Application/GPA question

[Corpsman Up]

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Hey everyone. New poster here, but loooong time viewer. I am trying to put together a timeline for aplications and figure out the GPA that the adcoms will be looking at.

I was in the military for 6yrs and took some classes at various colleges. I took a total of 8 courses at these schools, plus an EMT certification course, and I got straight A's. The courses are listed below:
History
Ethics
Police Management Systems
Math (lower level)
English
Intro to Biology (no lab)
Political Science
Intro to Film

Obviously not many of these transferred to my big state school. Since transferring, I only have a 3.0 because I wasn't dedicated. Now I am and plan on applying Summer 2011 for admission fall 2012. If I blow through my remaining pre-reqs and get straight A's, my GPA for my college will be a 3.66. My problem is, I'm not sure how to compute those courses I took prior to this school into my GPA for AMCAS/AMCOAS, and how adcoms will look at that.

Any suggestions? Im basically ust trying to figure out how competitive I will be

 

[Corpsman Up]

Forgot to ask 1 thing. My remaining schedule prior to the app cycle is basically all pre-reqs..should I throw in some additional bs classes to pad my GPA a bit more, or just concentrate on the pre-reqs?

 

[Cheshyre]

Forgot to ask 1 thing. My remaining schedule prior to the app cycle is basically all pre-reqs..should I throw in some additional bs classes to pad my GPA a bit more, or just concentrate on the pre-reqs?

I'm a little confused by your post. Can't really figure out what classes you've taken or need, or how you're going to boost a 3.0 GPA to a 3.6 in one or two years. My comments, as a result, may be a bit off.

If you can get a 3.66, that's fine (keep that sci. GPA up as well). AdComs do pay attention to upward trend and will forgive past issues if you show sufficient and consistent improvement. In addition, a high MCAT will play a part in helping AdComs overlook a below average GPA. You should be looking to spend around 2 to 3 months preparing for the MCAT. It is possible to prep. for the MCAT while taking courses, or, you can use Summer 2010 to prep for the MCAT and take it right before school starts again. Again, a 3.66 is pretty good but it wouldn't hurt to have the strongest MCAT possible if you have the time to devote to it.

You also need to pay attention to non-academic issues. The EMT cert. is nice, but how are you on volunteering or shadowing? Volunteer service will ideally be in a medical setting (hospital) for at least one year, and you should get a few weeks of shadowing. Cold-calling for a shadowing spot is kind of a pain if you don't have any connections to physicians and will require you to simply email a ton of docs or walk around the hospital, but, it will pay off. It proves to AdComs that you have an idea of what you're getting into. Also, do not wait to do volunteering. At my school, since there are so many pre-meds, you have to apply a semester early if you want a volunteer spot.

Research could be something you might consider as well. Simply think about what science you're interested in, find a related department, and just start sending a cover email + attached resume to a couple labs. Many labs won't have open positions and some investigators won't even reply (happens a lot), but getting into a lab usually isn't too hard. Especially at large schools, there are always labs looking for some cheap student labor. Just be sure to ask at the lab interview what you'll be doing. You don't want to be working 30 hours a week in lab, nor do you want to be there for 10 hours a week washing dishes.

Finally, think about Letters of Rec. You should be going to office hours and getting to know your profs. Ask questions - if you have none, you probably haven't studied enough. If you really have none, make some questions up. The prof has to get to know you before they can write a letter. If your school has a pre-med committee or advisor, make sure they get to know you as well because you might need a letter from them.

If you are dedicated enough to do it, I wouldn't just pad my schedule with BS courses. You should aim high in the pre-reqs, but if you can take some upper-level science and ace those, it'll look great. Just don't drop the ball. Again, consistent improvement looks good.

It sounds like a TON of stuff but it's really not so bad. You have months to do this. It does, however, require planning. Good luck.

 

[Corpsman Up]

I'm a little confused by your post. Can't really figure out what classes you've taken or need, or how you're going to boost a 3.0 GPA to a 3.6 in one or two years. My comments, as a result, may be a bit off.

If you can get a 3.66, that's fine (keep that sci. GPA up as well). AdComs do pay attention to upward trend and will forgive past issues if you show sufficient and consistent improvement. In addition, a high MCAT will play a part in helping AdComs overlook a below average GPA. You should be looking to spend around 2 to 3 months preparing for the MCAT. It is possible to prep. for the MCAT while taking courses, or, you can use Summer 2010 to prep for the MCAT and take it right before school starts again. Again, a 3.66 is pretty good but it wouldn't hurt to have the strongest MCAT possible if you have the time to devote to it.

You also need to pay attention to non-academic issues. The EMT cert. is nice, but how are you on volunteering or shadowing? Volunteer service will ideally be in a medical setting (hospital) for at least one year, and you should get a few weeks of shadowing. Cold-calling for a shadowing spot is kind of a pain if you don't have any connections to physicians and will require you to simply email a ton of docs or walk around the hospital, but, it will pay off. It proves to AdComs that you have an idea of what you're getting into. Also, do not wait to do volunteering. At my school, since there are so many pre-meds, you have to apply a semester early if you want a volunteer spot.

