Help me please!

[JD Penguin]

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I've done a ridiculous amount of lurking in this forum, but I still feel as though I could still use some good 'ol fashioned SDN advice - here's the situation:

I'm a 3rd year Philosophy major with a current 2.8 UG GPA @ UC Davis.
I finished all my pre-med requirements except 1yr. of OCHEM and 1 yr. of Basic Biology. I had planned on taking these next year here at UC Davis. The pre-med courses are what dragged my GPA down. I'd like to reverse this. I have also yet to take the MCAT. I plan on doing that after my bachelors.

My question:

there are two routes I could take...critique them and tell me the best option...one of these was reccomended by my premed advisor, the other by my college advisor guess who reccomended what...I'm pretty sure sdn knows the answer and more to this question....

Option #1:

• Take 4th year non-major remaining pre-med courses (ochem, bio, stats, xxx) at CC in planning to bring my GPA above 3.0
• Come back to UC Davis Summer Sessions and take Genetics and Biochemistry to add some post-bac flavored upper-div courses that I lack
• Finish off an extra fall quarter to make up for 16 units of senior status graduation-requiremrnt (i.e. 16 units of fluff and BS to get that GPA up...because the college demands it to make my degree authentic, not because I wanted it, it doesn't have to necessarily be fluff though.) My UG GPA at this point will at least be above a 3.2 hopefully. We'll see what happens...this is a best case scenario.
• During the fluff quarter and beyond I will study my ass off for the MCAT and prepare to apply for the SMPs upon recieving my grades in the early winter time whatever.

Option #2:

• Stay at davis and finish the bio, ochem, stats, and maybe have my GPA rise up a little bit (maybe 2.9, if I'm lucky) or more probably go down (ochem is a bitch here...I'm sure it is everywhere...but it's still a bitch here...most classes have a test avg. of 28....with like 500+ people). So if my UG GPA goes down here...I'm kind of ****ed...a 2.6 is not acceptable...even if I did my work here right? I mean...my "doppleganger" so to speak, if he was alive and applying to med school would say "damn...my doppleganger is really good at getting his GPA back up"
• Add some post-bac work in genetics and A&P and biochemistry during summers sessions, fall quarter, whatever...hope that my gpa magically hits the 3.0 mark.
• study vigorously for the mcat until it comes time to prepare for the fall hiring process for SMPs. I'm looking at Drexel, MAMS...anything easy to get into, basically...not that they are...just those easy ones relative to someone with a 3.9 and 44Q.

Which option do you think I should take? And if you could make it a better plan, what would you do to make it more fool-proof? I'm looking for any help...I'm desperate for advice and I need to sign for up classes soon.

 

[JD Penguin]

Bumpity bump....I know the postbac forum can help me out here...this whole situation has put me in a tight pickle...and I'm seriously having to consider whether or not my life will change....any help or advice would be appreciated...hell, I wouldn't even mind opinions...

 

[JD Penguin]

Everyone seems to be really excited about acceptances and stuff....*sigh*

 

[deleted248403]

Its poor etiquette to bump your own thread twice in one day

 

[JD Penguin]

Sorry about ignoring the folkway here robflanker... however, I've noticed several threads in the postbac forum that have gone unanswered and systematically ignored for months. So I don't feel as though I'm being cavalier in this situation. But I do appreciate your concern. You could have even offered me your opinion regarding my situation...I'm sure I would have gained much from hearing about your experience with regards to where I am right now...instead I got your 2 cents regarding a meaningless internet "rule." Give me a break.

 

[DrMidlife]

Sorry about ignoring the folkway here robflanker... however, I've noticed several threads in the postbac forum that have gone unanswered and systematically ignored for months. So I don't feel as though I'm being cavalier in this situation. But I do appreciate your concern. You could have even offered me your opinion regarding my situation...I'm sure I would have gained much from hearing about your experience with regards to where I am right now...instead I got your 2 cents regarding a meaningless internet "rule." Give me a break.

Yeah I was going to offer advice but now I'm over it. 4 hour old thread.

 

[deleted248403]

JD - no need for the attitude. This forum isnt as fast paced as others so sometimes you need to be patient. People aren't typically dying to dive in help someone who bumps their own thread multiple times in one day, if it goes unresponded to for a couple of days I can understand that. The attitude doesnt make people want to reach out either

People will post their thoughts if they think they have something to add. If they don't or feel that they can't help you - they won't. It's as simple as that.

I feel I can't help you much as I know nothing of the West Coast schools as and their rigor. I can tell you MAMS is not easy to get into. CC would always be a last resort in my mind as 4-yr bachelor institutions (fair or not) are regarded as more respectable.

*edit after initial post - see what I mean DrMidlife typically offers their advice around the place and JD you get what you deserve*

 

[JD Penguin]

Sure, I understand the slow paced nature of this forum, but I also realize that there a lot of people viewing it at the same time...a quick look at the number of threads on the front page that are active can tell you that...I didn't assume I was hurting anybody by bumping twice. It may be annoying, sure, but it got your attention. I'm not spamming here: I have a legitimate question.

I'm not forcing people to respond, I just want to create a situation in which those who do see my thread, and are interested, will be more likely to post. If that bothers you or is annoying to you, then I'm sorry. I in no way intended for that to happen.

Drmidlife - I cannot glean a reason for your attempt to get a rise out of me. Because, in the end, I respect your opinion, and I have learned a lot from your posts around here, grumpy as they tend to sound. And I'm not here to grovel to anyone, rob, so if drmidlife doesn't want to give me his/her advice, I 'm not going to force him/her, this is utterly voluntary - that is the nature of the beast, I'm just trying to milk it for what it's worth.


All I can say is: It's too bad 4 hours have passed.

 

[Allopathic13]

JD I would say do everything and anything to get that GPA above a 3.0...it makes getting into post baccs easier and it's absolutely essential for getting into a US based medical school.

 

[KiwiBruin]

Try staying as a 5th year and getting your GPA up to a 3.0. Also rock the MCAT and apply to SMPs. I think if you did all this, you will have a good chance of getting into a SMP. Also, don't take your classes at a community college. You have to prove you can do some science! (CC will look like you took the easy way out and look really bad for you). And honestly, if you have the passion and the ambition, how hard can a little ochem be? If you are serious about getting into SMPs and medical school, devote some time into studying for O chem and I don't think you can get lower than a B. (if it is super hard for you, spend some money and hire a tutor or maybe your school offers free tutoring) This isn't the time to take it easy. Just my opinion.
I don't know how accurate this is, but from reading the forums for the past 6 months, this is what I gathered.

If what you say if true, by the end of your 4th year + 1 quarter = 3.2 GPA, then if you stay the whole year, you might be able to get 3.3+. This would make you competitive at DOs for sure (with a decent MCAT) and maybe if you applyed really broadly and had good ECs/MCAT you can get in to some MDs without a SMP. I would think that a SMP or Medical school would be way harder than just Ochem. Reminds me of this cilche, "when the going gets tough, the tough get going!" good luck~