Help me figure out I am if on the right path to medical school

[docjn2002]

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This is my first post, so I apologize if this is too much information or if it too long.

During summer I have had the wonderful opportunity to volunteer in a research lab at the University of Oregon. During that time I realized that I enjoy research which made me look into medical specialties that would allow me to maintain patient contact but would also allow me to do some research, whether that was clinical or even basic research. Because of these requirements I have begin to look into such medical specialties such as neurology or oncology. It is also for this reason that I strongly wish to go to a school in Texas. Why Texas you ask? Because should I enter medicine, I hope to do research in the areas of neuroscience and oncology and Texas is know for being strong in these two areas, especially cancer biology, where M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, is considered by many to be one of the top research centers when it comes to cancer treatment and care. On top of that Texas has a large number schools that do a verity of research all within one state and these schools have tuitions that reasonably priced.

The problem I have is that I don?t have Texas residency and I have a low GPA and MCAT. Below you will find details of why I won?t get into a Texas medical school as of right now. Directly below that are the steps that I will take to improve my application including a time-line. Directly below is a .zip folder attachment containing a break down of my grades in excel format, so that you can get a better idea of my grade trend. It is my hope that by taking year off after gradation to establish residency in Texas and then moving on to take a post-bac in Texas, that I can raise my GPA and MCAT scores to get an acceptance to a school in Texas, (hopefully UT-Houston since they are connected, it appears to M.D. Anderson but hell with my GPA and MCAT I?ll be glad to get into any school.)

So what I need from you is advice as to whether the plan I have come up with will work or not or if I should consider other ideas. I know you guys have way more experience then me when come to Post-bacs and I appreciate what ever advice you can give me even if it?s to flame me for posting an essay . Another thing, is that this post isn?t about boosting my ego and telling not me worry if I?ll get into medical school or not. This post is to ensure that I am not being too optimistic about my chances and that any steps I take on way medical school are made with a clear understanding of the disadvantages and advantages that come my choices. In other word give me all advice you got and don?t be afraid to ask for more information or flame me, any advice is welcome. Thanks again to whom ever will have the time and energy to read my post and reply to it.

Why I won?t get into a Texas medical school​

1. Low GPA: Overall: 3.42, Science: 3.27. (Unfortunately my grade trend isn?t positive) Look below at my excel attachment to see what I mean. On the other hand I only have 2 C?s and the rest are B?s and A?s if that counts for anything.

2. Low MCAT: 28Q = BS10, PS 9, V 9

3. One of disadvantages for me is that Texas seems to consider GPA to be far more important then MCAT, so even if my MCAT scores are above average it still doesn?t give a better chance of getting in because I will not have a high enough GPA.

4. I graduated from the University of Oregon.
a. This is disadvantage because I didn?t graduate from a Texas college and so will work against me since most Texas medical schools feed from colleges in Texas.
b. While the University of Oregon is a great school, the name of my school won?t help me like Harvard would.

5. I lack good EC: I have only started to work in a lab. On the bright side I have shadowed two doctors and volunteer at hospitals, but of course every pre-med on planet has, so that won?t help me.

How am I going to fix this?​

Step 1:
? Try to take easy class my senior year to boost me overall GPA and allow me to concentrate on upper level Biology classes to improve science GPA.
? Improve MCAT scores from 28 to at least a 31.
? Improve EC by volunteering at Local clinic that gives medical care to the poor.
? Find at least one doctor to shadow and try to get a LOR.

Step 2:
? Move to Texas after graduating from the University of Oregon.
? Find work in a research lab and work full time in that lab for a year to get Texas residency.

Step 3:
? While working in this research lab take at least one class a term at a local community college to improve overall GPA.

Step 4:
? After getting residency in Texas, apply and hopefully get into the Post-baccalaureate Premedical Certification Program at the University Of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth. http://www.hsc.unt.edu/education/gsbs/disciplines.cfm#postbac

Step 5:
? Apply to Texas Medical schools in 2007. Hopefully get in!

Step 6:
? If not in complete the Post-baccalaureate Premedical Certification Program for a masters in clinical research and get a job and continue to take college classes to improve GPA and apply again until accepted into any medical school. (Hell if don?t get in by then I?ll probably go to any medical that will take me.)

