---Retaking
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Hello All,
I need help as I am stressed about my situation. I am nontraditional. I have a degree in business marketing and worked for 5 years before going back to school. I was in the military during the time I was getting my BS-Marketing.
I went back to college full time late Aug 2013 but received military orders where I had to W from Calc (only course I was enrolled in at the time). When I returned I took Stats, Sociology and Pol. Science with all A's to get admitted to my local state university for a 2nd degree Biochem(to complete med requirements).
Once I was enrolled, I got military orders again and W'd from Chem, Mol. Bio, Calc and Med. Anthropology course. I was so stressed and upset so thought I would make up for time when I returned in May.
I went a bit overboard this summer trying to make up for time and took 1 trig (recommended by student for Physics), 1 stats, 1 calc, and 1 Gen. Chem course in these last 8 weeks. Needless to say I got 1 C in Calc, B in Trig, A in Stats and B in Gen. Chem. My total science GPA is a 2.66 with these added. Courses before this"
Precalc and lab: B
College Alg and Lab: B
Bio/ Human Emphasis (took in HS at local CC): D (retook to boost to C)
I am counting the D from the Bio course.
I am getting geared up for fall 2014 to take OChem I, Calc II and Molecular Bio, but I am concerned. I now know I made a mistake by taking way too much over a summer intercession.
In making up for time I did not consider the difficulty in time management and orienting myself to the full-time student life. When I took the 3 courses in August- I returned from military orders on Sunday and started school that Monday. When I started the summer intercession I got back on a Friday and started classes that Monday. I should also mention I am a single mother of 2 so motherly duties are always top priority.
Is my GPA too low to start as a postbacc nontraditional student on the path to MD? What advice do you have for me on my grades? I do not have a pre-med adviser and I got a 3.75 for my Marketing degree (with 1 C in all my Upper Div) and a 3.1 for my AA-Gen Ed.
Should I only take 2 science/ math courses at a time? Should I apply to post bacc program to get proper advising? Most say they require at least a 2.8-3.0 GPA> any advice helps.
Thank you for the feedback- I would like to apply to both MD and DO --- I think I am still early in the game and may need to wait until the time is right to focus on school and EC's...just as Goro suggest ---means being out of the military.Agree with goro. With grade replacement and a military service record, you will be a strong candidate for DO admission if you can get your sGPA/cGPA over a 3.1 and do decent on the MCAT.
Ah, I missed the cGPA in your post. Yeah, you would be a reasonably strong MD candidate if you retook for As and scored a decent MCAT.Thank you for the feedback- I would like to apply to both MD and DO --- I think I am still early in the game and may need to wait until the time is right to focus on school and EC's...just as Goro suggest ---means being out of the military.
Thank you for being so responsive. I am in the national guard and have received multiple orders in the last 3 years. Even the bare min. of 1 weekend/ month and 2 weeks/ yr are starting to seem like a huge issue with my goal. I work full time making >$100K / yr. when I am not on orders. Currently on an academic option, but will be resigning soon....dreams are meant to be reached Can't do it on this plan.Strongly suggest that you repeat all F/D/C coursework.
If you're still in the military, suggest waiting until your enlistment ends, and life can be more settled. Then use the GI Bill.
You can also do a DIY post-bac at any college, including Ccs.
Many thanks for your service to our country!