caught between a rock and a hard place

[BarberofSeville]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello,

So, I am in a bit of a rough spot. I just graduated this May, and had applied this last cycle (right before my senior year). I had a 3.67 cum GPA and a 3.5 science GPA. I applied to many schools (mostly Cali, as I am an in-state resident), but got 3 interviews and so far am wait-listed at 1 school (USC). Suffice it to say, I should have applied to a lot more schools, but hindsight is always 20/20...

This last year was particularly terrible for me. I started getting heart palpitations and in the midst of worrying about all that, I ended up with a 2.88 GPA for the semester. This last semester, I tried taking a more rigorous courseload to offset this poor GPA, but it simply backfired...and I ended up with a 2.7 GPA. I am now in the terribly unenvious position of having to reapply, but with a cumulative college GPA of around 3.3. The only bright spot I have going for me is that I got a 39T on my MCAT (retook this January after getting a 34 originally). I plan on using this next year to regroup and reapply May 2011. However, any matter of extracurriculars and my good MCAT score will not offset my GPA, I am afraid. I learned some tough lessons over undergrad, the most important being that I simply need to cultivate a good work-ethic. Me realizing this is one thing though - I need to be able to demonstrate that I've learned my lesson, preferably by raising my GPA somehow.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can raise my GPA (significantly, if that is even possible) over this next year? I thought about taking some upper-division undergraduate classes at a local university nearby, but I'm not sure how I would be able to do that, given that I already have a Bachelor's Degree. Any and all advice that anyone has would be so appreciated - I feel like I've backed myself foolishly into a corner, and I don't want to give up my dream of Medical school. Thank you all.

 

[TexasMDtobe]

Its sounds like a Special Master's Program (SMP) is what you are looking for. An SMP involves taking the first year of medical school classes to prove you can handle the workload, and they are specifically aimed at would-be applicants who want to boost their GPA. The catch is that if you enroll in an SMP and perform poorly, you can write off your dream of being a physician.

Search these forums for more info about SMPs, as a ton of threads have been related to this topic.

Also, go here and select "Special Master's degree-granting program (1-2 years, no thesis, 'applied science'/'medical science')" in the field marked "Degree Type." It should return 22 such programs.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Hello,

So, I am in a bit of a rough spot. I just graduated this May, and had applied this last cycle (right before my senior year). I had a 3.67 cum GPA and a 3.5 science GPA. I applied to many schools (mostly Cali, as I am an in-state resident), but got 3 interviews and so far am wait-listed at 1 school (USC). Suffice it to say, I should have applied to a lot more schools, but hindsight is always 20/20...

This last year was particularly terrible for me. I started getting heart palpitations and in the midst of worrying about all that, I ended up with a 2.88 GPA for the semester. This last semester, I tried taking a more rigorous courseload to offset this poor GPA, but it simply backfired...and I ended up with a 2.7 GPA. I am now in the terribly unenvious position of having to reapply, but with a cumulative college GPA of around 3.3. The only bright spot I have going for me is that I got a 39T on my MCAT (retook this January after getting a 34 originally). I plan on using this next year to regroup and reapply May 2011. However, any matter of extracurriculars and my good MCAT score will not offset my GPA, I am afraid. I learned some tough lessons over undergrad, the most important being that I simply need to cultivate a good work-ethic. Me realizing this is one thing though - I need to be able to demonstrate that I've learned my lesson, preferably by raising my GPA somehow.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can raise my GPA (significantly, if that is even possible) over this next year? I thought about taking some upper-division undergraduate classes at a local university nearby, but I'm not sure how I would be able to do that, given that I already have a Bachelor's Degree. Any and all advice that anyone has would be so appreciated - I feel like I've backed myself foolishly into a corner, and I don't want to give up my dream of Medical school. Thank you all.

Whats your gpa now?

 

[BarberofSeville]

3.3 cum...haven't calculated my science yet

 

[Cleavername]

Hello,

So, I am in a bit of a rough spot. I just graduated this May, and had applied this last cycle (right before my senior year). I had a 3.67 cum GPA and a 3.5 science GPA. I applied to many schools (mostly Cali, as I am an in-state resident), but got 3 interviews and so far am wait-listed at 1 school (USC). Suffice it to say, I should have applied to a lot more schools, but hindsight is always 20/20...

This last year was particularly terrible for me. I started getting heart palpitations and in the midst of worrying about all that, I ended up with a 2.88 GPA for the semester. This last semester, I tried taking a more rigorous courseload to offset this poor GPA, but it simply backfired...and I ended up with a 2.7 GPA. I am now in the terribly unenvious position of having to reapply, but with a cumulative college GPA of around 3.3. The only bright spot I have going for me is that I got a 39T on my MCAT (retook this January after getting a 34 originally). I plan on using this next year to regroup and reapply May 2011. However, any matter of extracurriculars and my good MCAT score will not offset my GPA, I am afraid. I learned some tough lessons over undergrad, the most important being that I simply need to cultivate a good work-ethic. Me realizing this is one thing though - I need to be able to demonstrate that I've learned my lesson, preferably by raising my GPA somehow.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can raise my GPA (significantly, if that is even possible) over this next year? I thought about taking some upper-division undergraduate classes at a local university nearby, but I'm not sure how I would be able to do that, given that I already have a Bachelor's Degree. Any and all advice that anyone has would be so appreciated - I feel like I've backed myself foolishly into a corner, and I don't want to give up my dream of Medical school. Thank you all.

jez 39 mcat, apply to some easier to get in med schools in other states, they will prob take you.

 

[Slack3r]

I'll show you a hard place.

 

[Cleavername]

I'll show you a hard place.

this?

 

[TobiasFunkeMDFACS]

you should also consider that schools look at BCMP GPA, but focus on pre-req courses. Assuming you did well on those, you're actually not in a bad shape. It seems like a good SMP is the way to go.

also take summer classes.