Disappointed and ruin my plan. Med school or Nursing

[dragonjinse]

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I am sitting here wondering what can I do for my future? I graduated in 2014 for BS degree with 2.8 cGPA.
I'm taking years off to work, save money, and try to figure it out if I wanna go to med school and how to improve my chance.

Then I decided to go postbacc to get higher GPA. I went to my first day of orientation, and the advisor told me this BAD news about AACOMAS GPA new policy. I was shocked! I planned to do my best and get all As for all my classes and give it a shot to apply med school later.

But according to this new policy, I don't think the postbacc will improve my GPA much. I recalculated my GPA including all classes I took/retook. my GPA comes down to 2.5 cGPA!

I am hopeless. I don't know what to do. I called OUHCOM (I graduated from OU) asking about the new policy. He suggested me to go to postbacc and then go to SMP/Master degree to prove myself I can handle med school.

To be honest, I don't mind doing it at all IF I go to school for free. I have at least 30k in tuition debt now from BS degree. I cannot imagine myself with debts in the future if I do all these postbacc & SMP and still fail to get accepted from med school.

Then I thought about going to nursing school and be a NP. However, 2.8cGPA (or 2.5 if you count all classes) will let me into nursing school. I still might need to go for postbacc to bring my GPA to at least 3.

Help me please. I don't know who I can ask for suggestion. My brain is numb from keep thinking about what I will do for life.

Thank you so much guys

 

[Beezlebub]

1) explain the GPA 2) what have you been doing since 2014 3) clarify which field you want to pursue, medicine or nursing

 

[Geo16]

I am sitting here wondering what can I do for my future? I graduated in 2014 for BS degree with 2.8 cGPA.
I'm taking years off to work, save money, and try to figure it out if I wanna go to med school and how to improve my chance.

Then I decided to go postbacc to get higher GPA. I went to my first day of orientation, and the advisor told me this BAD news about AACOMAS GPA new policy. I was shocked! I planned to do my best and get all As for all my classes and give it a shot to apply med school later.

But according to this new policy, I don't think the postbacc will improve my GPA much. I recalculated my GPA including all classes I took/retook. my GPA comes down to 2.5 cGPA!

I am hopeless. I don't know what to do. I called OUHCOM (I graduated from OU) asking about the new policy. He suggested me to go to postbacc and then go to SMP/Master degree to prove myself I can handle med school.

To be honest, I don't mind doing it at all IF I go to school for free. I have at least 30k in tuition debt now from BS degree. I cannot imagine myself with debts in the future if I do all these postbacc & SMP and still fail to get accepted from med school.

Then I thought about going to nursing school and be a NP. However, 2.8cGPA (or 2.5 if you count all classes) will let me into nursing school. I still might need to go for postbacc to bring my GPA to at least 3.

Help me please. I don't know who I can ask for suggestion. My brain is numb from keep thinking about what I will do for life.

Thank you so much guys

Reading from Goro's post, looks like the goal of Post-Bacc isn't about raising your GPA, but fixing your transcript.
Like they'll know your recent grade and trend (patterns) that you of now isn't you of 2010-2014.
Source: https://forums.studentdoctor.net/th...-in-the-absence-of-grade-replacement.1236525/

So, don't calculate your cGPA, but look at how you are doing in your post-bacc! 🙂

 

[Beezlebub]

Reading from Goro's post, looks like the goal of Post-Bacc isn't about raising your GPA, but fixing your transcript.
Like they'll know your recent grade and trend (patterns) that you of now isn't you of 2010-2014.
Source: https://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/goro’s-advice-for-do-applicants-in-the-absence-of-grade-replacement.1236525/

So, don't calculate your cGPA, but look at how you are doing in your post-bacc! 🙂

Yea b/c a 2.5cGPA isn't a red flag at all and admissions director will simply overlook it. I love your positivity and non-delusional grandeur.

 

[dragonjinse]

1) explain the GPA 2) what have you been doing since 2014 3) clarify which field you want to pursue, medicine or nursing

English is my second language. I jumped into college even though my English wasn't good at all. I struggled the first bios class with F. I kept trying and trying. My GPA's trend is over the place. But the last 2-3 semesters in my undergrad were good (but not great).

I am working as a patient assistant at the clinic; doing vitals and ask for medical history.

In all my heart, I want to be a doctor. But it sounds unrealistic right now.

