Decision time...

[AdamB]

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Graduated from KU 6 years ago with a 3.0 in Business Admin. Did a couple pre-reqs but didn't do so well.

I am currently a Texas resident finishing up a post-bacc at U of North Texas (close to home) with 2 classes left after this semester. I have a 4.0 up until this point and I know the professors for my classes next semester so there is no reason for me to assume I wont finish the entire post-bacc with a 4.0. If I stop after this then I will finish with a total overall GPA of 3.23, BCPM of 3.38 and a post bacc of 4.0 (38 hours). I haven't taken the MCAT yet but standardized tests have always been my thing and I feel my recent coursework has adequately prepared me for it. Naturally, I expect that to be a strong point of my application or at least not a weak point of my application.

Anyway, this is the decision I need to make. I take my 3.23 ao, 3.38 bcpm and 4.00 pb and go ahead and apply or I make the decision to finish up my second degree in BIO. It would only take a year more of science coursework (summer, fall, spring) along with some general fluff requirements that I would take at the juco to finish the degree. If I can continue to make As then I could see a GPA as high as 3.43 overall and a BCPM of 3.63.

So.... do I go ahead and apply or would it be advisable to continue with the Bio degree? Obviously I would rather apply now if I can get away with these stats. I also have no intention of leaving Texas to go to medical school and I am fine with going to TCOM.

 

[2008orbust]

Do you mean this cycle? Because if you haven't even started the application process, that could be REALLY tough.

Otherwise, I don't think the second degree is a must. A lot of schools look at trends (or I wouldn't be going to medschool). Write a POWERFUL and LOGICAL personal statement about how you've grown and you are no longer the immature person who got those low grades so many years ago. (If you would like specific information about this type of PS, please PM me)

If you can get a nice MCAT I don't see why you should have a problem, schools are starting to show more and more love to us non-trad.

Best of Luck!!!

 

[AdamB]

I am talking about the next upcoming cycle.

 

[Old Grunt]

I am talking about the next upcoming cycle.

If medical school is your goal, why put it off to get another degree as well as spend the money? What good is a Bachelor's degree anyways? I don't know if raising your GPA that much would be worth it. Of course, that enters the realm of the subjective where everything is anecdotal, so take it for what it is worth. If you feel you could nail your MCAT, I'd put all my time into studying for that and hope for the best.

BTW, my story if very similar to yours: Business major who went back to get the pre-reqs and finished with a 3.94 post bac. Not to rain on your parade, but I don't think anyone cares about your post bac GPA as far as the numbers are concerned. I think they do care to the extent that you show aptitute in science.

On another note, I had an interviewer tell me that he liked the fact that I had a business degree. They get a million and one Bio majors, I wouldn't be so quick to jump in that boat.

BTW, make sure your Texas residency status is good to go. They can be snarky about that.

JMO

 

[Meatwad]

If medical school is your goal, why put it off to get another degree as well as spend the money? What good is a Bachelor's degree anyways? I don't know if raising your GPA that much would be worth it. Of course, that enters the realm of the subjective where everything is anecdotal, so take it for what it is worth. If you feel you could nail your MCAT, I'd put all my time into studying for that and hope for the best.

BTW, my story if very similar to yours: Business major who went back to get the pre-reqs and finished with a 3.94 post bac. Not to rain on your parade, but I don't think anyone cares about your post bac GPA as far as the numbers are concerned. I think they do care to the extent that you show aptitute in science.

On another note, I had an interviewer tell me that he liked the fact that I had a business degree. They get a million and one Bio majors, I wouldn't be so quick to jump in that boat.

BTW, make sure your Texas residency status is good to go. They can be snarky about that.

JMO

What do you mean by this? The OPs cumulative GPA is already over 3.0 so their app won't get thrown in the garbage before someone takes the time to look at it. Due to this fact, the extremely high GPA in post-bacc work will impress committees, therefore I don't see how they wouldn't care, as you put it. If what you say were true, then there would be far fewer non-traditional students in med schools.

 

[Old Grunt]

What do you mean by this? The OPs cumulative GPA is already over 3.0 so their app won't get thrown in the garbage before someone takes the time to look at it. Due to this fact, the extremely high GPA in post-bacc work will impress committees, therefore I don't see how they wouldn't care, as you put it. If what you say were true, then there would be far fewer non-traditional students in med schools.

