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- Nov 21, 2007
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Hello all. My name is Jack, and I am looking for some advice on a rather odd situation. I have been practicing dentistry in a semi-rural New York township for 10 years now. I love my work, but lately, an increasing number of patients are coming in with compromised health, in an untreated state. This is disheartening because the 3 local physicians are booked solid and there is only one hospital within a 30 mile radius. Sadly, patients ask me for advice, when I really have a limited amount to offer them since I am a dentist rather than a physician.
I am currently married, 42 years old, with children that are 8 and 10 (in school full time). Medicine has always interested me but I steered away from it for a few reasons including time, insurance dictating treatment, lawsuits and undergraduate grades. I did fall in love with dentistry, but now more than ever I realize that my patients need additional care. I would love to serve primarily as a dentist, but be able to provide them with medical care as well when necessary. I have become quite versed over the years in the function and mechanistics of Internal Medicine and have conducted quite a bit of biomedical cancer research. Here is my situation and what I need advice on:
My undergraduate GPA was very low as a biology major. My cGPA was a 2.87 and my sGPA was 2.56 (this was back in 1987). Subsequently I completed a masters program in biochemistry with a 3.58 GPA (Graduated in 1990). I was fortunate that at the time, dental school was not as competitive as it is now or I fear I would have NEVER gotten in. In dental school, my GPA was a 3.31 (graduated in 2000). I recently took the MCATs and received a 32.
There are only 3 institutions in NY that are close enough for me to attend and they are ALL MD programs (not DO programs). I can't leave the state because of personal reasons and I need to maintain my dental license. Does anyone have any suggestions? Should I contact the schools? Do you think my undergraduate GPA will kill my chances even though it was 20 years ago? Do you think they would hear my case? I want to do this for the good of my patients. It is killing me to see the state they are in, with no help in sight. It is becoming depressing. PLEASE, any suggestions are appreciated.
Sincerely,
Jack
I am currently married, 42 years old, with children that are 8 and 10 (in school full time). Medicine has always interested me but I steered away from it for a few reasons including time, insurance dictating treatment, lawsuits and undergraduate grades. I did fall in love with dentistry, but now more than ever I realize that my patients need additional care. I would love to serve primarily as a dentist, but be able to provide them with medical care as well when necessary. I have become quite versed over the years in the function and mechanistics of Internal Medicine and have conducted quite a bit of biomedical cancer research. Here is my situation and what I need advice on:
My undergraduate GPA was very low as a biology major. My cGPA was a 2.87 and my sGPA was 2.56 (this was back in 1987). Subsequently I completed a masters program in biochemistry with a 3.58 GPA (Graduated in 1990). I was fortunate that at the time, dental school was not as competitive as it is now or I fear I would have NEVER gotten in. In dental school, my GPA was a 3.31 (graduated in 2000). I recently took the MCATs and received a 32.
There are only 3 institutions in NY that are close enough for me to attend and they are ALL MD programs (not DO programs). I can't leave the state because of personal reasons and I need to maintain my dental license. Does anyone have any suggestions? Should I contact the schools? Do you think my undergraduate GPA will kill my chances even though it was 20 years ago? Do you think they would hear my case? I want to do this for the good of my patients. It is killing me to see the state they are in, with no help in sight. It is becoming depressing. PLEASE, any suggestions are appreciated.
Sincerely,
Jack
