Active Duty looking for redemption advice

[Forwardslothobserver]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hey all,
Currently an Arty Marine LT 2 years out of college, with not the greatest undergrad GPA, looking to redeem himself and become a Physician.

Background: BS Biology c2.93, UC Riverside
Clinical: Couple hundred hours of ER and ICU volunteering at Kaiser Permanente, as well Downey Fire Department paramedic volunteering
Research: 1 year of non published research in Entomology
Course of Action: I EAS in Sept 2021, I’m planning on doing a DIY post bacc, taking fall, winter, spring and summer quarters before taking the MCAT Christmas 2022. If I need to retake the MCAT or take more classes I’ll do that before applying June 2023.

Am pretty set on doing a DIY post bacc, but if I can find a Formal postbacc with linkage I would rather do that. I’m against doing an SMP immediately since I’ll be 4 years out of college.

Just wanted some advice from you all

 

[MusicDOc124]

Hey all,
Currently an Arty Marine LT 2 years out of college, with not the greatest undergrad GPA, looking to redeem himself and become a Physician.

Background: BS Biology c2.93, UC Riverside
Clinical: Couple hundred hours of ER and ICU volunteering at Kaiser Permanente, as well Downey Fire Department paramedic volunteering
Research: 1 year of non published research in Entomology
Course of Action: I EAS in Sept 2021, I’m planning on doing a DIY post bacc, taking fall, winter, spring and summer quarters before taking the MCAT Christmas 2022. If I need to retake the MCAT or take more classes I’ll do that before applying June 2023.

Am pretty set on doing a DIY post bacc, but if I can find a Formal postbacc with linkage I would rather do that. I’m against doing an SMP immediately since I’ll be 4 years out of college.

Just wanted some advice from you all

Any chance of you completing some of the coursework while still active? I'm not suggesting tuition assistance (TA) as for officers it adds more time I believe, but there are other options for covering the costs or reducing the costs.

Did you take any of the pre-reqs when you were in college?

DIY Post Bacc is the way to go though in your case, but consider Temple's post bacc. They have 2 depending on the number of pre-reqs you've taken (i.e. career change versus need additional competitiveness). It is a direct link with a guarantee if GPA and MCAT are met last I know of. There are few with guaranteed admission - usually it's a guaranteed interview.

One of the schools I know of with guaranteed admission is also about meeting GPA requirements, but this schools shifts the grades to create a bell curve (i.e. if everyone in the class except 2 people had a 90, and of those 2, one had a 100 and one had an 80 - then all would be shifted to make the average a 75, and the person with the 100 would have an 85 and the 80 would become a 65/failing. If the requirement is 85 to get in, then 1 person gets in instead of all but 1 in this extreme example. I know 2 people who went through the program personally, and neither are at that school - they are in class with me.

 

[CheMissG]

I have a similarly low GPA and competed undergrad in 2008. Been a USAF officer for the past decade. Took a week off from work to study then took the MCAT and got a 502. Applied to more programs than I can count: MD, DO, DO-associated SMPs.
I was outright rejected by all the MD programs. Interviewed at UNMC and they told me to fix my GPA with a master's degree and score at least 508 on the MCAT. Average score of those admitted was 513 and GPA was 3.6 science average.
Interviewed at 3 DO Schools: ICOM, PNWU in Washington and TouroCOM Middletown, NY. These schools seemed more forgiving of my GPA and valued my non-traditional background. Was rejected by ICOM and waitlisted at the other two.
In the mean time I was accepted at Midwestern University in AZ, Touro NV, Touro CA, and ACHE in Arkansas for their respectful SMPs. MWU was too expensive, TUN was my choice until I learned that ACHE offered reduced tuition for their inaugural class (only $5k!).
MWU offers guaranteed interviews to their DO program with GPA/MCAT score requirements.
TUN doesn't offer any guarantees but I think their website says 86% of their master's students are accepted into their DO program.
ACHE guaranteed an interview AND gave credit for 1st year anatomy if you meet the GPA requirement in the master's program. I think it was 3.0, so nothing too crazy.
In the end I was accepted off the waitlist for TouroCOM Middletown DO class of 2023.
I say just bite the bullet. Take the MCAT and apply. You might get lucky if you have a good interview.
Good luck!

