Advice on My Next Move

[Doctor.feel.good]

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Hi Student Doctor Network.

I am a longtime lurker and took the plunge last night and registered. Thank you for all of your help thus far; there is a wealth of information on here. I've learned a lot from you all.

I am a 29 year old nontraditional student who started my undergraduate degree right after high school. I transferred schools, switched majors three times, and also medically withdrew from three semesters of my undergraduate due to a chronic illness that I have since overcome. The three semesters I withdrew from were not sequential.

The illness I was suffering from did affect my studies, apart from my withdrawals. I graduated with a 3.3 cGPA and a 3.16 sGPA with a degree in physiology. The last year of my undergrad, my health problems were in the rearview and I did extremely well. 3.9 fall semester and 3.7 spring semester; my schedule was very rigorous. I had two semesters of physics, as well as cell biology, biochemistry, anatomy, a physiology class, and biopsychology.

I am trying to decide what my next move should be. If I study extremely hard for the MCAT, I am confident I will do well on it. However, my medical withdrawals probably make me a "high risk candidate" in the eyes of admissions committees. If I had a cGPA / sGPA of 3.8, it would likely be less of a problem. However, I don't, and I can't go back in time and heal myself any faster.

If I didn't have the withdrawals and illness, I likely could do really well on the MCAT, interview well, and get in somewhere. But, I have the withdrawals.

I'm thinking I should do a rigorous masters degree, do extremely well, and apply with 5/6 semesters of stellar grades to really show admissions that I am no longer plagued by illness and can do well.

I have read conflicting opinions on the value of masters degrees for admission. However, I graduated with almost 6 years of undergrad credits and retaking classes, even if I do very well, will have little affect on my GPA.

Your thoughts, advice, and input are welcomed. Assuming I do well on the MCAT, can I just apply? Is a DIY post bacc worth it, given the high number of credits I have? Also, DIY post baccs are worthless if I don't get in.

 

[Faha]

Masters degree grades do not matter for MD admissions. You could do a DIY post bacc at a local college and take undergraduate science courses. 30+ credits should be sufficient if your GPA is 3.7+. As long as your MCAT is 500+ you should at least receive interviews at some DO schools.

 

[Doctor.feel.good]

I am curious, why don't they matter? They are higher level coursework. I could see a social sciences master being discounted; STEM masters aren't taken into account?

Another concern I have is explaining my medical withdrawals. Will schools see that as a red flag, along the lines of, "He could get sick again and won't finish"? I have all the documentation of my accident; I shattered my spine in a horrific accident and dealt with severe chronic pain afterwards; five level fusion.

 

[Goro]

OP, did you do a research-based MS, or a SMP?

Having 1-2 years of good grades will show that you are healthy enough to handle med school.

What are your year by year GPAs?

 

[Doctor.feel.good]

Goro, I have not done either one. I am considering both, however. I graduated with 170 undergrad credits because of all of my major switches and transferring schools.

State university on the west coast:

1st Year: 3.1
2nd year: 3.36. I completed one full quarter, 8 credits the second quarter. Full medical withdrawal in my third quarter and start of health problems.

Classes at two different community colleges:
32 credits total: 3.97

University in the Midwest:

1st semester there: 3.1
2nd: Full medical withdrawal
2nd year: 3.1
3rd year: 2.85

Medical withdrawal

Final year: 3.75

I struggled mightily with my shattered spine. chronic pain, and indecision about what I wanted to do. I finally got it under control in my final year and did well with a very difficult courseload.

 

[BritainKittenMittens]

I am curious, why don't they matter? They are higher level coursework. I could see a social sciences master being discounted; STEM masters aren't taken into account?

A lot of Masters--yes, even the STEM ones--inflate grades, so it becomes hard to tell. For med school, established SMPs are the exception because med schools know about their rigor.

 

[gyngyn]

I am curious, why don't they matter?

Everybody gets an A in grad school.