Chances

[zird00]

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I am currently completing my MSW. I have long considered medical school. My internship has been at a community health center and has solidified my desire to pursue a career in medicine. My stats are below:

Graduate GPA: 4.0
Undergraduate GPA: 3.3 (3.28 calculated using AMCAS methods)
CNA for one year - pulmonary unit & ER
EMT certification
Medical social work experience
Extensive research in the field of social work
State, national and international presentations on social work research
Taught college level courses

My plan is to graduate with my MSW and then complete the pre-reqs for admission to medical school.

Given my stats do I have a chance at a US MD?

 

[Meatwad]

I am currently completing my MSW. I have long considered medical school. My internship has been at a community health center and has solidified my desire to pursue a career in medicine. My stats are below:

Graduate GPA: 4.0
Undergraduate GPA: 3.3 (3.28 calculated using AMCAS methods)
CNA for one year - pulmonary unit & ER
EMT certification
Medical social work experience
Extensive research in the field of social work
State, national and international presentations on social work research
Taught college level courses

My plan is to graduate with my MSW and then complete the pre-reqs for admission to medical school.

Given my stats do I have a chance at a US MD?

Assuming you have 120 undergrad credits:

120 * 3.28 = 393.6

Now, I'll assume you need BIO 1/2, CHE 1/2, ORGO 1/2, PHY 1/2. I don't know if you'll be working full time, if you want to take a full course load, take summer classes, etc; but let's assume you want the fastest route, which will look like hte following:

Fall 08: BIO 1, CHE 1, PHY 1 - 12 credits
Spring 09: BIO 2, CHE 2, PHY 2 - 12 credits
Summer 09: ORGO 1, ORGO 2 - 8 (take MCAT the day ORGO 2 ends)

Assuming you had all As, your GPA would be:
393.6 + 32(4.0) = 521.6
521.6/152= 3.43 cumulative

Also assuming you had almost no math or science courses in your BA, your BCPM would be roughly a high 3.XX-4.00 (I'm sure you had to take one or two math and one or two science courses for your BA, but 32 credits @ 4.0 vs ~8 credits for your BA means they won't drag the BCPM down much).

So, if you had over a 30 on the MCAT, I think you have a great shot at getting in. Your GPA right now isn't very low at all (~3.3). As I've shown, only 32 credits at a 4.0 will get you to a number you have a definite shot with. Your volunteer and life experience looks good, and your grad GPA won't raise any red flags. If you follow this plan above, I think you could potentially matriculate in Fall 2010. If you don't mind taking an extra year, your chances would be even better, assuming you'd take extra classes.

Good luck, if you have any questions about the methods I've used above, PM me or just ask them in this thread.

 

[Luxian]

Given my stats do I have a chance at a US MD?

You absolutely have a change. I have an MPH, a worse GPA than you and less experience actually working with patients. I just got two interview invitations in the last two weeks and am waiting for more.

I do recommend you study for the MCAT and work hard to get a good score. That will do a lot to alleviate any fears over your GPA. (I used ExamKrackers study prep books, but others might be just as good.)

I wish you the best of luck!

 

[2008orbust]

Meatwad, you are always so kind and respectful to your elders (us old non-trads)🙂. It's very nice of you to do the math for people the way you do.👍👍👍

 

[Meatwad]

Meatwad, you are always so kind and respectful to your elders (us old non-trads)🙂. It's very nice of you to do the math for people the way you do.👍👍👍

Thanks!

Two reasons:

1) Non-trads are awesome; far fewer "what are my chances with a 3.8/35?!?!). You guys are humbler, more mature, and far less neurotic.
2) Hopefully this compensates for all the bad karma I rack up in the Doctor's Lounge

How's your last year of freedom before the carnage of med school starts? Relaxing a bit? Or just stuck working 40 hours a week, doing the "Office Space," type thing until next fall?

 

[2008orbust]

How's your last year of freedom before the carnage of med school starts? Relaxing a bit? Or just stuck working 40 hours a week, doing the "Office Space," type thing until next fall?

Well, I should be "takin er easy" but I am not. I am an NP and have been seeing crazy numbers of patients lately (up to 55 a day!) I also have been moonlighting in the ER every chance I get to rack up the old savings account before school (our local ER pays GREAT for casual work). I do, however, plan on quitting all my jobs 2 weeks before school starts to take time to play hard with my kids before I disappear.

 

[zird00]

Personally I still have a lil bit more freedom. But I appreciate the compliment. I was curious if neurosis had set in or if it was okay to ask around a bit .

2008orbust - good luck, it sounds like you are having a hard time as it is... 55 patients per day... WOW! At the clinic where I work our docs and NPs see about 25-30 per day max, and my clinic is a community based clinic.

 

[Old Grunt]

I am currently completing my MSW. I have long considered medical school. My internship has been at a community health center and has solidified my desire to pursue a career in medicine. My stats are below:

Graduate GPA: 4.0
Undergraduate GPA: 3.3 (3.28 calculated using AMCAS methods)
CNA for one year - pulmonary unit & ER
EMT certification
Medical social work experience
Extensive research in the field of social work
State, national and international presentations on social work research
Taught college level courses

My plan is to graduate with my MSW and then complete the pre-reqs for admission to medical school.

Given my stats do I have a chance at a US MD?

I had similar stats as you when I sarted and did my pre-reqs over two years and bumped up my GPA to a 3.4. My MCAT was less than stellar and I am not having a problem getting interviews to D.O. and M.D. programs.

I understand the fear of the unknown, you don't want to put time into something that you might not be successful at simply because of your undergrad GPA, which realistically, you can't raise to a competitive number now anyways, but people like you get in every year.

Good luck if you decide to do it.