Getting back on track

[aguila24]

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When I started university, I knew I wanted to be a doctor. I did great my first semester, after that everything went down hill. I fell in with the wrong crowd and stopped attending class and my GPA reflected my carelessness. That went on for another year and a half and I found myself with an abysmal, unspeakable GPA. I knew medical school was out for me, I hadn't even begun to work on the pre-reqs and I was already sunk, so I changed my major and thought I'd be happy doing something else. After I realized how much I categorically blew everything, I buckled down and finished school with a substantial upward trend of 3.8 in my last 40 credits.. Still, that left my GPA at a 2.8, even after all of my work. I took two science courses, but only one is a pre-req and that was an intro to biology class in which I made a B. I graduated and started working. I've been working for the last year or so and every day I go in and I'm miserable and all I can think about is how different things should have been. I want to try again, but I don't know if it's salvageable.

I have some questions to which I hope to receive some advice. I have a lot of concerns, so I apologize in advance.

1. I know I need the- prereqs, since I didn't do them in school. That's the first step. There are two private four year unis in my town, but I'd like to do them at the community college because it's cheaper. The largest issue I foresee is that the community college does not offer a class in organic chemistry, unless it's simply called principles of chemistry II, which I highly doubt, so I'll have to take that one at the private unis at insane fees. Also, they seem to have physics classes which are not calculus based, will either suffice?

2. My degree is in English and I have absolutely no science background. Will the pre-reqs give me enough of a base in science to perform well on the MCAT with proper study?

3. I don't have clinical experience and I have a job, plus I'll have to go back to do the pre-reqs. How many hours are recommended and what's the best way to accrue them for those of us doing the pre-reqs and working?

4. For DO grade replacement, if that's my best option, must the classes be taken at the same institution in which you took them the first time?

5. Any other advice?

I apologize for the relative lengthiness of this post. I just need to get a plan of action going. For those giving advice, I'm willing to work as long as it takes to put myself in a better position. I'm not in a hurry to go and I realize it'll take work, so I'll listen to all options.

 

[Dr Tony T. Chopper]

Repair two things: GPA and ECs

GPA - Grade replacement is your answer. They can be done at any accredited institution. This is your chance to make it or break it, so do well to prove yourself worthy.

ECs -

1. Go on AOA and find DOs in your area to shadow, make friends with your doc and with the patients, then cordially ask for LOR.
2. Find a volunteer spot or scribe spot at a hospital near you, and become a sponge to everything you lay your eyes on.

Literature - Read DO literature to get a good idea of what OMT is, why DOs use it etc. Get familiar with who Dr A.T. Stills and Dr. Fulford are and their contributions to osteopathy.

Facts - Learn about DO match rates vs MD match rates.

 

[1badz]

1) Physics without calculus is fine
2) Pre-reqs are plenty to give you basic content knowledge - the studying for the MCAT is solely up to you though. I know people who aced pre-reqs but struggled on the MCAT. Make it a priority to do well on it.
3) Do what poster above recommended
4) They do not have to be taken at the same institution
5) Don't think for a second that it's ever "too late". Get your head back in the game and get it done.

Best of luck!

 

[JDMcNugent]

See italics.

When I started university, I knew I wanted to be a doctor. I did great my first semester, after that everything went down hill. I fell in with the wrong crowd and stopped attending class and my GPA reflected my carelessness. That went on for another year and a half and I found myself with an abysmal, unspeakable GPA. I knew medical school was out for me, I hadn't even begun to work on the pre-reqs and I was already sunk, so I changed my major and thought I'd be happy doing something else. After I realized how much I categorically blew everything, I buckled down and finished school with a substantial upward trend of 3.8 in my last 40 credits.. Still, that left my GPA at a 2.8, even after all of my work. I took two science courses, but only one is a pre-req and that was an intro to biology class in which I made a B. I graduated and started working. I've been working for the last year or so and every day I go in and I'm miserable and all I can think about is how different things should have been. I want to try again, but I don't know if it's salvageable.

I have some questions to which I hope to receive some advice. I have a lot of concerns, so I apologize in advance.

