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A DIY post-bacc is the most cost-effective way to complete the premed prerequisite classes and take upper-level science classes to improve your GPA for medical school.

However, there's not much information out there on how to do a DIY post-bacc.

Most premeds are uncertain about how to apply, the number of credits to take, structure classes, financing a post-bacc, and if a DIY post-bacc is the best option for them.

In this blog post, I explain everything you need to know about doing a DIY post-bacc. (Take it from someone who had to figure it out all on their own!)

What is a DIY Post-Bacc

A DIY "informal" post-bacc offers an inexpensive but flexible way to take prerequisite courses and science electives before applying to medical school.

Essentially, it's like doing another year in undergrad after graduating.

In a DIY post-bacc, you have the flexibility to create your own schedule and be your own boss.

This will allow you more time to do extracurricular activities and get clinical experience.

Or, if you do have quite a bit of experience already and your main goal is to improve your academic profile, you can take a heavier course load.

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I decided to pursue a DIY post-bacc after undergrad for three main reasons.

1. to complete the premed prerequisite classes
2. to increase my undergraduate GPA
3. because it's the most cost-effective option

You're probably considering doing a DIY post-bacc because you're in a similar predicament yet aren't sure how to go about it.

Let me explain!

While some premeds take a gap year to gain more experience, others aim to strengthen their transcript during this time.

Any course you take in a post-bacc will count toward your undergraduate GPA.

Unlike graduate-level courses such as a master's program/certification, which will count toward a separate graduate GPA.

The goal in a DIY post-bacc is to do the best you can each semester and to show a strong upward trend.

Why does your GPA trend matter more than your overall cumulative or science GPA? I'll use my situation as an example…
When I went back to school to seek a bachelor's degree, I already had about 80 credits.

Two years into my bachelor's, I became interested in pursuing medicine.

Upon making this decision, I didn't know anything about becoming a physician, including what it takes to get into medical school.

By the time I graduated (and had a better understanding of getting into medical school), I had 160 credits.

The more credits you have, the harder it is to increase your GPA.

Nontraditional students like myself who didn't realize they wanted to go into medicine until late in the game may have a low GPA

Want to read more about how I changed careers and fell in love with medicine? Click here.

The trend of your GPA tells more of a story than your overall GPA.

Students with a 3.2 GPA but a 3.8 GPA in their last 50 credit hours demonstrate significant academic improvement.

ADCOMS will notice this!

This is why your GPA trend matters more than your cumulative GPA.

For students trying to do a lot of grade repair, your final numbers aren't going to be attractive.

So, instead of focusing on getting your GPA to a sky-high number, focus on showing a strong upward trend in your post-bacc.

Some medical schools have a "32-hour rule" where they only calculate your GPA based on the last 32 credit hours of coursework you've completed.

Learn more about the 32-hour rule in Dr. Gray's Old Premed Postcast Episode.

A good rule of thumb is to shoot between 32-50 credit hours in your post-bacc to repair a sub 3.0 GPA.

DIY Post-Bacc vs. Formal Post-Bacc

You've probably heard of a formal post-bacc program, a highly structured program that offers exceptional advising, resources, MCAT prep, and academic support.

Formal post-bacc programs differ from a DIY post-bacc in several ways.

1. Formal post-baccs have a structured class schedule.
2. Formal post-baccs have specific application requirements such as a minimum GPA, LORs, and sometimes a GRE/MCAT score.
3. Formal post-baccs are more expensive and may grant certification upon completion.
4. Formal post-baccs typically provide volunteer and research opportunities, committee letters, MCAT prep, and academic advising.
5. Some formal post-baccs have strong linkages with medical schools, which may be beneficial depending on the program.

You may be thinking that a formal post-bacc program seems to have more benefits than a DIY post-bacc.

However, a formal program isn't an option for many students due to personal and financial reasons.

IMO a formal post-bacc program is an excellent option for students who have not completed the medical school prerequisites and don't have a strong science background.

For premeds with a 3.0 GPA or sub 3.0 GPA,  a DIY post-bacc may be the way to go.

Deciding if a formal or DIY post-bacc is right for you will depend on your personal needs and goals, so do your research and weigh the pros/cons.

