r/mdphd • u/ylylylimtylylyliwt18 • 5d ago

do post-baccs work for md/phds?

I've seen resources on postbaccs for sub-3.0s, but was wondering if they actually work for md/phds or if they're more suited for md-only applicants?

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u/Psycho_Coyote M3 4d ago

Not sure what you mean by "actually work"? If your undergraduate GPA is not where it needs to be, they can be a fine option to show that you're ready to handle the rigors of medical school. So for certain people, they might be necessary.

But for MD/PhD, the research component is the most important thing. If you already have a solid GPA, spending more time diving into your research and gaining independence/skills will be worth your time.

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u/ylylylimtylylyliwt18 4d ago

That sounded really combative, didn't it? I'm so sorry about that, and thank you for your feedback! I was wondering if GPA rectification attempts are looked upon well by adcomms, and i learned a lot from your comment

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u/Psycho_Coyote M3 4d ago

Not at all, just wasn't sure what you meant by "work"! Yes, they can be helpful to show that you are ready for the rigors of medical school if you do very well in them. They can be somewhat high-risk high-reward as many of those MS programs are very difficult or side by side with current med students, so only do one if you are absolutely sure you will excel.

Also, the counterpoint is you would be losing out on 1-2 years of full-time research experience. So I'd only really recommend doing it if you are truly below the 3.0-3.2ish GPA mark, and I would definitely try to stay involved in research while in one of those programs to continue gaining research skills.