Am I fooling myself?

[babalaco2]

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I really want to go to medical school. It has been a dream of mine since I was a child. In college, however I didnt get the grades usually associated with medical school matriculants. I have been out for 2 years now, mostly working in a cancer lab and teaching at a local Community college. I didnt pursue medical school directly after college because I thought I had no hope. And recently, after looking at mdapplicants.com, i feel that I may still have no hope. There were people on there who scored 40 on the MCAT and still didnt get in. My Cum GPA is a 3.1, with BCPM of 3.06 (Molecular Bio Major). I want to apply for Fall 07, but people have been telling my Im wasting my time. I am trying to get a clinical job with patient contact to help my application out and am looking to shadow. Does anyone have an uplifting story that may be able to provide me with some hope of becoming a physician??

 

[fullefect1]

yes.. there is hope... a 3.1 is to low for MD but DO you will have a shot... just do well on your MCAT and have some medical volunteering down.

 

[fullefect1]

OH sorry... i didn't put a uplifting story.

 

[JonnyG]

I really want to go to medical school. It has been a dream of mine since I was a child. In college, however I didnt get the grades usually associated with medical school matriculants. I have been out for 2 years now, mostly working in a cancer lab and teaching at a local Community college. I didnt pursue medical school directly after college because I thought I had no hope. And recently, after looking at mdapplicants.com, i feel that I may still have no hope. There were people on there who scored 40 on the MCAT and still didnt get in. My Cum GPA is a 3.1, with BCPM of 3.06 (Molecular Bio Major). I want to apply for Fall 07, but people have been telling my Im wasting my time. I am trying to get a clinical job with patient contact to help my application out and am looking to shadow. Does anyone have an uplifting story that may be able to provide me with some hope of becoming a physician??

Your GPA is no where near as low as mine and I had five acceptances. The key is to make up for your GPA in other areas of the application. You also do not need a 40 on the MCAT a 30 would help.

 

[DD214_DOC]

It's totally random, dude. Just be hip on osteopathic medicine -- it can really make a difference for mediocre applicants.

I applied last year with a 3.3/3.1 cum/sci GPA and a 22 (10VR, 5PS, 7BS) on the August MCAT and got 3 interviews out of 3 applications. I fubared the first interview and was rejected. The second went very well and my app was reviewed twice because a decision couldn't be rendered, but I was ultimately rejected -- I still don't know why. During the interview I was told I had the attributes of a good physician (but apparently not a good student!) so who knows; probably it was the MCAT.

Since then, I have bumped my sci GPA up to a 3.3. My cumulative was going to be a 3.4, but this semester I have been planning a wedding, working part-time, and starting up my own company that's now worth over $100,000. I have also gotten better LORs.

I unfortunately missed the April MCAT, but intend to retake the August one. While I lack any additional medical experience, the increased GPA should make up for it. Not to mention, how many other 23 year olds run a six-figure net worth company? Probably not many.

This year I will also be working on a M.S. in Psychology (eventually a Ph.D.)

But my point, who knows where it will take me. I might not get any interviews this cycle. Just try and find out, because that's all anyone can really tell you.

 

[Nate]

Just put all of your energy into the MCAT, land some powerful letters of recommendation, and work hard on your essays. Teaching and research are great assets to your application. Your GPA is not that low, anything over a 3.0 is workable in my opinion as long as you work hard on the rest of your application. I suggest using the shotgun method of applying and apply to a bunch of allopathic and osteopathic medical schools anywhere you would attend. It is expensive and tiring but you can definitely become a doctor if that is where your heart is pulling you. Go for it

 

[eliscord]

If you really want to stand out do something extra-ordinary. Everyone gets good grades, does well on the MCAT, volunteers, and has a job related to medicine. I would suggest something different. For example, I am going to India this summer with the himalyan health exchange. It is for three weeks and I will be traveling with a medical team (all doctors and med-students). I am just an applicant looking for a great experience and they are happy to have me along. Im not sure if this will help my chances but I know that at least I will have more on hands experience than alot of applicants. If med schools still dont want me, I will just go abroad, take the boards here, and be a wonderful physician!
You can do it!!!!

