A few concerning issues

[thatoneguy11]

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Alright, so here is basically my dilemma. First ill give you the scoop on where i stand so that anyone that may try and evaluate all this and help could do so accurately and honestly. First, I go to the University of Texas at Tyler. I am a sophomore. My entire first year was a tragic waste. I was working (ER tech) 48 hours a week night shifts. It owned my face. my GPA was absolutely disgusting (1.6?) However i am retaking the classes i did poorly in, using up all three grade replacements my school offers. so i calculated that if i make straight As (i have made an A on all my first tests, i.e. Gen Chem I, Cal I, History I, and actually a B in composition -- all the classes im taking this semester) my GPA at the end of fall semester will be a 3.29, and assuming a keep up that trend, my spirng semester consisting of Cal II, composition II, chem II, Plant morph, physics, and labs will be a 3.6. The dilemma is that i dont know where or not to keep myself a Bio major or go to chem. I enjoy chem more, but i would have to take an extra year considering im a sophomore and havnt taken either Ochems. So i am inquiring about taking Ochem over the summer, and if i were to do so since my school doesnt offer it over the summer, if i could just go to another UT branch (probably UT austin) which is probably actually a harder school than my main university. Or wud the ADCOMS still frown upon that? This wud be my solution to switching to chemistry and graduating on time. As I have heard chem is a bit more competitive than bio considering the classes involved in the cirriculum. thanks for any help.

 

[thatoneguy11]

oh also, I read up on alot of posts on here for a while now, just decided to join, not trolling.

 

[Caprica6]

You have to ask yourself a few questions. Financially are you willing to pay for another year worth of tuition? Are you willing to invest another year in your undergraduate education? You could also stay a bio major and just take chem electives. Also consider what field you would enjoy more if you were not to go to medical school (whether by choice or if you did not get in or had to reapply). If you enjoy chemistry more than biology, and see yourself in that field as an alternative to medicine, you may want to lean towards the chemistry degree

 

[thatoneguy11]

yea this is true, but more of my concern lies on the fact that im not really interested in taking another year. However, i heard its controversial whether its a good idea or not to take Ochem over the summer and where u shud do it, yadda yadda yadda. I wud much like to do this, i am confident i can make a good grade in Ochem in 6 weeks at a university setting (very strong math/chem student). But if med school admins frown upon this i wud much rather take the extra year. However, thanks for the reply, and good point.

 

[Caprica6]

In my opinion taking OChem over the summer should be a non-issue to adcomms. I have known many people that have done it. If you can obtain a high grade I don't see what the problem is. I think most people's concerns about summer Ochem is cramming all of that info into such a short period of time and then doing poorly.

 

[thatoneguy11]

oh, alright i see. I have just heard people say things like 'ADCOMS frown upong taking core classes over the summer' i guess because they say its easier or something, yet i know that where i would be taking them has a repuation of being a more difficult university than the one i am currently enrolled in. Just seems like there are so many mixed signals. thanks again.

 

[LizzyM]

oh, alright i see. I have just heard people say things like 'ADCOMS frown upong taking core classes over the summer' i guess because they say its easier or something, yet i know that where i would be taking them has a repuation of being a more difficult university than the one i am currently enrolled in. Just seems like there are so many mixed signals. thanks again.

This is the key thing.... Going from a highly ranked powerhouse to take o-chem at a community college or unranked school over the summer: not good.

going to a more highly ranked school for a summer class: just fine.

You may also want to shadow a osteopathic physician and consider the osteopathic schools; when it comes time to apply the osteopathic schools erase the previous grade and use only the "retake" in calculating your gpa and it makes a big difference.

 

[mvenus929]

Just FYI - the MD schools don't honor grade replacement (at least, the AMCAS ones--not sure about the Texas schools). So, even though your university will replace the grades, you'll have to report the original grades on AMCAS and your GPA might actually be lower than you think. I'm not sure what your classes and grades actually are, so I'm not sure how you calculated your new GPA, I just thought you should know...

 

[aggie08]

Just FYI - the MD schools don't honor grade replacement (at least, the AMCAS ones--not sure about the Texas schools). So, even though your university will replace the grades, you'll have to report the original grades on AMCAS and your GPA might actually be lower than you think. I'm not sure what your classes and grades actually are, so I'm not sure how you calculated your new GPA, I just thought you should know...

Don't think Texas does either.

 

[thatoneguy11]

I tought that when u take a grade replacement that your GPA is corrected but the old grades still show up on the transcript...thats what i was told anyways.

 

[LizzyM]

I tought that when u take a grade replacement that your GPA is corrected but the old grades still show up on the transcript...thats what i was told anyways.

This means that the gpa shown on your transcript will be higher than the gpa calculated by AMCAS because AMCAS will count both grades.

Your school: C + A = A = 4.0
AMCAS: C + A = 2.0 + 4.0 /2 = 3.0

ouch!

 

[GoSpursGo]

Don't think Texas does either.

They don't. AACOMAS (the DO application service) does, however.

 

[thatoneguy11]

Ok, so LizzyM, what would you personally recommend that i do about taking Ochem in the summer. It seems as if now that u have put it that way I have almost no way of making in to a medical school short of doing a masters program. Given the scenario that i do well in Ochem I and II in the summer and jump in to Pchem next fall, and then continue taking ~18 credit hours I will have changed my major to Chem and will have taken an extra class per semester to continually bump up my GPA. Given then I do bad in Ochem...my chances are over. I dont know what to do SDN! really need help.

 

[LizzyM]

Consider ostoepathic medicine.... seriously, they are much more forgiving of bad grades that improve with time.

Take o-chem in the summer and prepare to work your tail off. Take it at your own school or a school that is ranked higher than your school (e.g. avg ACT or SAT is higher than at your school, stronger reputation as an academic powerhouse).

Major in whatever subject most interests you... adcoms generally don't care.