Help Needed, What can I possibly do now?

[Bearcat2310]

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Hi Everyone,
First time poster, looking for some possible answers and even a reality check if need be regarding my current situation towards a possible next step in what to do as I’m chasing my dream to become a doctor like everyone else utilizing this forum.

Stats:
I “attempted” to calculate my stats using Version 4 AMCAS GPA Calculator from Johnny Eguizabal. If someone would like to check my excel file and make sure it’s completely accurate I would not be opposed to it considering this is my first go around at this.

Cumulative Undergraduate AMCAS GPA including Post Bacc. = 3.366

Cumulative Undergraduate AMCAS BCPM GPA including Post Bacc. = 3.084

Cumulative Undergraduate AMCAS “All Other” GPA including Post Bacc. = 3.634

The “Post Bacc” classes were from a CC nearby for a basic grade replacement of past classes I didn’t do well in. No formal Post Bacc or SMP has been attempted yet.

I’ve taken the MCAT once in 2015 with a terrible score that’s even embarrassing to mention below 500. This was due to a lack of preparation, ignorance in scheduling it during a finals week of undergrad and attempting to just “wing it” to see what I was up against clearly wasting a crucial opportunity.

I’ve Graduated from The University of Cincinnati with a Bachelors in HS w/ physiological science concentration in Spring of 2016 with a cumulative GPA of 3.54.

I’m currently an orthopedic technician at a children’s hospital with almost 2 years of direct patient experience. I’ve also shadowed a trauma orthopedic surgeon for approximately 100 hours. I have some volunteering experience maybe 100ish hours with a lupus charity, special Olympics charity, St. Vincent DePaul Food Bank, and research with dynavision & cogsgate for concussions in athletes.

I understand my GPA is nowhere close to being significantly competitive but I’ve also been told continuously attempting to retake classes is essentially pointless due to both the AMCAS and AACOMAS averaging all courses taken. The only positive being that it would show a positive trend in course work where the “A’s” would be seemingly meaningless to admcom. I also understand I need to retake the MCAT which is something I’d like to do by April. I’m VERY WEAK in physics and chemistry in which I do not believe I have the fundamentals down to even enroll in a MCAT Prep Course currently…so my question to everyone is if anything, what can I or what do I have to do from this stand point. Thank you so much ahead of time for anyone gracious enough to respond and guide me in the right direction. I appreciate it.

 

[Moose A Moose]

Uphill battle. Not impossible.

You need to do really well on your next sitting with the MCAT, but you already know that. Time to figure out what the best way for you to hone in on your weaknesses. Video, tutor, more bookwork - take your pick.

The second thing you need to do is form a connection at one of your local medical schools. If you don't have a local med school, like within an hour or so, you're in trouble. You need someone to go to bat for you. Get in good with their admission committee advisor(s).

Ain't gonna be easy, but it's doable. Trust me on that.

 

[rdyotz]

Hi Everyone,
Cumulative Undergraduate AMCAS GPA including Post Bacc. = 3.366

I’ve Graduated from The University of Cincinnati with a Bachelors in HS w/ physiological science concentration in Spring of 2016 with a cumulative GPA of 3.54.

I might be missing something here, but it appears that you had a 3.54 cGPA from undergrad, and then your cGPA dropped to 3.366 after the postbac?

 

[Bearcat2310]

Uphill battle. Not impossible.

You need to do really well on your next sitting with the MCAT, but you already know that. Time to figure out what the best way for you to hone in on your weaknesses. Video, tutor, more bookwork - take your pick.

The second thing you need to do is form a connection at one of your local medical schools. If you don't have a local med school, like within an hour or so, you're in trouble. You need someone to go to bat for you. Get in good with their admission committee advisor(s).

Ain't gonna be easy, but it's doable. Trust me on that.