 

[BC_89]

Moving to Nontraditional Students Forum. Although Veterans' Benefits is specifically for Veterans seeking the how and why's of using gi bill and other job entry entitlements, this forum also has a lot of veterans that can relate and assist with redemption advice / suggestions

 

[seanm028]

Course of Action: I EAS in Sept 2021, I’m planning on doing a DIY post bacc, taking fall, winter, spring and summer quarters before taking the MCAT Christmas 2022. If I need to retake the MCAT or take more classes I’ll do that before applying June 2023.

Am pretty set on doing a DIY post bacc, but if I can find a Formal postbacc with linkage I would rather do that. I’m against doing an SMP immediately since I’ll be 4 years out of college.

Sounds like you have a pretty solid plan. Stay the course and prove that you're not the 2.93 student you used to be. Veterans are generally looked upon favorably. Use that to drive your reinvention narrative.

 

[Goro]

Hey all,
Currently an Arty Marine LT 2 years out of college, with not the greatest undergrad GPA, looking to redeem himself and become a Physician.

Background: BS Biology c2.93, UC Riverside
Clinical: Couple hundred hours of ER and ICU volunteering at Kaiser Permanente, as well Downey Fire Department paramedic volunteering
Research: 1 year of non published research in Entomology
Course of Action: I EAS in Sept 2021, I’m planning on doing a DIY post bacc, taking fall, winter, spring and summer quarters before taking the MCAT Christmas 2022. If I need to retake the MCAT or take more classes I’ll do that before applying June 2023.

Am pretty set on doing a DIY post bacc, but if I can find a Formal postbacc with linkage I would rather do that. I’m against doing an SMP immediately since I’ll be 4 years out of college.

Just wanted some advice from you all

First off, many thanks for your service to our country!
Semper Fi!

I recommend the formal post-bac due to it's structure, and if you can find one with MCAT prep, all the better.

these programs are a dime-a-dozen, so just do your research, and be prepared to relocate.

 

[esob]

Vet status will help you but it won't make up for undesirable stats. A Post-bac or SMP with good performance AND a solid MCAT, however, will make the goal of becoming a physician very doable.

Adcoms know that *most* veterans possess discipline, integrity, and a strong work ethic. However, we all knew lots of folks that were good soldiers but lacked the ability to handle the academic rigor of med school, pharm school, etc. So you need to convince them that you have this academic ability. Then, you end up in an advantageous position because the other applicants need to somehow prove they have the aforementioned character traits, whereas there is little doubt in an adcom's mind that you already possess them.

 

[EasyEveryoneWouldDoIt]

active duty air force here that just got into medical school. enlisted with a 2.80 gpa my first time around 15 years ago. i ended up doing a DIY post bac 50 hours with a 3.8 GPA and a MCAT of 513. wayne st has a 40 hr rule where if you take 40 hrs of classes where the 40 hours post bac gpa will replace your ug GPA. also i had success at EVMS, Tulane, SLU, Netter, ETSU (they treat all active duty and vets as instate and give preference to them), my state school, wayne st. and of course USUHS where I am going to be starting this fall. Because TA can't be used if you already have a B.A for another Bachelors i had to dip into my GI bill for my post bac. not ideal but it worked. pm if you need any help since i was a reinventor story myself

 

[MTnon-trad]

I was an active duty Army officer who just got into medical school this cycle. I had a low undergrad GPA (3.15) and did a formal post-bacc and got a 4.0 with a 515 MCAT. I felt that school was much easier after spending some time in military as I was much more disciplined. I elected to do the formal post-bacc as I feel I do better with some structure and I liked having more access to an advisor. Whether or not you do a formal or DIY post-bacc just do really well in the classes and the MCAT to show a strong upward trend and you should be fine. I received more interviews than I expected at schools that would be considered well out of my range based on my undergrad and was lucky enough to receive multiple acceptances so I do think being a veteran helps in the sense that it sets you apart if you have demonstrated the ability to handle the coursework. Sounds like you have a solid plan and as well as you do well in your courses/MCAT I'm sure you'll do fine!

