Focus on requirements or MCAT first?

[AEnomore]

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I want to get into DO school, but I only have a 2.6 (DO calculation) GPA. Also, I have only taken the 1 semester of chem and the 1 year of physics. I haven't taken the rest of the required classes yet, nor have I taken the MCAT yet. Do you guys think I should study for and take the MCAT first (to help me get into a post-bacc program that covers the required classes and may feed into a DO school) or take the rest of the required classes on my own at, say, a state university first? Thanks!

 

[wolverinepwns]

I want to get into DO school, but I only have a 2.6 (DO calculation) GPA. Also, I have only taken the 1 semester of chem and the 1 year of physics. I haven't taken the rest of the required classes yet, nor have I taken the MCAT yet. Do you guys think I should study for and take the MCAT first (to help me get into a post-bacc program that covers the required classes and may feed into a DO school) or take the rest of the required classes on my own at, say, a state university first? Thanks!

Focus on your GPA, bring it up, then worry about your mcat!

 

[IamaBanana]

Focus on your GPA, bring it up, then worry about your mcat!

Ditto, but I'd also like to add that the MCAT tests knowledge from your pre-reqs. While you could read a TPR book and possibly do well, there's no reason to rush. The classes will give you the familiarty and mastery you need to do very well.

Also, I am not aware of any post-bacs that require an MCAT score. SMPs yes, but post-bacs? Which ones are you thinking of?

 

[Gloves]

yeah what he said. If you can't do well in the classes, you're not going to do well on the MCAT

 

[tndoc12]

Get your GPA where it needs to be then worry about the MCAT. Perhaps you should look into Carib schools.

 

[AEnomore]

I've looked at Carib schools, but they don't match into surgery residencies nearly as well as DO schools. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get into DO school. Do you guys suggest I go back to my previous UG school and retake my lowest grade classes, in hopes of then getting into a post-bacc program for my requirements classes, or just move on and take the required classes and do well in them? If I went back to my UG and retook 2 semesters of classes and got A's in them (based on the classes, this would not be that difficult), I could bring my cumulative GPA up to a 3.16 (Science GPA to 4.0). Worth it, or move on with the pre-med required classes? If I took only the rest of the required classes and got all A's in them (I realize how hard that would be, but for the sake of the argument), it would bring my cumulative GPA to a 2.82 and my Science GPA to a 3.25. Thanks!

 

[IrishMD15]

I would suggest retaking the science classes you didn't do well in. Not only will you gain the knowledge you will need for the mcat, but I think it shows med schools that you're willing to spend the extra time and money to retake them. To me it shows maturity. Maybe you didn't do well in your early ones because you didn't have the study skills yet, but now feel confident in your academic abilities to retake them again, allowing you to demonstrate to medical schools you're ready for their curriculum. Definitely wait to take the mcat though...

 

[blinkboy1156]

I would suggest retaking the science classes you didn't do well in. Not only will you gain the knowledge you will need for the mcat, but I think it shows med schools that you're willing to spend the extra time and money to retake them. To me it shows maturity. Maybe you didn't do well in your early ones because you didn't have the study skills yet, but now feel confident in your academic abilities to retake them again, allowing you to demonstrate to medical schools you're ready for their curriculum. Definitely wait to take the mcat though...

Second. Get your grades up first.