Thank you for your response! But yes The MCAT to me is seemingly my next step in this process in my opinion...If I can get into the 510+ range it might make up some issues with my GPA but getting to that point is the dilemma that I'm facing considering I'm so weak in Chemistry/Physics. I don't know if it's worth retaking those classes to get a refresher, to attempt a prep course even with an inadequate foundation for those topics, or just to try to self teach myself using Khan Academy and a Content list of topics from the MCAT that are most often tested on...But I do have a few local medical schools seeing as I'm from Ohio...OSU, Wright State, UC (where I graduated from), and even Case Western up in Cleveland. I just don't know how I should go about asking someone to "bat for me". Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Bearcat2310]

I might be missing something here, but it appears that you had a 3.54 cGPA from undergrad, and then your cGPA dropped to 3.366 after the postbac?

My GPA on my transcript from UC is a 3.54....I went to a small private college first, transferred to UC and took a couple Post Bacc courses that I scored A's in at a CC which is what I put into the AMCAS GPA calculator to get the 3.366...like I mentioned above I could've done something wrong mathematically or is it that they'd actually take that 3.54 from UC that i graduated with for undergrad?

 

[Moose A Moose]

Thank you for your response! But yes The MCAT to me is seemingly my next step in this process in my opinion...If I can get into the 510+ range it might make up some issues with my GPA but getting to that point is the dilemma that I'm facing considering I'm so weak in Chemistry/Physics. I don't know if it's worth retaking those classes to get a refresher, to attempt a prep course even with an inadequate foundation for those topics, or just to try to self teach myself using Khan Academy and a Content list of topics from the MCAT that are most often tested on...But I do have a few local medical schools seeing as I'm from Ohio...OSU, Wright State, UC (where I graduated from), and even Case Western up in Cleveland. I just don't know how I should go about asking someone to "bat for me". Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Make an appointment with one of the medical school admission counselors at that respective med school. You need to schmooze. While you’re there, find out a list of events and functions. You need face time. This may sound daunting, but again: they need a face to your name when reviewing that pile of application packets.

Also, you should maybe consider a postbac program/SMP tied to one of those schools. It’d help you transcript as well as bolster you networking ability internally.

 

[Goro]

Hi Everyone,
First time poster, looking for some possible answers and even a reality check if need be regarding my current situation towards a possible next step in what to do as I’m chasing my dream to become a doctor like everyone else utilizing this forum.

Stats:
I “attempted” to calculate my stats using Version 4 AMCAS GPA Calculator from Johnny Eguizabal. If someone would like to check my excel file and make sure it’s completely accurate I would not be opposed to it considering this is my first go around at this.

Cumulative Undergraduate AMCAS GPA including Post Bacc. = 3.366

Cumulative Undergraduate AMCAS BCPM GPA including Post Bacc. = 3.084

Cumulative Undergraduate AMCAS “All Other” GPA including Post Bacc. = 3.634

The “Post Bacc” classes were from a CC nearby for a basic grade replacement of past classes I didn’t do well in. No formal Post Bacc or SMP has been attempted yet.

I’ve taken the MCAT once in 2015 with a terrible score that’s even embarrassing to mention below 500. This was due to a lack of preparation, ignorance in scheduling it during a finals week of undergrad and attempting to just “wing it” to see what I was up against clearly wasting a crucial opportunity.

I’ve Graduated from The University of Cincinnati with a Bachelors in HS w/ physiological science concentration in Spring of 2016 with a cumulative GPA of 3.54.

I’m currently an orthopedic technician at a children’s hospital with almost 2 years of direct patient experience. I’ve also shadowed a trauma orthopedic surgeon for approximately 100 hours. I have some volunteering experience maybe 100ish hours with a lupus charity, special Olympics charity, St. Vincent DePaul Food Bank, and research with dynavision & cogsgate for concussions in athletes.

I understand my GPA is nowhere close to being significantly competitive but I’ve also been told continuously attempting to retake classes is essentially pointless due to both the AMCAS and AACOMAS averaging all courses taken. The only positive being that it would show a positive trend in course work where the “A’s” would be seemingly meaningless to admcom. I also understand I need to retake the MCAT which is something I’d like to do by April. I’m VERY WEAK in physics and chemistry in which I do not believe I have the fundamentals down to even enroll in a MCAT Prep Course currently…so my question to everyone is if anything, what can I or what do I have to do from this stand point. Thank you so much ahead of time for anyone gracious enough to respond and guide me in the right direction. I appreciate it.

