year of community college because I had just turned 18 and got my driver's license. I also did research through a program at my local community college. After transferring to UC Berkeley, I was looking for research positions and I was rejected multiple times. I had been looking for local clinic volunteer positions, however, I was not successful. In the meantime, I decided to volunteer for a year as a reading buddy for 1st graders. During the second semester, I was accepted for a cancer research position and medical scribe at UCSF.
I am still working as a medical scribe remotely, however, research was discontinued for undergraduates in March, 2020. For my research position, I was very involved in terms of knocking out genes and doing post-doc level work. I think I have good lab and clinical experiences although I did just start recently.
I am posting on this forum because I would like to have advice about local available post-bacc/SMP programs preferably in CA. I had talked to my prehealth advisor that I don't think I can even apply to med schools at this year, and I want to consider doing post-bacc programs. He suggested that I should do the UC post-bacc programs, but I told him that I am unable to get 3 letters of recommendation because I have not done well in my science courses. I could try getting a letter of rec from my cc gen chem professor, if needed.
Please suggest any programs, and I am open to consider out of state post-bacc programs. I am also currently studying for the MCAT. I will be taking the test on 09/04. I am hoping if I do well, then I will consider applying this year. Also, I would appreciate any other advice or suggestion. Thanks!
