Graduate Work for DO . . . Advice

[deleted92121]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

MY sciGPA and cGPA are 3.0 and 2.6 respectively per AACOMAS.

I was thinking of doing a 36 credit, 1 year Masters in Biology for two reasons.

1. Boost GPA and show I can handle graduate work
2. With a MS in Biology I can at least teach if I don't get in anywhere

I plan on applying DO only due to retakes.

Any thoughts would be great.

DU

 

[DrBowtie]

What would your GPA be if you retook 36 hours of undergraduate classes with As?

 

[deleted92121]

What would your GPA be if you retook 36 hours of undergraduate classes with As?

Pretty darn good but I run into one small problem.

I took courses at a few different schools in different parts of the state. My local schools do not offer these courses. I can only retake a few of them in my area.

Additionally, wouldn't doing well in a Masters program look good?

DU

 

[kami333]

Not necessarily, grad school is notorious for grade inflation. A thesis based hard science masters might help alleviate their worries about your study habits but the 2.6 GPA will screen you out at many schools and it will probably take more than a year to finish.

You could do a special masters program (SMP) where you take first year medical school classes but even then you should take/retake some undergrad classes to get both GPAs above a 3.0 to make you life easier.

As long as the classes are similar (cell biology -> science of cell biology) AACOMAS will accept retakes from different schools.

 

[dsoz]

Trust me, unless you would be teaching at a CC, you don't want to get into the mess that is called public education right now. Don't think that getting a MS so you can teach will be easy either. To teach at the high school level, you need a MEd, and biology teachers are a dime a dozen. What is rare is the chemistry teacher or the physics teacher. Even better would be someone that could do all three (plus math).

I don't know how it is in most other states, but in Oregon there are huge budget cuts that have lead to a lot of teachers being laid off. Finding a job is impossible it is worse than applying to medical school (applicant: position ratio).

If you are going to do something, do it for the right reasons. Don't do it because it would make for a good backup plan just in case.

Also, until you take the MCAT, there is no way we can predict what will happen with your application. If you rock the MS program, you may have a good shot. But you may be better off getting some of those other grades replaced. A 2.6 cGPA does not look so good. Retake as many of those as possible to get that up above a 3.0 or a 3.3 would be even better FIRST. Then consider the MS program.

dsoz

 

[deleted92121]

All fair points and make a lot of sense.

I reworked my numbers and retaking four courses brings me to a 2.8 cGPA with a 3.1 sciGPA. If I take an extra semester (Fall 13) I can get my GPA to 3.0 at least, with my science to a 3.2.

I am scheduled for 5-11-13 MCAT. I will have a B.S. in Natural Science (Bio/Chem/Physics concentrations) by then. I have 8 years in EMS and 2 in a busy level II trauma center. I have some great LOR and one of my friends is a physician who is close friends with two of the deans at a large COM that I want to apply to. He offered to call them both on my behalf (please, that is not trying to think I have a guaranteed in or be arrogant. But from what I have learned, networking and who you know matters).

Any ideas.

 

[Prettypuff1]

All fair points and make a lot of sense.

I reworked my numbers and retaking four courses brings me to a 2.8 cGPA with a 3.1 sciGPA. If I take an extra semester (Fall 13) I can get my GPA to 3.0 at least, with my science to a 3.2.

I am scheduled for 5-11-13 MCAT. I will have a B.S. in Natural Science (Bio/Chem/Physics concentrations) by then. I have 8 years in EMS and 2 in a busy level II trauma center. I have some great LOR and one of my friends is a physician who is close friends with two of the deans at a large COM that I want to apply to. He offered to call them both on my behalf (please, that is not trying to think I have a guaranteed in or be arrogant. But from what I have learned, networking and who you know matters).

Any ideas.

I am in the same boat as you .. only on the other side.. I have a high MS gpa 3.7 and sub3 from undergrad... I am going to end up back in undergrad to get my ish together so that i can have stats that will help.. I think your ECs are great but you need to ensure that you won't get weeded out due to a low uGPA.. I would encourage to go straight back to undergrad and do some upper level Bio courses to boost up

 

[cabinbuilder]

All fair points and make a lot of sense.

I reworked my numbers and retaking four courses brings me to a 2.8 cGPA with a 3.1 sciGPA. If I take an extra semester (Fall 13) I can get my GPA to 3.0 at least, with my science to a 3.2.

I am scheduled for 5-11-13 MCAT. I will have a B.S. in Natural Science (Bio/Chem/Physics concentrations) by then. I have 8 years in EMS and 2 in a busy level II trauma center. I have some great LOR and one of my friends is a physician who is close friends with two of the deans at a large COM that I want to apply to. He offered to call them both on my behalf (please, that is not trying to think I have a guaranteed in or be arrogant. But from what I have learned, networking and who you know matters).

Any ideas.

Are you reworking the numbers assuming you will get high grades and not factoring the grades of repeats? Seems your numbers are really low. I was in the same boat as you. Just take all the pre-req's over ( I did then all at the same time, organis, reg chem, bio chem, and physics) get A's and that should pull you up more than you think with the grade replacement of the DO world.

You are right that networking is important but if you don't show that you can do the work then all the friends in the world aren't going to help you.

 

[deleted92121]

Are you reworking the numbers assuming you will get high grades and not factoring the grades of repeats? Seems your numbers are really low. I was in the same boat as you. Just take all the pre-req's over ( I did then all at the same time, organis, reg chem, bio chem, and physics) get A's and that should pull you up more than you think with the grade replacement of the DO world.

