Advice

[Downtime]

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Over the past year and a half I have thought long and hard about becoming a doctor and believe it is something I want to do. I only wish I knew this when I went into school as I would have been more concentrated in classes. This all stems from having been given so much through medicine (having my club foot operated on when I was born so I could walk, being helped out when I was younger with very severe asthma, and recently getting my shoulder operated so I could do sports again). I feel like I have been given so much, and would like to do the same for others in the same way.

Regardless, I know my desire and reason to attend Medical School is something that will get me there alone. I am an engineering student in my fourth semester of school. I have a 3.35GPA and a 3.18SGPA. This is only with Chemistry I and II, Physics I and II, and Math (Calculus1-4) For extra curricular activities I have started and been president of a club on campus, VP of my fraternity, an Orientation Leader, a Peer Mentor, and other miscellaneous positions. When I graduate I will have two years of work experience from the cooperative education program at my school. I do quite a deal of community service, and will be starting to volunteer at a local hospital in the upcoming weeks.

I am very discouraged due to my GPA, and am not sure if this is possible anymore. Does anyone know any possible routes I can take or able to answer a few of the following questions? I am currently working on a graduate degree in engineering, and would this count at all in applying to schools? Also, is it possible to retake courses I received C's in after completing my undergraduate degree? The reason I'm asking this is my current plan may be to work a few years after graduating just to lower my student debt. However I honestly do not know what I'm going to do at this point so any help is greatly appreciated. Will gladly give any additional information out if it is needed.

Thanks!

 

[liveoak]

don't dwell on your GPA. I am an engineer with a similar gpa, and did not consider medicine for a second until i graduated.

Hit the MCAT hard. You have the tools to dominate PS, and have the skills to navigate VR and BS.

 

[Catalystik]

I am an engineering student in my fourth semester of school. I have a 3.35GPA and a 3.18SGPA. This is only with Chemistry I and II, Physics I and II, and Math (Calculus1-4) For extra curricular activities I have started and been president of a club on campus, VP of my fraternity, an Orientation Leader, a Peer Mentor, and other miscellaneous positions. When I graduate I will have two years of work experience from the cooperative education program at my school. I do quite a deal of community service, and will be starting to volunteer at a local hospital in the upcoming weeks.

I am very discouraged due to my GPA, and am not sure if this is possible anymore.

1) Does anyone know any possible routes I can take or able to answer a few of the following questions?

2) I am currently working on a graduate degree in engineering, and would this count at all in applying to schools?

3) Also, is it possible to retake courses I received C's in after completing my undergraduate degree? The reason I'm asking this is my current plan may be to work a few years after graduating just to lower my student debt. However I honestly do not know what I'm going to do at this point so any help is greatly appreciated. Will gladly give any additional information out if it is needed.

1) a) Get your BCPM GPA higher by taking postbac Bio, OChem, and upper-level Bio and Biochemistry. If you take these classes during your masters, since they are not required for the masters, they will be considered "Postbac" and included in your undergrad GPA calcualtion on the AMCAS application. b) Get a strong MCAT score. c) If necessary you might do an SMP (Special Masters Program) which is a GPA enhancer meant solely to demonstrate you have what it takes to succeed in med school. One competes with current first year med students, taking the same classes, and must earn a high GPA for it to help, so it can be an expensive gamble. See the Postbaccalaureate Programs Forum for more info. d) Consider applying to DO med schools where your numbers are currently more competitive, if you have difficulty getting your undergrad GPA higher and have a lower MCAT score. Their application service has a grade forgiveness policy where they only count the most recent class if you retake, if the credit hours are not lower. AMCAS, OTOH, averages all grades earned when you retake.

2) It won't help much, other than as being a nice EC, though the research and/or teaching opportunities that come with it would enhance your application. Most med schools won't much consider the GPA of a traditional masters.

3) It is possible to retake old, poorer grades, but for AMCAS, retakes are figured in the same as new coursework, so unless the class is a prerequisite needed to master the MCAT material, you would not necessarily need to retake (unless the grade was dismal). All postbac grades are on a separate line on the application, enabling appreciation that you have a steep upward grade trend since graduation.