Chances of Getting into Medical School

[NeurosurgeonMD]

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Hi, everyone.

I wanted to ask a couple of questions. I want to become a doctor. I am currently obtaining my Bachelor's degree in Mathematics. I have completed 120 credits during a seven year period and now transferring for a BS, I have a cGPA of 2.338. I had personal family issues that really interfered with my studies. I know I have some ways to go, but I wanted to know what my chances were on becoming a doctor.

What is the difference between a DO and MD? What are my chances of getting into a medical school in the states? Will graduate school help if I'm unable to raise my cGPA to at least a 3.0 by graduation? I have not taken the MCAT as of yet, when should I begin? If I go through a post bacc program will that help?

Any recommendations are welcomed. I've dreamed of becoming a doctor since I was a kid, but unforeseen events have caused a rapid decline in my academic career. I hope there is still hope.

Also, I know I have an excessive amount of credits. At the time, I believed taking more courses would have benefited. However, I learned that I misunderstood. I'm finally getting back on my feet after seven years of tribulations. I thank you all in advance for your assistance.

-JD

 

[NeurosurgeonMD]

One more thing. I'm not sure if this counts, but I have been working in medical related jobs nonstop since 2004. I'm not sure if it makes a difference that I have direct medical experience, but it's worth a try. Thanks again, everyone.

 

[tarheel1408]

At 120 credit hours resulting in a 2.34 GPA, I hate to say it, but your chances at a US MD school are pretty much nothing. Even if you got straight As for the next few years straight, your GPA wouldn't be competitive here. The good news, though is that many (if not all?) DO schools have a grade replacement policy, where you can retake classes that you did poorly in, and if you receive a higher grade than you did the first time, the lower grade won't count for your GPA consideration. In this way, you can try to negate some of the academic repercussions that you have felt because of your life's circumstances. You have a long road ahead of you, but I think you knew that. You'll want to take all the required classes for medical school and ace them, and if you have already taken some of the pre reqs but did poorly, retake them and knock them out. At this point, you don't have a lot of margin for error. But I do think it's possible for you to be a doctor someday if you're dedicated.

@Goro knows a lot more than me about specifics of the grade replacement process, so you may want to send him a message if you have questions. He may also post on this thread.

 

[NeurosurgeonMD]

Thank you for your response. One question, though; if I can get into a DO school is it still possible to become a neurologist? I haven't really dabbled in the thought of DO school, so, I'm unsure of how it all works. Also, will a post bacc be beneficial for either the MD or the DO? I just want to know if I should be thinking of that ahead of time. Thank you so much, I really appreciate the advice.

 

[ciestar]

Honestly I think a post bacc will do very little to help get your gpa to be at all competitive since you already have so many credits (well, for MD school). If your post bacc includes courses that would essentially act as grade replacement for DO, then yes it will help. Unfortunately, with a 2.3 you won't be getting into any MD schools. :/

 

[Catalystik]

if I can get into a DO school is it still possible to become a neurologist?

Becoming a neurologist as a DO is very doable. Becoming a neurosurgeon is difficult even for the most highly-competitive MD and DO candidates. (I mention the latter due to your user name, even though you didn't ask.)

 

[Muffinho]

I'm assuming it is going to be difficult for OP to do a lot of retakes. It is always going to be difficult to get an A in an upper year mathematics class. I'm not sure how feasible it is for OP to improve their GPA through grade replacement.

I think about 90 credits of 4.0s will push OP over 3.0, a few less than 90 credits if OP can get a handful of grade replacements in there.

 

[Goro]

Google is your friend, as is the Search function here in SDN. Look up AACOMAS grade replacement while you're at it.

What is the difference between a DO and MD? What are my chances of getting into a medical school in the states? Will graduate school help if I'm unable to raise my cGPA to at least a 3.0 by graduation? I have not taken the MCAT as of yet, when should I begin? If I go through a post bacc program will that help?

 

[Catalystik]

My Summary 0f the AACOMAS grade forgiveness policy:
Each class that one retakes must have the same credit hours as the original course, or greater.
The retake need not be at the same school.
The course name needn't be identical so long as the course content is demonstrably similar per the course catalogs.

When one retakes, only the most recent grade is included in the calculation of your application GPA by AACOMAS.

 

[NeurosurgeonMD]

Thank you, all. I'll try to retake as many courses as I can for now, until I receive my bachelor's. I've actually aced all of my mathematics courses, thus far. Most of my science related courses are A's and B's, with one D.I know I've got quite a journey ahead of me, but I'll continue. I did want to become a neurosurgeon, but it doesn't seem realistic right now, unfortunately. Do you guys think a master's degree would put me in a good position for either MD or DO or should I stick with post bacc? I'm glad that you all have provided me with great options. It gives me more hope and that definitely means a lot.

 

[Catalystik]

Do you guys think a master's degree would put me in a good position for either MD or DO or should I stick with post bacc?

While the application service AACOMAS, for DO med schools, does merge undergrad and grad GPAs, it's my understanding that not all DO schools include a traditional masters gGPA in their admission's considerations. The PreMedOsteo forum might be a good place to Search or ask for more information about that, as I don't have current information. A Special Masters Program is different, as it's basically a 1-year paid audition for med school where you take classes with MS1s to see if you can earn a competitive GPA. That GPA can override undergrad performance. There are both DO and MD schools that offer this (with variable uGPA requirements). You'd need a 3.5+ GPA for it to help your case. I strongly suggest you get your undergrad GPA > 3.0 before considering this route.