Under 3.0 non-trad question

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whatwhy

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I have like a 2.95. I've been retaking a few of my old classes based on advice from people here and boy is it getting old. I'm acing them but I wish I could just move on. Am I on the right track here? Just keep retaking any pre-reqs I did bad in and building extra curriculars and stuff? Are there any post-baccs or SMPs that I'd ever have a chance of getting in so I wont have to keep re-taking classes? Thanks guys. I really wish I would have not messed around as much as I did...

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Your GPA should jump a good bit after retaking a bunch of classes. Remember you are not only getting the new A but losing the lower grade you previously had. Is there a specific GPA you want to obtain before applying? Calculate your gpa after retaking and see where it's at. SMPs are expensive and difficult. If you do poorly in them you will be at an even bigger disadvantage.

I know retaking can be mind-numbing, but it is worth it. I was able to raise a 2.8 gpa up considerably through retakes.
 
I think you are on the right track and would continue with what you're doing. Although it is tedious, it will show dedication and commitment that you took the time to retake all of those classes.
 
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Your GPA should jump a good bit after retaking a bunch of classes. Remember you are not only getting the new A but losing the lower grade you previously had. Is there a specific GPA you want to obtain before applying? Calculate your gpa after retaking and see where it's at. SMPs are expensive and difficult. If you do poorly in them you will be at an even bigger disadvantage.

I know retaking can be mind-numbing, but it is worth it. I was able to raise a 2.8 gpa up considerably through retakes.

This only works like that at DO programs. In MD programs you keep both grades.
 
It's a marathon, not a sprint.

Your fastest route to being a doctor is going DO and using grade replacement.

Many med schools require > a C in pre-reqs, so you have that aspect.

Retaking courses you did poorly in may very well help you with MCAT.

If you get your GPA > 3.0, then there are tons of post-bac or SMP programs (or DIY) that mimic med school curricula, and as long as you ace them, there are med schools that reward reinvention.


I have like a 2.95. I've been retaking a few of my old classes based on advice from people here and boy is it getting old. I'm acing them but I wish I could just move on. Am I on the right track here? Just keep retaking any pre-reqs I did bad in and building extra curriculars and stuff? Are there any post-baccs or SMPs that I'd ever have a chance of getting in so I wont have to keep re-taking classes? Thanks guys. I really wish I would have not messed around as much as I did...
 
I have to find a way to complete the required courses for dental school, however, I have a major issue...I cannot receive any financial aid due to a defaulted student loan from a long time ago. I did research and the university here, FIU, is 250 dollars/credit. Since I don't live with mom and dad and take care of myself along with my fiance, I find that it will be next to impossible to afford this. I was trying to take at least 2 science courses/semester but with all of the bills I have, unless I take classes here and there, this won't happen. I am not by any means a party go'er or buy expensive junk, im a bit of a hermit so I dont waste money on useless things. Therefore, I wanted to try my luck with Miami Dade College (it ranked up from community college to just..college; it is regionally accredited). This school cost roughly 120 dollars/credit, making this more feasible for me to pay for courses. However, I called the nearest dental school and explained this to a board member in which she told me that Im wasting my time and that it has to be at a university despite my financial challenges. I called UF to get their opinion and they told me it was fine to take courses, even at the comm college level (which Miami Dade is no longer). Im not sure what to do. I cannot afford university level courses right now and barely the college level at this point. Im scared to take courses with MDC because I dont want to apply down the line and get rejected for having taken classes there. Btw, I work for a dentist so i have solid experience...if this doesn't work then maybe I should look into physician assistant maybe?? Im retaking all of my prereqs, i took roughly a year's worth and got C's and a couple bad ones, I was going thru too much at the time. What should I do??
 
Some schools are fine with CC's some aren't. Believe Broward has a good JC.

I'm currently doing an informal postbac at FIU. I don't recommend it. At all. Variation in teacher quality is tremendous, you run into really asinine stuff like grade deflation in chemistry labs and untz-untz in the lunch room, and the culture on campus is generally comparable to inner city schools.

Moreover, FIU is liberal about who they admit and about half are just not bright kids with no business in college. One of the things that comes with that is lack of openness to experience - they don't understand why someone older than 22 is taking courses, lots of staring, lots of questions, not a lot of opportunities for socialisation. The other thing that comes with being an FIU kid is being very defensive about your level of intelligence - for good reason. The friends I've made have all been grad students.

On the plus side it is cheap and I'm learning a lot, and they don't curve, so it feels pretty good to walk out of an exam with a 98 when class average is in low 60s. There is also a good Cuban coffee shop in the student centre, and the Biscayne Campus seems to avoid most of the problems of the MMC campus.

But on balance win FIU: stay away. Far, far away. I'm 4 weeks from halfway there...

PA school is almost as competitive as MD. Its 2 years to 100k and not much stress. Pharmacy, optometry, and audiology are less competitive paths to health care.

If I were in your shoes I would look at taking the classes at MDC or the college in Broward and just write off the schools that won't consider CC's. You'll get some who'll write off FIU on account of low institutional quality, so it's not that much better.
 
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Dude I totally agree with you. I went to FIU back in 2010 and Ill never forget my BIO 1 instructor...he did not teach one bit. My Chem instructor was a good guy but moreover, I feel that FIU wasn't that great of an institution. Now, I should have put more work into my study habits, I didn't study much and received some C's I admit, but I feel that with MDC's class size of approx. 30 students, and with my knowledge in study habits, that I can look into acing these courses. When I first went to FIU i payed out of pocket since I currently have loans from my bachelors degree. So at this point, I can no longer afford FIU anyway.
 
Have you thought about looking at DDS admissions statistics, seeing which are obtainable and in places you could see yourself at, and then calling those schools to see if they are fine with CC credits?

I'm guessing they are...
 
The only tho is that MDC no longer goes under the name "community college". From the research I've done, many med school applicants and dental got in with just CC credits at many schools except Tufts etc. Even Harvard takes the CC credits. My bachelors degree was from a University (accredited) but I did call one, Nova, the lady said no im wasting my time, but another lady said its fine???? Then on their site, it says credits are taken from accredited colleges and universities. Same thing with UF, top 10 dental school
 
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