I really want to go to medical school. It has been a dream of mine since I was a child. In college, however I didnt get the grades usually associated with medical school matriculants. I have been out for 2 years now, mostly working in a cancer lab and teaching at a local Community college. I didnt pursue medical school directly after college because I thought I had no hope. And recently, after looking at mdapplicants.com, i feel that I may still have no hope. There were people on there who scored 40 on the MCAT and still didnt get in. My Cum GPA is a 3.1, with BCPM of 3.06 (Molecular Bio Major). I want to apply for Fall 07, but people have been telling my Im wasting my time. I am trying to get a clinical job with patient contact to help my application out and am looking to shadow. Does anyone have an uplifting story that may be able to provide me with some hope of becoming a physician??

 

[BklynWill]

I really want to go to medical school. It has been a dream of mine since I was a child. In college, however I didnt get the grades usually associated with medical school matriculants. I have been out for 2 years now, mostly working in a cancer lab and teaching at a local Community college. I didnt pursue medical school directly after college because I thought I had no hope. And recently, after looking at mdapplicants.com, i feel that I may still have no hope. There were people on there who scored 40 on the MCAT and still didnt get in. My Cum GPA is a 3.1, with BCPM of 3.06 (Molecular Bio Major). I want to apply for Fall 07, but people have been telling my Im wasting my time. I am trying to get a clinical job with patient contact to help my application out and am looking to shadow. Does anyone have an uplifting story that may be able to provide me with some hope of becoming a physician??

To be blunt, and in line with the rest on this thread, you have a shot at acceptance to osteopathic medical schools. Score 28-30+ on the MCAT, get those great letters of recommendation, and you must tour/ meet staff at the schools you will apply to several months in advance. Networking is KEY and is often underestimated among applicants.

 

[jjsmalls]

I really want to go to medical school. It has been a dream of mine since I was a child. In college, however I didnt get the grades usually associated with medical school matriculants. I have been out for 2 years now, mostly working in a cancer lab and teaching at a local Community college. I didnt pursue medical school directly after college because I thought I had no hope. And recently, after looking at mdapplicants.com, i feel that I may still have no hope. There were people on there who scored 40 on the MCAT and still didnt get in. My Cum GPA is a 3.1, with BCPM of 3.06 (Molecular Bio Major). I want to apply for Fall 07, but people have been telling my Im wasting my time. I am trying to get a clinical job with patient contact to help my application out and am looking to shadow. Does anyone have an uplifting story that may be able to provide me with some hope of becoming a physician??

I've got one for you...I had below a 3.0 science GPA, but enrolled in the Biomedical Sciences Post-Bacc Program at LECOM (finishing Friday!!!). I was accepted to the PBL program at LECOM for next year. Not to sound cliche, but "where there's a will, there's a way!"

 

[samdwi]

If you haven't already, you may want to invest in an MCAT prep course by Kaplan or Princeton Review to help you reacquiant with the friggin' Kreb's Cycle etc. As you were a biology-related major, these topics should not be new to you.

A 3.06 GPA is indeed mediocre, however, try to nail the MCAT and gain clinical experience in the year and half or so you have until you begin your applications in Summer/Fall '06. I wouldn't count you out of either MD or DO schools just yet. Just as scores of 40 on the MCAT don't guarantee an acceptance, a score of 22 doesn't really shut you out completely.

As a past med-student at the University of Florida (MD), there were quite a few people in my class with gpas in the 3.0 to 3.3 range and MCATs in the high 20's, but had good clinical work and great letters of rec. Of course, there were the 3.9 /40 people too - who came across as rather arrogant. Being a minority helps too.

Always remember though - no sob stories and "just give me one chance" attitudes - they hate that and they will "next-day by noon" your rejection letter becuase of it.

Your best chances are in DO schools, however if its an MD you want, you have a good chance if you manage the MCAT and send in your application early - literally sit at your computer keyboard a few minutes before the AMCAS is allowed to be submitted for that years' admissions cycle, and hit "submit" at the second the clock strikes the appropriate time.

 

[Em&M]

I really want to go to medical school. It has been a dream of mine since I was a child. In college, however I didnt get the grades usually associated with medical school matriculants. I have been out for 2 years now, mostly working in a cancer lab and teaching at a local Community college. I didnt pursue medical school directly after college because I thought I had no hope. And recently, after looking at mdapplicants.com, i feel that I may still have no hope. There were people on there who scored 40 on the MCAT and still didnt get in. My Cum GPA is a 3.1, with BCPM of 3.06 (Molecular Bio Major). I want to apply for Fall 07, but people have been telling my Im wasting my time. I am trying to get a clinical job with patient contact to help my application out and am looking to shadow. Does anyone have an uplifting story that may be able to provide me with some hope of becoming a physician??