 

[dragonjinse]

Reading from Goro's post, looks like the goal of Post-Bacc isn't about raising your GPA, but fixing your transcript.
Like they'll know your recent grade and trend (patterns) that you of now isn't you of 2010-2014.
Source: https://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/goro’s-advice-for-do-applicants-in-the-absence-of-grade-replacement.1236525/

So, don't calculate your cGPA, but look at how you are doing in your post-bacc! 🙂

Thank you! this give me some hopes! I calculated my cGPA because of the advisor asked me to do it. She said, in my case, it's hard to fix my GPA and it's a low chance for me to get accepted to med school. :'( That's why I'm kinda go toward the 2nd plan). If it's like you said, I would MOST definitely going toward med school.

But again, the money is a real issue. I'm just afraid if I don't get accepted at the end after trying all these years

 

[Beezlebub]

English is my second language. I jumped into college even though my English wasn't good at all. I struggled the first bios class with F. I kept trying and trying. My GPA's trend is over the place. But the last 2-3 semesters in my undergrad were good (but not great).

I am working as a patient assistant at the clinic; doing vitals and ask for medical history.

In all my heart, I want to be a doctor. But it sounds unrealistic right now.

First, I'd like to commend you for your honesty and willing to address the issue.
Second, anything is possible especially if you have the determination.
Third, do you believe that you can improve your post-grad GPA? I don't doubt your ability and willpower, but you mentioned that english is your second language and there is a lot of reading in medical school and other professional schools as well.

 

[dragonjinse]

First, I'd like to commend you for your honesty and willing to address the issue.
Second, anything is possible especially if you have the determination.
Third, do you believe that you can improve your post-grad GPA? I don't doubt your ability and willpower, but you mentioned that english is your second language and there is a lot of reading in medical school and other professional schools as well.

Thank you for understanding me. I really appreciate it. I know the road in front of me will be tough. But Im willing to do anything that I can do to achieve my dream goal. I'm now just lost bc of the new policy and my slim chances to get into med school in the future.

So you think I still have a shot if I do good in postbacc? I retook so many classes during BS degree btw.

 

[Geo16]

Yea b/c a 2.5cGPA isn't a red flag at all and admissions director will simply overlook it. I love your positivity and non-delusional grandeur.

I just relayed what was on the source to OP 😛
If you were being sarcastic, I'm too dumb to notice it.

 

[getfat]

The problem right now is you need to clear the cutoff so people can look at your application. A lot of the newer DO schools have a 2.75 and those may be your best option. I voted nursing school because I didn't think you have taken the MCAT and english is a second language. You may have to take another year out to prepare for the MCAT.

To be honest, I don't mind doing it at all IF I go to school for free. I have at least 30k in tuition debt now from BS degree. I cannot imagine myself with debts in the future if I do all these postbacc & SMP and still fail to get accepted from med school.

A job that offers tuition reimbursement could be a realistic opportunity to pay for your post-bacc classes. When I did it I had to sign a 3-year contract to stay with the company though. A lot of hospitals offer it for lower paying positions (EVS, Transport, PCTs)

 

[dragonjinse]

The problem right now is you need to clear the cutoff so people can look at your application. A lot of the newer DO schools have a 2.75 and those may be your best option. I voted nursing school because I didn't think you have taken the MCAT and english is a second language. You may have to take another year out to prepare for the MCAT.



A job that offers tuition reimbursement could be a realistic opportunity to pay for your post-bacc classes. When I did it I had to sign a 3-year contract to stay with the company though. A lot of hospitals offer it for lower paying positions (EVS, Transport, PCTs)

Wow! I didn't know that there are jobs that offer tuition reimbursement! Thanks for the head-up. I studied old MCAT before though, but haven't taken a new one yet.
Thanks for the info about newer DO schools too. You guys give me hope up a lot! Nursing school is also a good option, but that's not what I really want to do though.

I will go for it if it's the last option.

 

[Beezlebub]

Thank you for understanding me. I really appreciate it. I know the road in front of me will be tough. But Im willing to do anything that I can do to achieve my dream goal. I'm now just lost bc of the new policy and my slim chances to get into med school in the future.

So you think I still have a shot if I do good in postbacc? I retook so many classes during BS degree btw.

Only you can answer that question. Your biggest huddle right now is proving to the admissions director and his minions that you belong in their institution. This means that you will have to improve your GPA tremendously post-grad, annihilate MCAT, be able to explain your struggles, and do whatever you can do make yourself stand out academically, clinically, and possibly some side research (though more of frosting on the cake).

DO is a great option in my opinion. Do a bit of introspection and decide what you want to do. Be realistic.

All the best.

 

[getfat]

Wow! I didn't know that there are jobs that offer tuition reimbursement! Thanks for the head-up. I studied old MCAT before though, but haven't taken a new one yet.
Thanks for the info about newer DO schools too. You guys give me hope up a lot! Nursing school is also a good option, but that's not what I really want to do though.

