MD & DO Do I have D.O. chances?

[A_med_school_hopeful]

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I have a unique situation by almost anyone's standards:
I went to a school in Texas and graduated with a 2.1 cGPA and a 2.3 sGPA. This was due to a lot of extenuating circumstances- my mom got very sick and I had to move back home to take care of her so for an entire semester I had to withdraw from all of my classes. Of course, at that point in my life, school was not my #1 priority. I did go back to school after that and when I did go back to school, I was emotionally/mentally drained. My mom was still sick and I wasn't there to take care of her. Shortly after that, I was sexually assaulted (I know that this is sounding like a movie now, but unfortunately it was my life.) and then my only priority was to graduate.
So, in the end, I graduated. It took me 5 years but I did it. However, due to all of the past circumstances and my low GPA, I am extremely discouraged about medical school.
I have been trying to turn my life around and I have been working in the medical field for 3 years (direct patient contact as well as some research), I have 3 papers published (one of which I am first author on), and I have learned some programming and statistics as well.
Basically, my college years were rough for me and I have been considering my options: I am thinking about trying the Fresh Start program for med school since I am a Texas resident (I would have to wait a few years before that takes effect, however), repeating some classes and applying for D.O. schools. I don't think I have the GPA to get into a SMP or post-bacc program somewhere. I am getting slightly discouraged and I'm not sure what the best option would be.

I have read on this site that D.O. schools are more forgiving but are they THAT forgiving?

Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you for reading!

 

[noleknight16]

I think an SMP is necessary

 

[A_med_school_hopeful]

Would I qualify for an SMP? I'm pretty sure most of them require above a 2.1 just to get in.

 

[kkosp2451]

Do a post-bacc (informal) at a college near your house. Go back and re-take all your science classes that you got lower than a B in, and then calculate your GPA. That's what I did and I brought my cumulative from a 2.5 up to a 3.2 in one year!

 

[A_med_school_hopeful]

Thank you both for your posts. I was planning on doing a post-bacc. That's quite a GPA jump! Are you calculating based on scores on the AACOM application? I know they do grade replacements.

 

[rian.linda]

I have a unique situation by almost anyone's standards:
I went to a school in Texas and graduated with a 2.1 cGPA and a 2.3 sGPA. This was due to a lot of extenuating circumstances- my mom got very sick and I had to move back home to take care of her so for an entire semester I had to withdraw from all of my classes. Of course, at that point in my life, school was not my #1 priority. I did go back to school after that and when I did go back to school, I was emotionally/mentally drained. My mom was still sick and I wasn't there to take care of her. Shortly after that, I was sexually assaulted (I know that this is sounding like a movie now, but unfortunately it was my life.) and then my only priority was to graduate.
So, in the end, I graduated. It took me 5 years but I did it. However, due to all of the past circumstances and my low GPA, I am extremely discouraged about medical school.
I have been trying to turn my life around and I have been working in the medical field for 3 years (direct patient contact as well as some research), I have 3 papers published (one of which I am first author on), and I have learned some programming and statistics as well.
Basically, my college years were rough for me and I have been considering my options: I am thinking about trying the Fresh Start program for med school since I am a Texas resident (I would have to wait a few years before that takes effect, however), repeating some classes and applying for D.O. schools. I don't think I have the GPA to get into a SMP or post-bacc program somewhere. I am getting slightly discouraged and I'm not sure what the best option would be.

I have read on this site that D.O. schools are more forgiving but are they THAT forgiving?

Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you for reading!

Hello there....so here is what I will say. First of all of course we believe you. But here is the thing. You are actually not the first. I have heard of deaths in the family that have delayed people from applying. Now I noticed you said something..."I have been working in the medical field for 3 years (direct patient contact as well as some research), I have 3 papers published"....so YOU HAVE TO raise your GPA up way before you even think to apply. Why? Because you are actually capable of doing so--you're accomplishments show it. I know you can do it. Good Luck and keep counting your blessings.

 

[whizplusdum]

I have a unique situation by almost anyone's standards:
I went to a school in Texas and graduated with a 2.1 cGPA and a 2.3 sGPA. This was due to a lot of extenuating circumstances- my mom got very sick and I had to move back home to take care of her so for an entire semester I had to withdraw from all of my classes. Of course, at that point in my life, school was not my #1 priority. I did go back to school after that and when I did go back to school, I was emotionally/mentally drained. My mom was still sick and I wasn't there to take care of her. Shortly after that, I was sexually assaulted (I know that this is sounding like a movie now, but unfortunately it was my life.) and then my only priority was to graduate.
So, in the end, I graduated. It took me 5 years but I did it. However, due to all of the past circumstances and my low GPA, I am extremely discouraged about medical school.
I have been trying to turn my life around and I have been working in the medical field for 3 years (direct patient contact as well as some research), I have 3 papers published (one of which I am first author on), and I have learned some programming and statistics as well.
Basically, my college years were rough for me and I have been considering my options: I am thinking about trying the Fresh Start program for med school since I am a Texas resident (I would have to wait a few years before that takes effect, however), repeating some classes and applying for D.O. schools. I don't think I have the GPA to get into a SMP or post-bacc program somewhere. I am getting slightly discouraged and I'm not sure what the best option would be.

I have read on this site that D.O. schools are more forgiving but are they THAT forgiving?

Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you for reading!

Sigh up for post-bac Show that you are changed, afterwards just apply to schools. Caribbean medical schools will only look at your post-bac and have very small emphasis on your undergrad. DO might do the same, but I am unsure.
Sigh up for postbac do it for 1 year, apply next year, and when you are done with pos-bac you will start med school. So in total, 2 years to get back into the game.