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[Man Of Tomorrow]

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[Goro]

You have some serious grade repair to do; as that sGPA will get you rejected from most DO programs. STRONGLY suggest that you re-take all F/D/C science coursework and watch AADCOMAS' grade replacement policy do wonders for your GPAs. Then, only when you're ready, take MCAT. You should be good to go at that point.


AACOMAS (DO)
-Science GPA: 2.7333
-Overall GPA: 3.1266

I have yet to take the MCAT. I took the Kaplan online diagnostic one back in May and scored a 24 (10/9/5) without any studying. I finished the test in only 2 hours because I had an appointment to get to and that was the best time I could find to take the test. I’m confident that I can score higher if I actually study for the test and take my time.

My extracurriculars include:

1. Volunteering at a women’s center against rape and domestic violence: I am on multiple coalitions and work with directly work with clients (80 hrs) over the past year.
2. Volunteering at a hospice service: I work directly with patients providing respite care (50 hrs) over the past year.
3. Volunteering at a motor skills fitness program for children with special needs (160 hrs) over the past three years.
4. Free tutoring underprivileged kids in the sciences (60 hrs) over the past two years.
5. Teaching underprivileged kids how to golf (40 hrs) over the past year.
6. Teaching underprivileged kids how to wrestle (200 hrs) over the past 4 years.
7. Clinical Research in the ED of one of the nation’s top ranked research hospitals (270 hrs) over the last year.

Job Shadowing:

A pediatric surgeon – MD (20 hrs)
An anesthesiologist - MD (10 hrs)
A pharmacist - Pharm.D. (20 hrs)
Still trying to find a DO to shadow

Work:

I work at a small warehouse so my title is best summed up as a Warehouse Manager/Personal Assistant to the company’s President. I work full time during the summer/breaks, and part-time during the school year.[/QUOTE]

 

[NeuroLAX]

Retake as much as possible. That should be your main focus from here on out. Hold off on taking the MCAT until you feel comfortable with the material. Retaking those courses should serve as a better foundation for MCAT prep. There's no rush to retake the MCAT before retaking those courses.

Oops, didn't see Goro's comment. I concur. 👍

 

[Blackxp]

That you for the responses, i know there's no magic bullet and grade replacement is the only way. I don't have any D's or F's. My grade break down is predominantly B's, then a fair amount of C's, and some A's.

If from right now till I graduate I got straight A's (29 credits) then:
-Science GPA: 3.067
-Overall GPA: 3.26

Which is still extremely low. I don't know If I should hold off on my senior classes or start retaking classes now? Or if I should finish up my senior classes at this university and retake classes at a community or university closer to home?

Not sure on how to acomplish it time-wise but I would focus on getting those straight A's (B's and B+ are perfectly time and never let them discourage you). Then follow up by retaking all of the C's and see if you can turn them into A's or B's. With this you can set yourself to be within competitive GPA range.

Also focus on the MCAT. If you do have trouble fixing your GPA this is the single most important other factor when it comes to a school looking at you from an academic standpoint. A 3.0 or 3.2 GPA might be redeemed with a solid 28 - 30 on your MCAT.

Never give up. That's the key.


Edit: Also never forget the importance of an upward trend. Lets say you do get straight A's your final semesters and feel discouraged with a less than optimal GPA. That is an epic upward trend! Adcoms will see that. Some schools even consider your last 60 credits with more weight than your overall GPA.

 

[DeFused]

After reading these forums, I'm still confused as to whether or not courses taken after you receive your degree count as part of your undergrad gpa or your post-bac gpa or if they all mesh together. Can someone clarify this for me? Obviously it would look better to have the highest undergrad gpa possible.

If you're just taking classes after you graduate then it will be all meshed together with your undergrad. If you're in a graduate program (masters) then it'll count separately.

 

[kami333]

After reading these forums, I'm still confused as to whether or not courses taken after you receive your degree count as part of your undergrad gpa or your post-bac gpa or if they all mesh together. Can someone clarify this for me? Obviously it would look better to have the highest undergrad gpa possible.

AACOMAS (and AMCAS) will break down your GPA by year, with any classes taken after junior year until you graduate counted in the senior year grades line, and any undergrad level classes taken after graduation will be in a separate postbacc line. All will be included in your undergrad GPA.

ie:
Freshmean year: X.X
Sophomore year: X.X
Junior year: X.X
Senior year (including years 5+): X.X
Postbacc year(s): X.X
Cumulative undergrad GPA: X.X
Cumulative Graduate GPA: Y.Y

 

[kami333]

Thanks for the breakdown. I think I will hold off on graduation so I have a real spike in my senior year GPA.

The other way to look at it is you could graduate on schedule and have a longer upward trend with a postbacc.