Any advice!!!

[premedstudent83]

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Well let me start off by saying that all advice would be appreciated.
I am 23 years old. All my life I wanted to be a MD.I applied to a school with a great pre med program and med school. During my first two years of school my father passed away and I just lost focus in school I kind of wanted to party more and study less in which my gpa was horrible 2.0 science is 2.0 also. I finally just needed a break and took off from school because I just wasn't focused at the time but I continued to work a research lab and still work there to this day.As of right now I decided that I want to go back to school to finish my two years of ungrad study and apply to med school.I haven't took any of my upper level science courses yet and hoping that will help my gpa increase.Mymajor is biology.I was also thinking about going to grad school for a MS hoping that will let med school officials know that I am serious and really want to pursue this career. Any suggestions?
thanks
premedstudent83

 

[awk]

It is not neccesary to go to a post-bac program to show you are serious...just get straight A's until you apply while finishing your BS. That and a good MCAT should set you up for a good chance. You've got two years so don't blow them like your first two i.e. no excuses!

 

[spicedmanna]

During my first two years of school my father passed away and I just lost focus in school I kind of wanted to party more and study less in which my gpa was horrible 2.0 science is 2.0 also. I finally just needed a break and took off from school because I just wasn't focused at the time but I continued to work a research lab and still work there to this day. As of right now I decided that I want to go back to school to finish my two years of ungrad study and apply to med school. I haven't took any of my upper level science courses yet and hoping that will help my gpa increase.Mymajor is biology. I was also thinking about going to grad school for a MS hoping that will let med school officials know that I am serious and really want to pursue this career. Any suggestions?

I applaud your recommitment to your dream, and I wish you all the best as you go forward. There's always hope, if you are willing to do what it takes.

I wouldn't do a graduate program unless it is something you think you would enjoy completing. Besides, it's a little early to be thinking about it. Medical schools tend to place significantly more weight on your undergraduate GPA and performance than any graduate work done. This is not to say that they think that graduate work has no value; it does, but it is sort of an intangible factor for them. They tend to treat it pretty much like a good extracurricular activity. On the other hand, if after you've taken the MCAT, in which you score above average, and after you have increased your undergraduate GPA as much as it will reasonably go, you might consider going into a special master's program. These programs, such as Georgetown's SMP, are designed for people who have a decent MCAT score, but haven't performed so well academically. In traditional SMP's, you take most of the classes that a MS1 student would take and you are graded in comparison with the actual MS1's; this gives medical schools a direct way to predict your performance and academic suitability. Keep in mind, though, that these programs can be expensive.

Thus, with all these in mind, your next two years are going to be extremely critical for you. Obviously, there is no way to undo the damage you have already done to your academic record, but you can show that you have changed and set a new track record of your academic ability. Shoot for straight A's in full semesters of undergraduate classes for the next two years and beyond (if necessary). Keep this up until you bring your undergraduate GPA up as high as it can reasonably go. Rock the MCAT as hard as you can; try to score above average for a matriculant. You've got your work cut out for you, and you'll need to work hard and smartly. Stay focused and let the strength of your commitment guide you.

While it's important to do well in school, you will probably benefit from some participation in community service/volunteer work and clinical experience. Shadow some doctors, too, if you haven't already. Be well rounded, participate in activities that inspire you. These aren't required elements for medical school admissions, but they definitely add to your application. Treat these as secondary activities with respect to your academics, which should be your number one priority.

Good luck to you.

 

[ShyRem]

Hmm. It's definitely possible to raise that GPA, and schools tend to look favorably on an upward trend - especially if you have a really good excuse for a poor start. Do your best, buckle down and see where you are in a year or so.

On another note: I never realized how much easier it is to read things with proper spacing. My eyes just about bugged out reading those sentences with no space after the periods. Perhaps I'm just tired in general. Think I'll go take a nap...... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz