How Can I Get Into an MD Program? Need Strategy!

[alphabetstreets]

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Hey everyone, I need advice on my path to an MD program.

Background: Before undergrad, I did a semester of community college, dropped out mid-semester, and ended up with a 1.0 GPA for 12 credits (only 3 of which were STEM). Fast forward—I’m now at a public state school in Southern Utah, currently at 107 credits with a 3.89 GPA.



The issue is that my old credits tank my overall GPA to ~3.6, but if I push to 160 credits, I can raise it to ~3.7 by my third year. I’m currently two years in, taking 20-credit semesters + summers to make this happen.


Extracurriculars:
• 1,000+ hours as a medical assistant (neurology, endocrinology, pain management)

• 150 shadowing hours across 9 different physicians

• Humanitarian trip to the Dominican Republic (worked as a medical & dental assistant)

• Summer internship at St. George Regional Hospital (admin side)

• Pre-Med Club presidency

• Long-term volunteer with Big Brother Big Sister

• Active in LGBTQ+ organizations

• One semester of research

The Problem:
I don’t care if it’s the lowest-tier MD school—I’ll take anything. I know my early GPA isn’t great, but is there a strategy to boost my chances for MD programs? Should I focus on more research, retaking old classes, crushing the MCAT, or something else?

Would love any advice from those who have been in similar situations!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums.

GPA Repair and Management for Pre-Health Applicants | SDN

Happy new year, and for many of you, happy new semester! This article is for community college or university students starting a new set of classes this

www.studentdoctor.net

Can you get a retroactive withdrawal?

Do you care if it's a DO school? Do you care if it's not a medical career?

 

[alphabetstreets]

Welcome to the forums.

GPA Repair and Management for Pre-Health Applicants | SDN

Happy new year, and for many of you, happy new semester! This article is for community college or university students starting a new set of classes this

www.studentdoctor.net

Can you get a retroactive withdrawal?

Do you care if it's a DO school? Do you care if it's not a medical career?

I just emailed them asking. I had never heard of that before.

I am primarily interested in MD over DO. It’s my dream to have a medical career as a physician.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I just emailed them asking. I had never heard of that before.

I am primarily interested in MD over DO. It’s my dream to have a medical career as a physician.

You can be a physician with a DO degree as they are professionally equivalent.

 

[tikva16]

Utah is opening up a regional campus in St. George I bet it won't be as competitive in the first few years, especially if you're aligned they would probably be okay with a 3.6. From what they said in the info session I went to, even at the main campus they don't care about stats as much as all the other parts of your app as long as you meet the minimums. U and Utah Tech partnering to address primary care provider shortage - @theU

 

[alphabetstreets]

You can be a physician with a DO degree as they are professionally equivalent.

You can be a physician with a DO degree as they are professionally equivalent.

Wait!!!! Check this out! I might be able to wipe the grades becuase I’ve retaken all the classes at my Utah college and gotten As!? Academic and Progress Renewal Policy

 

[alphabetstreets]

Wait!!!! Check this out! I might be able to wipe the grades becuase I’ve retaken all the classes at my Utah college and gotten As!? Academic and Progress Renewal Policy

I’m gonna set up an appointment on Monday with a counselor to see if I can petition.

 

[alphabetstreets]

Utah is opening up a regional campus in St. George I bet it won't be as competitive in the first few years, especially if you're aligned they would probably be okay with a 3.6. From what they said in the info session I went to, even at the main campus they don't care about stats as much as all the other parts of your app as long as you meet the minimums. U and Utah Tech partnering to address primary care provider shortage - @theU

I live in Saint George and go to Utah Tech. This is awesome. I’d love to do it.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I’m gonna set up an appointment on Monday with a counselor to see if I can petition.

Good luck! All you can do is petition. If you qualify, that will help your GPA calculation better reflect your current capabilities. If not, there are smart admissions officers who can focus on your more recent courses.

 

[alphabetstreets]

Good luck! All you can do is petition. If you qualify, that will help your GPA calculation better reflect your current capabilities. If not, there are smart admissions officers who can focus on your more recent courses.

Awe thank you! Unfortunately, I think I had to request a W within two years of the semester 🙁 I still tried, but they said no exceptions. I wonder if I did the progress renewal policy if that would remove the old grades or if they would stay on my transcript.

 

[alphabetstreets]

Awe thank you! Unfortunately, I think I had to request a W within two years of the semester 🙁 I still tried, but they said no exceptions. I wonder if I did the progress renewal policy if that would remove the old grades or if they would stay on my transcript.

Luckily, I have a spot hopefully via early acceptance (No MCAT) to RVUCOM at the campus of my choosing. I really want to pursue MD, but I feel like the 3.6 GPA pushes me into a territory where no schools will want me regardless of me graduating with around a 3.9 GPA at my Utah University. My heart tells me MD, but my brain says that DO is the best I will get. This sucks so much.