getting a late start

[jcoool98]

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I will graduate from college in May. I originally was premed so I have both of my biologies, but decided early on not to pursue medicine. Very recently I have changed my mind and I am going to pursue medicine after all, so I am going to take another year of school to finish my prereqs. I am going to take my inorganics this summer and organics next year and my physics next year. I have a current GPA of 3.0 with 4 potential A's this winter quarter and 4 four potential A's next quarter. If I get all A's from here on out can I raise my GPA high enough to have a reasonable chance assuming I get a good MCAT. (I am currently at a school on the quarter system, but will be finishing my prereqs at a school on the semester system.) Thanks for the help.

PS - I am in Louisiana if that matters. peace.

 

[87138]

Good luck!

I was/am in a sort of similar position, but I never really entered college with the idea of being premed. I was taking a random assortment of classes for two years, decided I didn't like my school as much as I thought I would, transferred to a bigger school, found a major I loved, and that's when I started to do really well.

Because of transferring, I have had an extra year in undergrad (which I am currently finishing up). I decided about 9 months ago that I did definitely want to go Pre-Med, and I completed an internship in the fall with a doctor while taking inorganic chem, and am now taking the second half of inorganic and the first half of Physics. Over the summer I will take Physics II and Organic Chem I and II and take the MCATs in August. A late start for me as well, but as long as I do reasonably well on the MCATs (I still have a lot of work to do for that) I think I stand a good chance of getting an acceptance somewhere.

As long as you're dedicated and really work hard, it's not out of reach for you. Just make sure you rock these upcoming classes, bring your GPA up a bit, and have a really good personal statement to back up your plans to enter medicine.

Good luck to you!

 

[NapeSpikes]

Over the summer I will take Physics II and Organic Chem I and II and take the MCATs in August.

In one Summer? 😱 Wow, now that's some courage.

 

[87138]

In one Summer? 😱 Wow, now that's some courage.

Yeah my summer is pretty much gonna suck.

I've already started some studying for the MCATs, I plan on progressively working on the stuff I've already covered in prereq classes (bio, general chem), while sort of familiarizing myself with the MCAT physics and orgo sections of the Kaplan book to possibly get a leg up on the actual classes.

It's going to be tough, but I'm making every effort to dedicate myself to putting forth the necessary amount of time and energy to do well and get accepted into med school!

 

[gary5]

Get all the A's that you can. You want a GPA of >= 3.5 if possible. Consider taking a year-long MCAT prep class or prepare on your own for that long. Be sure to volunteer all year (4 hr/wk is fine), build professor relationships for LORs, and get a premed advisor ASAP so you're doing the right things.

 

[chandelantern]

It's gonna be an uphill road but if you really want it you will achieve it. Some things to think about though...numbers will get you in the door, but the rest of your application is what will get you an acceptance. Since you've not been pre-med for the last couple of years, you may (or may not?) be needing to get some great clinical experience, as well as possibly community service and leadership activities or research. Don't underestimate your personal statement, get great LOR, practice interviewing, and apply early. With a well-rounded application, a 3.3-ish GPA with a solid MCAT will get you into med school if you apply broadly. Good luck!

 

[chandelantern]

Good luck!

I was/am in a sort of similar position, but I never really entered college with the idea of being premed. I was taking a random assortment of classes for two years, decided I didn't like my school as much as I thought I would, transferred to a bigger school, found a major I loved, and that's when I started to do really well.

Because of transferring, I have had an extra year in undergrad (which I am currently finishing up). I decided about 9 months ago that I did definitely want to go Pre-Med, and I completed an internship in the fall with a doctor while taking inorganic chem, and am now taking the second half of inorganic and the first half of Physics. Over the summer I will take Physics II and Organic Chem I and II and take the MCATs in August. A late start for me as well, but as long as I do reasonably well on the MCATs (I still have a lot of work to do for that) I think I stand a good chance of getting an acceptance somewhere.

As long as you're dedicated and really work hard, it's not out of reach for you. Just make sure you rock these upcoming classes, bring your GPA up a bit, and have a really good personal statement to back up your plans to enter medicine.

