Eligibility for med school application

[CareerStudentMike]

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Hello SDN,

I graduated in in 2014 with a bachelor of arts (yes BA =/) in microbiology. Discouraged by my 3.2 gpa, and lack of drive to establish clinical experience, I let go of my desire to go to medical school in my junior year and plunged into the dark world of accepting life with naught but a worthless science degree. Eventually, I discovered the Clinical Laboratory Science program at the my state university, which had some decent job prospects upon further research. I managed to get accepted, doing it as a post-baccalaureate professional degree, which is pretty common for clinical laboratory scientists apparently. In 2016, I will graduate with an additional bachelors, this time in science majoring in clinical laboratory science.

I currently have a 3.7 gpa in the program, with half of it done, which I think is a nice improvement that might bode well for me. I've managed to work as a microbiology TA, a general chemistry tutor, and a supplemental instructor of biology. I also have gotten full phlebotomy training with a clinical rotation where I was required to obtain 100 successful venipunctures, and regularly volunteer at the free health clinic nearby to perform the procedure and perform waived laboratory testing (until I am certifed).

All in all, judging from the stories I've seen on SDN and the like, all these things will definitely factor in to improving my chances of being accepted to a medical school. However, there is a haunting problem that lies back in those first years in my microbiology degree. My grades overall were descent (some As some Bs). But, when it comes to several of the classes that I've been hearing medical schools are very concerned with, my heart sinks. Brace yourselves: C in organic chemistry. C in genetics. B in biochemistry though. Most of my other science grades were Bs. I got As in general chemistry for example, Bs in physics, B in immunology, B in microbial genetics...

I am hoping that, just maybe, my success in some of the courses I am doing now might offset the unfortunate scores in ochem and the like. For example, I received mostly all As in recent CLS courses such as hematology, clinical chemistry, and clinical microbiology. I just do not know if such things are considered. Also, I have not taken organic chemistry II or general biology II. As far as I know, general biology II was focused around plant bio, and I would be shocked if the clinical classes I've been taken know could not waive that seeming prereq for me in some way.

Morever, I would just like to know if anyone is familiar with unorthodox applications and whether or not one can even apply in a situation such as mine. If I need to take organic chemistry II/bio II, despite my extensive list of higher level bio classes, I will. I just want some input on the matter before I take that step.

I really do feel that this is my calling, and I am tired of running away from that. It is time to step up to the plate and swing. Even if I strike out, at least I wasn't benched the whole game instead. Thank you so much for your time in reading this, and I appreciate your advice like you can't even imagine. I also wish all of you luck in your endeavors and dreams.

Sincerely,

Career Student Mike

 

[gyngyn]

What is your AMCAS (or AACOMAS) gpa?

 

[CareerStudentMike]

Hello gyngyn,

Thank you for replying. Using the spreadsheet, I have determined my AMCAS GPA (not including postbacc) to be 3.24. My BCPM GPA is a 3.10.

Every class I am taking now for the clinical laboratory science program is a 400+ science course. I hope that helps in the end, considering its all mostly As now postbacc (3.7 gpa thus far).

 

[CareerStudentMike]

Bump

 

[gyngyn]

Hello gyngyn,

Thank you for replying. Using the spreadsheet, I have determined my AMCAS GPA (not including postbacc) to be 3.24. My BCPM GPA is a 3.10.

Every class I am taking now for the clinical laboratory science program is a 400+ science course. I hope that helps in the end, considering its all mostly As now postbacc (3.7 gpa thus far).

Those gpa's are really low for MD.
Depending on your state of residence and MCAT score you may still get some interviews, but DO is going to be a better bet.

 

[Goro]

Concur, but make sure to ace MCAT for targeting MD schools.

Those gpa's are really low for MD.
Depending on your state of residence and MCAT score you may still get some interviews, but DO is going to be a better bet.

 

[CareerStudentMike]

I was figuring I might have a good shot at DO, and was definitely going to apply. However, I must mention that when I talked to my local state MD school (KUMC), they told me that my postbacc work, along with all of my volunteering hours at the free health clinic, are making me a rather worthwhile applicant. I am also looking into getting plenty of shadowing. I will apply to DO, but I might as well apply MD as well, right?

My Cumulative GPA should be around 3.4 by the end of this program, also. I will have added a total of 80+ credit hours by May.