I think that you are in a great position! As many have said, just work on strengthening other parts of your app. I was in the same boat but have been taking 1-2 classes (upper science) and working full time doing research. I have been atoning for the sins of my past by getting excellent grades now, researching now, volunteering now, shadowing now. That is what you need to do. Become as informed as you can on the "ins and outs" of applying and getting accepted to medical school (both DO and MD). Make a plan. Actually write down what you need to work on and have a timeline to do it. If that means taking a few extra classes to "prove" that you are a capable student, or if that means scheduling an MCAT course to ensure that you will get the best possible score, do it and you are there!

It is true: Where there is a will, there is most definitely a way. You just need to get yourself organized and focused and the rest will fall into place. Nate was right, focus on the teaching and research. Find a few docs to shadow so you can prove you know what you are talking about and tie up a few loose ends with your grades and MCAT.

Lastly, don't spend too much time comparing yourself. You WILL go nuts. There have been people accepted from every rank imaginable (almost). Focus only on yourself and what you have to offer, there will always be someone with better and worse stats that gets in, please do not concern yourself with those people.

See you in Med school in a couple of years!

 

[Megalofyia]

...

 

[crys20]

Do what it takes to get a good MCAT score. I planned way ahead and took the MCAT the August before I applied. So like a year in advance, if you're with me. I didn't take classes, and I saved up/borrowed from fam enough money to live on so I wouldn't have to work. Do what it takes to do well, and you're in.

 

[Lindyhopper]

I've got one for you...I had below a 3.0 science GPA, but enrolled in the Biomedical Sciences Post-Bacc Program at LECOM (finishing Friday!!!). I was accepted to the PBL program at LECOM . . "

Congratulations, become a great & knd physician.
How did you like the structure, dress code etc at LECOM?

To the OP a Post-Bacc certificate at a DO school may be a good why to go.

 

[jjsmalls]

Congratulations, become a great & knd physician.
How did you like the structure, dress code etc at LECOM?

To the OP a Post-Bacc certificate at a DO school may be a good why to go.

Dress code is not as bad as some people make it out to be...we are no longer undergrads, so it is understandable to present a professional appearance. The only time it is an issue is if you just want to run in for a quick second to hand in an assignment or talk with a professor. I have actually opted not to speak with one of my professors about a question I had because I just didnt want to go home to get into dress code. So I guess from that standpoint, it is a little annoying.

As for the program itself, I found that it made me much more confident for next year. Most of the classes are taught by the same faculty that teach MS1s, and some of the lectures are the same that we will see again in MS1. What we learned this year is only a portion of the MS1 curriculum, but any little bit helps. Also, the lectures are usually very clinically-based, so it is much more focused than undergraduate upper-level sciences.

 

[OSUdoc08]

I really want to go to medical school. It has been a dream of mine since I was a child. In college, however I didnt get the grades usually associated with medical school matriculants. I have been out for 2 years now, mostly working in a cancer lab and teaching at a local Community college. I didnt pursue medical school directly after college because I thought I had no hope. And recently, after looking at mdapplicants.com, i feel that I may still have no hope. There were people on there who scored 40 on the MCAT and still didnt get in. My Cum GPA is a 3.1, with BCPM of 3.06 (Molecular Bio Major). I want to apply for Fall 07, but people have been telling my Im wasting my time. I am trying to get a clinical job with patient contact to help my application out and am looking to shadow. Does anyone have an uplifting story that may be able to provide me with some hope of becoming a physician??

if you make a 28 on the MCAT, and mass apply to DO schools, I'm willing to bet you will get in somewhere.....

 

[Kazema]

I think that in general, adcoms are looking for three things:

1. A passion for and knowledge of what medicine involves, shown through your ECs.
2. The ability to handle the medical school coursework, shown through GPA & MCAT.
3. Not being an ass, shown through LORs and the interview.

I think most people who post asking for advice on whether medical school is a possibility for them are missing #2, for whatever reason. I feel that schools (especially DO schools) are more interested in knowing whether the applicant is capable of handling the coursework and knows how to study than they are in what the exact #'s are. This is why the upward trend is important - if you did poorly at first but as you learned study skills and got yourself focused your grades went up, then you've shown #2. For some a strong showing late in their undergraduate careers along with a good MCAT score is enough, for others a postbacc or SMP is necessary.

So no matter what your numbers, I don't think you're ever out of the running as long as you have the ability fulfill these 3 criteria. Just keep pluggin' along and working hard and your dream will be a reality!

