Advice needed!!

[jkk299]

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Hey,

I am currently a Ph.D. student in Biostatistics, and I am thinking about applying for medical school either this year or next year.

I originally entered an average state university in 2003 where I finished most of pre-reqs. I took chemII(A+) (I already had an AP credit for Chem I and Cal I from high school), PhysicsI&II(A+,A), OrgoI(B+), BioI(A). At my junior year, I transfered to a more prestigious private university where I received my BA in mathematics. My GPA at the state university was 3.98 and it was around 3.21 at the private university. The cumulative GPA from these two universities is around 3.58 and sGPA is around 3.5, using the AMCAS standard. The reason I had a lower GPA at the private university is that I took a bunch of rigorous mathematics and econ and classes such as real analysis, measure theory, price theory, and etc which I did not enjoy much.

After I finished my undergrad, I decided to pursue a Master's degree in Applied Statistics and I graduated with a 4.01 GPA in 2009. Here, I also had a chance to retake a few of econ and stat classes in which I received the grades of B on back in undergrad. But then again, I acknowledge that my graduate GPA doesn't really mean much...=(

Anyhow, I started my Ph.D. last fall, but I soon realized that doing research doesn't really satisfy me and I am thinking about changing my career....

So here's are the questions I would like to ask..

1. I thought that the best way of improving my chances is to retake classes that I had a C or B on. But as I mentioned earlier, most, if not all, of classes that I had poor grades on are theoretical mathematics or econ classes which IMAO are not really relevant to courses in medical school. Plus, I believe I showed that I am capable of "working with numbers" by earning a master's degree is applied statistics.... What do you guys think?? should I really retake those classes?

2.Is doing a formal post-bac be a waste of money and time for me since I already took most of pre-reqs? Apparently, retaking pre-reqs doesn't really help in terms of boosting up my GPA since I already received good grades on them. But I still do need to take Orgo II and Bio II..Should I just take them on my own?


3. What else should I do in order to increase my chances? Any advice or comments will be greatly appreciated!!

 

[RFHawks]

Hey,

I am currently a Ph.D. student in Biostatistics, and I am thinking about applying for medical school either this year or next year.

I originally entered an average state university in 2003 where I finished most of pre-reqs. I took chemII(A+) (I already had an AP credit for Chem I and Cal I from high school), PhysicsI&II(A+,A), OrgoI(B+), BioI(A). At my junior year, I transfered to a more prestigious private university where I received my BA in mathematics. My GPA at the state university was 3.98 and it was around 3.21 at the private university. The cumulative GPA from these two universities is around 3.58 and sGPA is around 3.5, using the AMCAS standard. The reason I had a lower GPA at the private university is that I took a bunch of rigorous mathematics and econ and classes such as real analysis, measure theory, price theory, and etc which I did not enjoy much.

After I finished my undergrad, I decided to pursue a Master's degree in Applied Statistics and I graduated with a 4.01 GPA in 2009. Here, I also had a chance to retake a few of econ and stat classes in which I received the grades of B on back in undergrad. But then again, I acknowledge that my graduate GPA doesn't really mean much...=(

Anyhow, I started my Ph.D. last fall, but I soon realized that doing research doesn't really satisfy me and I am thinking about changing my career....

So here's are the questions I would like to ask..

1. I thought that the best way of improving my chances is to retake classes that I had a C or B on. But as I mentioned earlier, most, if not all, of classes that I had poor grades on are theoretical mathematics or econ classes which IMAO are not really relevant to courses in medical school. Plus, I believe I showed that I am capable of "working with numbers" by earning a master's degree is applied statistics.... What do you guys think?? should I really retake those classes?

2.Is doing a formal post-bac be a waste of money and time for me since I already took most of pre-reqs? Apparently, retaking pre-reqs doesn't really help in terms of boosting up my GPA since I already received good grades on them. But I still do need to take Orgo II and Bio II..Should I just take them on my own?


3. What else should I do in order to increase my chances? Any advice or comments will be greatly appreciated!!

1. NO. Most med schools don't care about advanced math courses. Math beyond simple algebra is irrelevant in practice anyway.

2. I would just take the pre-reqs you need to apply, unless you took the other ones past the limitation time (not sure, maybe 10 years?). It may even be to your disadvantage if you retake them. They average your two grades for the same class taken over.

3. It sounds like you have the understanding science skill that is required by admissions. Start working on your personal statement and come up with a convincing reason why the career change as this WILL be asked. Also, volunteer in an ED somewhere (or similar) to get patient contact, and shadow any physician that will let you. You can have the best stats ever but without a convincing and compelling PS and clinical experience under your belt you have nothing.

 

[The Lady Grey]

1. NO. Most med schools don't care about advanced math courses. Math beyond simple algebra is irrelevant in practice anyway.

2. I would just take the pre-reqs you need to apply, unless you took the other ones past the limitation time (not sure, maybe 10 years?). It may even be to your disadvantage if you retake them. They average your two grades for the same class taken over.

3. It sounds like you have the understanding science skill that is required by admissions. Start working on your personal statement and come up with a convincing reason why the career change as this WILL be asked. Also, volunteer in an ED somewhere (or similar) to get patient contact, and shadow any physician that will let you. You can have the best stats ever but without a convincing and compelling PS and clinical experience under your belt you have nothing.

Agree. Since you will be cutting out of the Ph.D. program (I'm assuming), you will need to be convincing of why you want to pursue medicine. Many med programs require you to complete the degree you are currently working on, so you should check into the policies of the schools that you will be applying to. I would definitely get some clinical and patient time. It will be hard to sell your story without it, particularly since you already have a masters.

 

[EdLongshanks]

Hey,

I am currently a Ph.D. student in Biostatistics, and I am thinking about applying for medical school either this year or next year.

I originally entered an average state university in 2003 where I finished most of pre-reqs. I took chemII(A+) (I already had an AP credit for Chem I and Cal I from high school), PhysicsI&II(A+,A), OrgoI(B+), BioI(A). At my junior year, I transfered to a more prestigious private university where I received my BA in mathematics. My GPA at the state university was 3.98 and it was around 3.21 at the private university. The cumulative GPA from these two universities is around 3.58 and sGPA is around 3.5, using the AMCAS standard. The reason I had a lower GPA at the private university is that I took a bunch of rigorous mathematics and econ and classes such as real analysis, measure theory, price theory, and etc which I did not enjoy much.

I'd be surprised if a 3.5 GPA with a bunch of advanced math courses at a prestigious university would be looked down upon by anyone. You will get past the computer check and real people will look at your numbers and see that they are pretty impressive.

In order to improve your application you would do the same thing that everyone else has to do, clinical experience, extra curricular activities, have a personal interest that makes you an individual.

I don't know which schools will overlook dropping out of a PhD program. Call the schools that you would like to attend and ask.

You also need opinions from knowledgeable people about the "I now see that research isn't for me" explanation to see if it is sufficient. I'm not that person, but maybe someone else in here can answer you.

 

[lsu hopeful]

What grading scale were you on at these schools if you got a 4.01GPA in your masters?

 

[jkk299]

What grading scale were you on at these schools if you got a 4.01GPA in your masters?

Thanks everyone for the comments and my GPA was 4.01 on a 4.3 scale and 3.88 on a 4.0 scale.