Have low GPA, but want to try pre-med again. Any suggestions?

[Biology4Life84]

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Took me 4 years to get a bachelors degree in Biology from a state school. My overall gpa is like 3.0 and my science gpa is even lower, at least a 2.7.

School was difficult, I wanted to give up on getting the degree because it was hard for me to learn 5 or 6 different subjects at once. I mainly memorized as much as I could to get by and had a system by my senior year for studying for tests. I consistently scored at least a "B" on exams...But this system was more or less "cramming."

I want to be a doctor, but I have not proved myself academically.

Before I can even think of being a doctor. It seems that I need to go back and take the core pre-med courses again. I can do this at a community college and save a lot of money. What do you think about this?

I would consider D.O. school and have a relative who is one. I shadowed him in college.

Would it be possible for me to study just for the MCAT and not even go back to school? It seems that there is a lot of prep material that could help me. Could I apply to D.O. school with a MCAT score of 28 or higher?

I took the MCAT back in college around 8 years ago and scored 17.

I've heard before that being a doctor is a "calling" and that it is very hard to be good at. Im currently 29 years old so I have a lot of time to study and grow. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Dr Tony T. Chopper]

I would take a look at the underdawgs thread to see where you stand compared to other folks who have stats that are considered on the lower end of the spectrum. Considering your sgpa, it might be a wise choice to take some hard courses and perform well to show ADCOMs you have a mastery on those as well. The struggle will be proving that you will be ready for what lies ahead.

 

[Biology4Life84]

Thank You for the reply Dr. Tony T. Chopper. Looking back at my transcript I did have several deadly c's in upper level bio courses. I did have some B's and even had to retake Biochem, only managed a C the second time around. But my grade was like a 78. Compared to being in the 50s the first time.

I feel like I should start taking pre-med courses again. But you also bring up a good point. Those higher lvl science courses were harder at the time.

 

[hallowmann]

Thank You for the reply Dr. Tony T. Chopper. Looking back at my transcript I did have several deadly c's in upper level bio courses. I did have some B's and even had to retake Biochem, only managed a C the second time around. But my grade was like a 78. Compared to being in the 50s the first time.

I feel like I should start taking pre-med courses again. But you also bring up a good point. Those higher lvl science courses were harder at the time.

This is probably the answer. You need to bring your sGPA above a 3.0 and get >28 on the MCAT. If you do that, you have a much better shot. [edited]

Your best and fastest bet would be retake any pre-med courses that you got <B in, then to retake any other sub-B sciences and take the MCAT. You could probably do it in 1 year if you strategically retake courses. Your first goal needs to be making sure that both of your GPAs are above 3.0, just to make it past the cutoff screens for a LOT of DO schools. Then you should really be aiming to get as close to 3.2/3.3 as possible. You also need to aim for the best score you can get on the MCAT (preferable 28+), but only take it after you are consistently getting at or above your target on practice tests.

Your situation isn't really bad, but you need to take the retakes and do well on them to really know if you have a shot. I strongly recommend against applying before your GPA is >3.0, because honestly its usually a waste of money and just not worth it. Good luck!

 

[Temperature101]

Thank You for the reply Dr. Tony T. Chopper. Looking back at my transcript I did have several deadly c's in upper level bio courses. I did have some B's and even had to retake Biochem, only managed a C the second time around. But my grade was like a 78. Compared to being in the 50s the first time.

I feel like I should start taking pre-med courses again. But you also bring up a good point. Those higher lvl science courses were harder at the time.

You should to retake the prerequites that you had C+ or lower and try to get at least B+ on them... Then retake biochem along with 3+ upper division like genetics or A&P etc... If you manage to get at B+ and some As in all these classes, your GPAs will likely increase because of DO grade replacement policy... Then a 25+ MCAT will give you a decent shot a some low tier DO schools. I know one person that had identical GPAs like yours and was able to repair it in two semesters of full time classes. That person got a couple acceptances this cycle with 3.2+ c/sGPA and 26 MCAT.

 

[DocWinter]

Good advice given here, Bioforlife. You need that GPA up, you know that.

Starting with anything a C or below, retake those pre reqs and get as many A's as possible. You'll see dramatic changes due to DO grade replacement.

Yes, 28 MCAT is regarded as quality by admissions.

 

[cabinbuilder]

I was in your shoes. I went back at age 29 and re-took all my pre-req's at the same time (Chem I/II, Org I/II, Organic Lab, Phy I/II, biochem) in one year. It didn't seem so hard the next time around. I got a 3.8 overall that year. Then took the MCAT. Then applied. It took me 3 applications before I got accepted.

 

[Biology4Life84]

Thank you all for the replies. It means a lot.

 

[WesternRedCedar]

" 3+ upper division like genetics or A&P etc"

Why do people call genetics and A&P, upper division? A stand alone Genetics class is 2nd year work at my school, and A&P (the two term standard course) is freshman level.