Timeline​

Fall 2004- Spring 2005:
? Try to improve overall GPA to 3.5 and Science to 3.3 by taking easy classes so that I can concentrate on my 400-level Biology classes. Retake the MCAT and aim to improve from a 28 to at least 30 or 31. Improve EC and get an LOR from a physician.

Summer 2005- Spring 2006:
? Work full time in a research lab to gain Texas residency and then take evening community college classes to improve GPA and in the beginning of 2006 apply for Post-baccalaureate Premedical Certification Program at UNTHC. Also look to see if it is necessary to retake the MCAT for a third and final time and aim for at least a 33.

Summer 2007:
? Begin Post-baccalaureate Premedical Certification Program at UNTHC. http://www.hsc.unt.edu/education/gsbs/disciplines.cfm#postbac

June 2008:
? Apply for medical school in Texas.

August 2009:
? Hopefully start medical school.

Advantages of this plan
(This is what should happen.)​

1. The Post-bac will allow me to improve my science GPA to a 3.5 and overall 3.8 and by doing it at a Texas medical school will hopefully show that I want to a medical school in Texas.
2. Gives me more chances to improve my MCAT score.
3. I will have residency by then.

Disadvantages of this plan
(Hopefully this doesn?t happen.)​

4. If I screw up the Post-bac I will be in an even worse hole the one I am currently in.
5. Gives me more chances to f@%k-up my MCAT score.
6. I will have residency by then, but what good will do me if MCAT and GPA suck.


What my profile may look like in 2008:
(If I do things right)

Over all GPA: 3.8
Science: 3.5
MCAT > 31

I also have some more specific questions.

? I would appreciate any information you have about Premedical Certification Program at the University Of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth in terms of whether it help application and also what average GPA and MCAT were for those Programs and if I have shot at being accepted to this program with my current GPA and MCAT scores. I know that this program has been talked about so I'll look around to find the old thread.

? Are there any other programs like the one at UNTHSC in Texas? If there are, I haven?t been able to find them for some reason. Also include the web addresses I look all over the web.

? Also one reason that I like the program at UNTHSC much more fixed program in that already know classes I am going to take. If I were to plan this at a university like UT-Houston, how would I design a post-bac or do universities like UT-Houston already have post-bac program set up for people like me.

 

[Fermata]

It sounds like a good plan.

Go for it.

 

[chiripero]

I was looking at your GPA calculation and I noticed that you included your high school grades. The medical school application doesn't require you to do that, you CAN put your high school record on the app but even so your high school and undergrad GPAs will be calculated seperately. I went ahead and recalculated your undergrad GPA, it improves to a 3.52 overall and 3.31 in science. Something that alarmed me when I read your post is that it seems as if you're actually planning to take the MCAT several times. DONT DO THAT unless you are completely sure that you can at least get a 28 again. It just seems to me that you're drowning yourself in a glass of water if you know what I mean. So far you have SLIGHTLY below average numbers for most schools but I bet you're a fine candidate for more than a handfull of schools. PLUS, you still have an entire year of undergrad to go. This gives you a chance to improve your GPA/MCAT to an above-average-for-premed status. My advice to you is forget about that crazy plan that'll cost you way too much time, talk to a premed advisor and apply to medical school summer 2005. You could of course apply to post-bacc programs during the same application cycle as you apply to medical schools as well as to osteopathic schools to make sure that you get in somewhere. Seriously though, seek advice from someone in a premed office. Best Wishes,
Chiripa.

 

[HydroxylGroupOH]

Your stats are NOT that low; apply and stop whining about it; you can certainly get accepted to a medical school with your numbers.

 

[docjn2002]

HydroxylGroupOH

Sorry if I sounded like I was whining, it just that I don't want overly optimistic about chances because I tend to do that quite a lot and a large part of the academic errors I have made have come from being too optimistic about how will I could handle the course load. While I read of people having gotten in with stats like mine they may some thing going for them I don't. Anyway what I guess I am trying to say is that I would rather err on the side of caution. I had hoped I was being realistic in my chances. I guess need to lighten up and bring back my optimistic side. 🙂

chiripero

You made some good points. The reason I have included my grades from high school are that I received college credit for those classes from Portland State University and because I got college credit I think I have to report those classes. Also, now that I think about it I only plan taking the MCAT 3 times at most. I'll look over what I wrote again I don?t think I said I was going to retake the MCAT seven times!! I think that error was writing this at 1 AM in morning on caffeine high. I guess your right about the downing glass thing, now that I think about it. I guess I was being pessimistic it was sort of a downer because I come off of a real tough spring term which made me sort of question myself and calculating my grades for first time made me realize that my chances are not as good as I had thought they were.