 

[MusicDOc124]

active duty air force here that just got into medical school. enlisted with a 2.80 gpa my first time around 15 years ago. i ended up doing a DIY post bac 50 hours with a 3.8 GPA and a MCAT of 513. wayne st has a 40 hr rule where if you take 40 hrs of classes where the 40 hours post bac gpa will replace your ug GPA. also i had success at EVMS, Tulane, SLU, Netter, ETSU (they treat all active duty and vets as instate and give preference to them), my state school, wayne st. and of course USUHS where I am going to be starting this fall. Because TA can't be used if you already have a B.A for another Bachelors i had to dip into my GI bill for my post bac. not ideal but it worked. pm if you need any help since i was a reinventor story myself

Just curious: did you do a commissioning program of sorts since you're active duty and will be going USUHS? I'm pretty sure that if applying from active/through a program, it's required you apply there, and if accepted - to attend.

 

[HopefulPilot]

@MusicDOc124 if applying to schools from active duty, its not required to apply to USUHS if you don't currently owe an obligation.

 

[MusicDOc124]

@MusicDOc124 if applying to schools from active duty, its not required to apply to USUHS if you don't currently owe an obligation.

Isn't it required if completing a commissioning program though? If the poster has time remaining on contract such as with application for one of the programs, then it would be. I'm just curious if that's the case here.

 

[HopefulPilot]

If you owe time and want to go to school before that time is completed, you need your respective branch clearance for USUHS and/or HPSP. Not required to apply to both programs as far as I'm aware. Also not required if your owed time will end before the schooling starts.

 

[MusicDOc124]

That’s what I thought. I’m still curious if the poster is going through the commissioning program.

 

[EasyEveryoneWouldDoIt]

i will be commissioning this summer and going to COT. I remained enlisted while doing my post bac and during the application process and got an Letter of approval to apply to medical schools i.e USUHS and HPSP program. though in the air force instructions there is a part that allows for early seperation from the military if accepted to a physician education program that and my seperation date is next summer. so i had 2 avenues of seperating if i didn't want to stay in through USUHS or HPSP program. cite the AFI allowing me to seperating early and apply for early seperation or just defer my acceptance for a year and get out normally

 

[EasyEveryoneWouldDoIt]

i was not required to apply to USUHS at all or attend there USUHS when i got accepted. i don't think anybody is required to attend USUHS if they get accepted even the academy students and people in the enlisted to medical degree prep program (which i was not part of). they can attend a civilian program if they want (they must however apply to the HPSP program) and for a while I was on the fence between USUHS vs tulane and u of washington. but being in for so many years, and knowing i can retire after i complete my USUHS obligation made it the best financial sense

 

[MusicDOc124]

i will be commissioning this summer and going to COT. I remained enlisted while doing my post bac and during the application process and got an Letter of approval to apply to medical schools i.e USUHS and HPSP program. though in the air force instructions there is a part that allows for early seperation from the military if accepted to a physician education program that and my seperation date is next summer. so i had 2 avenues of seperating if i didn't want to stay in through USUHS or HPSP program. cite the AFI allowing me to seperating early and apply for early seperation or just defer my acceptance for a year and get out normally

i was not required to apply to USUHS at all or attend there USUHS when i got accepted. i don't think anybody is required to attend USUHS if they get accepted even the academy students and people in the enlisted to medical degree prep program (which i was not part of). they can attend a civilian program if they want (they must however apply to the HPSP program) and for a while I was on the fence between USUHS vs tulane and u of washington. but being in for so many years, and knowing i can retire after i complete my USUHS obligation made it the best financial sense

Awesome and congrats! I have a friend who's still in who's thinking about applying, hence my curiosity!

 

[EasyEveryoneWouldDoIt]

Awesome and congrats! I have a friend who's still in who's thinking about applying, hence my curiosity!

what branch are they in? if their air force tell them to pm me and i can help them out. my letter of approval took so long because no one seemed to know anything about it. going from operational enlisted directly to med school is pretty rare. not unheard of but rare and only a handful from each branch do it every year. more people go from officer to med school or reserve to med school or get out then head to med school. but i can help your friend and give guidance if they want it