 

[smc927]

Just relax and go for it if you really want it. There are all sorts of GPA/MCAT score combinations that have been accepted. Some high, some low, some inbetween. So much goes into the process that you just can't know for sure. Unless you don't apply. Then you know for sure you won't get accepted. So just go for it - apply and see what happens! 👍

 

[clc8503]

Your GPA is no where near as low as mine and I had five acceptances. The key is to make up for your GPA in other areas of the application. You also do not need a 40 on the MCAT a 30 would help.

How low is your GPA?
-just curious

To the OP, if you feel a little uneasy about you GPA retake some classes that you did poorly in. Osteopathic schools only look at the higher of two grades when figuring you GPA. Best of luck to you!

Yours,
Caraway

 

[Karen11]

Ok, now I need some advice and I want you all to be honest here. I really, really, really, want to go to med school. Not just any med school, Osteopathic med school. Here is my problem. I am 50 yrs old! I really do not want to be the oldest person in the class, and I do not even have a clue if anyone would accept me. I have a masters degree in Nursing and a Public Health Nursing certificate. That probably doesn't matter in this case. I was going to take the MCAT this month, but felt I would be better prepared in August. To be honest, I thought that maybe it would be a futile endeaver to even take?? I would have to rely on total student loans to do this. I mean, I would be cheyne stoking and still have student loans? I also lack all of the prereqs...I wonder if my background in nursing with all of my science would let me in without them?? My GPA is 3.87.....am I just dreaming here??

 

[Megalofyia]

Apparently in my class next year there is someone in their 50s. However I suspect that you will be the oldest in the class, but I wouldnt let that stop you if it's what you want to do.

My parent's have a friend who went to medical school when she was 50 and is now very happy working as a physician.

Do you not cover some of the pre-recs being a nurse? General biology, general chemistry, physics, a year of english, a year of organic, calculus... I think that's it..

As far as loans.. the only cheap DO school I know of is TCOM, but you have to be a Texas resident for the cheap tuition.

 

[tkim]

Ok, now I need some advice and I want you all to be honest here. I really, really, really, want to go to med school. Not just any med school, Osteopathic med school. Here is my problem. I am 50 yrs old! I really do not want to be the oldest person in the class, and I do not even have a clue if anyone would accept me. I have a masters degree in Nursing and a Public Health Nursing certificate. That probably doesn't matter in this case. I was going to take the MCAT this month, but felt I would be better prepared in August. To be honest, I thought that maybe it would be a futile endeaver to even take?? I would have to rely on total student loans to do this. I mean, I would be cheyne stoking and still have student loans? I also lack all of the prereqs...I wonder if my background in nursing with all of my science would let me in without them?? My GPA is 3.87.....am I just dreaming here??

1) Admission to med schools *requires* that you complete the pre-reqs - bio, chem, orgo, physics. There is really no way around those.

2) Taking the MCAT without taking the pre-reqs almost guarantees you will not do well, since the test is about your knowledge and application of those courses.

3) I would not worry about your age. If you really want to be a doc, it won't matter how old you are. Loans can be paid off. Plenty of people do it.

4) Have you considered a nurse practitioner program? You can get a lot more autonomy with it and use your nursing experience as a cornerstone.

 

[oldManDO2009]

Ok, now I need some advice and I want you all to be honest here. I really, really, really, want to go to med school. Not just any med school, Osteopathic med school. Here is my problem. I am 50 yrs old! I really do not want to be the oldest person in the class, and I do not even have a clue if anyone would accept me. I have a masters degree in Nursing and a Public Health Nursing certificate. That probably doesn't matter in this case. I was going to take the MCAT this month, but felt I would be better prepared in August. To be honest, I thought that maybe it would be a futile endeaver to even take?? I would have to rely on total student loans to do this. I mean, I would be cheyne stoking and still have student loans? I also lack all of the prereqs...I wonder if my background in nursing with all of my science would let me in without them?? My GPA is 3.87.....am I just dreaming here??

I have been a nurse for a long time and the background will not help much on the MCAT. You need to take all of the required pre-reqs (chem, ochem, bio, physics) to do well on the MCAT - unless you are some super science freak! All schools require these courses - as mentioned in a previous post. Completing all this plus school and residency, will consume a decade - I started several years ago and still have another 8 to go. I know someone mentioned NP and that was my backup plan because you can bill Medi-Care and many insurance companies so you are not forced to work for a doc (like a PA). That would only take another year or two. The only problem I see is that if you want to be a doctor you should and if ten years is not an issue then go for it!

