Does this look bad for med school?

[KornKobs]

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I'm considering a different path to med school. Basically, I messed up my first year at this University I'm attending...I'm getting only C's in all my classes. Well, I was thinking about transferring to a small private college where I could get an Associates degree in nursing to be an RN. And after that, I could do an RN to BSN. Well, I haven't decided if I would do the pre-req's during the associates degree or after the BSN at maybe a community college. I really want to get into med school, but even if I stayed at this university and began getting straight A's, my gpa would only reach about a 3.2 or 3.3. I almost feel like with this nursing path I could just start over! Would this look bad to the med school if I chose this route? 😕 😕 😕 😕 😕

 

[thesauce]

I'm considering a different path to med school. Basically, I messed up my first year at this University I'm attending...I'm getting only C's in all my classes. Well, I was thinking about transferring to a small private college where I could get an Associates degree in nursing to be an RN. And after that, I could do an RN to BSN. Well, I haven't decided if I would do the pre-req's during the associates degree or after the BSN at maybe a community college. I really want to get into med school, but even if I stayed at this university and began getting straight A's, my gpa would only reach about a 3.2 or 3.3. I almost feel like with this nursing path I could just start over! Would this look bad to the med school if I chose this route? 😕 😕 😕 😕 😕

Why would you be able to "start over?" The AMCAS requires that you submit your transcripts from all previous schools that you attended.

If you definately want to switch, I recommend that you switch to another major that can support you if you don't get accepted. Maybe engineering or business. I wouldn't give up and go for a 2 year degree. Just try harder in your classes. Medical schools always look favorably on students that improve after their 1st or 2nd semester. Also, a high MCAT can sometimes trump a low GPA.

Try not to get too discouraged, it happens to everybody.

 

[crazy_cavalier]

Currently, where are you in college (i.e. 2nd year, 3rd year...?) If you are still early in your UG years then you must work very hard and pull a remarkably steep upward trend in your GPA from now until you graduate. Don't give up.

Also, consider post-bacc programs.

 

[KornKobs]

I guess what I meant by "start over" was that I could retake the classes at the private school. Well, I could also try there 4 year bsn program and take the pre-req's there...maybe I'll do that.

 

[DrBowtie]

Either way it all gets averaged. Retake when you are ready to do well in them. Only do nursing if you want to be a nurse not to do pre-med.

 

[RustNeverSleeps]

I'm considering a different path to med school. Basically, I messed up my first year at this University I'm attending...I'm getting only C's in all my classes. Well, I was thinking about transferring to a small private college where I could get an Associates degree in nursing to be an RN. And after that, I could do an RN to BSN. Well, I haven't decided if I would do the pre-req's during the associates degree or after the BSN at maybe a community college. I really want to get into med school, but even if I stayed at this university and began getting straight A's, my gpa would only reach about a 3.2 or 3.3. I almost feel like with this nursing path I could just start over! Would this look bad to the med school if I chose this route? 😕 😕 😕 😕 😕

As someone else said, you don't get to "start over." The C's you got will still count, whatever you do from here on out. In addition, I'm not sure if pursuing a nursing degree will be that helpful in terms of medical school. I don't think it will be that beneficial for you, and it might raise some questions in terms of your career path and motivations.

One other thing...I don't recommend taking your prereqs at a Community College. That combined with the C's you have already received may give schools reason to question your academic qualifications (ex. "S/he got C's and then had to take his/her prereqs at a community college? Do you think this person can do the work at XYZ Med School?"). It's different if you actually attend a CC and take some of your prereqs while you are there, but purposely taking prereqs at a CC rather than your 4-year school can definitely look fishy.

It's not just the actual grades you get -- how you get them matters as well (ex. how difficult your courses and school are).

 

[tacrum43]

I'm considering a different path to med school. Basically, I messed up my first year at this University I'm attending...I'm getting only C's in all my classes. Well, I was thinking about transferring to a small private college where I could get an Associates degree in nursing to be an RN. And after that, I could do an RN to BSN. Well, I haven't decided if I would do the pre-req's during the associates degree or after the BSN at maybe a community college. I really want to get into med school, but even if I stayed at this university and began getting straight A's, my gpa would only reach about a 3.2 or 3.3. I almost feel like with this nursing path I could just start over! Would this look bad to the med school if I chose this route? 😕 😕 😕 😕 😕

If you want to go to medical school, it will look bad to get an RN just for that. What you would be effectively doing is taking up a spot for someone who actually wants to work as a nurse. This wastes time and money that could be used for someone who will actually put their degree to work.

Transfer if you want to, and/or think it will help you to do better. If you do well during the rest of college, medical schools will probably overlook your grades freshman year. You might also try retaking any medical school pre-reqs that you didn't do well in (but get A's in them). Maybe you should try taking fewer units, sometimes people overload their freshman year, which is hard because it can be a bit adjustment for a lot of reasons.

Also, how are you calculating your GPA? Assuming you have a 2.0 now for all of your freshman year (which I'm not clear on whether you are a freshman now, or a sophomore) and get a 4.0 overall three years (with an equivalent number of units each year), you would end up with about a 3.5.

