I would really appreciate some advice. I am a recent grad with a 2.56 gpa. I've always wanted to be a doctor but kinda just lost my way during undergrad. I took a year off and worked for a physician in her office and really found that drive again. So my question is, now what? I've looked into a couple post bacc programs and they all say a gpa of 3.0 is needed. Can I just take science courses at a nearby undergrad university to show that I have improved and then apply to post bacc/ med school? If I were to take some more undergrad courses would they apply to my gpa even though I've graduated or would they just be separate? I really appreciate any advice any may have, thanks so much!
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- Thread starter sprkle234
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It'll take a while to correct that GPA. I'd enroll at your local state university and spend about 4 years or so taking science coursework. Your GPA still won't be up to med school acceptance averages at that point, but if you get all As, you may have enough of an upward trend to prove you can handle med school.
Alternatively, you can do as you say and take 2 year of undergraduate coursework and see if you can get into an SMP, but even then you'll still have an undergrad GPA of ~3.0. You might have a slim chance of admission somewhere in this situation if you get >42 on the MCAT.
Either path you choose, you'll need to do more than work in a doctor's office to show your interest. Lots of volunteer work (good for generating LORs) and maybe some research, if you can find a position, are necessary in your situation.
Finally, it'll all be for nothing anyway if you don't perform at an above-average level on the MCAT, as well, so start studying early.
Alternatively, you can do as you say and take 2 year of undergraduate coursework and see if you can get into an SMP, but even then you'll still have an undergrad GPA of ~3.0. You might have a slim chance of admission somewhere in this situation if you get >42 on the MCAT.
Either path you choose, you'll need to do more than work in a doctor's office to show your interest. Lots of volunteer work (good for generating LORs) and maybe some research, if you can find a position, are necessary in your situation.
Finally, it'll all be for nothing anyway if you don't perform at an above-average level on the MCAT, as well, so start studying early.
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I recommend a 2nd bachelors in a hard science (biochem, microbio etc) with as close to a 4.0 GPA as possible. That plus an above average MCAT (32+) would possibly get you into a less competitive MD school, or a less competitive DO school, or an SMP.
But go get an A in something (math or science) before you jump in. Take one class, ace it. If you can't get A's in hard classes, you're not in good shape to pursue this ambition.
Best of luck to you.
But go get an A in something (math or science) before you jump in. Take one class, ace it. If you can't get A's in hard classes, you're not in good shape to pursue this ambition.
Best of luck to you.