I mean I don't think it factors in like your OA and BCPM do.

Hey, I hope I am wrong, I have a 3.94 in all of post-bacc courses, which consists of the standard AMCAS courseload and then some.

However, in the end, I have a sneaking suspicion that the number that schools put the most stock in are the ones they report to AMCAS which shows where they line up in regards to the rest of the schools in the nation.

However, as I noted, your post bac GPA is good if it indicates you can handle science course work.

 

[drizzt3117]

I would advise you to take the MCAT, then decide. Predicting your MCAT score is as about as accurate as predicting lottery numbers. Do so at your peril. Once you know where you stand with the MCAT, you can decide if you need additional coursework to be competitive.

 

[AdamB]

Money is not an issue as far as tuition goes as I built my own business out of college and am fairly fortunate in that regard. I am also young enough where an extra year really doesn't bother me too much. I just want to maximize my chances of getting into my top 3 choices (UTSW, TAMU, TCOM) Geography is playing the crucial role here since I have a family and my wife has her own career going.

I just look at my stats and wonder is a 3.43 AO and 3.63 BCPM vs. 3.23 AO and 3.38 BCPM is worth a little more effort and a small delay.

 

[Old Grunt]

Money is not an issue as far as tuition goes as I built my own business out of college and am fairly fortunate in that regard. I am also young enough where an extra year really doesn't bother me too much. I just want to maximize my chances of getting into my top 3 choices (UTSW, TAMU, TCOM) Geography is playing the crucial role here since I have a family and my wife has her own career going.

I just look at my stats and wonder is a 3.43 AO and 3.63 BCPM vs. 3.23 AO and 3.38 BCPM is worth a little more effort and a small delay.

It sounds like you've made up your mind.

In the end, only you can make that decision. The truth is, no one here really knows more about your particular situation than you do.

 

[AdamB]

Well I sort of made up my mind. I am leaning towards applying to the Texas schools that I am positive I would go to but finishing up my degree. If I don't get in on that cycle I will apply again once my degree is done.

If I have to reapply, that is not going to be an issue with any of the Texas schools is it?

 

[AdamB]

I think post bacc would probably factor in to show trends. Over the course of my academic career I have a heavy upward trend Freshman 1.8 to Senior 3.8 Factor that in with a 4.0 on everything done since then and I am thinking that the trend speaks for itself. Am I wrong?

 

[Meatwad]

I think post bacc would probably factor in to show trends. Over the course of my academic career I have a heavy upward trend Freshman 1.8 to Senior 3.8 Factor that in with a 4.0 on everything done since then and I am thinking that the trend speaks for itself. Am I wrong?

With a couple of years of 3.8-4.0s, I'd do an SMP. Although there is no guarantee, this would dramatically increase your chances. People with sub-3.0 GPAs get into medical school every year, although they usually have something very strong working in their favor, like a 3.5+ GPA in an SMP. Since your GPA is not too low, I'd apply next cycle to med schools and enter an SMP simultaneously. Once your first semester grades come in, you can update them. If they see you aced med school courses, you have a good chance at getting in somewhere, SMP programs like Georgetown boast very high percentages of their SMP classes getting into med school (I believe it's close to 90%).

 

[AdamB]

the problem with the SMP is I don't know how I feel about moving away from my kid and wife for a year. There aren't any programs like Georgetown's in the DFW area are there? I have seen the UNTHSC Masters in Medical Science program. Would that be just as beneficial?

 

[Meatwad]

the problem with the SMP is I don't know how I feel about moving away from my kid and wife for a year. There aren't any programs like Georgetown's in the DFW area are there? I have seen the UNTHSC Masters in Medical Science program. Would that be just as beneficial?

Sorry pal, I live in NY, so I know nothing of Texas

If the degree has courses taken with med students, then yes, it'd be very beneficial.

 

[Meatwad]

Also, realize that if you score well on the MCAT, you might be able to get in on the first try; especially to the osteopathic school there in Texas. So hopefully you will slay that test, and won't need to worry about further schooling.