Can't shake it

[wizz1810]

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So three years have passed since I previously posted this

Ok, Since I don’t have easy access to a premed advisor I figured I’d post here. I’m sort of at a loss for what to do. I’m 25 I have a B.S in Biology with all my pre med prereqs. My GPA in college was pretty lackluster, I graduated with a 2.6 overall and a 3.0s GPA. My biggest problem is a frankly abysmal first two years with a strong upward trend. The biggest reason for this is that as I started college my father passed away after a long battle with cancer and then in my teenage wisdomI thought I could work 40 hours a week to help my mom pay the bills, and maintain classes. Needless to say I did not manage this and ended up failing some classes, taking a huge hit to my mental health due to stress and even my physical health after working overnight without sleep for a couple of days and falling asleep at the wheel and totalling my car. After that I got my act together started working less, things got better I was able to volunteer and do research and graduate. After graduation I started working as a research assistant in genetics at a major research university in Cleveland (Case Western). I guess my main question here is that I’m starting to have some hope that Med School may not be an impossibility anymore. I have taken 4 credit hours of graduate genetics courses in which I received A’s. I am going to be 2nd author when our current research goes for publication and I have a tuition remission for classes and a P.I that allows me to take as many courses as I want as long as I get research done. I volunteer with a refugee organization here and I have access to a bunch of shadowing opportunities in addition to the 30 or so hours I already have. Case has a post bacc program that I could even do partially online or I can take any grad courses or undergrad I’d like. I have started a kaplan course to study for the MCAT and am trying to decide when to take it. I know my situation is pretty bleak but I’m finally thinking I have the tools to get where I want to go. I just don’t know how to get there. Is there a hope or a way to do this? Any resources or info would be appreciated. I want to apply both D.O and allopathic.

I have been at the same position at CWRU since and used my tuition benefit to get a masters, I ended up really enjoying research and decided to get a masters in clinical research which I will have finished this spring (right now with a 3.88 GPA). I also have a few publications including 2 first author publications. I am actually in the process of applying for PHD programs but I have had this feeling throughout that I was settling for something I don't necessarily have my heart in. I can't shake the feeling that I still want to be a physician. I graduated 5 years ago and have worked and volunteered in both clinical medicine and basic research and I am sure that this is what I want to do. My question is if it is still possible? I would need to take the MCAT again but I'm afraid since I spent all that time doing a masters program it is time wasted. I'm a little lost as to what I would have to do to stand a shot at admission and if it is even feasible? If anyone has any insight I would appreciate it.

 

[DocOrBust2019]

It's not too late. I think you'd want to do everything you can to get to a 3.0 cGPA, preferably through upper level sciences courses. Retake the MCAT and do well on it once your GPA is over 3.0 and you should have a decent shot.

 

[wizz1810]

It's not too late. I think you'd want to do everything you can to get to a 3.0 cGPA, preferably through upper level sciences courses. Retake the MCAT and do well on it once your GPA is over 3.0 and you should have a decent shot.

Strictly through undergrad coursework? I am unclear about what weight the M.S will have.

 

[DocOrBust2019]

Strictly through undergrad coursework? I am unclear about what weight the M.S will have.

As far as I know a post bacc is always going to be your best bet to make yourself the most competitive outside of doing a SMP. I see a lot of people on here say that masters programs tend to inflate grades purposely, so a 3.8-4.0 won't have as much weight to med schools as 3-4000 level undergrad sciences.

 

[CanIMakeIt]

do post bacc to boost UG GPA - if research interests you and you are thinking about PhD - then after you have fixed your GPA - concentrate on getting the best MCAT and then apply for MD-PhD programs and get your med school paid for 🙂

 

[gyngyn]

do post bacc to boost UG GPA - if research interests you and you are thinking about PhD - then after you have fixed your GPA - concentrate on getting the best MCAT and then apply for MD-PhD programs and get your med school paid for 🙂

MD/PhD programs are much harder to get into than regular MD. They require even higher undergraduate gpa's and MCAT as well as rigorous scientific productivity.
...and they especially like to sniff out those who may be applying because of the tuition remission.

 

[wizz1810]

My problem is my UG GPA is low enough and I have enough credits that it would basically take another bachelors to get me to a 3.0.

 

[DocOrBust2019]

My problem is my UG GPA is low enough and I have enough credits that it would basically take another bachelors to get me to a 3.0.

That's probably not true. What was your UG GPA?

 

[CanIMakeIt]

MD/PhD programs are much harder to get into than regular MD. They require even higher undergraduate gpa's and MCAT as well as rigorous scientific productivity.
...and they especially like to sniff out those who may be applying because of the tuition remission.

I am assuming that since (s)he is already thinking of applying for PhD, has 2 first author publications that they are serious about research. SO making uGPA stronger and applying more sense. Whereas you are right the admission is more stringent.

OP i don;t think pursing PhD will make up for low uGPA completely. You will still need more science credits. But PhD will go a long way

Good luck