You are right that networking is important but if you don't show that you can do the work then all the friends in the world aren't going to help you.

Being brutally honest with you and myself, my grades are low. Most of my pre-req grades are Bs with two Cs and one A (in Orgo II, go figure). And that is with a few retakes. My overall sciGPA as it stands now is a 3.0. I do have Biochemistry and A&P I and II on my record as well.

The real problem came from non-science courses. I bounced around schools a lot. I started but never finished and didn't withdrawal. Boy does that hurt a GPA. Still, I am only at a 2.6 for having around 20-25 credits worth of Fs. If I retook those courses, I would have a much higher GPA at around say a 3.2.

Maybe I should just suck it up and retake what I can as time and finances allow.

 

[cabinbuilder]

Being brutally honest with you and myself, my grades are low. Most of my pre-req grades are Bs with two Cs and one A (in Orgo II, go figure). And that is with a few retakes. My overall sciGPA as it stands now is a 3.0. I do have Biochemistry and A&P I and II on my record as well.

The real problem came from non-science courses. I bounced around schools a lot. I started but never finished and didn't withdrawal. Boy does that hurt a GPA. Still, I am only at a 2.6 for having around 20-25 credits worth of Fs. If I retook those courses, I would have a much higher GPA at around say a 3.2.

Maybe I should just suck it up and retake what I can as time and finances allow.

Well, you cannot go back, you can only go forward. You need to strategize the maximize your retakes with the time and finances you have. You need to take over any science class that is a C or below and take as many at the same time you can to proove you can handle the load. Then look at your string of F's and see what would be most beneficial in GPA repair. If you have to choose between a 1 credit library course and a 3 credit math, you take that math since that retake is more beneficial than the single credit. It will take you a little bit to recover. Graduate courses are not going to undo undergrad disaster.

 

[deleted92121]

Well, you cannot go back, you can only go forward. You need to strategize the maximize your retakes with the time and finances you have. You need to take over any science class that is a C or below and take as many at the same time you can to proove you can handle the load. Then look at your string of F's and see what would be most beneficial in GPA repair. If you have to choose between a 1 credit library course and a 3 credit math, you take that math since that retake is more beneficial than the single credit. It will take you a little bit to recover. Graduate courses are not going to undo undergrad disaster.

I will mope about my situation for the next 5...4...3...2...1...0

Okay, time to pick myself up and clean up my past mistakes. Figure out what to retake and go from there. I got this. Just means I may need to wait an extra cycle to apply. Or get the work done in the Summer and take a shot at LECOM since their cutoff is 2.7 or try for an SMP.

 

[cabinbuilder]

Maybe this will make you feel better: My journey in a quick synopsis

Applied 1993
Ended up being homeless the summer of 1993 since my husband spent all our $$, lived in a shack on the tundra for 8 months.
I graduated undergrad with a B.S in biology1994 (7yrs total) my mom died just before
Had a child 1995
Did one year post-bacc myself, did all the pre-req's at once 97-98
Applied Jan 1999
Had 2nd child Feb 1999
Applied Sept 1999
Husband left Oct 1999
Applied June 2000, accepted for class of 2005
Divorce final Jan 2001
Life got in the way, went to post bacc at med school 2001
Graduated with class 2006

I took Orgo I 4 times
I took Orgo II 4 times
I took Physics 4 times.
I took Biochem 4 times.

Sometimes things just don't click until you relax about it. Before the naysayers start bitching me about how I don't deserve to be a doctor. blah, blah, blah. I will just say in my undergrad I had lots of personal issues, parents attempting suicide, abusive husband, working two jobs, etc. There always seemed to be some tragedy happening during these classes. It wasn't until the drama was gone that I was able to focus and do well.

I should add that I took the MCAT 3 times too.
I figure if I did it, anyone can.

 

[cabinbuilder]

I will mope about my situation for the next 5...4...3...2...1...0

Okay, time to pick myself up and clean up my past mistakes. Figure out what to retake and go from there. I got this. Just means I may need to wait an extra cycle to apply. Or get the work done in the Summer and take a shot at LECOM since their cutoff is 2.7 or try for an SMP.

LECOM is a good choice to try for since they really look at the entire package and like triumph or hardship type stories. They like a well rounded student body, older student with life experiences.

 

[deleted92121]

Cabinbuilder,

Thank you for your story. It does make me feel better. It has taken me about 7 years to finish my degree as well. I really don't have anything like your reasons for my situation. Grew up moving around from school to school since my folks divorced and then mother divorced the second husband and moved some more. Had no study skills, few friends, and took care of grandparents. Grew up quick, no fun in my younger days. Went off to college, long-term girlfriend left and I just lost it from there. Rarely partied though. Got my medic when I moved back home and tried to go to school but had poor study skills and time management plus full time work. Took me till the past year to get into a somewhat better place. Still not there but working on it. Each semester improves, little by little.

Currently I work every Fri, Sat, Sun each day 12 hours. No real study time there. Took 15 credits and got 3 Bs and 2 Cs. Not great, very average. But I improve each semester.

If I can get to a 2.8 overall and 3.1 science with at least a 30 MCAT, I will apply to LECOM. I have great EC such as research, theatre, and volunteering. Plus my 8 years in EMS and 2 years in a Level II trauma center. Maybe it will work.

Thank you again for your support.