2.8 GPA and Accepted!

[Silvertip]

Sort of... 3 years ago I decided that I wanted to be a physician. I'd just finished college, having graduated with a 2.8 GPA while earning a BA in English. I got an F in biology my senior year. No chance, right?!? I knew I could do it, went back to school and got a second bachelor's degree in biology at my state school (3.6 GPA). Also, I worked my tail off for a 32 MCAT P-10 B-10 VR-12. I also went to the Philippines to work with a group of American doctors on a medical mission, twice! And now, I have received an outright acceptance to SLU and am on several waitlists. I realize that I am quite fortunate to have been accepted during my first application cycle. Best of luck to all of those who are making another go at it.

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[oldman]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Silvertip:
•Sort of... 3 years ago I decided that I wanted to be a physician. I'd just finished college, having graduated with a 2.8 GPA while earning a BA in English. I got an F in biology my senior year. No chance, right?!? I knew I could do it, went back to school and got a second bachelor's degree in biology at my state school (3.6 GPA). Also, I worked my tail off for a 32 MCAT P-10 B-10 VR-12. I also went to the Philippines to work with a group of American doctors on a medical mission, twice! And now, I have received an outright acceptance to SLU and am on several waitlists. I realize that I am quite fortunate to have been accepted during my first application cycle. Best of luck to all of those who are making another go at it.•••••congrats! i think it was wise of you to figure out your weaknesses before applying. you have presented your best foot the first time around and it has paid off!

 

[racergirl]

That's great Silvertip! You took the time and put in the effort to show what you're REALLY made of. Have a great time in med school!

 

[Doctora Foxy]

Congratulations!!!! Hard work really does pay off :wink: Your motivation and dedication will make you an excellent physician. 🙂

 

[Silvertip]

I was accepted off the waitlist at my #1 choice this week- University of Washington- and feel like I should be waking up anytime soon! All of this waiting and angst, and now, two schools in two weeks, one being my top choice! Somebody pinch me.

 

[Joe Joe on da Radio]

PINCH!

 

[qweewq11]

Congrats, Silvertip!
Btw, what made you change your mind from being an English major to a premed? I have a good friend who just grad with an English major from UC Berkeley and is thinking about coming back to school for premed, but she is worried that admission comittees will say "What's wrong with her? Maybe she is only doing premed b/c she can't get a job as an English major?"

Was it a big issue for you in your interviews?
Congratz again!

 

[analu]

Congratulations silvertip! Your hard work and perseverance PAID OFF!!! Best of luck in your bright medical career!!!

 

[relatively prime]

Nice way to persevere!!

 

[2DEG]

Congrats! I totally admire you especially because my GPA is slightly better than 2.8. And you certainly encouraged me even more.

How long did it take for you to finish another Bachelor's in Biology? I am be very curious.

Thanks and have a good day. Again, sincere congrats. You deserve it!

Shahab

 

[kittyjuice]

congrats on getting into SLU. when did you find out you were admitted to SLU? i am waiting on a response from them, and they say my application is still being reviewed.

 

[jaymarc]

Hey..whats up silver tip. I am curious what medical missions to the Phillippines you went on, because I have been on two to the Phillippines as well. Did you go with Aloha by any chance????

 

[Silvertip]

QWEEWQ11-
After college I took an EMT-I night course in California, and moved to Texas where I worked at a plasmaphoresis facility. My answer to admissions committees as to "why English?" was that English was easy, and that I shouldn't have even been in college in the first place. Your friend at CAL probably has a different story, but I chose English because I love reading and it is relatively easy compared to science majors- I know, I've done both!

 

[Silvertip]

Shahab-
I went back to school after working for a year, thinking that I'd just take post-bac science classes to get my GPA up. I retook all of the lower division sciences (Chem, bio, o-chem, physics, calc) and by the time I'd finished these, and done well, I was pretty close (1 year) from getting a biology degree. I waited to apply until this time, so that admissions committees would see a "different" student than the first degree student. Total- 3 years post-bac, I devised my own post-bac program at my local state school. It can be done this way, but it takes time so you really have to know you want it.

 

[Silvertip]

Kittyjuice-
I believe that I interviewed at SLU on May 20, or the Tuesday of that week, and heard back from them two and a half weeks later on a Friday via the phone. I didn't even expect to get the SLU interview (got it very late) and was already planning on reapplying in the next cycle. Things certainly changed a great deal in a hurry. I sent my withdrawal letter in Monday of this week.

 

[Silvertip]

Jaymarc-
I worked with a group of American ophthalmologists from Wisconisin called FREC, or Free Rural Eye Clinics. I was able to assist in cataract surgery with 2 different physicians in the two times I went. FREC has a website now, but I'm uncertain of the address. We performed over 100 cataract operations over a two week period on indigent Filipinos in rural Pangasinan. The township was San Fabian which I believe is close to San Marcos. We had enough time to get stung by jelly-fish on the beach on both occassions, but worked our tails off otherwise.

 

[Katie]

go Grizzlies! my dad is from MT and we still have a lot of family living there. where in MT are you from? my dad is from Anaconda and my relatives still live in Anaconda and Deer Lodge. I LOVE MT, it is SO beautiful! I wouldn't mind practicing medicine there if I weren't in love with the idea of living in Boston or practicing at JHU back in B-more. congrats on your acceptances, I was accepted off the waitlist last year at SLU but ended up declining as you did.

 

[bostonchick]

Silvertip, congratulations on your acceptance!!! your story is a complete inspiration. I also have around 2.8 GPA (undergrad) but a ton of valuable extracurriculars and thinking of applying. I am entirely motivated and focused, and I'm now starting to do the Harvard post-bacc program. I was starting to get discouraged, but reading this really picked me up. Thanks and good luck!!!

 

[Silvertip]

Katie-

I'm from Kalispell, but am currently living in Butte (next door to Anaconda) and will be getting married here in exactly 7 days. Montana is great, and I do plan on returning to practice in MT or at least the Pacific Northwest. Having been accepted to UofWashington, I get to spend another year on Bozeman, MT, for my first year of medical school. I actually went to school in Bozeman, so I guess I'm a Bobcat, but I've always been a huge Griz fan since day 1. Best of luck on the East Coast!
Silvertip

 

[2badr]

Congrats!!!!! 🙂

 

[wgu]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Silvertip:
•I was accepted off the waitlist at my #1 choice this week- University of Washington- and feel like I should be waking up anytime soon! All of this waiting and angst, and now, two schools in two weeks, one being my top choice! Somebody pinch me.•••••Nice! An excellent example of determination 🙂