 

[GrapesofRath]

I was figuring I might have a good shot at DO, and was definitely going to apply. However, I must mention that when I talked to my local state MD school (KUMC), they told me that my postbacc work, along with all of my volunteering hours at the free health clinic, are making me a rather worthwhile applicant. I am also looking into getting plenty of shadowing. I will apply to DO, but I might as well apply MD as well, right?

My Cumulative GPA should be around 3.4 by the end of this program, also. I will have added a total of 80+ credit hours by May.

You'll have better luck with DO's but realize a 3.25/3.10 is going to be well below average at a number of them as well. Your graduate GPA in this program is calculated separately and doesn't count for your cumulative GPA. If you want to increase your cumulative GPA a post-bacc taking undergrad classes is how you do it.

Either way the MCAT will be huge for you. 505+ should be the target for DO's, the higher the better.

 

[Akewataru]

Hold on, according to the OP the laboratory science program IS a post-bacc program not a graduate one. The fact the classes are at the 400 level proves this. Therefore these classes should factor into the ugGPA on the AMCAS right? Correct me if I'm wrong.

What I would like to know is how the program itself and the classes in the program, such as clinical chemistry, hematology, molecular pathology, clinical microbiology viewed by adcoms? Considering that the program prepares you to be job ready upon graduation and to take a national certification exam would be a huge plus opposed to a just a Biology degree. Also, can the phlebotomy portion of the training be considered clinical experience? Many thanks.

 

[gyngyn]

Hold on, according to the OP the laboratory science program IS a post-bacc program not a graduate one. The fact the classes are at the 400 level proves this. Therefore these classes should factor into the ugGPA on the AMCAS right? Correct me if I'm wrong.

What I would like to know is how the program itself and the classes in the program, such as clinical chemistry, hematology, molecular pathology, clinical microbiology viewed by adcoms? Considering that the program prepares you to be job ready upon graduation and to take a national certification exam would be a huge plus opposed to a just a Biology degree. Also, can the phlebotomy portion of the training be considered clinical experience? Many thanks.

Yes. We don't much care what you take as long as you do well. "Vocational" classes don't impress some people, though.
Phlebotomy is a clinical experience.

 

[Akewataru]

Thank you for your insight gyngyn. I figured the general consensus was that adcoms are more interested in seeing you performing well in what you do, what ever that may be. What would be considered vocational classes? I am planning to a medical laboratory science program post-bacc program for lateral career move (and a back up plan) and GPA improvement reasons. Also, I'm glad to know that phlebotomy, when I did it, is considered clinical experience. I work as a histologist, and we don't typically see live patients down in pathology, just their body parts, fluids, and maybe a dead one every so often. Clinical laboratory work is not considered clinical experience right?

 

[gyngyn]

Thank you for your insight gyngyn. I figured the general consensus was that adcoms are more interested in seeing you performing well in what you do, what ever that may be. What would be considered vocational classes? I am planning to a medical laboratory science program post-bacc program for lateral career move (and a back up plan) and GPA improvement reasons. Also, I'm glad to know that phlebotomy, when I did it, is considered clinical experience. I work as a histologist, and we don't typically see live patients down in pathology, just their body parts, fluids, and maybe a dead one every so often. Clinical laboratory work is not considered clinical experience right?

Classes designed to give you skills for a job (nursing, lab tech...) are vocational.
Lab work is not clinical.

 

[Pwhit181]

Yes. We don't much care what you take as long as you do well. "Vocational" classes don't impress some people, though.
Phlebotomy is a clinical experience.

Do RNs fair well when you come across their application? Is it more of a "oh look, this individual has clinical experience with fairly in depth understanding of pathophysiology, anatomy, and clinical treatment/bedside experience"? Just curious..

 

[gyngyn]

Do RNs fair well when you come across their application? Is it more of a "oh look, this individual has clinical experience with fairly in depth understanding of pathophysiology, anatomy, and clinical treatment/bedside experience"? Just curious..

They are in pretty much the same boat as everyone else.
A strong MCAT will convince the naysayers who think the nursing grades are inflated.

 

[Pwhit181]

They are in pretty much the same boat as everyone else.
A strong MCAT will convince the naysayers who think the nursing grades are inflated.

Interesting. Thanks for the response