Chances at SGU?

[snulma1]

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So I posted my situation in the post-bac forum, but I figure i'll try here as well....

To sum things up, I started my undergrad in 97 @ Univ of MD. My first 2 years were terrible (drug dealing roommate, Illness, and immaturity) which set me up behind the 8-ball. Then my last 2 years were graded on a 7 pt grade scale (100-93=A, 92-85=B...etc) So when all is said and done, I graduated with a BS and a GPA of 2.48. Initially I wanted to go pre-med, but the school sucked the will right out of me and made me feel like I couldn't do it.

I had already been a volunteer EMT for a few years, and became a paramedic thru school. I began to work at a major hospital in MD doing critical care transport. After 5 years I realized that I did have the ability and that I let my immaturity take over. So I got a new job back by my parents and moved home so I could go to school. I worked doing flight medicine while in school full-time.

As of now I have a 3.85 GPA (Bio 1&2, chem 1&2) and finishing up physics 1 now. I have a great EC's (Volunteer EMT/paramedic for almost 10 yrs, traveled to Belarus to provide humanitarian aid, president of a fraternity, and even selected to TA for my bio class out off 708 students).

I know that my chance at a US school is extremely slim, but I know the carribean are a little more understanding about past mistakes. If I keep my GPA up above a 3.5 (I have ORGO 1&2 left and physics 2) and score above a 30 on my MCATs. Do I have a shot at SGU? Is there anything else I need to look at doing to improve my chances?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Instatewaiter]

Besides the carribean you have a few options:

1) Do an SMP (special masters program) and with a good enough performance you may be considered for an MD school

2) Apply to DO schools. These schools are much more forgiving and actually replace grades. For instance, say you got a D in Astronomy. If you retake it again and get an A, that D doesnt even count. Only the A is included into your GPA calculations. It is an easy way to bring up your GPA and give yourself a shot at a mainland school.

3) Do what you say and apply to SGU. What is your GPA going to be once you finish your pre-recs?

 

[McGillGrad]

You need a MCAT of 25 or above and maintain the strong pre-req GPA and you will join 400 of your best friends at SGU.

 

[snulma1]

I'm not sure of what my overall GPA will be, but I know that so far, my GPA is a 3.8 after 2 semesters of BIO and Chem (with lab), and one semester of Physics and lab.

 

[snulma1]

So after doing some calculations, if I wanted to raise my poor GPA from a 2.49 to a 3.1, it would require 82 credits at A/A+ grades, and 128 if I get A-

So the only thing I can really hope is that SGU will look at my new grades and not just chuck my app out!🙁

 

[snulma1]

Well after looking closer at my transcript, there are 4 science classes that have an NA after them (as non-applicable). During those semesters, I had fallen ill and missed a large portion of the semester, so with medical reasoning I was allowed to drop the class and recieved an I, with the intent on retaking at my undergrad institution. However, since the program I was in required these classes (A&P) before my fall semester started, I had to take them over the summer at a CC by my family. So they turned my I's into F's.


i'm not sure if they are supposed to be F's or kept as I's. Either way, if I count the grades, then my current science GPA is approx 2.5, but if I don't count them, then my science GPA is a 3.02.

I don't know which way SGU will look at it.

 

[hopefool]

I hear different things all the time. Someone listed as a pre-med, on another thread told a biochem major with a 3.3 but 23 MCAT that SGU would be a reach, and that AUC would be tough. His other credentials were good. As for my situation, I have a 2.5 gpa from Cornell, workin on a post-bac now at a 3.75 clip after 30 credits. Going to hopefully wrap up next year with ~70 credits at a 3.7-3.9, all science and math.

If I do well on my MCAT, above 30, would I be able to get into SGU? or another respectable caribbean school?

You need a MCAT of 25 or above and maintain the strong pre-req GPA and you will join 400 of your best friends at SGU.

 

[a817]

I hear different things all the time. Someone listed as a pre-med, on another thread told a biochem major with a 3.3 but 23 MCAT that SGU would be a reach, and that AUC would be tough. His other credentials were good. As for my situation, I have a 2.5 gpa from Cornell, workin on a post-bac now at a 3.75 clip after 30 credits. Going to hopefully wrap up next year with ~70 credits at a 3.7-3.9, all science and math.

If I do well on my MCAT, above 30, would I be able to get into SGU? or another respectable caribbean school?

I guess you are referring to me, from what i see SGU does like high mcat's and for what its worth i know someone with a gpa around 2.8 and a mid 30 mcat, and he got in. Dont know the magic number that will get you in. But if you raise your undergrad gpa to a 2.8-2.9 and a high mcat you have a good shot.

As for the thread you mentioned, i said that the OP has a good shot at AUC, but isn't a slam dunk guarantee. I had a similar mcat score than him and a alot of higher gpa and was told to take the mcat again from SGU (again for the fall term), which i did and improved and got in. That makes me assume SGU look at mcat a lot, but i dont work for admissions.

 

[hopefool]

What about a school like Ross? I signed up for an information seminar in NYC a few weeks ago but when the time came I could not attend. However, I was sent literature about the school and contacted several times via email. The literature was packaged in a Ross labeled bag with pens and legal pads adorning the Ross logo. It was almost like they were trying to convince me to go to school there.

As far as my situation goes, I will go anywhere I can get into, MD, DO or one of the 3 or 4 caribbean schools. Do you think I would be able to get into Ross with a 2.8-2.9 and a 30-35 MCAT?

I guess you are referring to me, from what i see SGU does like high mcat's and for what its worth i know someone with a gpa around 2.8 and a mid 30 mcat, and he got in. Dont know the magic number that will get you in. But if you raise your undergrad gpa to a 2.8-2.9 and a high mcat you have a good shot.

As for the thread you mentioned, i said that the OP has a good shot at AUC, but isn't a slam dunk guarantee. I had a similar mcat score than him and a alot of higher gpa and was told to take the mcat again from SGU (again for the fall term), which i did and improved and got in. That makes me assume SGU look at mcat a lot, but i dont work for admissions.

 

[a817]

What about a school like Ross? I signed up for an information seminar in NYC a few weeks ago but when the time came I could not attend. However, I was sent literature about the school and contacted several times via email. The literature was packaged in a Ross labeled bag with pens and legal pads adorning the Ross logo. It was almost like they were trying to convince me to go to school there.

As far as my situation goes, I will go anywhere I can get into, MD, DO or one of the 3 or 4 caribbean schools. Do you think I would be able to get into Ross with a 2.8-2.9 and a 30-35 MCAT?

You will definitely get into ross and AUC with those scores. The average for ross is 3.1 and a 22 mcat. I would say if you get a 30-35 mcat score you have a shot at SGU, DO. DO's have gpa requirements, but if you apply wisely and watch out for the schools with cutoffs you can get in.