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Hello all!
I've been stalking through SDN for a couple years now, but this is the first time I've posted.
I'm currently a Cadet at a service academy (Kinesiology major), junior, currently in the final roster for the pre-medical program here. Basically the program is that you complete at least the required 4 courses (orgo I, II, human phys, and Biology), score at least a 509 on your MCAT and maintain at least a 3.4 GPA to remain competative for the HPSP scholarship.
Dilemma: I know I want to become a physician, but jumping right into medical school right now (and betting 12 years of my life that I will love being an Army physician) is giving me cold feet.
I've loved my shadowing experience and have provided emergency medical support as part of a club (with certification, of course).
Nothing seems to steer me away from going to medical school right now other than the aforementioned service obligation and the fact that I can't stand/(possibly?) can't hack it with Orgo II.
this week, I have to make a decision about whether or not I should drop Orgo II, drop the pre-med program, bring up my GPA, and take community college classes or do a year post-bac after my 5 years of service obligation and apply then. I feel that not having taken biochemistry before the MCAT will put me at a huge dissadvantage, and that remaining in Orgo II will prevent me from raising my GPA before branching statistics are finalized.
My stats:
cGPA: 3.52
sGPA (if engineering classes are included): 3.55
required pre-med classes:
biology- A-
Orgo I- B+
Physiology- (currently enrolled, not doing so hot at a B)
Orgo II- (currently enrolled, also not doing so hot at a B-)
I feel like my stats aren't too bad, with the exception of the two pre-recs below a B+.
Another major problem is that I'm not enrolled in Biochemistry and, due to the nature of our curriculum, could not add it to my schedule before graduation even if I felt like I could do well in it (which I don't). Not having taken this course will reduce my MCAT score and will prevent me from applying to a number of medical schools.
The question of the hour is: Should I war game by dropping Orgo II, retaking it alongside biochemistry at a community college after graduation and take the MCAT then and apply as a non-trad? or a year post-Bac? Or should I continue what seems to be a futile mission and risk getting stuck in a branch I'm totally uninterested in (and which has few opportunities to go to medical school)?
Best,
Smudge
I've been stalking through SDN for a couple years now, but this is the first time I've posted.
I'm currently a Cadet at a service academy (Kinesiology major), junior, currently in the final roster for the pre-medical program here. Basically the program is that you complete at least the required 4 courses (orgo I, II, human phys, and Biology), score at least a 509 on your MCAT and maintain at least a 3.4 GPA to remain competative for the HPSP scholarship.
Dilemma: I know I want to become a physician, but jumping right into medical school right now (and betting 12 years of my life that I will love being an Army physician) is giving me cold feet.
I've loved my shadowing experience and have provided emergency medical support as part of a club (with certification, of course).
Nothing seems to steer me away from going to medical school right now other than the aforementioned service obligation and the fact that I can't stand/(possibly?) can't hack it with Orgo II.
this week, I have to make a decision about whether or not I should drop Orgo II, drop the pre-med program, bring up my GPA, and take community college classes or do a year post-bac after my 5 years of service obligation and apply then. I feel that not having taken biochemistry before the MCAT will put me at a huge dissadvantage, and that remaining in Orgo II will prevent me from raising my GPA before branching statistics are finalized.
My stats:
cGPA: 3.52
sGPA (if engineering classes are included): 3.55
required pre-med classes:
biology- A-
Orgo I- B+
Physiology- (currently enrolled, not doing so hot at a B)
Orgo II- (currently enrolled, also not doing so hot at a B-)
I feel like my stats aren't too bad, with the exception of the two pre-recs below a B+.
Another major problem is that I'm not enrolled in Biochemistry and, due to the nature of our curriculum, could not add it to my schedule before graduation even if I felt like I could do well in it (which I don't). Not having taken this course will reduce my MCAT score and will prevent me from applying to a number of medical schools.
The question of the hour is: Should I war game by dropping Orgo II, retaking it alongside biochemistry at a community college after graduation and take the MCAT then and apply as a non-trad? or a year post-Bac? Or should I continue what seems to be a futile mission and risk getting stuck in a branch I'm totally uninterested in (and which has few opportunities to go to medical school)?
Best,
Smudge
