Any suggestions???

[contractorCA]

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Im 31 years old graduated w BS in Biology back in 2001. GPA 2.75. I have worked for a group of doctors for 9 years as an assistant at first, then as a surgical tech and now as a center manager. I think I can get decent LOR from some good docs. As far as experience I'd like to think that I have that covered. I am thinking of cracking the books to study for MCAT.
After reading some interesting stories here I realized that I may have a chance of getting in.
I believe since it was so long ago I may need to take some or maybe all classes over again.
Any susggestions where to start?

 

[ArkansasRanger]

Im 31 years old graduated w BS in Biology back in 2001. GPA 2.75. I have worked for a group of doctors for 9 years as an assistant at first, then as a surgical tech and now as a center manager. I think I can get decent LOR from some good docs. As far as experience I'd like to think that I have that covered. I am thinking of cracking the books to study for MCAT.
After reading some interesting stories here I realized that I may have a chance of getting in.
I believe since it was so long ago I may need to take some or maybe all classes over again.
Any susggestions where to start?

What did that group of doctors tell you about your chances?

 

[DrMidlife]

Im 31 years old graduated w BS in Biology back in 2001. GPA 2.75. I have worked for a group of doctors for 9 years as an assistant at first, then as a surgical tech and now as a center manager. I think I can get decent LOR from some good docs. As far as experience I'd like to think that I have that covered. I am thinking of cracking the books to study for MCAT.
After reading some interesting stories here I realized that I may have a chance of getting in.
I believe since it was so long ago I may need to take some or maybe all classes over again.
Any susggestions where to start?

Your undergrad GPA is your fate. The average accepted MD student has a 3.7 GPA. With a 2.75 you'll need to do multiple more years of undergrad to get your GPA above 3.0. Which isn't enough: you'll then likely need to look at the "Hail Mary" medical masters programs to get into med school.

Retaking classes does not erase the old grade for MD schools. For DO schools, retakes forgive the old grade. Retaking the med school prereqs (one year each, with labs, of gen chem, o chem, bio and physics) usually doesn't make good sense unless (a) you got less than a C or (b) you really don't remember anything. (MCAT prep is review.)

I recommend looking for posts by TexasTriathlete, who is now a 2nd year student at GA-PCOM after recovering from (I think) a 2.6 undergrad GPA.

Best of luck to you.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

Retaking classes does not erase the old grade for MD schools. For DO schools, retakes forgive the old grade.

Best of luck to you.

Sounds like the MDers could learn a little from the DOers there.

 

[contractorCA]

My docs are behind me 100% LORs no prob.

 

[contractorCA]

The reason behind retaking classes is not to raise GPA, but hopefully it does. I was under the impression that classes were neede to be taken within some sort of time frame like 5 years within application to med school. is that true?

 

[contractorCA]

medical masters programs? any you recomend that are in CA?

 

[DrMidlife]

medical masters programs? any you recomend that are in CA?

None in CA. BTW, CA residency is not an asset in a come-from-behind story - the UCs (where you'd save tuition) are too competitive.

See the postbac forum for info on SMPs/med masters, but you'll need to get up to a 3.0 first.

 

[DrMidlife]

Sounds like the MDers could learn a little from the DOers there.

I agree in the sense that it would be nice if a career-changer with messy transcripts could dedicate a fresh couple of years of undergrad, and have this stand on its own in a med school app.

I disagree in the sense that no med school should be just as happy when somebody needs two or more attempts to do well in a course. (I have lots of repeated coursework, for the record.) There's no need, and I see no benefit, in making med school easier to get into, certainly not as long as there's a glut: 60% of applicants are rejected every year. There are 20,000 qualified applicants ahead of those of us with damage.

 

[gman33]

With that low of a GPA, I'd forget about MD schools and focus on DO.
Just retake your worst grades (no matter what they were) and take some upper levels. This will probably take you around 2 years of pretty much full-time work.

If you want to try MD, then forget about the retakes. I'd say you need 1-2 years of upper level UG courses and a SMP. Even then, you are a long shot. Schools just don't want to take someone with a low UG gpa and "ruin" the school's admission stats. There are more than enough qualified candidates, so they can be picky.

 

[contractorCA]

What about med schools abroad? Any recomendations. I do agree that it will be tough. Now with a family it is a lot more difficult to maneuver. Are they more forgiving of the Ugpa then US schools. All i need is to get in and I can prove I am worth it.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

I agree in the sense that it would be nice if a career-changer with messy transcripts could dedicate a fresh couple of years of undergrad, and have this stand on its own in a med school app.

I disagree in the sense that no med school should be just as happy when somebody needs two or more attempts to do well in a course. (I have lots of repeated coursework, for the record.) There's no need, and I see no benefit, in making med school easier to get into, certainly not as long as there's a glut: 60% of applicants are rejected every year. There are 20,000 qualified applicants ahead of those of us with damage.

Making it easier isn't the issue. Making it accessible is. I'm actually surprised that the issue hasn't come up in court some where as litiguous as people are now.

Plantiff (Bob): I want to be a doctor.
Defendant (med school): Your grades are too low.
Plantiff: That was a decade ago.
Defendant: Well, retake them.
Plantiff: But I've got a life and family to tend to, and I got a 3.4.
Defendant: Tough cookies.
Plantiff's Attorney: By devoting your time to studying premedical prerequisites, your livelihood is being threatened by the callous demeanor of the admissions committies of colleges of medicines, and as a result you, your family, your pets, your peers, and your employer must face undue hardship as you will have little time to for your personal pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. I'm going to the clerk's office today. That'll be $400 plus expenses, by the way. See my secretary.
Liberal Attorney: Motion in favor of the plantiff. Court adjourned.
Defendant: Well, hell, somebody make room for Bob.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

What about med schools abroad? Any recomendations. I do agree that it will be tough. Now with a family it is a lot more difficult to maneuver. Are they more forgiving of the Ugpa then US schools. All i need is to get in and I can prove I am worth it.

Your best bet with that GPA is in fact colleges of osteopathy. There's absolutely nothing wrong with going that route. It's about you and your family remember - not glory initials. 🙄 That said, retake what you need to know to pass the MCAT, and you'll still have to take numerous courses to prove yourself a competent scholar. Good luck! By the way, if those doctors are alumni of where you want to go then that should help. Education is just as political as everything else.

 

[contractorCA]

Thank you. I will most definately try. There are some schools in CA, and I think my science grades werent all that bad it was some of the electives that brought me down. I did take a few courses after that. All A's id have to factor that in too to see the total GPA.

I am a firm believer in Better Late than Never. I have worked with doctors and met others at conferences and I know I have what it takes to be a good one. I think since I had the outside perspective it may even help me avoid some mistakes when it comes to practicing medicine. But its a long road ahead...

Thanks again for all the valuable input, more are welcome. The More the Better.