Chance at all?

[Khaos05]

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Stats:
Graduating in May (2010) with my bachelor's in nursing.
cGPA: 3.2
sGPA: 3.6

I plan on staying around for 2 more years (summer included) to get prereqs for med school (since some of mine didn't count except for pre-nursing😡)

It will be about 45-50 hours-maybe more if I take a few extra classes and go ahead and get degree in biology.

Here's what I'm asking. What are my chances at getting in with an improved GPA (or GPA for bio degree), avg to above avg MCAT, and lots of medical experience?

Here's the kicker, if I decide to go through with it, I will only be applying to UAMS in Little Rock, AR.

 

[rockymhs]

I heard that graduating from nursing school is looked negatively by medical school adcoms for some reason. You will have to explain why you gave up nursing to pursue your goal of becoming a physician.

You will need a better GPA, but this can be taken care of as you will take extra classes to get your pre-req's out of the way. But you will need to get nice grades in order to raise your GPA.

Your clinical exposure should be more than enough, but I suggest volunteering at non-clinical environment.

It would be great if you can fit in some research/lab work if possible, but this seems unlikely for you at this point.

So, you will need to score >30 for MCAT for sure to be a competitive applicant.

 

[Catalystik]

Even 60 hours of straight A postbac coursework will not get you near the median of those accepted to allopathic med school. With a application GPA of 3.4 (best case scenario), aim to score high on the MCAT, like 33, or so. A steep upward grade trend and slightly lower MCAT score might get you into your state school if your ECs are optimal. Besides the above, also consider leadership, teaching, and hobbies. And don't forget physician shadowing.

I presume you'll be working as a nurse meanwhile, which is a great source of clinical experience.

 

[Khaos05]

Yes, I will be working as an RN in CCU or Surgery while taking these hours. Do you think that getting a second degree would be a better option? My GPA before nursing was like a 3.49 so if I combined (and replaced some) with prereqs and upper level bio courses it seems like my GPA for biology degree would be higher than GPA for nursing degree.

I've been contemplating this decision for about 3 - 3 1/2 years and I just want to make sure that if I put in the effort, it will pay off. It would be devastating to go an extra 3 years and get rejected from medical school.

I've also heard that about adcoms not liking nursing applicants. I guess my short and sweet answer to that is that I want to do more than nursing. The further I go in nursing (and i'm pretty much done), the more I realize that I'm not going as far, and advancing as I thought I could. I think being a physician has always been a dream of mine and nursing was kind of my fallback and wake up call. I used it to get into the field (that I thought I would be satisfied with), but it ended up making me want to push for something higher.

p.s. Is it a good sign that I can almost pass the step 1&2? lol

 

[deleted248403]

You can pass the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 with a background in Nursing? I'm calling BS on that.

I agree with what Cat said. You can also consider DO schools as well as you'll be closer to their median GPA

 

[Catalystik]

Do you think that getting a second degree would be a better option? My GPA before nursing was like a 3.49 so if I combined (and replaced some) with prereqs and upper level bio courses it seems like my GPA for biology degree would be higher than GPA for nursing degree.

I've been contemplating this decision for about 3 - 3 1/2 years and I just want to make sure that if I put in the effort, it will pay off. It would be devastating to go an extra 3 years and get rejected from medical school.

When you apply to med schools you must submit all transcripts from colleges. Regardless of how individual undergrad schools look at your grades, they will all be included in the calculation for med school application purposes (except the lower course grades that you retook, if applying through AACOMAS).

There is no reason to get a second undergrad degree, but becoming a candidate is a viable way to have access to school loans or to get preference for course registration, and you won't be expected to complete the course of study since you already have an undergrad degree.

There are no guarantees that this gamble will pay off. If you get even one B, you set back the redemption process. If you complete the remption process and then do poorly on the MCAT, you're in the same boat again. On the other hand, if you get an amazing MCAT score, you could do well despite a low GPA. PM MilkmanAl for his perspectives on your school of choice.

Why not consider a phone meeting with one of the deans at your local university to get some input on your situation. Try not to say anything negative about nursing, only positive things about becoming a doctor.

 

[Morsetlis]

It is unlikely that you have all the pre-reqs needed for medical school. Take those, do well on them, then apply for DO schools. I don't suppose it is wise or even possible to retake nursing classes, so that's that. With your >3.0 GPA, you are a good candidate for Special Master Programs or post-bacc programs with linkage to medical schools.

One of the cardinal sins in the application process / while interviewing is speaking badly about other specialties/careers/people. This is a general rule. Focus on positives. I would agree that there is no reason to get a second undergrad degree. Your BSN is already invaluable in giving you clinical experience. I don't know why people would look badly on your choice of major, considering that it gives you access to skills most med students won't learn until third year and beyond. However, you may have a lack of physician shadowing! Work on your ECs if you see any holes.