1. I know I need the- prereqs, since I didn't do them in school. That's the first step. There are two private four year unis in my town, but I'd like to do them at the community college because it's cheaper. The largest issue I foresee is that the community college does not offer a class in organic chemistry, unless it's simply called principles of chemistry II, which I highly doubt, so I'll have to take that one at the private unis at insane fees. Also, they seem to have physics classes which are not calculus based, will either suffice?
I did not do the pre-req sciences during my undergrad and began them 2 years after graduating. Talk to the DO schools you are interested in to make sure that it is okay to take all of your pre-reqs via the CC route. More than likely they will and are understanding of the financial issues of going through public and private universities. Also, check your CC course catalog to see if that principles of chemistry class is organic. It probably is not but check anyway and if you have to take orgo at a local university, then unfortunately you will have to suck up the cost. Algebra or Calc-based are both fine.

2. My degree is in English and I have absolutely no science background. Will the pre-reqs give me enough of a base in science to perform well on the MCAT with proper study?
As mentioned above, I didn't have a science background either prior to starting the science pre-reqs. It did require a lot of studying and some struggles throughout the coursework but you eventually get to a point where you start understanding concepts and see a bridge between subjects. I did terrible on the mcat for my first attempts and ended up taking genetics, microbiology, and immunology which helped immensely with my bio knowledge. You can get by with studying mcat material and having taken the gen bios, chems, and physics but the extra coursework really helped me. Everyone is different with what they need for prep.

3. I don't have clinical experience and I have a job, plus I'll have to go back to do the pre-reqs. How many hours are recommended and what's the best way to accrue them for those of us doing the pre-reqs and working?
I worked full-time throughout studying pre-med sciences, mcat, etc. and I actually found a IM DO at my local teaching hospital who let me round with the IM residents and med students on the weekends in the early morning and it was a great experience. I would go in around 6 am and rounds would be over around 8 am and I did this for a grand total of about 30 hours and asked for my LOR from the DO after about 20 hours of shadowing. When I was done shadowing, I would eat breakfast, grab a coffee, and study for about 4 hours then have the rest of the day to do whatever. It's do-able and you'll just have to reach out to physicians in your area, preferably a DO.

4. For DO grade replacement, if that's my best option, must the classes be taken at the same institution in which you took them the first time?
They do not. Just make sure that whatever the course catalog shows is the equivalent, the course titles are similar, and the credit hours are equal to or greater than the original.
5. Any other advice?
Be patient and realize that this is a long process, especially for us who started from scratch with the sciences. Take the time to really learn the concepts while taking your pre-reqs so mcat studying isn't too overwhelming.

I apologize for the relative lengthiness of this post. I just need to get a plan of action going. For those giving advice, I'm willing to work as long as it takes to put myself in a better position. I'm not in a hurry to go and I realize it'll take work, so I'll listen to all options.

 

[WalSlave]

Honestly, you dodged quite a bullet by not taking all of your science pre-reqs during undergrad. Chances are with how things were going, you would have bombed them, and then you'd be in a situation where you have to pay to retake them again. Go take all of your science pre-reqs at a community college and ace them. If you can pull that GPA up past a 3.0, you're going to be fine. I wouldn't bother retaking non-science classes unless you have the funds, the time, and it's necessary to get that GPA past a 3.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

When I started university, I knew I wanted to be a doctor. I did great my first semester, after that everything went down hill. I fell in with the wrong crowd and stopped attending class and my GPA reflected my carelessness. That went on for another year and a half and I found myself with an abysmal, unspeakable GPA. I knew medical school was out for me, I hadn't even begun to work on the pre-reqs and I was already sunk, so I changed my major and thought I'd be happy doing something else. After I realized how much I categorically blew everything, I buckled down and finished school with a substantial upward trend of 3.8 in my last 40 credits.. Still, that left my GPA at a 2.8, even after all of my work. I took two science courses, but only one is a pre-req and that was an intro to biology class in which I made a B. I graduated and started working. I've been working for the last year or so and every day I go in and I'm miserable and all I can think about is how different things should have been. I want to try again, but I don't know if it's salvageable.

I have some questions to which I hope to receive some advice. I have a lot of concerns, so I apologize in advance.

1. I know I need the- prereqs, since I didn't do them in school. That's the first step. There are two private four year unis in my town, but I'd like to do them at the community college because it's cheaper. The largest issue I foresee is that the community college does not offer a class in organic chemistry, unless it's simply called principles of chemistry II, which I highly doubt, so I'll have to take that one at the private unis at insane fees. Also, they seem to have physics classes which are not calculus based, will either suffice?