I will go for it if it's the last option.

Its your life OP don't let anonymous SDNers choose it for you. If you are sold on the medical school route my suggestion is retake the pre-reqs (1-2 years), take MCAT (6 months-1 year), then apply to MD schools. Good luck its a long haul but if you can't see yourself doing anything else it is worth it 🙂

 

[Medic741]

@dragonjinse You *do* have an opportunity to be a meaningful advanced practitioner here.

BSN --> PNP.

Don't knock the PNP's, and you've got a GPA that will probably preclude you from being a doc -- cause you're realistically competing against individuals who have been hustling since d1 of undergrad.

Ask why you want to get into medicine. The BS --> PNP will give you a great opportunity to get into the field that you love with more flexibility and less specialty restrictions from what I understand.

Gives you the opportunity to excel clinically as an RN (just make sure you get a BSN to open doors at academic centers // make the PNP route possible). From there... after a few years of practice you'll have a real shot at a PNP program.

Benefit: Earn >$60k a year while everyone else is going deeply into debt.

Alternative: EMT --> Paramedic --> flight paramedicine. Have a number of friends who are in flight, one of them makes >$100k a year working flight rescue in Alaska, working 12 days a month, and only takes care of extremely sick individuals 😉.

Without knowing more about your desires/motivations it's hard to give better advice. Again, hope this helps

 

[dragonjinse]

Thank you guys. The reason I don't wanna settle down to go to nursing school just yet because I don't want to limit myself. That's why I am still struggling to choose the path right now.
There are so many thought in my mind. 1. I don't wanna risk for a high debt if I don't get accepted to med school. 2. I want to prove myself that I can do it and become a doctor (my dream job). 3. Face realistic MAN! Your GPA is low and it will takes awhile to fix it and also money... CHANGE another career!
4. Nursing school is also competitive and my GPA is still not high enough to get into the program.

AHHHHHHH I hate myself.

 

[Beezlebub]

@dragonjinse You *do* have an opportunity to be a meaningful advanced practitioner here.

BSN --> PNP.

Don't knock the PNP's, and you've got a GPA that will probably preclude you from being a doc -- cause you're realistically competing against individuals who have been hustling since d1 of undergrad.

Ask why you want to get into medicine. The BS --> PNP will give you a great opportunity to get into the field that you love with more flexibility and less specialty restrictions from what I understand.

Gives you the opportunity to excel clinically as an RN (just make sure you get a BSN to open doors at academic centers // make the PNP route possible). From there... after a few years of practice you'll have a real shot at a PNP program.

Benefit: Earn >$60k a year while everyone else is going deeply into debt.

Alternative: EMT --> Paramedic --> flight paramedicine. Have a number of friends who are in flight, one of them makes >$100k a year working flight rescue in Alaska, working 12 days a month, and only takes care of extremely sick individuals 😉.

Without knowing more about your desires/motivations it's hard to give better advice. Again, hope this helps

Exactly. OP needs to reflect and figure out what his passion is, face reality, and determine viable choices. I think you list some quite good alts with good analysis of them.

 

[Medic741]

If that's the case that you're worried about getting into BSN, Then you're limited to community college nursing, then BSN then PNP. THIS IS NOT A BAD OPTION. You will be able to help people, out good on the table, do important work and make a positive difference in the world.

Probably your best bet to practice medicine if that's what you really want to do.

You're not screwed -- will just take a different path

 

[samac]

Wow! I didn't know that there are jobs that offer tuition reimbursement! Thanks for the head-up. I studied old MCAT before though, but haven't taken a new one yet.
Thanks for the info about newer DO schools too. You guys give me hope up a lot! Nursing school is also a good option, but that's not what I really want to do though.

I will go for it if it's the last option.

Did you take the old one? What did you get?

Its your life OP don't let anonymous SDNers choose it for you. If you are sold on the medical school route my suggestion is retake the pre-reqs (1-2 years), take MCAT (6 months-1 year), then apply to MD schools. Good luck its a long haul but if you can't see yourself doing anything else it is worth it 🙂

MD is not the best option.

 

[getfat]

MD is not the best option.

Your right should've changed to broadly MD/DO but if OP kills retakes and MCAT theres no point to exclusively apply DO anymore.

 

[TXMED_1695]

In my area, I've known students that were pre-nursing, and they got rejected with a 3.0+ GPA. A large portion of those nursing students are really good academically. Did you take the MCAT? My GPA suffered off of the new policy too, and without my MCAT score, the last 4 years of my life were "almost" a giant waste of time. (My science GPA is a 4.0 though) There are some post-bac degrees that are for Biology majors that accept students with a 2.5+ GPA. (CLS, Research coordinator)