I have noticed recently that several nurses have decided to move to the physician side of medicine.....

TUCOM c/o 2009

 

[Little30]

Ok So I have heard MANY conflicting bits of information on this subject. I really didn't try too hard in high school, but I did get into a few colleges, however, I decided it would be better to go to a community college to start things off. I really didn't even know that I wanted to be a doctor yet, but completed a AS in Liberal arts, including all of my pre-requisites bio,chem,o-chem, physics, with mostly all A's (3.75 GPA)... Is this going to count against me when I look to apply to med schools next year, I haven't gotten my MCAT scores back yet, but I'm hoping that they can balance out this community college deal... ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS... Is it really bad?? Thanks!

Steve

 

[AcousticDoc]

Ok So I have heard MANY conflicting bits of information on this subject. I really didn't try too hard in high school, but I did get into a few colleges, however, I decided it would be better to go to a community college to start things off. I really didn't even know that I wanted to be a doctor yet, but completed a AS in Liberal arts, including all of my pre-requisites bio,chem,o-chem, physics, with mostly all A's (3.75 GPA)... Is this going to count against me when I look to apply to med schools next year, I haven't gotten my MCAT scores back yet, but I'm hoping that they can balance out this community college deal... ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS... Is it really bad?? Thanks!

Steve

Some medical schools will not look at science GPAs from a two-year institution (according to yahoo anyway). Find out which schools will look at 2 year institutions and you'll be fine 👍

 

[OSUdoc08]

Some medical schools will not look at science GPAs from a two-year institution (according to yahoo anyway). Find out which schools will look at 2 year institutions and you'll be fine 👍

AACOMAS averages science GPAs from all schools, including community colleges.

 

[Nate]

Ok So I have heard MANY conflicting bits of information on this subject. I really didn't try too hard in high school, but I did get into a few colleges, however, I decided it would be better to go to a community college to start things off. I really didn't even know that I wanted to be a doctor yet, but completed a AS in Liberal arts, including all of my pre-requisites bio,chem,o-chem, physics, with mostly all A's (3.75 GPA)... Is this going to count against me when I look to apply to med schools next year, I haven't gotten my MCAT scores back yet, but I'm hoping that they can balance out this community college deal... ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS... Is it really bad?? Thanks!

Steve

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=192572

 

[chigga8]

I am so glad I found this post as I am almost in the same exact situation as the original poster babalaco2. The replies to him I read were so encouraging that it gave me a renewed motivation in applying to DO school. 🙂 I was wondering if anyone had any advice for my situation as well

To sum up my profile:
I Graduated UCLA 2002 with a BS in Psychobiology, been out of school for 3 years. After graduation I was so discouraged by my grades that I just planned to start a career in something non-science related. Med/DO school was so far out of my reach that I did not even consider it an option.

As an undergrad I made some stupid mistakes. I initially was a physiological science major but did terrible in the major and prereq classes. From winter 2000 to spring 2001 I got 7 C's in various Chem, Physio science, and lifescience classes.

This naturally destroyed my science gpa not to mention my confidence.

The last 2 years of college, I changed majors to psychobiology. I excelled in my psych classes but the majority of them don't reflect upon my science gpa.
Thus,

overall gpa 3.04.
science gpa 2.71

I also took the MCAT in april 2002. I studied unmotivated and failed miserably with a score of 18. Tentatively, I plan to take it again this Aug 2005.

I was involved in many EC's in college such as neuroscience honors research, teaching/mentoring and over the past year I have been doing research for a well known pediatric endocrinologist. I recently received news that I will be published in a july/august 2005 journal and i also have another article pending in another peer review journal. I guess this has also contributed to my renewed motivation to try to get into a med/do school.

Basically, I am thinking about taking MCATS again and starting the application process to DO schools and I am looking for advice and suggestions. I feel very out of the loop being out of school for 3 years.

1) What would be a good timetable for me in starting to apply? I doubt I should even try this year if I want to improve my GPA.
2) In regards to retaking courses, since I have been out of school for a few years, does that mean I have to look into a post-bacc program? I just want to offset those 7 C's I received to boost my science GPA as much as I can >3.0. What would be the best way?
3) Should I tackle the MCAT first or worry about retaking courses?


I am really trying to get my future together and stick to some sort of schedule to make it happen. I appreciate all the suggestions and advice everyone has given in this thread. This forum is such an awesome source of information for pre-meds and really gives a great perspective on pre-med life.

Thanks everyone.