Good luck to you!

Are you planning on applying this next cycle then? The same summer your taking all those classes AND the MCAT? I'm not going to say that it's impossible for you to do that, but I am going to tell you I don't think it is a good idea. 1.) It's best to have those classes before you take the mcat 2.) applying takes ALOT of time and effort, you will, literally, have no time to sleep if you do this (plus it is unlikely you will be able to put 100% into all these things that are all important 3.) applying late has a huge disadvantage, and if you are a mediocre applicant, you'll really be hurting yourself (perhaps throwing away thousands of dollars if you take this path. This is just my two cents, but if I were you I'd finish the classes this summer, find something meaningful to do next year while you study hard for the April MCAT, apply the following June and you'll be golden. Timing is everything.

 

[NapeSpikes]

Are you planning on applying this next cycle then? The same summer your taking all those classes AND the MCAT? I'm not going to say that it's impossible for you to do that, but I am going to tell you I don't think it is a good idea. 1.) It's best to have those classes before you take the mcat 2.) applying takes ALOT of time and effort, you will, literally, have no time to sleep if you do this (plus it is unlikely you will be able to put 100% into all these things that are all important 3.) applying late has a huge disadvantage, and if you are a mediocre applicant, you'll really be hurting yourself (perhaps throwing away thousands of dollars if you take this path. This is just my two cents, but if I were you I'd finish the classes this summer, find something meaningful to do next year while you study hard for the April MCAT, apply the following June and you'll be golden. Timing is everything.

This is good advice. I didn't want to be the one to rain on rogerwilco's plans, but this is the truth.

 

[Law2Doc]

In one Summer? 😱 Wow, now that's some courage.

Doesn't sound very realistic to me either. Two courses OTHER THAN ORGO plus studying for the MCAT over a summer might be doable, albeit hectic. THREE, including orgo, is just a joke. It's far more important to get everything done with A's than it is to get done in time to get apps out in a given cycle. And to realistically apply for this cycle that poster would ALSO want to get AMCAS put together and out the door prior to the August test, or end up getting complete very late. This is not a race -- the goal should be to get good enough grades and MCAT to get in, not just get the prereqs and app done quick regardless of how well you do. If, by rushing, you end up with two or three Cs and a 25ish MCAT you will likely not get into med school. Spend the extra year working and doing something health related (a good EC), and give yourself the time necessary to get the grades needed to avoid reapplicant limbo. That will also allow you to take the April MCAT and apply and be complete earlier in the cycle (which has some benefit in a rolling admissions process), and spend the time you need to get med school worthy grades.

 

[jcoool98]

I will graduate from college in May. I originally was premed so I have both of my biologies, but decided early on not to pursue medicine. Very recently I have changed my mind and I am going to pursue medicine after all, so I am going to take another year of school to finish my prereqs. I am going to take my inorganics this summer and organics next year and my physics next year. I have a current GPA of 3.0 with 4 potential A's this winter quarter and 4 four potential A's next quarter. If I get all A's from here on out can I raise my GPA high enough to have a reasonable chance assuming I get a good MCAT. (I am currently at a school on the quarter system, but will be finishing my prereqs at a school on the semester system.) Thanks for the help.

PS - I am in Louisiana if that matters. peace.

If I am going to need to start the application process this summer and have it in by say November of December at the latest. Won't this affect my chances since I will have not finished the courses and raised my GPA to a better one? I just wanted to see what people thought about this. Thanks.

 

[Law2Doc]

If I am going to need to start the application process this summer and have it in by say November of December at the latest. Won't this affect my chances since I will have not finished the courses and raised my GPA to a better one? I just wanted to see what people thought about this. Thanks.

In a rolling admission process, earlier is better. AMCAS should be submitted by mid-summer if at all possible. As for your GPA, the best advice is to have all your ducks in a row before pulling the trigger. That means that if your GPA isn't adequate by the fall to ensure getting an interview, then you may want to consider sitting out a cycle and improving your credentials for next year. The average age in med school is older than 21 for a reason.