Anyway, I suggest you do as well as you can at the four year college of your choice (med schools do tend to look down on community college classes, especially taking your pre-reqs there), and then do well on the MCAT (30+). This would make you competitive for a lot of schools, and depending on where you are from, you may not need numbers this high. Don't forget to volunteer and shadow, plus do something else that is interesting and unique that you enjoy.

You should also probably talk to a pre-med advisor. Don't worry though, you still have time to make up for the C's. You might also want to determine why you didn't do very well: study habits, personal issues, learning disability, etc. so that you can work on the problem directly.

 

[KornKobs]

I don't know what else I could major in that sparks interest. I was considering nursing bc the program would go right into learning about the healthcare system. My first year I was doing pre-pharmacy and realized that it wasn't for me...I work at a pharmacy and from there I realized that I didn't want to be a pharmacist. And pharmacy school doesn't require a BA or BS so that's why I'm not sure what to major in..do you guys just pick something and stick with it?

 

[tacrum43]

I don't know what else I could major in that sparks interest. I was considering nursing bc the program would go right into learning about the healthcare system. My first year I was doing pre-pharmacy and realized that it wasn't for me...I work at a pharmacy and from there I realized that I didn't want to be a pharmacist. And pharmacy school doesn't require a BA or BS so that's why I'm not sure what to major in..do you guys just pick something and stick with it?

Well some schools do have a pre-med major...but that's not very common, and really it's better to pick something you like and can do well in.

I was interested in medical stuff early too, so I switched from Biology to Microbiology (with a concentration in public health), which included a lot of directly related classes like Immnunology, Hematology and Medical Microbiology in my major.

And no matter what you decide to major in, you really should get your B.S. or B.A. before entering either pharmacy or medical school. I mean, you already put in a lot of work, why not have something to show for it? Some medical schools do require it, and really it is expected that you will have completed your degree.

 

[silas2642]

I don't know what else I could major in that sparks interest. I was considering nursing bc the program would go right into learning about the healthcare system. My first year I was doing pre-pharmacy and realized that it wasn't for me...I work at a pharmacy and from there I realized that I didn't want to be a pharmacist. And pharmacy school doesn't require a BA or BS so that's why I'm not sure what to major in..do you guys just pick something and stick with it?

Normally I would say do what major turns you on. But there is the issue of nursing shortages, and by getting a BSN you're taking a professional position that could have been filled by someone else who is going to stay in that position and not use it as a "stepping stone." If you really want to become a doctor, than I would suggest pulling your grades up-- if you have a solid upward trend in your gpa than medical schools will tend to overlook that first bad year.

The other thing you may want to consider is becoming a nurse practitioner-- this would be a good path especially if you want the BSN and still get to do most of the things a doctor gets to. Plus, you wouldn't have to worry about your grades so much.

 

[Turkeyman]

Yeah, becoming a nurse and then dropping it for medical school would be looked upon unfavorably because of the nurse shortage. As everyone else said, you must work hard to pull up your grades...in addition, you still have room for some stellar extracurriculars and LORs if you are early in your undergraduate years. Then there's the MCAT. It's not all about GPA 🙂.

 

[sunnyjohn]

Nursing school is not a walk in the park.

Nursing instructors are notorius for their cutthroat "weed out" methods and nursing schools tend to have a freaky grade curve. ADN school are no different

I have no problem with RN's becoming MD's/DO's and I think it is admirable that you want to get into the healthcare system.

I DO NOT think you should become a nurse "just because" Your present grades and your nursing grades will all be considered.

I think first you need to look at WHY you are not doing as well as you would like. Take a look at you attitude and study habit BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING. No matter what you decide to study, a change might be needed.

When I looked at my study habits I found the maturity I needed to improve my grades

Good luck.

 

[DrBowtie]

Statistically speaking Nursing and Allied Health Professionals have the lowest acceptance rates into medical school and do the worst on the MCAT. So if you are doing nursing to be a doctor, think again.

http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2004/mcatgpabymaj1.htm

 

[RustNeverSleeps]

I don't know what else I could major in that sparks interest. I was considering nursing bc the program would go right into learning about the healthcare system. My first year I was doing pre-pharmacy and realized that it wasn't for me...I work at a pharmacy and from there I realized that I didn't want to be a pharmacist. And pharmacy school doesn't require a BA or BS so that's why I'm not sure what to major in..do you guys just pick something and stick with it?

Major in anything you like -- chemistry, psychology, anthropology, business, whatever interests you. Your major doesn't really matter that much -- just make sure that you complete and do well on your prereqs. If you are not a science major, it can help if you take extra science courses.

As far as learning about the healthcare system, I think that is far better achieved through ECs than through your major for most people. There are lots of ways by which you can learn about the healthcare system through your ECs -- volunteering and shadowing are the two most obvious examples.

 

[njbmd]

Hi there,
Transfer schools if you really believe that the school you presently attend has something to do with your poor grades. You can also change your major to anything that is of interest to you as long as you have the pre-med courses.

Nursing is not a bad pre-med major but make sure that you are interested in nursing or any other allied health field before you make the jump. All allied health fields can be pretty miserable if you are not interested in the work that they do.

Find a way to excell in your coursework and make sure that your grades have an upward trend. There are plenty of people sitting in medical school now that started out with a poor first year and excelled in later years. You also need to do pretty well on the MCAT so make sure that you are getting proper coursework for that exam.

Good luck
njbmd 🙂