Check out this list of AAMC formal premed post-bacc programs.

Is a DIY Post-Bacc Right for Me

Premeds will choose to do a DIY post-bacc after undergrad to demonstrate academic capability and further show med schools they can handle academic rigor.

If you're a self-starter who likes to control your schedule and want the flexibility to work and focus on other things such as family, then a DIY post-bacc is a fantastic option.

A post-bacc program is most suitable for students who are career changers or those who need to enhance their academic records.

1. Career changers– students who have not completed the medical school prerequisite courses (usually graduated with a non-science degree).
2. Academic record enhancers– students who have taken some or all of the medical school prerequisite courses but wish to improve their cumulative and science GPA.

A DIY post-bacc is suitable for any student with a bachelor's degree who did not complete the prerequisite courses or needs to improve their science GPA.

Ask yourself these questions when deciding if a DIY post-bacc is suitable for you:

1. Have I completed all the medical prerequisite classes?
2. Am I satisfied with my cumulative and science GPA?
3. Does my academic record show an upward trend?

If you said NO to any of those three questions, then you are a great candidate for a DIY post-bacc.

If you've completed the medical prerequisite classes and have a solid science GPA (3.5+), it's not necessary to do a DIY post-bacc.

Focus on getting more experience and crush the MCAT if that's the case!

For students who've been out of school for a few years and plan to apply to medical school, you may find it helpful to do a couple of full-time semesters in a DIY post-bacc.

This will show ADCOMS you're still capable of performing well in challenging science classes, despite not being in school for however long.

Additionally, it will allow you to get back into studying and ultimately better prepare you for the MCAT.

Retaking Classes in a DIY Post-Bacc

If you've received a C- or below in any medical prerequisite courses, you'll need to retake that class.

Maybe you've been out of school for some time and received a few C's in the prerequisite classes like organic chemistry, biochemistry, etc.

You can retake those classes to refresh your knowledge of that subject for the MCAT if you feel compelled, although not required because you received a passing grade.

Though (for example) if you received all C's in your prerequisite classes then you may need to retake some of them.

This will help improve your GPA and prepare you for the MCAT.

With that being said, ADCOMS aren't impressed if you retake a course you've already passed to earn a higher grade.

Instead, they would take upper-level science classes and see you perform well with new information.

How to Apply for a DIY Post-Bacc

I initially applied as a non-degree seeking student to do a DIY post-bacc at the university in my hometown, which I later realized was a huge mistake!

As a non-degree-seeking student, you get the last priority to register for classes.

I couldn't register for classes until ONE WEEK before the start of the course.

This was an absolute nightmare as I scrambled to get into physics, bio 2, and organic chemistry with good professors at decent times.

Being a non-degree seeking student prevented me from being full-time because every upper-level science class was at capacity by the time I could register.

After a year of dealing with this, I decided to reapply as a second degree-seeking student, and OMG, it was a game-changer!

As a second degree-seeking student, you reap all the benefits of being a regular undergrad (except FAFSA, which I'll talk about soon).

Yes, this means priority registration!

I know you're thinking, "I have to go for a second degree to do a DIY post-bacc?"

You don't have to complete the second degree.

It's technically just your title as a student, and you can "drop out" when you've taken the classes you need.

Medical schools won't be able to tell that you didn't complete the second degree, so don't worry about that.

You'll need to pick a science major other than the one you graduated with.

You can be "undecided" as a second degree-seeking student, but I don't recommend this because you may not acquire all the benefits of an undergraduate.

For example, if you have a B.S. in biology, you can choose to major in biochemistry, chemistry, or neuroscience as a second degree.

University vs. State vs. Community College

You can apply to any university, state, or community college to do a DIY post-bacc.

But, there are pros and cons to each…

A university will have the most resources, better advising, and more upper-level science classes to choose from.

One of the reasons I chose to do a post-bacc at a university instead of a state or community college is because I knew I'd have more options in terms of upper-level science classes.

State and community colleges are more affordable, but they may lack course options and student resources.

Some medical schools view doing your prerequisite classes at a community college as a red flag.

This is because of the notion that classes at a community college may be easier than classes at a four-year university.

Many students have taken their prerequisite classes at a community college and were accepted to medical school.

