Academic advisor said I should not be considering DO school...

[lifebeginswithme]

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Should I listen to this advice? Considering, my current GPA - I'm aware that I most likely wouldn't get accepted into medical school or do school. My cumulative gpa is 3.44 - it sucks, I regret not being more focused and dedicated when I was younger. I'm 24 years old. I was in the military for 5 years and now I'm in the reserves. I did well in my active duty years in the military, but I did not take school seriously. I have a few C's and a D. She believes I should change my major and apply to graduate school. I don't plan on applying to do school until a year or maybe two years from now. I'm concentrating on my gpa and I still have to prepare for the MCAT. My gpa at my current university is 3.9(3 semesters). I've been trying to have an upward trend and I have a lot more classes to take. My advisor told me I don't have a chance, it's a long shot(I agree). I have an upcoming position as a research assistant. I applied for this job to gain some research experience. Now, my academic advisor has me reconsidering. Also, I want to re-take the classes I did poorly in, but my advisor said I would be wasting my time. For example, I received a C in Chem I, A in Chem II; I want to re-take Chem I. She said if I were to apply to do or med school, it wouldn't make a difference in how they perceived me. I will be volunteering soon with children, helping parents create a healthy lifestyle and at a clinic. I don't see this as pointless because this is what I want to do. I guess I'm just disappointed. If an advisor, such as her has assisted other students getting into medical and do schools says I don't really have a chance, maybe I don't.

I'm interested in advice from some of the users on here.

 

[yanks26dmb]

You're advisor is an idiot of epic proportions. Do not listen to her whatsoever. Apply DO and maybe MD depending how the mcat goes.

 

[lifebeginswithme]

You're advisor is an idiot of epic proportions. Do not listen to her whatsoever. Apply DO and maybe MD depending how the mcat goes.

Thanx for the advice! She seems very serious and sure I won't be accepted. That's why I wanted more than just her opinion.

 

[Faha]

Your advisor is giving you poor advice. A 3.44 GPA is competitive for many DO schools and some MD schools. Concentrate on doing well on the MCAT and improving your GPA and apply next summer.

 

[Doctoblast]

If you do decently well on the mcat (26 or higher) I don't see any reason why you wouldn't be accepted into a DO school. Especially if you retake some of those lower grades and boost your gpa. I'm not sure if your advisor told you but the app for DO school does grade replacement. So if you retook your C in gen chem I and got an A, then only the A would count towards your gpa. You can do it! Just nail the mcat!

 

[Catalystik]

Should I listen to this advice? Considering, my current GPA - I'm aware that I most likely wouldn't get accepted into medical school or do school. My cumulative gpa is 3.44 - it sucks, I regret not being more focused and dedicated when I was younger. I'm 24 years old. I was in the military for 5 years and now I'm in the reserves. I did well in my active duty years in the military, but I did not take school seriously. I have a few C's and a D. She believes I should change my major and apply to graduate school. I don't plan on applying to do school until a year or maybe two years from now. I'm concentrating on my gpa and I still have to prepare for the MCAT. My gpa at my current university is 3.9(3 semesters). I've been trying to have an upward trend and I have a lot more classes to take. My advisor told me I don't have a chance, it's a long shot(I agree). I have an upcoming position as a research assistant. I applied for this job to gain some research experience. Now, my academic advisor has me reconsidering. Also, I want to re-take the classes I did poorly in, but my advisor said I would be wasting my time. For example, I received a C in Chem I, A in Chem II; I want to re-take Chem I. She said if I were to apply to do or med school, it wouldn't make a difference in how they perceived me. I will be volunteering soon with children, helping parents create a healthy lifestyle and at a clinic. I don't see this as pointless because this is what I want to do. I guess I'm just disappointed. If an advisor, such as her has assisted other students getting into medical and do schools says I don't really have a chance, maybe I don't.

I'm interested in advice from some of the users on here.

You do have a chance, considering your steep upward grade trend recently. The average cGPA for DO matriculants starting fall of 2013 was 3.50. Average sGPA was 3.38. MCAT average was 26.87. Have you calculated your overall sGPA yet? Or figured out your potential cumulative GPA after you complete your current course of study?

You don't need to retake Chem I unless you feel you can't re-master the concepts on your own, considering your excellent grade in Chem II. What did you earn the D grade in?

 

[lifebeginswithme]

Your advisor is giving you poor advice. A 3.44 GPA is competitive for many DO schools and some MD schools. Concentrate on doing well on the MCAT and improving your GPA and apply next summer.

Thank you, I think I will try to request another advisor.

 

[lifebeginswithme]

If you do decently well on the mcat (26 or higher) I don't see any reason why you wouldn't be accepted into a DO school. Especially if you retake some of those lower grades and boost your gpa. I'm not sure if your advisor told you but the app for DO school does grade replacement. So if you retook your C in gen chem I and got an A, then only the A would count towards your gpa. You can do it! Just nail the mcat!

thank you ! I hope I get accepted and my advisor is wrong!

 

[lifebeginswithme]

You do have a chance, considering your steep upward grade trend recently. The average cGPA for DO matriculants starting fall of 2013 was 3.50. Average sGPA was 3.38. MCAT average was 26.87. Have you calculated your overall sGPA yet? Or figured out your potential cumulative GPA after you complete your current course of study?

You don't need to retake Chem I unless you feel you can't re-master the concepts on your own, considering your excellent grade in Chem II. What did you earn the D grade in?

No, I haven't calculated my science gpa, but I will. I earned a D in a psychology course.

 

[drcrispmd]

Do not listen to your advisor. You do have a shot and should go for it. My advisor told me after my first year at college I would never get accepted to any medical school and probably should not be a doc since I couldn't get a 4.0 freshman year. I never went back to them. They are not on adcoms and cannot tell you your chances. Now if you had a 2.0 that is a different story. Good luck!

 

[lifebeginswithme]

Your advisor is an idiot. I D I O T.

How can she/he tell you that you have no shot when you haven't even taken the MCAT?

Switch advisors or she/he will be the reason you DONT apply/get in to med school. Use this negativity as encouragement to chase your dream. If medicine is really what you want to do, then you'll ace the MCAT and schools will drool over your amazing application.

However, you are late in building your EC's.. Schools hate to see EC's crammed in before application..

All in all, you have a shot, more than a shot. Keep working hard and for god's sake fall off the face of the earth for a few months and study HARD for the MCAT. Take every AAMC practice test and any other you can find.

Download the MCAT Mastery app for iPhone and practice questions when you have free time.

Your future is completely up to you, do not let anyone convince you that you have no shot.

I know, I am cramming in my EC'S, but I hope it's enough. I am going to switch advisor's or try. I've started buying MCAT study books and will study when I have the time. Thank you for this post! You're right, it's up to me, it was just discouraging hearing that from my advisor.

 

[lifebeginswithme]

Do not listen to your advisor. You do have a shot and should go for it. My advisor told me after my first year at college I would never get accepted to any medical school and probably should not be a doc since I couldn't get a 4.0 freshman year. I never went back to them. They are not on adcoms and cannot tell you your chances. Now if you had a 2.0 that is a different story. Good luck!

Thank you! You were smart for ignoring your advisor.

 

[Goro]

1000% agree

You're advisor is an idiot of epic proportions. Do not listen to her whatsoever. Apply DO and maybe MD depending how the mcat goes.

 

[Catalystik]

However, you are late in building your EC's.. Schools hate to see EC's crammed in before application.

Volunteering to serve in the military tends to trump this consideration to some extent.

@lifebeginswithme don't forget to get in some physician shadowing as well. This is an activity that doesn't need longevity.