Bummed out

[mellsworth21]

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Hey guys. I need some advice. I'm sitting at around a 2.8 and planning on taking the MCAT in January. I pretty much fooled around my first 2 years of college, and it killed my GPA. I've taken all the pre-req classes, except for Physics. The one thing that is bothering me is my C's in Organic. Can I get into a SMP or D.O with C's in Organic? I seem to be strong in Bio, but weaker in Chemistry and Math. I'm trying to figure out the following things:

1. Should I forget about the C's, rock the MCAT and try for D.O?

2. Re-take the class, build the GPA with an unofficial post-bach, and apply for lower tier M.D next year? Fall 2010?

3. Try for an SMP? And hoping for M.D in Fall 2011?

4. Caribbean? (I think I am already accepted to "Medical University of America, and hoping for Saba)

5. Go Caribbean and than (maybe) hope for a transfer back to US?

I am very motivated and was on the Deans list last year. I love Biology, I am an EMT, and want to move along in the process. Thoughts?

 

[Lokhtar]

It's possible, but unlikely, you will get into a DO school with a 2.8. What may be worth your while is to spend a year retaking every course you got below a C in (start with Fs, then Ds, then Cs). If you do that for one year, you will improve your grade by leaps and bounds and you won't have to do the Caribbean. I wouldn't really recommend the Caribbean until you have exhausted all the possibilities state side.

 

[mellsworth21]

Well I only have 1 "D" and thats from a German class. I have a more than a few C's but its the Organic I'm really concerned about, with the "C's."

 

[Lokhtar]

Well, the Organic alone won't keep you out, but all the others, combined with the organic, is most likely going to keep you out.

2.8 is simply not enough. There is very little chance of you making into a US school with that. You need to retake the Cs and improve that GPA, or take other classes and improve that GPA.

 

[DrDentista]

rape your mcats and by rape I mean 90th percentile...do a post bacc, and it's always better to talk to admissions of the med school you want to go to they will give you their true honest opinion and give you direction...

 

[Gutierrez001]

2.8 is simply not enough. There is very little chance of you making into a US school with that. QUOTE]

So if someone has a GPA in this range, is it better to do an SMP or MS program?

 

[hung]

a regular MS shows that you can do research. an SMP shows that you can handle med school classes. in addition, when you are in that range you need to consider why you ended in that range, laziness or classes were hard.

 

[Gutierrez001]

I wondering more becuz doing a post-bacc is out of pocket and would take some time, but at least with an SMP or MS program I can get help with paying for school.

 

[Lokhtar]

SMP is your best option for getting into medical school. Note that most SMPs (good ones) have a 3.0 cutoff, though sometimes they will overlook it if you have a really great application in other areas.

 

[Gutierrez001]

So would the better option then be an MS program?😕

 

[Lokhtar]

No, MS program won't help much. You should work on getting that GPA to a 3.0 first by taking more undergraduate courses.

 

[Gutierrez001]

No, MS program won't help much. You should work on getting that GPA to a 3.0 first by taking more undergraduate courses.

I would but the problem comes down to MONEY, since I can not afford out of pocket tution I would need to find a program that helps with tution. Thats why Im trying to find the best option.🙁 Are they any post-bacc programs that use FAFSA?

 

[Lokhtar]

So would the better option then be an MS program?😕

I would but the problem comes down to MONEY, since I can not afford out of pocket tution I would need to find a program that helps with tution. Thats why Im trying to find the best option.🙁 Are they any post-bacc programs that use FAFSA?

Well, you may want to work full time and take courses part time to help pay for it. Unfortunately, that 2.8 is a big roadblock. Very few people are successful with that GPA, even if they have a masters degree. SMP is really your best option, and unfortunately, even they require a 3.0.

You might just have to get lots of loans, or to work full time and take classes at night.

 

[DrMidlife]

I suggest that you apply to a public school for a 2nd bachelors degree, preferably in a hard science. This gives you eligibility for loans and other perks like registration priority.

You don't HAVE to finish the 2nd degree, but finishing it helps your case. And it's certainly the cheapest and least risky way to get yourself in more competitive GPA territory.

Best of luck to you.