Distancing Yourself from Bacc Work.

[budhak0n]

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I guess distancing would be the wrong way to describe it , but for any non trad's who have successfully jumped the admission hurdle, I'd be interested in any feedback from people who had to in some ways "distance" themselves from some of the things they did in undergrad.

For instance, Med School Applications require that you submit ALL of your grades from any institution you have ever attended.

That means in terms of the initial calculation. A semester wasted in 1988 has the same mathematical effect on the bottom line as a 3.75 in your post baccalaureate work .

Of course once you GET to the face to face interview part of the process, you can stress your personal growth and maturity as well as your much more refined time management skills, but the question in my mind is obviously, " Won't a certain number of schools not even care and simply go on the overall calculation? "

I'm a bit limited geographically and don't wish to relocate my family, therefore a shotgun admissions approach probably isn't the path for me.

How did others successfully distance themselves from an underwhelming semsester or two in Undergrad maybe 10,15 or 20 years ago?

Oh and does anyone know if Med school admission departments require you submit any of your graduate grades as well for any graduate work you have done? I haven't taken the time to review all the guidelines yet since my formal application is obviously not necessary until I complete the post bacc pre requisites.

P.S.- My undergrad work wasn't horrible .. a tad under 3.0 aggregate with numerous dean's list semesters. It was just not focused like me in those days. Much more of a free spirit <g>

In other words, I didn't study and all nighted entire courses in 2 days LOL

 

[endocardium]

How did others successfully distance themselves from an underwhelming semsester or two in Undergrad maybe 10,15 or 20 years ago?

Well, the short answer is that you can't really escape from your past. You GPA is calculated using ALL post-secondary classes you ever took for your entire life. This actually sucks, because if you made a mistake or two way back when, it comes back to haunt you, even 10-20 years later. Yeah.

The longer, and possibly better, answer is that while past grades and whatnot is included, you can help yourself out a lot if you do a stint of post-baccalaureate undergraduate work (preferably pre-medical type science classes, or more advanced work in the sciences) right before you apply and show that you are academically sound, meaning you get all straight A's. You demonstrate that you grew from your prior mistakes. That's what I did. Nobody questioned my academic ability during any interviews, even though my undergraduate work from way back when was a bit blotchy. It's all going to be included in your file and in your GPA calculations, but I suspect that more recent work is going to speak louder.

Oh yeah, and it definitely helps quell any doubts, if you rock your MCAT. Therefore, rock it.

Oh and does anyone know if Med school admission departments require you submit any of your graduate grades as well for any graduate work you have done? I haven't taken the time to review all the guidelines yet since my formal application is obviously not necessary until I complete the post bacc pre requisites.

Yes, all post-secondary course work must be submitted and listed on the AMCAS. Graduate work has it's own category and is made distinct from your undergraduate coursework.

 

[Lacheln]

Feel free to check out my mdapps, I think it covers the basics of recuperating from an old questionable gpa.

 

[budhak0n]

Yeah I've always gone on the premise I'm an MCAT or bust kind of candidate.

My Post bacc work will probably fall in the 3.75 range. In comparison to some of the really strong candidates out there I'll probably be on the lower end of the overall GPA range.

I did really well on my LSAT's but that's in some ways a different skill set (top 2%) . The concerns for an admissions office with me which frankly is warranted is probably not whether I possess the intellectual capacity to actually do the work. I'm an obnoxious sort on that end and have very little doubt that I CAN do the work.

But the question with me will be "can he be trusted to "DO" the work?".

That's why in many ways I'm glad to have had the extra year to examine and reexamine my motivation for attempting this in my 40's.

Is it "prestige" as in do I just want to show others ( family, friends, people who don't even know me) that hey I have what it takes?

Or is it truly a desire to do something which "can" help others?

Money, although a concern for completing the training, isn't really a factor in my decision to try this. Because if it were, I'd obviously nix the idea from the get go . It's a financial loser.

I think it helps that I've spent my last couple of years working in long term care facilities, even if it's only as a Lab Tech / Phlebotomist. I get a good idea of what life is like for doctors who treat elderly patients some of whom are in dire circumstances.

Some of it can be quite depressing, and other times it can be rewarding, but unfortunately as the resident "vampire" , I also feel for some patients I'm a source of pain in the very latest stage of their lives.

It's certainly not a financial windfall either but it gives me insight into what "care" means for many.

 

[budhak0n]

Feel free to check out my mdapps, I think it covers the basics of recuperating from an old questionable gpa.

Thanks will do.

 

[Lacheln]

Thanks will do.

Cool, and I welcome your feedback. 🙂

 

[endocardium]

But the question with me will be "can he be trusted to "DO" the work?".

You have put a lot of thought into this, which is very good, indeed. "Can I be trusted to do the work?" Since you pose it here, I think this is a question you must answer for yourself and be clear about it, as much as you can, anyway.

That's why in many ways I'm glad to have had the extra year to examine and reexamine my motivation for attempting this in my 40's.

Is it "prestige" as in do I just want to show others ( family, friends, people who don't even know me) that hey I have what it takes?

Or is it truly a desire to do something which "can" help others?

Good for you. Again, this is something you need to have a clear answer on, for yourself, and you will be able to demonstrate it for the adcoms. An important question for non-trads to have answer to is, "Why medicine NOW?"