Guiding advice

[snulma1]

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Everyone on here has their own story and situation, and im no different. But to sum mine up. I had 2 terrible years of college my fresh. and soph. years (illness, trouble due to a drug dealing roommate, coupled with immaturity) put me waaayyy behind the eight ball. My last 2 years got graded on a steep scale (100-93=A, 92-85=B...etc.) So when all was said and done, I graduated from Univ of MD in 02 with a GPA of 2.48. I never thought I had the intelligence to become a doctor, and after those 4 years I kinda felt like the school had proven that to me.

I then spent the next 5 years working as a critical care paramedic for a major hospital in MD, and loved it. But I finally realized that I did have the ability, and even more, the desire to become a physician. So I got a new job closer to my family in NY to allow me to save money and allow me to go back to school.

I have done well in my post-bacc so far GPA of 3.83 (Bio 1&2, Chem 1&2) and soon to be finishing up physics 1. I know my original GPA is going to be a huge obstacle, but is my only way to overcome that by taking more and more undergrad classes to get my GPA over a 3.0? As for extracurriculars, I feel like I have a decent amount (Volunteer EMT/Paramedic for over 10 yrs, traveled to Belarus to provide humanitarian aid, president of my fraternity, was asked to be a TA for Bio out of a class of 705 students...etc).

I just don't know what else if anything, I can do to show that I'm a different person then I was 10 yrs ago. I have no problem with going to a carribean med school (as long as its one of the top 4). Anybody have any advice? Thanks!

 

[montessori2md]

1) the solution to pollution is dilution.
2) Kill the MCAT.

That's pretty much it.

Particularly as much water has gone under the bridge, I wouldn't dwell on the causes of your previous GPA as long as you have learned how not to repeat that. I would also not be overly excited about applying until you have seen your GPA in physics and organic. And make sure that all of your new coursework is at a school with a good reputation, so that it is clear that your grades were hard-earned.

Your experiences are fine. Just show that you are capable of managing a busy schedule, and be able to talk about your experiences.

 

[nontrdgsbuiucmd]

I just don't know what else if anything, I can do to show that I'm a different person then I was 10 yrs ago. I have no problem with going to a carribean med school (as long as its one of the top 4). Anybody have any advice? Thanks!

All else equal, I'd see if it's possible to pull that GPA up (the overall GPA that is), maybe 3.1 or higher? I've heard a handful of people being accepted at that level, presuming solid MCAT performance. (solid being low-mid 30s)

Unfortunately for us older folk, my experience is that schools often use gpa from 10 years ago as well as mcat scores to cull their list from, say 5,000 applicants to 1,000 or fewer; they just cut out everyone with gpa below x & mcat below y. Regardless of how many years it's been, it's just more doable for a 5 person admissions office to read 1,000 applications rather than 5,000.

You'd likely be best off at a school without a high cutoff, which'd most likely be a private school, possibly one in a city that fewer people would flock to (i.e. skip california & east coast). I heard that from one selective midwest school; they have a large enough admin office to read all applications rather than apply the broad stroke cutoff.

One area not mentioned in your app that many schools mentioned as critical -- community volunteer experience, probably in your case it'd be better if this were non-medically related given you've got lots of clinical experience already.

Final note - buy the current MSAR or check it out from the library (available at www.aamc.org for $30 or so including shipping), research which schools seem the best fit, call those schools (if you do this fast you may reach them, they'll be swamped with 2009 applicants before long) and ask what they think, preferably speak with a dean of admissions about your situation.

best of luck!

 

[snulma1]

All else equal, I'd see if it's possible to pull that GPA up (the overall GPA that is), maybe 3.1 or higher? I've heard a handful of people being accepted at that level, presuming solid MCAT performance. (solid being low-mid 30s)

Unfortunately for us older folk, my experience is that schools often use gpa from 10 years ago as well as mcat scores to cull their list from, say 5,000 applicants to 1,000 or fewer; they just cut out everyone with gpa below x & mcat below y. Regardless of how many years it's been, it's just more doable for a 5 person admissions office to read 1,000 applications rather than 5,000.

You'd likely be best off at a school without a high cutoff, which'd most likely be a private school, possibly one in a city that fewer people would flock to (i.e. skip california & east coast). I heard that from one selective midwest school; they have a large enough admin office to read all applications rather than apply the broad stroke cutoff.

One area not mentioned in your app that many schools mentioned as critical -- community volunteer experience, probably in your case it'd be better if this were non-medically related given you've got lots of clinical experience already.

best of luck!

Im not looking to go to a private school, I'm happy with a state school, if I would be accepted in the US. I've even considered SGU or Ross. But of course i'd prefer to stay stateside. I live in NY, so I know as a resident I would get some preference at some schools, but thats if I can make it past their GPA cutoff. I don't think getting my GPA above a 3.1 is possible. Just because I have over 145 credits with that GPA, so it would take a long time, and I don't think I can afford that.

And as for community volunteer experience, I know my EMS volunteer was community based, but as you said, non-medical. I also am still a member of organization that provides foreign aid to the republic of Belarus (part of former soviet union, hard hit by chernobyl). But im not sure if that would be significant.

thanks for the help!

 

[NTF]

I know it seems like a weird suggestion, but have you considered moving and establishing residency in a state that has a nearly all in-state medical school? The problem with populous states like CA and NY is that schools in those states either have no instate bias or there's just so many instate applicants that it doesn't really feel like an advantage. There are some states (you'll have to do the research where) where they have a medical school that takes no OOS or almost no OOS applicants. I live in Ohio and we have three. Wright State and NEOCOM heavily favor instate applicants. U of Toledo moderately favors instate applicants. Plus Ohio also has a very good DO school to at OU. Ohio is actually a great state to be a resident in as far as medical school. We have three mid-tier med schools in OSU, U of Cincy, and Case Western, and three lower tier (but still excellent schools) med schools. You can get a job at one of the mid tier schools to build strong ties to that program. Plus OSU which is a top 30 med school is a state school so you can get instate tuition.

There are somethings you can do to try to beat that low GPA in undergrad.

1. kickass on the MCAT (34+ and balanced)
2. get some inpatient/outpatient setting experience. While EMT stuff is cool, you'll really show your balance by working with patients in a hospital, clinic, or ECF setting. Primary care in rural poor or urban poor settings is a major plus for some schools.
3. Try to get some clinical or biomed research experience.
4. Get some teaching/tutoring experience. Innercity or rural poor tutoring is very good. TAing college is ok, but volunteer tutoring of kids is better.
5. Focus on DO schools and getting a ton of shadowing time with DO docs.

Good luck! I'll be rooting for you.