Plan of action:

-prereqs
-Post-bacc/SMP
-MCAT
-clinical experience/ECs
-apply (consider DO schools, as they are more tolerant of non-traditional applicants)

 

[J ROD]

Def apply to DO schools....they will give you the best shot with your cGPA.

 

[Khaos05]

On passing the step 1&2 I said "almost". I can get the majority of the questions right. However, it is obvious that I can get the mainstream stuff (basic disease, lab values, meds, treatment), but i'm clueless when it gets too too complex (DNA abnormalities)

Anyway, no I don't have all the prereqs. I only had to take physiological chemistry I and II and biology for gen ed I for nursing. Therefore, I have to take college chem I/II, general bio I/II, o.chem I/II, and phys I/II. I've taken all the other prereqs and even a few recommended classes.

However, what scares me is the fact that I may be a B or two and my chances will be shot. Or I even get all A's and STILL get rejected. If I knew I had even a good to great chance of getting in after that work then I would be on that path starting this summer; however, I do not want to throw away time if I don't have a fart's chance in montana.

And DO is out since I would only apply to UAMS (MD in Arkansas).

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

On passing the step 1&2 I said "almost". I can get the majority of the questions right. However, it is obvious that I can get the mainstream stuff (basic disease, lab values, meds, treatment), but i'm clueless when it gets too too complex (DNA abnormalities)

Anyway, no I don't have all the prereqs. I only had to take physiological chemistry I and II and biology for gen ed I for nursing. Therefore, I have to take college chem I/II, general bio I/II, o.chem I/II, and phys I/II. I've taken all the other prereqs and even a few recommended classes.

However, what scares me is the fact that I may be a B or two and my chances will be shot. Or I even get all A's and STILL get rejected. If I knew I had even a good to great chance of getting in after that work then I would be on that path starting this summer; however, I do not want to throw away time if I don't have a fart's chance in montana.

And DO is out since I would only apply to UAMS (MD in Arkansas).

They gave DNP's a 'simplified' version of the USMLE step 1. 50% failed it.

 

[JJMrK]

On passing the step 1&2 I said "almost". I can get the majority of the questions right. However, it is obvious that I can get the mainstream stuff (basic disease, lab values, meds, treatment), but i'm clueless when it gets too too complex (DNA abnormalities)

Anyway, no I don't have all the prereqs. I only had to take physiological chemistry I and II and biology for gen ed I for nursing. Therefore, I have to take college chem I/II, general bio I/II, o.chem I/II, and phys I/II. I've taken all the other prereqs and even a few recommended classes.

However, what scares me is the fact that I may be a B or two and my chances will be shot. Or I even get all A's and STILL get rejected. If I knew I had even a good to great chance of getting in after that work then I would be on that path starting this summer; however, I do not want to throw away time if I don't have a fart's chance in montana.

And DO is out since I would only apply to UAMS (MD in Arkansas).

I'm not saying it isn't possible, but:
This is a pretty huge restriction you are placing on yourself. Most people apply to upwards of 10 schools (many apply to 20-30), and even then consider themselves fortunate to get in somewhere. The fact that you'll have a below average GPA makes it even tougher. Different medical schools are looking for different things in an applicant, and spending 3 years preparing only to realize that the school you're interested in may not be interested in you will be a huge disappointment.

IMO: Only do this if you're willing to expand your horizons a bit and apply to dozen or so schools. That's really the only way to give yourself a chance. Applying to just the one school is selling yourself short.

 

[Khaos05]

Well one reason I would only apply to UAMS is because, my wife and I don't want to move. We have all of our family here, this is where I would want to practice, and we just bought a house a few months ago.

Also, I am an in-state applicant. Because of that I am guaranteed an interview and have a higher chance of getting in here than anywhere else. It is a state school that requires 150/175 be residents of AR. Furthermore, it requires that 25 be admitted from each of 6 districts. There are in fact people from an obscure town with GPA's lower than mine, and MCATS of <30 getting admitted because they have to admit so many by law.

Not saying it's a guarantee for me (since I live in the most populated and applied from district), but it's my best chance anyway.

 

[deleted248403]

You may know UAMS better than I but the most recent MSAR seems to conflict with several things you are saying (assuming we are talking about U of Ark School of Med at Little Rock)

They had 277 resident applications, and interviewed 260. Of their matriculants, 130 were residents and 24 were non-residents... for a total class of 154.

The MSAR also mentions nothing about the laws you referred to, but then again I don't know that it would. In my mind it would as it is clearly a significant selection factor.