Research could be something you might consider as well. Simply think about what science you're interested in, find a related department, and just start sending a cover email + attached resume to a couple labs. Many labs won't have open positions and some investigators won't even reply (happens a lot), but getting into a lab usually isn't too hard. Especially at large schools, there are always labs looking for some cheap student labor. Just be sure to ask at the lab interview what you'll be doing. You don't want to be working 30 hours a week in lab, nor do you want to be there for 10 hours a week washing dishes.

Finally, think about Letters of Rec. You should be going to office hours and getting to know your profs. Ask questions - if you have none, you probably haven't studied enough. If you really have none, make some questions up. The prof has to get to know you before they can write a letter. If your school has a pre-med committee or advisor, make sure they get to know you as well because you might need a letter from them.

If you are dedicated enough to do it, I wouldn't just pad my schedule with BS courses. You should aim high in the pre-reqs, but if you can take some upper-level science and ace those, it'll look great. Just don't drop the ball. Again, consistent improvement looks good.

It sounds like a TON of stuff but it's really not so bad. You have months to do this. It does, however, require planning. Good luck.

Thanks for the reply. I should have mentioned, my school is on the quarter system, so its much more feasible to bring a 3.0 up to a 3.6 in a year and some change (ill have 5-6 quarters before applications, roughly 17 courses).

Now, about the shadowing. I was a Navy Corpsman for 6yrs, working in a multitude of patient care settings, so I dont think shadowing will be necessary, although volunteering will. What do you think?

 

[Daedra22]

Thanks for the reply. I should have mentioned, my school is on the quarter system, so its much more feasible to bring a 3.0 up to a 3.6 in a year and some change (ill have 5-6 quarters before applications, roughly 17 courses).

Now, about the shadowing. I was a Navy Corpsman for 6yrs, working in a multitude of patient care settings, so I dont think shadowing will be necessary, although volunteering will. What do you think?

If you want to apply DO, you will need to shadow or at least speak with an osteopathic physician for the majority of the schools (they require a DO letter of rec). Your time in the Navy is certainly clinical experience and will only help you, but the letter will still be necessary. Check this site if you need help finding a willing DO-- http://www.osteopathic.org/YOM/mentor_search.htm

 

[Cheshyre]

Now, about the shadowing. I was a Navy Corpsman for 6yrs, working in a multitude of patient care settings, so I dont think shadowing will be necessary, although volunteering will. What do you think?

Yeah, you're probably fine on the shadowing thing if you're confident that you got a feel for what healthcare is like in a 'normal' setting.

Volunteering is always good. It doesn't even have to be a lot - 3 hours each Sunday for a year is fine.

EDIT: Whoops, I forgot. Follow Daedra's advice on shadowing a DO. Some schools do require a DO's LOR.

 

[Corpsman Up]

Yeah, you're probably fine on the shadowing thing if you're confident that you got a feel for what healthcare is like in a 'normal' setting.

Volunteering is always good. It doesn't even have to be a lot - 3 hours each Sunday for a year is fine.

EDIT: Whoops, I forgot. Follow Daedra's advice on shadowing a DO. Some schools do require a DO's LOR.

Perfect! Thanks a ton! I worked directly with several DO's in an emergency department, but didn't think to keep in touch with them so I could get LOR's. Way to plan ahead!!

 

[beckhunter116]

Will you have a degree? You never mentioned that in your post and while schools say you don't have to have a degree only like 1% get accepted without a degree. I don't mean you need a degree to apply, just that by the time you matriculate to med school.

 

[Corpsman Up]

Will you have a degree? You never mentioned that in your post and while schools say you don't have to have a degree only like 1% get accepted without a degree. I don't mean you need a degree to apply, just that by the time you matriculate to med school.

Yes, I will have a degree in microbiology

 

[Corpsman Up]

If you want to apply DO, you will need to shadow or at least speak with an osteopathic physician for the majority of the schools (they require a DO letter of rec). Your time in the Navy is certainly clinical experience and will only help you, but the letter will still be necessary. Check this site if you need help finding a willing DO-- http://www.osteopathic.org/YOM/mentor_search.htm

Thanks for the link! I have already gotten a call back from a DO and will be shadowing him Thursday night in the emergency department.

How much shadowing would you suggest I do? I would eventually like to get a DO LOR, and since I wont be applying until summer next year, that leaves a lot of time to shadow before I would need the LOR.

 

[Daedra22]

Thanks for the link! I have already gotten a call back from a DO and will be shadowing him Thursday night in the emergency department.

How much shadowing would you suggest I do? I would eventually like to get a DO LOR, and since I wont be applying until summer next year, that leaves a lot of time to shadow before I would need the LOR.

I only shadowed the DO I got my letter from for about 30 hours. It depends on the doc you're working with. The guy I had understood that I needed the letter, discussed any questions that I had about the process, and offered to write me a LOR when he felt that I was ready for one. It's a very subjective determination.