do i even HAVE a chance..?

[belljar08]

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hi. ok, i guess i should provide some background first?

i'm a senior, graduating this december (2011) but i'm beginning to think maybe i should postpone it. i just had the worst semester of my college experience because of cell & molecular biology. i failed it with an F (my only one) and because of that, my GPA has dropped to a 2.8. i'm sure i'll do great next semester which should definitely raise that up to a 3, at least.

i haven't taken the MCAT yet and was planning on doing so this august, but would that be too late? i feel like 2 months is hardly enough time to prepare. if i wait until next year, i just don't know what i would do after graduation if i'm not in medical school.

does this make sense? i feel like i'm rambling...
i think i just need some advice/guidance 🙁

 

[flatearth22]

hi. ok, i guess i should provide some background first?

i'm a senior, graduating this december (2011) but i'm beginning to think maybe i should postpone it. i just had the worst semester of my college experience because of cell & molecular biology. i failed it with an F (my only one) and because of that, my GPA has dropped to a 2.8. i'm sure i'll do great next semester which should definitely raise that up to a 3, at least.

i haven't taken the MCAT yet and was planning on doing so this august, but would that be too late? i feel like 2 months is hardly enough time to prepare. if i wait until next year, i just don't know what i would do after graduation if i'm not in medical school.

does this make sense? i feel like i'm rambling...
i think i just need some advice/guidance 🙁

You need to retake the class (if you weren't planning on doing so otherwise) and get at least a B.

Also with a ~3.0 you're going to need a postbac to get it up to at least a 3.3 or so. You also need to DOMINATE the MCAT. With a 3.3 and a 36 MCAT you stand a decent chance (60%) of getting into a US MD school.

Other options include DO which isn't as stringent on numbers. You would stand a decent chance with a 3.3 and a 30 or a 3.0 or a 36.

 

[PressPforPi]

You have to ask yourself, "Can I see myself doing anything else?" If the answer is yes, then pick another career. If the answer is no, then here's my suggestion:
1) Re-take any pre-reqs below a C- (not only suggested but required)
2) Get a cGPA and sGPA of 3.0 or above
3) Do well on the MCAT, ~30
4) Apply to DO schools.

In my opinion, it would be a total waste of your time and effort trying to apply MD.

 

[flatearth22]

You have to ask yourself, "Can I see myself doing anything else?" If the answer is yes, then pick another career. If the answer is no, then here's my suggestion:
1) Re-take any pre-reqs below a C- (not only suggested but required)
2) Get a cGPA and sGPA of 3.0 or above
3) Do well on the MCAT, ~30
4) Apply to DO schools.

In my opinion, it would be a total waste of your time and effort trying to apply MD.

Wrong.

What if OP retook classes and got A's and got a balanced 36 on the MCAT? I say work hard on retakes, do a postbac and dominate, study hard for MCAT and obliterate it. Add obligatory EC's and leadership junk along the way and you have a better than 50-50 shot at US MD.

 

[PressPforPi]

Wrong.

What if OP retook classes and got A's and got a balanced 36 on the MCAT? I say work hard on retakes, do a postbac and dominate, study hard for MCAT and obliterate it. Add obligatory EC's and leadership junk along the way and you have a better than 50-50 shot at US MD.

My advice was strictly if the OP wants to get into med school before he's 30. If you want OP, go the route flatearth suggests. If your goal is to just be a physician, then I say you should consider DO.

 

[belljar08]

thank you, both.

what exactly is the difference between MD and DO, anyway?

i'll definitely look into post-bacc schools.

and should i take the MCAT this summer as originally planned or should i wait it out? i haven't signed up for it yet and as it is, my parents are paying for it and can hardly afford it so i want to do this once and the right way.

 

[V5RED]

what exactly is the difference between MD and DO, anyway?

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=388561

Enjoy. 🙂

 

[PressPforPi]

thank you, both.

what exactly is the difference between MD and DO, anyway?

i'll definitely look into post-bacc schools.

and should i take the MCAT this summer as originally planned or should i wait it out? i haven't signed up for it yet and as it is, my parents are paying for it and can hardly afford it so i want to do this once and the right way.

I feel that you shouldn't take the MCAT until YOU are ready to take it. I would say if you're consistently scoring 28-32 then you're good to go. Also, have you looked into FAP to help pay for the test as well as the application process in general?