 

[WalSlave]

" 3+ upper division like genetics or A&P etc"

Why do people call genetics and A&P, upper division? A stand alone Genetics class is 2nd year work at my school, and A&P (the two term standard course) is freshman level.

It completely depends on the undergraduate institution. Those are both 300 level classes at my school and considered upper division. Anatomy is no picnic and I'm glad I wasn't allowed to take it as a freshman...

To the OP, for what it's worth, I can't recall seeing anyone on here get into a DO school with a GPA in the 2's without earning a masters with a 3.7+ or something like that. I'm sure there are a couple of exceptions here and there, but with the way things are becoming more and more competitive, I really don't think you have much of a chance. Definitely take advantage of grade replacement. Gotta really prove that you can handle jumping through the hoops in your classes.

 

[cabinbuilder]

" 3+ upper division like genetics or A&P etc"

Why do people call genetics and A&P, upper division? A stand alone Genetics class is 2nd year work at my school, and A&P (the two term standard course) is freshman level.

genetics at my undergrad was a 300 level course. A&P was a killer 100 level that was not counted as credit for bio majors.. Go figure.

 

[Beargryllz]

You need to retake the science courses with bad grades and a high # of credit hours to make the biggest difference in that GPA. You'll also want at least 28 on the MCAT

You will be an underdog, but if you want it you can get it

 

[alwaysastudent]

I was in your shoes. I went back at age 29 and re-took all my pre-req's at the same time (Chem I/II, Org I/II, Organic Lab, Phy I/II, biochem) in one year. It didn't seem so hard the next time around. I got a 3.8 overall that year. Then took the MCAT. Then applied. It took me 3 applications before I got accepted.

In retrospect, would you have done it again?

 

[cabinbuilder]

In retrospect, would you have done it again?

Yes, absolutely. All day every day. So glad to be out of poverty and have a guaranteed job FOREVER.

 

[alwaysastudent]

Yes, absolutely. All day every day. So glad to be out of poverty and have a guaranteed job FOREVER.

Thanks for your response!

 

[cabinbuilder]

Thanks for your response!

YW, I went from earning 1500/month to making that in 1.5 days. Think about that.

 

[alwaysastudent]

YW, I went from earning 1500/month to making that in 1.5 days. Think about that.

Although I've been down the road of poverty before (grew up in a family of 4 with $20k/year - it was rough to say the least), the potential earning is not a primary motivator for selecting medicine as a career. I'm also interested in knowing how it was like to start a family and having kids when starting a career in medicine at a relatively later age than the traditional student. If you have experience with that, I'd truly appreciate the insight. Thanks again!

 

[cabinbuilder]

Although I've been down the road of poverty before (grew up in a family of 4 with $20k/year - it was rough to say the least), the potential earning is not a primary motivator for selecting medicine as a career. I'm also interested in knowing how it was like to start a family and having kids when starting a career in medicine at a relatively later age than the traditional student. If you have experience with that, I'd truly appreciate the insight. Thanks again!

I had my kids before I went to med school. They were 2 & 5 when I started (I was 32). I personally would never try to have a baby during medical school since I had a lot of complications along the way but many women do it. For me the stability of the job was the motivator since my ex-husband left me with little kids and no money to speak of. I looked at med school and residency no differently than when I was working full time. You get up, you get the kids to school, you go to "work" to come home, make dinner and deal with what you have to around them. I made sure that I had one day a week (Sat) dedicated to them while in school. Residency was nothing as mine was more 7:30 to 5pm every day most months. I didn't have much call and life was pretty easy.

 

[alwaysastudent]

I had my kids before I went to med school. They were 2 & 5 when I started (I was 32). I personally would never try to have a baby during medical school since I had a lot of complications along the way but many women do it. For me the stability of the job was the motivator since my ex-husband left me with little kids and no money to speak of. I looked at med school and residency no differently than when I was working full time. You get up, you get the kids to school, you go to "work" to come home, make dinner and deal with what you have to around them. I made sure that I had one day a week (Sat) dedicated to them while in school. Residency was nothing as mine was more 7:30 to 5pm every day most months. I didn't have much call and life was pretty easy.

Wow, you went through a lot and managed to persevere and succeed - I really admire that! I was just searching for older threads a moment ago, and I noticed some people do have kids through med school and residency, but the fact that you did all that while being a single mom is simply amazing. Thanks for sharing your story and for the inspiration!

 

[cabinbuilder]

Wow, you went through a lot and managed to persevere and succeed - I really admire that! I was just searching for older threads a moment ago, and I noticed some people do have kids through med school and residency, but the fact that you did all that while being a single mom is simply amazing. Thanks for sharing your story and for the inspiration!

I didn't do it as a single mom. My current husband was with me and played a big part but still, it was hard but I'm glad every day that I did it.

 

[alwaysastudent]

I didn't do it as a single mom. My current husband was with me and played a big part but still, it was hard but I'm glad every day that I did it.

