How do you plan your game plan for med school? Am I on the right path?

[Bebe12]

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Hi guys- I really value your opinions and look forward to hear your feedback regarding my plans.

I would be a nontraditional applicant; I have a BS in community health/spanish (graduated 2011) and MPH in epi (graduated 2013). Although I started undergrad on a pre-med track, I changed my major after crashing and burning in organic chem.

I'm currently working 40 hours a week and thinking about going back to school to do my pre-med courses starting in aug. My undergraduate GPA was 3.2 total and 2.1 for science GPA (according to my calculations). My graduate GPA was 3.3.
Looking at my horrible sGPA, I'm assuming I would have to do all my science courses again....not to mention the fact that it would be probably more than 5 years since I took chem I (B), bio I (B) and bio II (C). Am I right?

I'm not sure where to start with the planning. I talked to a community college advisor who sort of dismissed me and told me I'm doing well (not helpful at all). He told me that I need to check with individual schools on whether they would take community college credits, which leads me to wonder if I need to pick out potential med schools really early on? Even before taking my courses? I'm not even sure which schools I can get into at this point.

Tentatively, I plan on taking the following courses (please tell me if there are others that are essential): Bio I & II, Chem I &II, Organic Chem I & II, Physics I & II and Biochem. I'm thinking of earning the credits beginning in Aug this year till fall of 2015, taking the MCAT in April (2016) and applying in the spring/summer of 2016....hopefully with an acceptance and start in 2017.
I have experience as a PT aide and working as a medical receptionist at an OB/GYN's office, and now at the Health Department- but I suspect all this doesn't count towards shadowing experience, therefore I plan on trying to get a shadowing opportunity at a hospital or doctor's office on the weekends (as I will be working full time on the weekdays).

I would love to hear your suggestions on my plan and/or your journey in determining your plan of action

Ps...I'm 25- SDN has helped me get over the fear that I'm too old to get started 🙂 🙂

 

[DocWinter]

...crashing and burning in organic chem.

2.1 for science GPA

Looking at my horrible sGPA, I'm assuming I would have to do all my science courses again....not to mention the fact that it would be probably more than 5 years since I took chem I (B), bio I (B) and bio II (C). Am I right?

I'm not sure where to start with the planning. I talked to a community college advisor who sort of dismissed me and told me I'm doing well (not helpful at all). He told me that I need to check with individual schools on whether they would take community college credits, which leads me to wonder if I need to pick out potential med schools really early on? Even before taking my courses? I'm not even sure which schools I can get into at this point.

Tentatively, I plan on taking the following courses (please tell me if there are others that are essential): Bio I & II, Chem I &II, Organic Chem I & II, Physics I & II and Biochem. I'm thinking of earning the credits beginning in Aug this year till fall of 2015, taking the MCAT in April (2016) and applying in the spring/summer of 2016....hopefully with an acceptance and start in 2017.
I have experience as a PT aide and working as a medical receptionist at an OB/GYN's office, and now at the Health Department- but I suspect all this doesn't count towards shadowing experience, therefore I plan on trying to get a shadowing opportunity at a hospital or doctor's office on the weekends (as I will be working full time on the weekdays).

I would love to hear your suggestions on my plan and/or your journey in determining your plan of action

Hello and Welcome. You can usually get into the majority of schools with a Post-bac done at a CC. You have a BS from a public or private university? Generally speaking, a CC post-bac will not hurt you.

Your major concern from my POV should be that you don't do well in science courses. You've pulled a C average. Your cGPA without science included is respectable, so it's not that you don't know how to study or get good grades. To date, science been your downfall and it's going to take all you have to change that. You need to consider tutoring, sitting in on additional classes, and studying to the wee hours of the night to make this happen. Concerning potential medical schools, you need to hone in on DO school. You have very long odds going MD, but DO you should consider as your best shot, as if you do well, you may get consideration through a DO school as they forgive grade replacement when you retake a course.

I would not retake the B's you have, but start with the C's and worse.
You have listed the essential courses but need to also consider at least 1 math courses and 2 English courses. Many schools have those basic requirements also.

 

[hawkbit]

Grad gpa is not counted for anything, only undergrad. I agree with retaking classes you got a C or worse in. Are you a math person? If yes take math through calculus and calculus physics. If no then take college algebra (very helpful for chem 2 by the way), trig, statistics, and algebra based physics. Most medical schools don't care how old your classes are, but you can always check individual ones you might be interested in. It just matters for your MCAT, obviously the longer ago you took the classes the more studying it's going to take to be MCAT ready. You'll need intro soc/psych classes and Biochem for the new MCAT (2015) as well.

So no you don't have to retake all your science classes. But it certainly wouldn't hurt unless you feel you can do a strong self review of the material. Get some extra biology classes in if you can. Upper level is best. Take it slow the first semester and work on getting A's.
I've just covered the schooling aspect of your application. You'll have to plan for the humanistic/volunteering and clinical experience part as well.

