Good morning fellow hopefuls/helpfuls,
First, I want to thank all the contributing members to this forum for their input as there is a tremendous support community here and I think it's wonderful!
At the same time, all your wonderful input can also be extremely overwhelming, especially to a lurker like me who has spent the past 2 weeks reading thread after thread of opinions and advice.
So, here's my situation:
-Graduated in 2005 with a BA in English
-My overall GPA was 2.89
-I've taken none of the required sciences
-I've never taken an MCAT (why would I before taking any sciences?)
Now, I know that GPA is abysmal, and when I present my situation to anyone who knows me they are shocked to hear that number because it's absolutely not representative of me or my abilities. To be fair, when I was in university, I was working full time and attending full time - I was young and making an obscene amount of money. At the same time, both my high school and university (CUNY) had terrible guidance and administration so I grew up thinking I could never become a doctor and found more satisfaction in just working hard doing what I did best.
But here I am, at 27! I've had an amazing and successful career as a graphics designer (not related to anything I studied at university) - award winning, might I add, with amazing references and a brilliant resume. I've been seriously blessed in that realm, but at the end of the day, it's not what makes me happy. I don't want to get into the reasons why I want to be a doctor, but it's been a dream of mine since childhood.
I also went back to a SUNY school in 2008 for a second degree (in design) and my GPA was 3.7 or higher (I got mostly A's and a B), but did not finish that degree. I know that won't matter to medical schools, but could it potentially matter to Post-Bac programs that have a strict 3.0+ policy, and may look over my 2.89?
So what is the proper thing to do from here? I've read a hundred methods under the sun, but at the end of the day, my BA file is "closed" I feel like I can't go back and "add" to my GPA - what's my next step?
So in addition to my questions above I'd like to know:
1. At this point, do I apply for a Post-Bac Pre-Health program, and take the required courses over the next 2 years?
2. Assuming I get a solid 3.7 - 4.0 in those science courses, will prospective medical schools laugh me off? Or will I have wasted 2 years only to find I can do nothing with the science I learned?
3. Has anyone been in my situation and actually became an MD in the US (non-Caribbean)?
4. I have read about people going to programs like HES (Harvard Extension School) to "raise" their GPA - is that program for me or is it for students who have done the required courses, but didn't do so well? I'm confused a bit about that.
5. Let's say a post-bac takes me, can I raise my chances of being accepted to a medical school by taking elective courses for another year or so after finishing the pre-reqs? I'm assuming it can't hurt, but is there weight to taking, bioethics, for example? Do med schools see me as someone with potential rather than someone with a 2.89 undergrad GPA?
6. I have the option of going back to my alma mater (CUNY Brooklyn College) and taking the pre-req science/math courses with them. It's not a pre-bac program like Hunter or City College or NYU or Columbia, but it's just the required courses. The department also helps with letters of recommendation and so on. From what I gather there's a little less "support" at BC vs. the other schools, but they are the courses nonetheless. Is this a bad/last resort option? edit: It is considered a Pre Bac program, but it's not structured. Students in this program are joined with students in the traditional undergrad BA program.
7. I've been out of school for a few years, I've gained some amazing life experiences. Does any of that matter to prospective medical schools? I hate this feeling inside me that for the one goal I want to achieve that everything I've done up until now is "useless" because it's far from that - it's what shaped me into who I am today.
I sincerely appreciate your help on this. I know we all have different situations, and life isn't peachy or easy for everyone, we all have our struggles and we're all here to help one another. I'm just another guy looking to make a difference and can use some honest guidance to help me on that path.
Have a great holiday weekend everyone!
First, I want to thank all the contributing members to this forum for their input as there is a tremendous support community here and I think it's wonderful!
At the same time, all your wonderful input can also be extremely overwhelming, especially to a lurker like me who has spent the past 2 weeks reading thread after thread of opinions and advice.
So, here's my situation:
-Graduated in 2005 with a BA in English
-My overall GPA was 2.89
-I've taken none of the required sciences
-I've never taken an MCAT (why would I before taking any sciences?)
Now, I know that GPA is abysmal, and when I present my situation to anyone who knows me they are shocked to hear that number because it's absolutely not representative of me or my abilities. To be fair, when I was in university, I was working full time and attending full time - I was young and making an obscene amount of money. At the same time, both my high school and university (CUNY) had terrible guidance and administration so I grew up thinking I could never become a doctor and found more satisfaction in just working hard doing what I did best.
But here I am, at 27! I've had an amazing and successful career as a graphics designer (not related to anything I studied at university) - award winning, might I add, with amazing references and a brilliant resume. I've been seriously blessed in that realm, but at the end of the day, it's not what makes me happy. I don't want to get into the reasons why I want to be a doctor, but it's been a dream of mine since childhood.
I also went back to a SUNY school in 2008 for a second degree (in design) and my GPA was 3.7 or higher (I got mostly A's and a B), but did not finish that degree. I know that won't matter to medical schools, but could it potentially matter to Post-Bac programs that have a strict 3.0+ policy, and may look over my 2.89?
So what is the proper thing to do from here? I've read a hundred methods under the sun, but at the end of the day, my BA file is "closed" I feel like I can't go back and "add" to my GPA - what's my next step?
So in addition to my questions above I'd like to know:
1. At this point, do I apply for a Post-Bac Pre-Health program, and take the required courses over the next 2 years?
2. Assuming I get a solid 3.7 - 4.0 in those science courses, will prospective medical schools laugh me off? Or will I have wasted 2 years only to find I can do nothing with the science I learned?
3. Has anyone been in my situation and actually became an MD in the US (non-Caribbean)?
4. I have read about people going to programs like HES (Harvard Extension School) to "raise" their GPA - is that program for me or is it for students who have done the required courses, but didn't do so well? I'm confused a bit about that.
5. Let's say a post-bac takes me, can I raise my chances of being accepted to a medical school by taking elective courses for another year or so after finishing the pre-reqs? I'm assuming it can't hurt, but is there weight to taking, bioethics, for example? Do med schools see me as someone with potential rather than someone with a 2.89 undergrad GPA?
6. I have the option of going back to my alma mater (CUNY Brooklyn College) and taking the pre-req science/math courses with them. It's not a pre-bac program like Hunter or City College or NYU or Columbia, but it's just the required courses. The department also helps with letters of recommendation and so on. From what I gather there's a little less "support" at BC vs. the other schools, but they are the courses nonetheless. Is this a bad/last resort option? edit: It is considered a Pre Bac program, but it's not structured. Students in this program are joined with students in the traditional undergrad BA program.
7. I've been out of school for a few years, I've gained some amazing life experiences. Does any of that matter to prospective medical schools? I hate this feeling inside me that for the one goal I want to achieve that everything I've done up until now is "useless" because it's far from that - it's what shaped me into who I am today.
I sincerely appreciate your help on this. I know we all have different situations, and life isn't peachy or easy for everyone, we all have our struggles and we're all here to help one another. I'm just another guy looking to make a difference and can use some honest guidance to help me on that path.
Have a great holiday weekend everyone!