General advice needed...

[ERLover]

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I am looking for honest and sincere advise.

Current undergrad student needing 6 more classes to finish B.A. in Psychology with a current GPA of 2.28. The reason this GPA went so low was because of some personal issues that aroused and I was not able to drop classes one semester in which all I received "WUs". Following Semester I attended 2-3 times to my classes at the beginning and same issues came back and again, when I wanted to drop the classes it was too late, which again I received "WUs".

I recently turned in a petition for change of grade/record and will be waiting to hear a response ( turned in major documentation and LORs backing me up). If this approval goes through, those WUs will be changed to regular Ws and bring the GPA to a 2.8-2.85.

1) Here is the situation: Lets say I do received these approval and go back to a 2.8: Will it be best to finish my 6 major classes and take all of the pre-reqs plus 2-3 upper division bio courses? If I end up getting all As, how far up can my cGPA go? I have 220 credits ( A LOT I KNOW) but with the 6 classes I need, plus all the pre-reqs and some upper division classes thats close to 16-17 classes.

OR

2) Finish the BA in Psych with those 6 remaining classes which will probably bring the GPA to a what? 2.95? or 3.0? And then Enroll at a Postbacc program where I can take all of the pre-reqs? There are many Post Bacs that are aimed at URMs and Disadvantaged students. (Here in Cali and other states) (I am AA).

DeShawn



Now, if the Approval is denied, I will just complete my BA and definitely go to a postbac since the gpa will be so low.

What do you guys think is the best option from 1 and 2?

 

[anonymousername]

I'm familiar with W's but what is a WU?

your GPA is low, postbacc is your friend.
Kill the MCAT, you might make amends.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

I think a WU is the same as a Withdraw Failing--it happens when you drop a course too late into the semester and it comes up on your transcript with a 0.0 GPA.

OP, I think you're going to need to do a post-bacc no matter what happens to your request. With 220 credits, it's going to take a LOT of A's to raise your GPA above a 3.0 (below which most med schools likely won't consider your app at all). I think your best shot is to retake any courses that you did very poorly in and apply DO, so you can take advantage of their grade replacement policy. You'll also need to get a very high MCAT score in order to get any consideration from either MD or DO schools.

If you can get your GPA above 3.0 and get like a 40 on the MCATs, some MD schools might consider you. I know there have been some people here accepted to allo schools with a ~2.8-3.0 GPA and very high MCATs. Your ECs will also need to be outstanding. Otherwise, I still think your best shot is DO with grade replacement and a high MCAT.

 

[CoolWhipp]

Personally, I would let go of pursuing an MD in the states. I would finish my degree. Then, I would do a postbacc at a well known 4-year university and kill it, then apply to DO programs and carib schools.

Or, I would quit undergrad all together. Go to a community college, kill it. Apply to a 4 year and kill it there. Then write about personal hardship in your personal statement. Then, apply to MD schools.

It's not going to be a cake walk but, if you really want it, you can still become a doctor.

If you are URM then, I would recommend my first plan. If you are not a URM, and you are still young, I recommend plan two.


This advice is assuming that you don't get approval and your GPA stays at 2.28.

 

[ERLover]

WUs count towards your GPA as Fs.

 

[MexicanDr]

I will leave the advice for the more experienced people here, LizzyM especially and other med students.

I wish you the best of luck on everything!

 

[brooklynblunder]

so why didn't you just change the courses to audit?

 

[MexicanDr]

so why didn't you just change the courses to audit?

He said because of X personal issues he couldnt drop the classes, and if he enrolled in them I am sure he had the intent of completing them. If the classes couldnt be dropped, I am sure they could not be changed to audit, right? I might be wrong..

personal issues that aroused and I was not able to drop classes