Experience vs GPA

[Markvsgravity]

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Hi y'all .

I am considering applying for med school and would like some quick advice to help get me started.

I'm 27 y/o graduated from a small liberal arts school in 2012 with a 3.3 GPA majored in biology with chem minor. I didn't know at all what I wanted to do in college so when I graduated I ended up doing full time work as a paramedic for 2 years and then joined the Peace Corps. I did public health and community development work for two years in a medium sized rural fishing village with a fairly busy health center before deciding to extend for a third year. My third year project which I am currently finishing up is to help develop, manage, and implement a brand new national EMS program in my country of service. The experience has been challenging but wonderful and allowed me to do both actual medical work, EMS training for 70+new EMTs, as well as management/operations and program development in a prehospital setting as well as in the ER of the largest hospital in the country. Through this I have gotten to know several high ranking doctors from a highly respected US medical school that helps fund the ER and our EMS program and they have encouraged me to apply to med school. Also the medical director here for our EMS program is trained and licensed through the same university, runs the emergency medicine department here and he has been pushing regularly for me to get out of EMS and into medical school.

My question is if with my work experience and possible recommendations should I begin directly studying for the MCAT, retake some courses and maybe do a postbac program, or consider nursing where my GPA might not hurt as much? I do think it's time i get out of EMS to a degree though because of the **** pay and higher risk of injury and death. One additional note I only passed any of my classes because of adderal back in undergrad so I am starting from scratch with my MCAT studies and trying into overcome some grades like a D in physics 2.

I'd rather know where to start before I begin cramming for the MCAT only to learn in don't have a chance. Thanks for any and all input! Have an a wonderful day!

Mark

 

[gyngyn]

Calculate your AAMC and ACOMAS gpa and Sgpa. There are calculators in the sticky in front of the "What are my chances forum."

 

[Markvsgravity]

Calculate your AAMC and ACOMAS gpa and Sgpa. There are calculators in the sticky in front of the "What are my chances forum."

I just calculated and have an AMCAS/AACOMAS GPA 3.28 and sGPA 3.13. I know those are both on the lower side but surprisingly a bit higher than I expected. So with those grades does my experience still make me a viable candidate? Should I take the MCAT next?

 

[gyngyn]

I just calculated and have an AMCAS/AACOMAS GPA 3.28 and sGPA 3.13. I know those are both on the lower side but surprisingly a bit higher than I expected. So with those grades does my experience still make me a viable candidate? Should I take the MCAT next?

Depending on your state of residence you may have a decent chance at MD.
Usually AMCAS and AACOMAS gpa's are different...
DO chances are better.

 

[Markvsgravity]

Depending on your state of residence you may have a decent chance at MD.
DO chances are better.

Thanks so much for your input. My last state of residence was MA but been living in South America 3 years now.

 

[gyngyn]

Thanks so much for your input. My last state of residence was MA but been living in South America 3 years now.

Unfortunately, MA is among the more challenging states for an applicant. Only 18% matriculate IS.

The mean gpa for successful MA applicants is 3.7 with an SD of 0.22
The mean MCAT is 33.2 (about 514), SD of 3.4.

Do you have a gpa trend?

 

[Markvsgravity]

Unfortunately, MA is among the more challenging states for an applicant. Only 18% matriculate IS.

The mean gpa for successful MA applicants is 3.7 with an SD of 0.22
The mean MCAT is 33.2 (about 514), SD of 3.4.

Do you have a gpa trend?

Bottomed out Junior year with poor grade trends, Senior year responded with Dean's List twice doing mostly Chem courses. Thanks for all the info.

 

[gyngyn]

Bottomed out Junior year with poor grade trends, Senior year responded with Dean's List twice doing mostly Chem courses. Thanks for all the info.

A lot will depend on your narrative and MCAT.
A sustained period of academic excellence would go a long way for MD.

 

[Markvsgravity]

A lot will depend on your narrative and MCAT.
A sustained period of academic excellence would go a long way for MD.

So in your own personal opinion will my experience and an above average MCAT make up for it? Or should I not even consider MCAT at this point and look to improving GPS/postbac first?

 

[gyngyn]

So in your own personal opinion will my experience and an above average MCAT make up for it? Or should I not even consider MCAT at this point and look to improving GPS/postbac first?

MCAT and gpa are both important and one does not entirely compensate for the other.
In some ways, a high MCAT and low gpa paints a less common but nonetheless high risk picture. That's why a recent sustained period of academic excellence is recommended.

 

[Markvsgravity]

MCAT and gpa are both important and one does not entirely compensate for the other.
In some ways, a high MCAT and low gpa paints a less common but nonetheless high risk picture. That's why a recent sustained period of academic excellence is recommended.

That's just the kind of advice I was looking for thanks so much! You're awesome!

Oh and one last question if I may, my goal in medicine is to do international medicine in the developing world for at least half my life. Since I know international medicine isn't the highest paying field do you believe the financial commitment of medical school is worth it considering that I may have to do a postbac and pay for an MCAT training course all before I even take out the loans for medical school?

 

[gyngyn]

That's just the kind of advice I was looking for thanks so much! You're awesome!

Oh and one last question if I may, my goal in medicine is to do international medicine in the developing world for at least half my life. Since I know international medicine isn't the highest paying field do you believe the financial commitment of medical school is worth it considering that I may have to do a postbac and pay for an MCAT training course all before I even take out the loans for medical school?

Medicine is its own reward.

 

[Goro]

If you have to ask "is it worth it?" it's not.

That's just the kind of advice I was looking for thanks so much! You're awesome!

Oh and one last question if I may, my goal in medicine is to do international medicine in the developing world for at least half my life. Since I know international medicine isn't the highest paying field do you believe the financial commitment of medical school is worth it considering that I may have to do a postbac and pay for an MCAT training course all before I even take out the loans for medical school?