It's a lot of work. It's not easy. It can be done.
Good luck

 

[hawkbit]

Grad gpa is not counted for anything, only undergrad. I agree with retaking classes you got a C or worse in. Are you a math person? If yes take math through calculus and calculus physics. If no then take college algebra (very helpful for chem 2 by the way), trig, statistics, and algebra based physics. Most medical schools don't care how old your classes are, but you can always check individual ones you might be interested in. It just matters for your MCAT, obviously the longer ago you took the classes the more studying it's going to take to be MCAT ready. You'll need intro soc/psych classes and Biochem for the new MCAT (2015) as well.

So no you don't have to retake all your science classes. But it certainly wouldn't hurt unless you feel you can do a strong self review of the material. Get some extra biology classes in if you can. Upper level is best. Take it slow the first semester and work on getting A's.
I've just covered the schooling aspect of your application. You'll have to plan for the humanistic/volunteering and clinical experience part as well.

It's a lot of work. It's not easy. It can be done.
Good luck

Oh and I wouldn't put a hard date on when to put in your application. It's great to have a plan, but they don't always work out. I've had to revise my application plan twice because of school/work conflicts and not being able to get a class at a certain time. When you get close to having all the MCAT necessary classes done, start planning on your MCAT date and subsequent application cycle.

 

[Bebe12]

I will definately check out MSARS...in the past few days I've just been looking at the 2 med schools in my state and will speak to the advisors soon.

I think my interest mainly stems from a humanitarian perspective- I want to have direct contact with people and help them out. I know I could look at many other professions in the medical field but this is what appeals to me the most. I've been thinking about it for years but I always dismiss it thinking I can't do it/not smart enough for it. Talking to one of my friends about how I'm not doing anything satisfying in my current job (as in 'making a difference in anyone's life'), made me realize I can't keep dismissing medicine...so I'm thinking, why not just give it a fair chance? Study really hard for pre-reqs and the MCAT. I have friends who are physicians and they always tell me that you don't have to be smart (haha yeah right) but you need to be willing to put in the time and effort. I'm willing to do that.

I think the huge difference in my GPAs is because of 2 things:
1. I didn't take too many science courses (changed my major first semester of freshman yr) and the ones I did take were taken in semesters where I was taking over 16 credits...I think it just became overwhelming and I couldn't devote the time needed to cement basic concepts. I'm currently trying to go back and re-teach myself basic concepts with videos and book....although they will probably be covered in the courses I take in the near future.
2. I obviously did fair to poorly in science classes whereas in other classes, I got nothing below a B. I also took less science classes so maybe that contributed to the discrepancy.

Keep in mind, I calculated the GPAs on my own and not sure if I did them correctly. Is there a calculator everyone used that I don't know about?

CanadianinUSA, since your GPA situation is similar to mine, what would you suggest? Are you having more success with science courses this time around, have you changed how you study?

 

[QuentinT88]

Yeah I would retake your science courses, get all As, then apply to DO schools. MD schools will only average your grades, which won't help your sgpa much

 

[QuentinT88]

But many nontrads were in thesame boat as you (myself included). And i'm 25 yrs old as well. In the grand scheme of things, its not that old.

 

[futuremdforme]

CanadianinUSA, since your GPA situation is similar to mine, what would you suggest? Are you having more success with science courses this time around, have you changed how you study?

I didn't retake any classes actually because my GPA is okay and my sGPA is not so bad. (Also not sure what it will work out to be, depending how they treat my psych neuroscience classes.)

I did change how I studied in university though. I actually met with a learning strategist at school and I started to take Cornell notes to promote myself getting the main idea, and also to have built-in flash cards. Reviewing questions in a question/answer format really helped. I failed orgo the first time and got an A the second. I also started studying earlier and more frequently, and I would go to the library to avoid the distractions of home. Also, I started to attend all of my classes! I skipped a ridiculous amount of classes as a freshman and surprise, that is not good for your grades.

Knowing exactly why you want to do this also helps. I did have to redo the MCAT and I did better this time - +4 points compared to when I took it in 2005 as a junior. For the MCAT, I studied at home but I don't think I could do that if I had someone else in the house making noise.

 

[solide]

I am in the same predicament as you (graduated 2010, got a MPH last year, and was pre-med in undergrad but decided not to finish). TO be honest, I wouldn't retake the B courses, only the course you've received a C in. Biochem or any other upper level science course will be extremely beneficial, especially when preparing for MCAT. Also, remember that the MCAT will be changing in 2015, but you've taken many social and humanities courses in undergrad, so a brief refresher is all you need.

Whoever says grad school doesn't count. I beg to differ, I think it helps when painting the total picture of the applicant especially with your epi background. Good Luck! You can do it!

BTW, are you considering taking your classes full time or part-time?😎