 

[OSUdoc08]

I am so glad I found this post as I am almost in the same exact situation as the original poster babalaco2. The replies to him I read were so encouraging that it gave me a renewed motivation in applying to DO school. 🙂 I was wondering if anyone had any advice for my situation as well

To sum up my profile:
I Graduated UCLA 2002 with a BS in Psychobiology, been out of school for 3 years. After graduation I was so discouraged by my grades that I just planned to start a career in something non-science related. Med/DO school was so far out of my reach that I did not even consider it an option.

As an undergrad I made some stupid mistakes. I initially was a physiological science major but did terrible in the major and prereq classes. From winter 2000 to spring 2001 I got 7 C's in various Chem, Physio science, and lifescience classes.

This naturally destroyed my science gpa not to mention my confidence.

The last 2 years of college, I changed majors to psychobiology. I excelled in my psych classes but the majority of them don't reflect upon my science gpa.
Thus,

overall gpa 3.04.
science gpa 2.71

I also took the MCAT in april 2002. I studied unmotivated and failed miserably with a score of 18. Tentatively, I plan to take it again this Aug 2005.

I was involved in many EC's in college such as neuroscience honors research, teaching/mentoring and over the past year I have been doing research for a well known pediatric endocrinologist. I recently received news that I will be published in a july/august 2005 journal and i also have another article pending in another peer review journal. I guess this has also contributed to my renewed motivation to try to get into a med/do school.

Basically, I am thinking about taking MCATS again and starting the application process to DO schools and I am looking for advice and suggestions. I feel very out of the loop being out of school for 3 years.

1) What would be a good timetable for me in starting to apply? I doubt I should even try this year if I want to improve my GPA.
2) In regards to retaking courses, since I have been out of school for a few years, does that mean I have to look into a post-bacc program? I just want to offset those 7 C's I received to boost my science GPA as much as I can >3.0. What would be the best way?
3) Should I tackle the MCAT first or worry about retaking courses?


I am really trying to get my future together and stick to some sort of schedule to make it happen. I appreciate all the suggestions and advice everyone has given in this thread. This forum is such an awesome source of information for pre-meds and really gives a great perspective on pre-med life.

Thanks everyone.

1. Unless you have studied your behind of for the MCAT, it is likely you will improve your MCAT enough to offset your GPA. I would focus on retaking courses.

2. If you retake courses at the undergraduate levels, it will erase the old courses from your GPA completely, and replace them with the new grade. If you take post-graduate courses, then the GPA will be considered seperately, and the old grades will persist. Obviously it would be more efficient to retake the courses at the undergraduate level. Even a community college is acceptable, as it doesn't matter where you duplicate the course.

3. A low GPA can be overlooked by a high MCAT. The MCAT should be the most important thing to you. You can begin courses in the fall after the MCAT is over.

 

[exmike]

2. If you retake courses at the undergraduate levels, it will erase the old courses from your GPA completely, and replace them with the new grade.

AMCAS will AVERAGE your retakes, not replace them.

 

[OSUdoc08]

AMCAS will AVERAGE your retakes, not replace them.

This is the pre-osteopathic forum, and is thus irrelevant.

AACOMAS replaces.

 

[exmike]

Thanks for sharing.

This is the pre-osteopathic forum, and is thus irrelevant.

AACOMAS replaces.

poster did not say he/she was only applying to DO schools.. so it was a heads up.

 

[Nate]

AACOMAS replaces the grade in the calculation of the GPA but still reports ALL of the grades so the grades are not "erased completely". You will still have to account for poor grades during interviews/essays but your GPA will seem higher on the AACOMAS when compared with AMCAS. If you are applying to MD schools as well you may choose a strategy that helps with both applications by retake the courses and kicking the **** out of the MCAT. Good luck

 

[chigga8]

Thanks for the great advice everyone. Sorry for the confusion but to clarify, I was thinking more toward the DO School path. But thanks for your help exmike.

So what I understand is that even though I did not technically "fail" my undergrad science classes with grades such as a C+, B-, etc.. I can retake their equivalents at any CC or state school and the AACOMAS will factor these grades into my science GPA instead. If this is the case then I will save a lot of time and money since I will not have to enroll in a post-bacc program. I just have to find out which classes at my local CC correspond to my undergrad science classes I wish to retake. Hopefully this will work.

Well I guess August MCATs here I come!! Then its back to school time! Woo-hoo!! 😉

Thank you OSUdoc08 and nate for your words of wisdom. I finally feel I have some direction in my life.