One thing that looks bad is if you failed many challenging classes and then transfer to a community college and pass with flying colors.

This will make ADCOMS raise an eyebrow and think you did your prereqs at a community college because it was "easier."

Getting into medical school with community college classes is possible, especially if you have a valid reason.

For some people, taking the prerequisites at a community college is the only option due to financial reasons. It's the least expensive route to go.

How to Finance a DIY Post-Bacc

Alright, bestie. Here's the deal…

Federal Pell Grants are not offered to students who have already earned a bachelor's degree.

However, I encourage you to submit your FAFSA still because you can qualify for Federal Stafford loans.

You will NOT be eligible for loans if you are a non-degree-seeking student or an "undecided" major as a second degree-seeking student.

This is one reason I told you to apply as a second degree-seeking student and pick a science major that's different from your first degree.

You may be eligible for the Federal work-study program, which provides part-time jobs to students with financial needs.

If you've exhausted all your Federal loan options, you may need to take out a private loan, but I only suggest doing this as a last resort.

Please, please talk to a financial aid advisor at whatever school you plan to do a DIY post-bacc.

They will help you figure out the financials and provide you with specific options for that school, and may also recommend scholarships that you'd be eligible for.

Take into consideration your budget and decide if you plan to apply to a university, state college, or community college.

You want to attend somewhere where you qualify for in-state tuition!

As I mentioned previously, a community college will be your cheapest option to take additional classes, but there are cons to this.

Your best bet? TO $AVE!!!

Save for every semester.

For 12 credit hours at my local university, my tuition for one semester is about $2,500, including fees. Let me break it down for you:

This does not include books or any additional items I may need for each class.

So, let's add another $500 to that for books and miscellaneous items.

I can expect one semester to cost me $3,000 at my university.

You'll need to save that much every four months for the winter, summer, and fall semesters.

You need to put away $750 a month for your tuition if you plan to be a full-time student, approximately $187.50 per week.

If that is not feasible for your financial situation, I recommend looking into your local state college and even a community college where tuition will be significantly less.

Repairing your GPA is expensive and time-consuming, bestie!!

You may need to contemplate taking up another job (uber eats, tutoring, etc.) or a side hustle.

It's not going to be easy, but if you're determined to be a physician, you WILL make it happen.

To better understand how much money each semester will cost, you need to have an idea of what classes you're going to enroll in.

How to Structure a DIY Post-Bacc

Try tosimulate a medical school curriculum in your DIY post-bacc to show ADCOMS you can handle academic rigor.

Taking 1-2 classes per semester isn't going to cut it (medical students take about 30+ credit hours a semester).

Now, that doesn't mean taking as many credits as you can!

Doing well in your post-bacc classes is crucial, and overwhelming yourself may compromise your grades.

Aim for a full course load (12+ credit hours) or close to it.

Knowing the purpose of doing a DIY post-bacc will help you choose your classes.

I needed to finish several prerequisite courses AND take several upper-level science classes to improve my BCPM GPA.

BCPM stands for Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math.

The courses under these categories make up your science GPA and are weighted heavily when applying to medical school.

If you plan on taking upper-level science courses, you want to pick classes that fall under the BCPM category.

Check out which courses the AAMC counts as your BCPM GPA here.

Here's a list of some of the best upper-level science classes you can take in a DIY post-bacc:

• Histology
• Immunology
• Cell Biology
• Virology
• Zoology
• Physiology
• Anatomy
• Cancer Biology
• Endocrinology
• Embryology
• Neurobiology
• Neuroanatomy
• Molecular Genetics
• Comparative Animal Physiology
• Microbiology
• Ecology
• Botany

How you schedule each semester will depend on your personal needs and goals.

Fixing your GPA isn't fun, easy, or cheap. It's going to take a lot of time and money.

Having a plan is KEY and being able to adapt when your plans change is essential.

If being a physician is what your heart desires, make it happen! No matter how bad your GPA is, you can overcome it.

After reading this post, I hope you feel like you know everything about doing a DIY post-bacc!

If you have any questions, please feel free to comment below.

Do you want to learn more about how you can overcome a low premed GPA? Click here!

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Source: https://www.taracaitlin.com/everything-you-need-to-know-diy-post-bacc/

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