Hi SDN,
I graduated from undergrad in 2014 with dual science degrees and an abysmal GPA partly due to family illness. Calculated by AMCAS, it's something like cGPA: 2.75 and sGPA: 2.6. With grade replacement from my institution, my cGPA is 2.99, so my chances for grad school are slightly less depressing. I know I need to get into a post-bacc or SMP to improve my chances, but I'm struggling to see how likely any of it really is.
I've recently decided to pursue a career in medicine and, while I've spoken to the program director of my school's post-bacc program, the assessment was generally unfavorable. I intend to apply anyway, based on the remarks I received, but I am wondering how to best devote the next year if it doesn't happen. I have yet to take the MCAT (I took the GRE years ago), and I was told that a great MCAT score could help offset my poor GPA.
My biggest problem is that I have taken basically the entire biology and chemistry course catalogs at my school. The ones I haven't taken are lower level, so I don't think that new courses would behoove me at this point. I have already retaken any D's or F's I had. Should I spend a year retaking the C's? I don't know how financially responsible this would be, but it's a thing I'm willing to consider if that's what it's going to take to eventually get an MD acceptance.
I've scanned SDN for weeks looking for similar stories and courses of action, but most of the threads I found had few responses. I'm still in contact with the program director of my desired post-bacc, I've contacted my school's advising department, I'm trying everything to form the best plan I can, so any advice I can get would be greatly appreciated!
I graduated from undergrad in 2014 with dual science degrees and an abysmal GPA partly due to family illness. Calculated by AMCAS, it's something like cGPA: 2.75 and sGPA: 2.6. With grade replacement from my institution, my cGPA is 2.99, so my chances for grad school are slightly less depressing. I know I need to get into a post-bacc or SMP to improve my chances, but I'm struggling to see how likely any of it really is.
I've recently decided to pursue a career in medicine and, while I've spoken to the program director of my school's post-bacc program, the assessment was generally unfavorable. I intend to apply anyway, based on the remarks I received, but I am wondering how to best devote the next year if it doesn't happen. I have yet to take the MCAT (I took the GRE years ago), and I was told that a great MCAT score could help offset my poor GPA.
My biggest problem is that I have taken basically the entire biology and chemistry course catalogs at my school. The ones I haven't taken are lower level, so I don't think that new courses would behoove me at this point. I have already retaken any D's or F's I had. Should I spend a year retaking the C's? I don't know how financially responsible this would be, but it's a thing I'm willing to consider if that's what it's going to take to eventually get an MD acceptance.
I've scanned SDN for weeks looking for similar stories and courses of action, but most of the threads I found had few responses. I'm still in contact with the program director of my desired post-bacc, I've contacted my school's advising department, I'm trying everything to form the best plan I can, so any advice I can get would be greatly appreciated!