Read this:
Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention

 

[Skiiiiiing]

re the MCAT

2018 or not, there have been correspondence courses for ages.

(1) With online, there's no guarantee that the person whose name is on the transcript is actually doing the work.
(2) Offline, you meet other people in class who can be helpful and interesting. It's nice and actually FUN to interact with new smart people.
(3) Face-to-face and direct questions to a professor make recommendations and research advice more likely.
(4) Having a regular class schedule where you can turn off all of your electronic devices, listen to lectures, and take notes helps with motivation and retention.

I might be old-school, but that's my ten cents' worth.

Chemistry is 25% of one subtest and physics is 12.5% of the same. From memory I had 2 organic chemistry passages, one gen chem passage, one physics passage, and a few discretes for each - about 25 questions out of ~230 on the real exam.

The content on the current exam is dominated by biochemistry. Its half or more of the biology subsection and 25% of the c/p. Is it absolutely necessary to be a chemistry wiz to be good at biochem? It helps, but its not make or break.

 

[Bearcat2310]

Read this:
Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention

I've read this on multiple occasions and it seems as if I've exhausted the majority of the topics given in this "guide to reinvention". I do not have any F's or D's...I've retaken a couple classes that I scored a C in but like you said not exactly for the GPA Boost but for the positive trend to show med school admissions that I can take the material now years later considering they're expecting A's. I also have over 2000 hours working as an orthopedic technician at a children's hospital w/ some shadowing experience prior...So to me my last resort is to obviously retake the MCAT and score well...BUT i feel as if I cannot do this without a firm foundation of chemistry/physics concepts which I lack...So any further advice would be appreciated! Thank you!

 

[Bearcat2310]

re the MCAT



Chemistry is 25% of one subtest and physics is 12.5% of the same. From memory I had 2 organic chemistry passages, one gen chem passage, one physics passage, and a few discretes for each - about 25 questions out of ~230 on the real exam.

The content on the current exam is dominated by biochemistry. Its half or more of the biology subsection and 25% of the c/p. Is it absolutely necessary to be a chemistry wiz to be good at biochem? It helps, but its not make or break.

That's my problem, I'm not fundamentally sound with even the most elementary concepts of chemistry/physics...I scored an A- in biochemistry but that was also 3 years ago...So that's my current dilemma as of now. I don't know if a prep course is worth it given my fundamental struggles in those subjects...or if i need to self study using khan academy, and various online textbooks to rework the fundamental concepts of these subjects back into my head so i comprehend them more efficiently? What would your advice be given my situation?

 

[Goro]

My GPA on my transcript from UC is a 3.54....I went to a small private college first, transferred to UC and took a couple Post Bacc courses that I scored A's in at a CC which is what I put into the AMCAS GPA calculator to get the 3.366...like I mentioned above I could've done something wrong mathematically or is it that they'd actually take that 3.54 from UC that i graduated with for undergrad?

How many credits did you take in the post-bac, and what was the GPA?

You do need to retake the MCAT, and if you're weak in the pre-reqs for this, then you either need to retake (or audit) the classes and/or take a prep course. Check out the MCAT forum for help in this.

 

[Shotapp]

That's my problem, I'm not fundamentally sound with even the most elementary concepts of chemistry/physics...I scored an A- in biochemistry but that was also 3 years ago...So that's my current dilemma as of now. I don't know if a prep course is worth it given my fundamental struggles in those subjects...or if i need to self study using khan academy, and various online textbooks to rework the fundamental concepts of these subjects back into my head so i comprehend them more efficiently? What would your advice be given my situation?

Take a Mcat prep course and hire a tutor. Retaking pre-requisites is overkill and the Mcat primarily test your critical thinking skills.

 

[Skiiiiiing]

That's my problem, I'm not fundamentally sound with even the most elementary concepts of chemistry/physics...I scored an A- in biochemistry but that was also 3 years ago...So that's my current dilemma as of now. I don't know if a prep course is worth it given my fundamental struggles in those subjects...or if i need to self study using khan academy, and various online textbooks to rework the fundamental concepts of these subjects back into my head so i comprehend them more efficiently? What would your advice be given my situation?