Also, I have been thinking about doing MD/PHD, which means that to even have a shot at these program I must raise my GPA to at least 3.7 and an MCAT of at least 35 which is one reason I wish take post-bac. But I would also be happy with a MD or DO since there are many who great research, it's just that MD/PHD would be a great opportunity get medical education and a strong background in research methods that would help if I want into research and saves time. I guess I could get a phd after I got the MD but I can ask my advisor about this. One final thing, I think I will follow your advice chiripero and apply in 2005.

Will anyway thanks guys for the advice. Your guys are right about things not being as bad as they seem, I just need get my head together. I'll try and talk to my advisor ASAP.

 

[Assembler]

This is very excessive. You are going off your rocker. I know that you seem to be persistent in wanting to go to a school in texas, but you are going to apply 3 years from now?! Are you kidding me?! By the time that you would enter (2009), you could have probably already been finished (assuming you apply now).

I really want to ask you the question of, why does it exactly matter so much which medical school you go to? I know Texas has very strict policies, and that yes, there may be an extra component that they specifically pursue (ie. your research interest), but you are better off applying for a residency in a Texas hospital after medical school. You will most likely get it, versus going through all this trouble just to improve your GPA, retake the MCAT, improve your EC's, establish a Texas residency, and then applying. That's overkill. You are stressing this process to the maximum. You have pretty solid numbers on your MCAT, and all you need to do with your GPA is just take a few more science classes, possibly repeating the ones you got C's in if you need to do so. In a year to do that, you could get a lot of EC's done.

I would advise you to rethink your entire plan. I don't mean to "flame" you, but personally, I think you have really gone overboard.

 

[911Med]

It will have taken you longer to type that monsterous post than it would to site down and just start applying.

Quit writing novels on SDN and apply.

Your stats are stronger than you think.

 

[docjn2002]

Now that I've had more time to think about it I guess your right. It is little over board. I guess a lot thinking to to do. I am setting up a time to talk to my advisor about this. Will thank anyway advice and for even knock some sense into me.

Oh yeah one final question I have is if possible to delate me thread. I think I'll probably getting reponses like Assembler's which I appricate because more think about I really need to see advisor and think this through clearly so I guess may outlived usefullness if since I need to do way more thinking about my goals. Now that I've had more time to think about it I guess your right. It?s overkill. I guess understatement to say that I have a lot more thinking to do. I am setting up a time to talk to my advisor about this. Thank for the advice everyone and for even knocking some sense into me.

One final question I have to ask if whether if it would be possible to delete my thread. I think I'll probably be getting Reponses like Assembler's which I appreciate because I don?t mind being flamed because you guys are right, I do need to do some more thinking and probably drop this plan. I guess that the reason I wish to close this thread because it may have outlived its usefulness since plans have changed.

If it isn?t possible to close this thread I am fine with that. I?ll leave the post up and allow anyone else to comment but for the most part I have realized that this is overboard and have most part decided to drop this plan until I?ve had a chance to talk to my advisor like chiripero recommended.

I guess the take home message from my first thread is to not go overboard (Assembler), talk to your advisor to ensure you not going overboard (chiripero), stop whining (HydroxylGroupOH), and just go for it and apply (Fermata and 911Med) . 😎 Oh yeah it also help me in the future not to type me posts at 1 AM in morning when I?ve only had 3 hours of sleep the other night before, I am on a caffeine high, and I?ve been fired from my job. 🙄

 

[Wednesday]

I know you're trying to delete the thread, but I thought of one thing you might not be aware of. Sometimes students can start out as a straight MD student and add the PhD part (as in enter the MD/PhD program) after their first year. You might not get the funding for some of it, or it might be harder to get funding, but I think that people do this. Might be something to look into.

 

[chiripero]

what's your first language?

 

[VPDcurt]

If that isn't the right path, I don't know what the hell is.

 

[DrHuang]

orgo really bit u in the ass! anyways, get a higher MCAT, forget the job, get a postbacc in texas and get residency, then apply after ur done with postbacc and u get residency.

ull be fine!