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. But my dream has always been to be a doctor. How do I go about it, and what are my chances for getting in a DO/MD school?
Not sure if you posted this in the MD/DO "WAMC" section - if not, definitely do so with more specifics about your statistics: What's your cGPA/sGPA, how many credit hours do you have, extracurriculars, etc. and we (the collective SDN forum) can help you out to the best of our ability!
@Major How do you know which medical schools pre-screen? I tried doing a quick search and it didn't turn anything up. You seem to feel very confident that getting your GPA up to a 3.0 will help tremendously. I was kind of bouncing between doing either 1 year DIY post-bac and 1 year SMP or just doing 2 years DIY post-bac but if it's that important to get your GPA to a 3.0 then I guess I should stick with undergrad until I reach that goal. Is that what your'e recommending?
Glad to see you're on the right track! I also think it's better that you decided to go with DMU over ISU given that DMU has a DO school. Good luck!I just thought I'd share my good news today, (cumulative 3.01 atm, but may drop after this semester). I got into my 1st pick master's program at DMU, studying biomedical sciences. I'm hoping to do really well there, kill the MCAT next year and get into medical school! Very Excited!
I have another A in my pocket for this semester, and am taking *shudder* four summer classes. Hopefully in ten weeks I'll have four more As to factor into my GPA. I've been building up from a 2.0c/0.69s (you read that correctly, lol) for a couple of years now. I should be up to a 2.5c/2.4s after the summer, and a 2.6/2.7 after the fall if everything goes well. Leetle bit at a time
I hope everyone is out there killing it!
Thanks man! 17 credits total for those classes I posted!I'm rooting for you man How many credits are you taking this fall?
First off, you need to go and finish up your bachelors. It can be in anything interesting to you, so long as you hold a degree and your pre-reqs for med school. I believe that if you complete all the pre-reqs and the necessary classes for a bachelors, you will be over a 3.0. There is an excel spreadsheet on here to calculate your GPA (id have to find it but you can use the search function) where you can calculate all your grades and future grades to see where you'll be at. Youd have to get all A's thats for sure.. but your experience as a RRT will be very helpful. If I were you and if you are able, I would reduce my work to part time or even quit so that you're able to focus on the grades. While you're doing that, email different professors at your University in the science department and see if there is any research available. This is a longgggg road that many of us have been on for awhile. If you have any questions this is the right place to be! goodluckHey guys! first time poster here. I just had a few questions. My overall cGPA is a 2.9 and sGPA is 2.75 with 114 units. I've always wanted to be a doctor but never really seriously contemplated it as I always thought it was out of the realm of possibilities for my low GPA. After reading this forum, I really want to give it a try. I haven't taken any of my pre-reqs for med school and just wanted to know if I really had a chance! I'm currently working as an RRT and that's what really made me realize my passion for medicine and how much I really want to be a doctor. I'm almost 22 and haven't even finished a bachelors or done any research with anyone. Do I really have a chance? What are some good ways to get EC's?
First off, you need to go and finish up your bachelors. It can be in anything interesting to you, so long as you hold a degree and your pre-reqs for med school. I believe that if you complete all the pre-reqs and the necessary classes for a bachelors, you will be over a 3.0. There is an excel spreadsheet on here to calculate your GPA (id have to find it but you can use the search function) where you can calculate all your grades and future grades to see where you'll be at. Youd have to get all A's thats for sure.. but your experience as a RRT will be very helpful. If I were you and if you are able, I would reduce my work to part time or even quit so that you're able to focus on the grades. While you're doing that, email different professors at your University in the science department and see if there is any research available. This is a longgggg road that many of us have been on for awhile. If you have any questions this is the right place to be! goodluck
Stay away from online.Hey! Thanks so much for your response. Do you think I should pursue my bachelors in respiratory and then finish my pre-reqs?As I live in a state that doesn't have bachelors for respiratory, it would be an online program for me! In that time I can take a couple classes here and there and really focus on that! Or do you suggest me go and get a bachelors in something at a university. I'm interested in psychology, if that is a better option than an online degree.
Stay away from online.
Take a few more pre-reqs this fall.
Psychology is a fine major; just like any other.
Remember, this path is difficult and it would be wise to have a plan B.
Plan B's typically involve an UG major that will lead to a liveable salary.
Best of luck.
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I'm already working as an RRT. Hopefully I'm being realistic. I'd really enjoy being a DR. Thank you for your response!
I'm rooting for you man How many credits are you taking this fall?