2. My degree is in English and I have absolutely no science background. Will the pre-reqs give me enough of a base in science to perform well on the MCAT with proper study?

3. I don't have clinical experience and I have a job, plus I'll have to go back to do the pre-reqs. How many hours are recommended and what's the best way to accrue them for those of us doing the pre-reqs and working?

4. For DO grade replacement, if that's my best option, must the classes be taken at the same institution in which you took them the first time?

5. Any other advice?

I apologize for the relative lengthiness of this post. I just need to get a plan of action going. For those giving advice, I'm willing to work as long as it takes to put myself in a better position. I'm not in a hurry to go and I realize it'll take work, so I'll listen to all options.

Yes, yes, 200+ over a year or two, no and good luck.

 

[Goro]

Doing the pre-reqs at a CC is fine.

1. I know I need the- prereqs, since I didn't do them in school. That's the first step. There are two private four year unis in my town, but I'd like to do them at the community college because it's cheaper. The largest issue I foresee is that the community college does not offer a class in organic chemistry, unless it's simply called principles of chemistry II, which I highly doubt, so I'll have to take that one at the private unis at insane fees. Also, they seem to have physics classes which are not calculus based, will either suffice?

They should. I have students who are non-science majors who had the bare basics of the pre-reqs.
2. My degree is in English and I have absolutely no science background. Will the pre-reqs give me enough of a base in science to perform well on the MCAT with proper study?

Figure 20-50 hrs shadowing MDs and DOs, and 100 hrs with patient contact volunteering. You do need to show that you know what you're getting into, and that you actually like being around sick people. Not all volunteering needs to be in a hospital. Think hospice, nursing homes, rehab facilities, camps for sick children, or clinics. Check out your local houses of worship for volunteer opportunities.

3. I don't have clinical experience and I have a job, plus I'll have to go back to do the pre-reqs. How many hours are recommended and what's the best way to accrue them for those of us doing the pre-reqs and working?

Nope. Strongly suggest retaking all F/D/C science coursework. Does wonders for the GPA.
4. For DO grade replacement, if that's my best option, must the classes be taken at the same institution in which you took them the first time?


On the chance there's a DO school within driving distance, go visit them and chat up the DO faculty. And remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint


5. Any other advice?

 

[aguila24]

Thanks for all of the advice! I've contacted the local CC college and am getting the ball rolling on starting the pre-reqs in the Fall and have also contacted the volunteer coordinator at my local hospital to get that remedied as well.

I have a new question. As I was looking at some of the classes I should retake, I noticed I could take them at a near by school that's different from the CC at which I plan to do the pre-requisites. Would it be possible to be enrolled in the CC and the other school at the same time? I wouldn't be taking a full load at either, just splitting up my classes between them in the same semester. Is that frowned upon and/or will it make AACOMAS freak out seeing the same semester on two different transcripts?

 

[JDMcNugent]

I don't think it is a problem. If it gets asked in an interview, just say that one school offered a certain course that the other did not offer.

It still doesn't hurt to shoot an admissions counselor at whatever DO schools you're interested in and ask their opinion on it.

 

[Rocketdog]

I'm curious: What's the cost difference between the CC near you and the Universities? Remember you are making an investment in your future. If being a few more thousand dollars in debt is altering your course NOW.......what's going to happen when you have to spend ten of thousands of dollars per semester for med school? With several repayment options available I wouldn't worry about the debt.......go for your dream!

 

[DocWinter]

Have to disagree with rocketdog...A CC is fine for someone who already has a bachelors. I did my postbac between the CC and state university. I don't for a second believe the CC was a poor investment. If you think the quality is lacking, you haven't yet been stuffed into the university 350 person classroom with a professor more interested in his research than teaching ready to hand you off to his lackey TAs who are probably scientific wizards but can't explain it in remote English.

Never had more than 20 students to a class at the CC, no TAs, free tutoring, ample office hours, half the cost, and when you spend most of your time in self-study anyway, I just don't see the marginal advantage to the university.


You have to start slow, OP, start shadowing, start with a couple science classes with good grades, and you're looking at a 2-3 year time frame.
Don't forget you'll have to add biochemistry to your pre-reqs for the MCAT.

 

[Mrs.Buckeye1992]

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