Advice please!

[nocmed]

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Hey guys... Hope you are all doing great!

So I am needing some advice especially from those that went through something similar to me.

I decided to go to medical school when I graduated from high school (2004) and had no idea what I had to do to go about it, except from this dumb adviser who said I had to be a bio major to go to medical school. So I started that at a community college, got an Associates in 2007, transferred to George Mason and graduated from there in 2010. I was only full time in school from 2008-2010 because I was working more before then. I graduated with a horrible 2.46 cumulative, and my science was lower. I got married in 2010 and planned to go do a second undergrad to make up for my bad GPA cuz I honestly, DID NOT STUDY! All I did is maybe go to class, reply on memory and study the night before and get C's. I know when I do put effort in I can get all A's and B's... Part of the reason I didn't do well in school also was lots of family problems at home (unfortunately, 2 alcoholic brothers.. police coming to our house, and trying to be a role model for my sister)... which is the main reason I got married, to get away from that. Little did I know, my marriage was worse than that life I had originally at home. I ended that in 2011 December (Best decision since I decided to go to college.. lol). Obviously, I didn't get to go to school when I was married as I planned since my ex-husband thought I would be disobedient in doing so...???.... so I'm like screw you, I'm leaving and I'm gonna be who I've always wanted to be. I applied to colleges for Fall 2012, and I got into Virginia Commonwealth University and I am studying Chemistry (Concentration: Biochem). It's been a year and my GPA has gotten up each semester... I am a B- student this year so far, and moving up to be an A student! I know it's not a big deal for some, but for me it's an upward trend. I do have lots of work experience which I will list:

- Summer before and after senior year high school worked at a Family/Pediatrics office (I did this to see if I want to do medicine)
- September 2005-June 2010: Manager/Medical assistant of a pediatrics office
- April 2008-January 2010: Histology Assistant in the Pathology department (I assisted in Autopsies weekly)
- 2008: shadowed a dentist to see if I like... NOPE not at all!
- 2007: 1 month worked in an Internal Medicine office, 1 month in OB/GYN
After graduation (when I was married and moved to Montreal):
- 2.5 months as a Pharmacy Tech (hated pharmacy for sure)
- Project Coordinator/GLP specialist at a pharmaceutical company for 2 months (I quit the job when I decided to move back to the U.S)

My come back to school (VCU):
- 3 weeks tutoring math and science at under-served/underrepresented Middle/High schools in Richmond.
- And I JUST got hired to work as a registrar in the ER. (Full-time position!)

.... So my passion is there for SURE...no doubt!

I'm planning to take my MCAT during the spring 2014. Never took it before.

I am considered WHITE in applications, however, I am from Algeria (If you're wondering, It's in northern Africa next to Morocco), lived in 4 different countries in my life and speak 3 languages. I'm a 27 year old female.

I want to know if I actually SHOULD be doing a second undergrad or should I be doing a Masters degree? Cuz I see some people's success stories with GPA's like mine went to grad school... it didn't seem like they were SMP's, which of COURSE I know about and have that in mind (if you all think I should do that after I graduate with my second degree).

I DO NOT care if I do MD or DO. I just want to be a doctor and I want to practice medicine. I DO NOT care about my future specialty (I mean honestly...who would know before getting into medical school and explore the fields?! not many). I do know that I DO NOT want to go to a Caribbean medical school, for many reasons... no need to say.

SO, should I continue this degree? Or should I apply to a master's degree for..let's say spring 2014? What is the best method?

Please only serious answers... no need for haters... and the whole "are you sure you're cut out for med... and why don't you do something else.." NO...forget it, I've decided this is it. I will not do medicine until I apply twice. Once before an SMP possibly, and once after...if I don't get in then fine... only medical schools will tell me you are not cut out..not people trying to convince me otherwise so that they eliminate people from the application pool...

For the nice ones... Thank you in advance! 😀

 

[brownbaglunch]

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[ChE04]

...I am a B- student this year so far, and moving up to be an A student!

Becoming an A student needs to happen sooner rather than later. I agree your best bet probably involves retaking classes you did poorly in and applying DO.

 

[StephanieZ]

Becoming an A student needs to happen sooner rather than later. I agree your best bet probably involves retaking classes you did poorly in and applying DO.

This. OP, I'm glad you are happy with your progress from earning C's to B's, but the reality is that you need to be an A student and the longer it takes you to get to that point, the harder it will be to climb out of the hole you've dug for yourself. It's not impossible, just recognize that it will be difficult. I agree that DO is the way to go.

 

[nocmed]

True I agree I need to be an A student faster. I hope to achieve that this upcoming year.

So do you guys think I continue with this Chem degree or just do some retakes then get into an SMP?

And if I retake some classes at VCU, DO medical schools would consider them as replacements for the courses I took at GMU?

 

[edgerock24]

Retake classes. Get your GPA >3.0 (preferably to 3.2ish). Score well on the MCAT. Apply DO only.

Do not rush this, consider retaking classes for the next 2 years then take the MCAT in 2015. Apply with your best self.

 

[nocmed]

Thank you for the advice edgerock24

 

[Goro]

Easiest pathway:

re-take all F/D/C science courses to take advantage of AACOMAS grade replacement policy. Does wonders for the GPA. Score at leats a 25 on the mCAT, and you'll be fine for most DO programs.

For MD programs, you're going to need at leats a 30+ on the MCAT,a nd take a post-bac or SMP and excel (B- won't cut it...you'll need to ace it). Then there will be some MD schools that reward reinvention.

Overall, no need to do a completely new UG program.

And you can definitely do better than any Carib diploma mill.

Good luck!


I want to know if I actually SHOULD be doing a second undergrad or should I be doing a Masters degree? Cuz I see some people's success stories with GPA's like mine went to grad school... it didn't seem like they were SMP's, which of COURSE I know about and have that in mind (if you all think I should do that after I graduate with my second degree).
I DO NOT care if I do MD or DO. I just want to be a doctor and I want to practice medicine. I DO NOT care about my future specialty (I mean honestly...who would know before getting into medical school and explore the fields?! not many). I do know that I DO NOT want to go to a Caribbean medical school, for many reasons... no need to say.