It's crazy to think that so many matriculating medical students go into MS without ever taking an anatomy course.Currently taking Human Anatomy this summer....this subject has a lot of memorization
The fact that this class doesn't cover every little detail in the body, makes me very scared of medical school human anatomy. I will try not to forget what I learn in this class.
It's crazy to think that so many matriculating medical students go into MS without ever taking an anatomy course.
I think if you apply early and broadly to DO with good personal statements and secondaries, you probably still have a shot. I did not do well in my biomedical sciences masters program this past year, and I still received two DO acceptances after reporting my grades. Make sure you can speak to why you didn't do well, what study strategies you'd change, etc.Hey everyone,
So I am actually thinking of applying to osteopathic medical school in the next few months and wanted to know your opinion and ask for advice.
I graduated from luc with a bs in biology with a concentration in molecular biology. I graduated in 2015 with a 3.0 cumulative and science gpa. Through those years I mostly had a lot of B's. I did have to retake organic chemistry II about 3 times.
The following year, I retook all of my classes that had a c or lower in them at 3 different community colleges in a single semester.
This year I completed a biomedical science masters at kcu and will end up with a gpa of 3.3. I feel as with a gpa this low I may not have a chance at medical school any longer. I wanted your opinion as to if i should take the chance and apply or is there there something else that i can do to raise my gpa?
As for my extracurricular activites, I have been involved in multiple cultural organizations since I was in high school. They include :
Have great letters of rec, all from kcu
- 1 nonprofit that raises money for a home for the destitutes in northern India [ i helped raised money, plan events, and performed]
- a group that looks to spread awareness of my culture [ performer and later dance coordinator]
- a religious Sunday school [ teacher assitant]
- a religious camp [ initially as a camper, but now a teacher]
- member of my temple
- dermatology club [ this year]
- volunteered at a hospital in various depts [ over 300 hours]
- optician [1 year]
- ophthalmolic technition [ few months, until i moved to missouri]
- volunteered at retirement community [ over 100 hours]
- shadowed 3 doctors [ over 200 hours] and still shadowing
- aided in mission to Haiti [ie. Prepared everything the Dr. needed for her trip, gathered supplies, organized and packed all materials]
As for the following gap year, at this point planning on taking an emt course and volunteering in research lab.
Mcat score is 512, planning on retaking it to see if i can get it higher.
Thank you for all your help and advice in advance.
I'm signed up to take anatomy and physio this summer also, but thankfully they're in different sessions so I can keep the suffering somewhat compartmentalized Good luck to you!Currently taking Human Anatomy this summer....this subject has a lot of memorization
The fact that this class doesn't cover every little detail in the body, makes me very scared of medical school human anatomy. I will try not to forget what I learn in this class.
I'm signed up to take anatomy and physio this summer also, but thankfully they're in different sessions so I can keep the suffering somewhat compartmentalized Good luck to you!
After this summer I'll be done with classes/pre-reqs and will start focusing on MCAT. Maybe also apply to SMPs, then by next year finally apply. Hoo boy...
A&P I (the first time) was very fun for me, so I'm not too worried about taking it a second time (I didn't pass the lab several years ago). I heard A&P II is where it gets really hairy.
Long time lurker in this thread/on this forum, I wanted to thank you guys for all the support you offered me over the years. I had felt very hopeless many times; like I should just give up. I would find solace in this forum knowing that I wasn't alone, and seeing the success stories to reassure myself that I hadn't totally screwed my entire life up with a class or two.
I hope my story can inspire someone else not to give up! I'll keep it short and sweet. Undergrad sGPA-2.92 cGPA-3.01 (barely pulled it above senior year!) Did a Masters of Science with a 3.93. I will be starting at a USMD school this fall! I dont want to bore you all with the details of my application, but if anyone has any questions about it, feel free to ask or PM me!
I just hope I can give someone some hope and support the same that you all did for me! I may have given up without you all. You're rock stars
Long time lurker in this thread/on this forum, I wanted to thank you guys for all the support you offered me over the years. I had felt very hopeless many times; like I should just give up. I would find solace in this forum knowing that I wasn't alone, and seeing the success stories to reassure myself that I hadn't totally screwed my entire life up with a class or two.
I hope my story can inspire someone else not to give up! I'll keep it short and sweet. Undergrad sGPA-2.92 cGPA-3.01 (barely pulled it above senior year!) Did a Masters of Science with a 3.93. I will be starting at a USMD school this fall! I dont want to bore you all with the details of my application, but if anyone has any questions about it, feel free to ask or PM me!
