TheBookman
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- May 1, 2023
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Hello everyone!
So I have changed majors quite a few times over my long years in college. I have switched from Network Security to Computer Science before finding my passion in Chemistry where I had earned my first degree. I was in the process of earning my PhD in Chemistry when COVID-19 hit and layoffs occurred (funding dried up and I can't work for free). As I was stuck in a location where I could not use my degree and could not afford to move thanks to student loans, I eventually found myself working in a hospital where I learned about Medical Lab Science and am currently in a program to earn my degree. It was thanks to this program and the two years prior that I learned, discussed, and met numerous MDs and MD/PhDs who have shown me a path that I am eager to start on. However, there is one major fear I have and that is my GPA.
My overall GPA is absolutely abysmal. From 18-23 I was in NetSec/CompSci and I was routinely getting Ds and Fs with a handful of Cs. It wasn't until I switched to Chemistry where my grades began to climb. Since returning to school, all my grades have been Solid B's and a few A's due to the nature of working a full time job, going to school full time, and taking care of my father and grandmother (neither of whom can live on their own due to severe issues with their health and mental handicaps).
My overall GPA would by the end of the spring will be around 2.8-2.9. When I had applied to PhD programs, I was able to discuss this and still get schools to look at my application - though I am unsure how it works in the DO field. I would rather not spend thousands of dollars to retake courses that would have no bearing on my future work (nor do I have much interest in general in learning how to build databases or manage an linux server stack). Nor do I have much of an interest in moving halfway across the country to "restart" and have some of my grades erased with Academic Fresh Start. Looking into that avenue, it wouldn't even erase the most pertinent years that have been holding my GPA back.
I have strong letters of recommendation from professors, colleagues, and working MD/PhDs that I have shadowed, thousands of hours of community service and patient facing work under my belt, and a few written and published research papers including a first name authorship. I will also have a few years of dedicated work as an MLS under my belt by the time I apply.
I do not plan on applying for the "top of the line" schools as I am of the belief that any school is a good school if you put forth the time and effort to see growth in your professional field. I just fear that even applying to "lower end" schools, my application will be tossed in the bin upon immediately seeing the overall GPA and not the 14 years of schooling that saw remarkable improvements and a strong GPA within the sciences.
My current plans are to take a year off to find a care facility to take over on the management of my family so I can begin doing an SMP early next year. While doing the SMP, I would continue to work full time and retake one or two courses that I feel like I could do better in (and as a refresher as many of them I haven't done for 7+ years now). Once I complete the SMP, I would take a few months off to study for the MCAT to ensure 98-99th percentile passing.
So, with a (hopefully) 4.0 SMP, 4.0 Course retakes at the same time (to help ensure that I can take on a difficult course load and do well alongside working full time), and a high MCAT score - would I have a chance at a DO program? Or is my previous GPA just too horrid to look past?
So I have changed majors quite a few times over my long years in college. I have switched from Network Security to Computer Science before finding my passion in Chemistry where I had earned my first degree. I was in the process of earning my PhD in Chemistry when COVID-19 hit and layoffs occurred (funding dried up and I can't work for free). As I was stuck in a location where I could not use my degree and could not afford to move thanks to student loans, I eventually found myself working in a hospital where I learned about Medical Lab Science and am currently in a program to earn my degree. It was thanks to this program and the two years prior that I learned, discussed, and met numerous MDs and MD/PhDs who have shown me a path that I am eager to start on. However, there is one major fear I have and that is my GPA.
My overall GPA is absolutely abysmal. From 18-23 I was in NetSec/CompSci and I was routinely getting Ds and Fs with a handful of Cs. It wasn't until I switched to Chemistry where my grades began to climb. Since returning to school, all my grades have been Solid B's and a few A's due to the nature of working a full time job, going to school full time, and taking care of my father and grandmother (neither of whom can live on their own due to severe issues with their health and mental handicaps).
My overall GPA would by the end of the spring will be around 2.8-2.9. When I had applied to PhD programs, I was able to discuss this and still get schools to look at my application - though I am unsure how it works in the DO field. I would rather not spend thousands of dollars to retake courses that would have no bearing on my future work (nor do I have much interest in general in learning how to build databases or manage an linux server stack). Nor do I have much of an interest in moving halfway across the country to "restart" and have some of my grades erased with Academic Fresh Start. Looking into that avenue, it wouldn't even erase the most pertinent years that have been holding my GPA back.
I have strong letters of recommendation from professors, colleagues, and working MD/PhDs that I have shadowed, thousands of hours of community service and patient facing work under my belt, and a few written and published research papers including a first name authorship. I will also have a few years of dedicated work as an MLS under my belt by the time I apply.
I do not plan on applying for the "top of the line" schools as I am of the belief that any school is a good school if you put forth the time and effort to see growth in your professional field. I just fear that even applying to "lower end" schools, my application will be tossed in the bin upon immediately seeing the overall GPA and not the 14 years of schooling that saw remarkable improvements and a strong GPA within the sciences.
My current plans are to take a year off to find a care facility to take over on the management of my family so I can begin doing an SMP early next year. While doing the SMP, I would continue to work full time and retake one or two courses that I feel like I could do better in (and as a refresher as many of them I haven't done for 7+ years now). Once I complete the SMP, I would take a few months off to study for the MCAT to ensure 98-99th percentile passing.
So, with a (hopefully) 4.0 SMP, 4.0 Course retakes at the same time (to help ensure that I can take on a difficult course load and do well alongside working full time), and a high MCAT score - would I have a chance at a DO program? Or is my previous GPA just too horrid to look past?
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