Hi guys,
I’m going to be a senior this Fall, and as of now I have a 3.1 science gpa and 3.5 cumulative gpa. I haven’t finished my pre-req’s yet (I have physics B and Ochem B yet to take this year). I go to a decent school (USC), and I have room to take 4 additional science classes senior year. My dream is to work as a physician in the realm of global health, and so I decided to pursue the Master of Public Health at Keck through USC’s progressive degree option. I received my official acceptance this summer.
The MPH is a year and a semester long program. I was thinking I would take a one semester gap to study and KO the MCAT (that way the program extends to 2 years). I am thinking of applying in about 2 years, so probably during the summer of 2021 for now. For the longest time, I have wanted to attend Georgetown and now becoming a senior and seeing my GPA become more “set in place” I’m not sure if there’s any hope, or if a rising trend for senior year or my masters would help. Specifically for masters, I don’t think the MPH is considered an SMP? I’m doing the MPH because I see the value in it for physicians, and not just for the “grade bump” or looking better on apps. For my EC’s, I’ve volunteered consistently for 2 years (3-4 hrs a week) at a hospital, with 6 months exclusively dedicated to shadowing. I have 2 research experiences (1 year wet neuro lab, and this past year in clinical neuroscience research, working hard resulting in an independent project with PI, with most likely in publication by the end of the school year). I have also been involved with a public health organization since high school (going on 4 years now) where I work with the government on passing health related bills, educational workshops, and policy advocacy, and have expanded this to my university last semester- I’m hoping this will count as my community service/leadership? I also have 1 year of teaching experience through volunteer teaching biology and Spanish to middle schoolers.
Part of the reason my gpa has suffered is because my family unexpectedly lost their job. As a result, they moved back to their home country due living expenses, and honestly the pressure kind of split my family apart. I had to take up multiple jobs to make income to pay rent in Los Angeles, and at the same time my younger sister went off the tracks from lack of family support and became involved in drug abuse. With my parents out of the country, I had to take responsibility for her, which was a lot for myself, who was managing all finances for my family, and being full time pre-med. I am also the first person in my family to attend college, and so additionally, I had no idea how to handle things, and had a lot of figuring out to do myself in the first couple of years. I know lots of people go through things that are worse, but for my personal 19/20 year old self, it really took an emotional and physical toll. I’m not sure if this will help justify my grade drop? I got B’s freshman year, A’s/B’s sophomore year, but junior year, when all this stuff happened, I got C’s and B’s which leads to the GPA I have now.
I would really like to go to an MD school, but I am also open to DO schools. Are there any suggestions you have for what I can do to better my chances, or how my application would be perceived? Are there some schools you can recommend, supposing I end this year with a 3.3/3.4 science gpa through additional classes and a high MCAT? Also, what are your thought on the MPH (maybe doing the bio stats track?) I’m sorry if I’m asking prematurely, as I don’t have a final science gpa or MCAT, but I guess seeing myself become a senior, I feel like time is going by fast and I’d rather ask now than later.
I appreciate your input. Thank you.
I’m going to be a senior this Fall, and as of now I have a 3.1 science gpa and 3.5 cumulative gpa. I haven’t finished my pre-req’s yet (I have physics B and Ochem B yet to take this year). I go to a decent school (USC), and I have room to take 4 additional science classes senior year. My dream is to work as a physician in the realm of global health, and so I decided to pursue the Master of Public Health at Keck through USC’s progressive degree option. I received my official acceptance this summer.
The MPH is a year and a semester long program. I was thinking I would take a one semester gap to study and KO the MCAT (that way the program extends to 2 years). I am thinking of applying in about 2 years, so probably during the summer of 2021 for now. For the longest time, I have wanted to attend Georgetown and now becoming a senior and seeing my GPA become more “set in place” I’m not sure if there’s any hope, or if a rising trend for senior year or my masters would help. Specifically for masters, I don’t think the MPH is considered an SMP? I’m doing the MPH because I see the value in it for physicians, and not just for the “grade bump” or looking better on apps. For my EC’s, I’ve volunteered consistently for 2 years (3-4 hrs a week) at a hospital, with 6 months exclusively dedicated to shadowing. I have 2 research experiences (1 year wet neuro lab, and this past year in clinical neuroscience research, working hard resulting in an independent project with PI, with most likely in publication by the end of the school year). I have also been involved with a public health organization since high school (going on 4 years now) where I work with the government on passing health related bills, educational workshops, and policy advocacy, and have expanded this to my university last semester- I’m hoping this will count as my community service/leadership? I also have 1 year of teaching experience through volunteer teaching biology and Spanish to middle schoolers.
Part of the reason my gpa has suffered is because my family unexpectedly lost their job. As a result, they moved back to their home country due living expenses, and honestly the pressure kind of split my family apart. I had to take up multiple jobs to make income to pay rent in Los Angeles, and at the same time my younger sister went off the tracks from lack of family support and became involved in drug abuse. With my parents out of the country, I had to take responsibility for her, which was a lot for myself, who was managing all finances for my family, and being full time pre-med. I am also the first person in my family to attend college, and so additionally, I had no idea how to handle things, and had a lot of figuring out to do myself in the first couple of years. I know lots of people go through things that are worse, but for my personal 19/20 year old self, it really took an emotional and physical toll. I’m not sure if this will help justify my grade drop? I got B’s freshman year, A’s/B’s sophomore year, but junior year, when all this stuff happened, I got C’s and B’s which leads to the GPA I have now.
I would really like to go to an MD school, but I am also open to DO schools. Are there any suggestions you have for what I can do to better my chances, or how my application would be perceived? Are there some schools you can recommend, supposing I end this year with a 3.3/3.4 science gpa through additional classes and a high MCAT? Also, what are your thought on the MPH (maybe doing the bio stats track?) I’m sorry if I’m asking prematurely, as I don’t have a final science gpa or MCAT, but I guess seeing myself become a senior, I feel like time is going by fast and I’d rather ask now than later.
I appreciate your input. Thank you.