I just hope I can give someone some hope and support the same that you all did for me! I may have given up without you all. You're rock stars
No, bore us with the details here! Congrats!
Yes, please do
No, bore us with the details here! Congrats!
Just recalculated my overall cgpa, it's currently at a 2.57. I'm did decent in my most recent school and got into a masters of health informatics program and have a 4.0 after the first two courses.
EC's:
Over 100hrs volunteering at pediatric oncology department
Over 300hrs and counting working with mentally ill and suicidal patients
Recent news of no grade replacement has changed my plan please help any advice is appreciated.
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What you need is transcript repair. You need to do a DIY post-bac. A DIY post-bac is where you take new/challenging upper division science classes at the undergraduate level. It's flexible and cheap. You need to determine how many A's you need to raise both your cGPA/sGPA a to 3.0. The masters that you are currently in is not going to help much (it's a cool EC but that's about it). You have a long journey ahead of you before you might be ready to apply to medical schools (probably looking at 2-3 years).
You can ease back into undergrad by taking a few CC course but all of your UD coursework should be done at a university. Have you finished taking all your prereqs?
No prereqs were taken. That's great. You can potentially have a 4.0 BCPM GPA if you play your cards right. Getting into medical school is a marathon, not a sprint. Study very hard and get A's in all your prereqs. Good Luck.
Thank you for guidance and do you have any study tips I can use.
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Go over the chapter before the prof lectures over it. Go over notes after lecture while it's still fresh. Consolidate notes and fill out any gaps. Stay ahead of lectures and study notes daily until test day. Never cram. Do plenty of practice problems. Take care of your mind and body. Eat healthily (vegetables, fruits, nuts/seeds, water etc) and fill the gaps with supplements. Exercise on a daily basis. Take it one day at a time and step at at time.
Well it's been quite a year since I started on my grade redemption path. Started with a 2.5, and here are how my stats are looking so far:
Completed:
Ochem 1- A
Intro to cells/organs - A
Intro to molecular bio - A
Genetics - A
Cell Bio - A
Molecular processes/experimental techniques - A
Sociology - A
Biochem 1 - B
Biochem 2 - B-
Stats - A
Physics 1 (mechanics) - B+
In progress:
Physics 2 (electricity, waves) - Current
Ochem 2 - Current
Immunology - Current
Future courses:
Biochem 3
Physics 3
Developmental Bio
Extracurriculars:
2 years undergrad research, 2.5 years full-time research with 1 publication in mid-impact immunology journal
470 hrs hospital volunteering with direct patient contact on geriatric psych, acute care, emergency department, and surgery floors
3 leadership positions from undergrad with a homeless clinic, ethnic student org, and student body leadership
So I staggered a bit with biochem. It was certainly frustrating and made me start to question myself, but what's done is done and I've gotta keep moving forward. I still have this term and the next to pull myself up and show strong performance. My current postbac GPA is 3.74, and if I manage to get A's in the rest of my courses I'll be at a 3.8.
I'm slated to take the MCAT this summer, and in addition I'm working on finding a physician to shadow. Honestly I had hoped to maybe apply this cycle but I think it's becoming apparent that I will have to apply next cycle. I'm thinking I'll use this year instead on applying to SMPs, so hopefully by fall 2018 I'll be in an SMP, and at the same time apply to med schools in 2018. If not, then apply in 2019 after my SMP.
I believe you have demonstrated that the you of then is not the you of now. I'm guesstimating here but I think you are either at or close to 60 hours in your post-bac. All you have left to do is to get a solid MCAT score (+510). You can do this man. You have been at this grind since you have been on sdn. Crank out a killer MCAT and the possibilities become endless.
Yep, At 64 hours now. Yeah I think it would be best to spend this fall focusing on the MCAT, since I already work full-time and tacking on 18 more units would probably not realistically lead to success on either front lol... Just gotta figure out if pulling my sGPA >3.0 would make a huge difference or not.
But after thinking about it more, I think I can focus on the MCAT in the fall and then if I really do need those credits I can find some classes for the spring maybe summer
Yep, At 64 hours now. Yeah I think it would be best to spend this fall focusing on the MCAT, since I already work full-time and tacking on 18 more units would probably not realistically lead to success on either front lol... Just gotta figure out if pulling my sGPA >3.0 would make a huge difference or not.
But after thinking about it more, I think I can focus on the MCAT in the fall and then if I really do need those credits I can find some classes for the spring maybe summer