Still very impressive, nonetheless, as parenting is one of the most difficult jobs. I truly appreciate the insight, as I'm in the process of putting together a plan for how to approach the next few years. Thanks again for everything, you've been a huge help!

 

[GUH]

OP: when you go back to school, be extremely careful not to overload your courses. This is a very, very common pitfall made by premeds and med schools don't care about how many units you took per semester if you got bad grades. Only take as many classes as you can earn A's in, not a unit more. Definitely no more than 2 science courses at once. If you ace those, only then consider loading it up more.

 

[gumdrops]

I had my kids before I went to med school. They were 2 & 5 when I started (I was 32). I personally would never try to have a baby during medical school since I had a lot of complications along the way but many women do it. For me the stability of the job was the motivator since my ex-husband left me with little kids and no money to speak of. I looked at med school and residency no differently than when I was working full time. You get up, you get the kids to school, you go to "work" to come home, make dinner and deal with what you have to around them. I made sure that I had one day a week (Sat) dedicated to them while in school. Residency was nothing as mine was more 7:30 to 5pm every day most months. I didn't have much call and life was pretty easy.

Let's face it...you're a rock star. You managed to pave the way so that your kids would never want for anything and you did it while being a committed, caring parent. I realize more and more from reading these forums that I have very little to complain about and had it so much easier than my peers. It's really humbling.

 

[cabinbuilder]

Let's face it...you're a rock star. You managed to pave the way so that your kids would never want for anything and you did it while being a committed, caring parent. I realize more and more from reading these forums that I have very little to complain about and had it so much easier than my peers. It's really humbling.

Um, NO I AM NOT. Just was exceptionally motivated due to my personal circumstance. I would never expect anyone to be like me or walk in my shoes.

 

[Biology4Life84]

I've read that community colleges are really not what the professional schools like when reapplying as a nontrad. It seems that I must be able to compete with the best students at the state university level.

Does anybody know what their status was as a student when retaking classes at a particular university? Is it non degree/auditor status? Or is there a post-baccalaureate status? I just want to make sure I do get a grade for retaking the courses.

Another thing, it seems that when planning to become a doctor, you must be thinking about every step of the way. I like the Osteopathic route because many of the schools do grade replacement. But what concerns me is, how do you know what residency is right for you? Does it become apparent by your 4th year of school? Or are there med students who do not get residencies that they desire? Or is there a committee that decides your residency fate?

 

[Hakuna Matata]

I've read that community colleges are really not what the professional schools like when reapplying as a nontrad. It seems that I must be able to compete with the best students at the state university level.

I took a year's worth of pre-req courses at a community college and it was never brought up during any of my interviews. I don't think it's necessarily frowned upon anymore- at least not at many of the DO schools.

 

[GUH]

I've read that community colleges are really not what the professional schools like when reapplying as a nontrad. It seems that I must be able to compete with the best students at the state university level.

Does anybody know what their status was as a student when retaking classes at a particular university? Is it non degree/auditor status? Or is there a post-baccalaureate status? I just want to make sure I do get a grade for retaking the courses.

Another thing, it seems that when planning to become a doctor, you must be thinking about every step of the way. I like the Osteopathic route because many of the schools do grade replacement. But what concerns me is, how do you know what residency is right for you? Does it become apparent by your 4th year of school? Or are there med students who do not get residencies that they desire? Or is there a committee that decides your residency fate?

In my n=1 experience, doing postbac courses at a CC did not hurt my application since I did very well in them. The CC was never brought up in any of the six DO interviews I attended.
Again, do not try to take hard classes right now. You need to get A's first.
Most med students have some idea of what they want to do by the time they finish rotations, but not everyone. Yes, there are some med students who do not get residencies that they desire (not everyone can become a dermatologist). The residency that you are matched to is determined by which residencies you've indicated that you want to attend, and by the admissions committees at whatever programs you ranked. You can increase your chances of being admitted to your preferred program by doing well on board exams, doing well on rotations (especially if you do an audition rotation at your desired program), having strong references and/or connections with the program, publications in your field and to a lesser extent solid preclinical grades. This is true in both the MD and the DO world.

 

[Goro]

Nope, you sure haven't.

I want to be a doctor, but I have not proved myself academically.

Excellent plan.

Before I can even think of being a doctor. It seems that I need to go back and take the core pre-med courses again. I can do this at a community college and save a lot of money. What do you think about this?

Vwery foolish idea. Your GPAs are not competitive for any medical school, MD or DO. You need to get the sGPA > 3.0, and the cGPA > 3.0. Just retake all F/D/C science coursework and watch AACOMAS' grade replacement policy do its magic.

Would it be possible for me to study just for the MCAT and not even go back to school? It seems that there is a lot of prep material that could help me. Could I apply to D.O. school with a MCAT score of 28 or higher?

That should tell you something. I trust you're older and wiser now?
I took the MCAT back in college around 8 years ago and scored 17.

NOT true!

I've read that community colleges are really not what the professional schools like when reapplying as a nontrad. It seems that I must be able to compete with the best students at the state university level.