Lehinger pretty well covers everything, and in about the right level of detail (it emphasizes biochemistry but hits everything). If you're the self studying type, you can get a copy for $10 bucks. Its about 25 chapters, most of which can be done in 2-3 hours of reading each.

 

[Bearcat2310]

How many credits did you take in the post-bac, and what was the GPA?

You do need to retake the MCAT, and if you're weak in the pre-reqs for this, then you either need to retake (or audit) the classes and/or take a prep course. Check out the MCAT forum for help in this.

It's not your "formal post bacc"...it's just some classes that i did poorly in during undergrad my freshmen year that I retook at my local CC and received a higher grade. So far with the three classes (9 credits) I've taken i have a 4.0. I'm about to take a microbiology class that I've never taken before this semester to help with more of a GPA boost and to demonstrate a better understanding of more upper level courses. What do you mean by "auditing" the classes? I've never heard of this before. I am leaning towards a prep course BUT seeing as I'm so weak fundamentally in several of the subjects I don't feel as if I'll get the most out of the experience and will lose money/time in the process.

 

[Bearcat2310]

Lehinger pretty well covers everything, and in about the right level of detail (it emphasizes biochemistry but hits everything). If you're the self studying type, you can get a copy for $10 bucks. Its about 25 chapters, most of which can be done in 2-3 hours of reading each.

Is this a set of books/online material or what is this exactly? and you'd think its comprehensive enough that if I finished all the material and had a full grasp would be good enough to attempt the MCAT or just use it to prep me for enrolling in a prep course for further help?

 

[Goro]

It's not your "formal post bacc"...it's just some classes that i did poorly in during undergrad my freshmen year that I retook at my local CC and received a higher grade. So far with the three classes (9 credits) I've taken i have a 4.0. I'm about to take a microbiology class that I've never taken before this semester to help with more of a GPA boost and to demonstrate a better understanding of more upper level courses. What do you mean by "auditing" the classes? I've never heard of this before. I am leaning towards a prep course BUT seeing as I'm so weak fundamentally in several of the subjects I don't feel as if I'll get the most out of the experience and will lose money/time in the process.

Auditing is sitting in the class (with the Professor's permission). You don't take exams or get grades, but you do see the material.

If you're so weak in the materials covered on the MCAT, then take (or re-take) the classes. But honestly, if you've already taken the classes, and gotten decent grades, then something is wrong.

 

[Skiiiiiing]

Is this a set of books/online material or what is this exactly? and you'd think its comprehensive enough that if I finished all the material and had a full grasp would be good enough to attempt the MCAT or just use it to prep me for enrolling in a prep course for further help?

Just google "Lehinger Principles of Biochemistry". Its 2.99 on Barnes and Noble.

It hits everything at about the right level of detail (maybe a little excessive in some spots?) that you'll need for the MCAT. The only exception is immunology, which to my knowledge most editions do not touch, and some aspects of anatomy which any MCAT prep book will overkill.

I personally learn by reading -> notes -> review notes -> anki what's left. Most of Lehinger's chapters are 15-30 pages long and can be done in a single sitting. I would not benefit substantially from a prep course because it does not synch with my learning style. Perhaps your learning style is different.

 

[Bearcat2310]

Auditing is sitting in the class (with the Professor's permission). You don't take exams or get grades, but you do see the material.

If you're so weak in the materials covered on the MCAT, then take (or re-take) the classes. But honestly, if you've already taken the classes, and gotten decent grades, then something is wrong.

I was weak comprehending the materials initially due to my professors teaching style and having trouble balancing being a student athlete. I've just never been particularly strong with any chemistry/physics concepts, although my worst grade in general chemistry was a B and my worst grade in physics/organic was a C...I seemed to understand it enough to get by momentarily but not fully comprehend it in order to retain it all long term. My strongest subjects are biology, anatomy/physiology, psychology/sociology. Calculations are something i struggle with severely. So you're saying no to the prep course as of now...and enroll/audit these courses to get a better understanding first, then possibly enroll in a course correct?

 

[Goro]

So you're saying no to the prep course as of now...and enroll/audit these courses to get a better understanding first, then possibly enroll in a course correct?

Correct. Audit/take the college coursework.