Hi everyone, hope you're all doing well. (Hopefully I've posted this in the right section).
Where to begin? Well I suppose it would be prudent to start at the beginning of relevant education.
I started my undergraduate in 2012 and finished my degree (a BA in Psychology) back in 2015 with a 2.5 total GPA. I won't sugar-coat it -- I did rather horribly due to some life-changing issues which lead to a decline in my mental well-being, to put it most simply. I was initially a biochemistry major, however due to such issues and a decline in my GPA, it was suggested I change majors to finish my degree - if at all. Fast forward to 2016 (after I was able to overcome the issues which were previously plaguing me), I did a post-bac over the course of two years and achieved a 4.0, which pulled up my total to 2.9 and my science to just above a 3.4. I took my MCAT last year and got a 509. My ECs aren't the best, but they aren't horribly below average either. I've maintained a steady volunteer experience for many years and regularly shadow two physicians for almost a year now.
I applied a little late last cycle, due to the timing of my MCAT and other required courses. I chose about 8 schools that I met the GPA requirements for and thought would be a good fit, and (retrospectively) not surprisingly, did not get into any of them. Due to pressures of my parents (and success stories they have heard from relatives who's children have succeeded), they have pushed me to apply for the top Caribbean schools. So far I have gotten interviews with Ross, SGU, and AUC. AUC is set to give me a decision this Thursday.
My issue with this is ultimately residency placement. I hear a lot of things on all sides. From people who went there and are now successful physicians to people who are applying to residency now to people who say I should not go at all, because it's too risky (residency placement is a huge issue/worry for me). If it helps any, I would like to do a residency in psychiatry. I know that can change in the future, but one of the physicians I shadow now is a psychiatrist and despite not finishing in biochemistry as planned, I developed a great love of psychology and its medical applications in psychiatry.
Going to the Caribbean is one option for me. Another option I have considered is a Masters/SMP in Medical Science or similar. Right now I am eyeing Boston University (I heard this one was very good, and as badly as I've done, I've talked to the admissions head and they encouraged me to apply as I do technically meet their requirements on a case-by-case basis), as well as a couple of others. While I understand the dichotomy between undergraduate and graduate GPA, I would like to show DO schools I am more than capable of handling the required work and that what happened in my initial undergrad work was something that does not define me as a student or as a person. Most importantly, I would like to use the opportunity to get into research and to involve myself in it. I have previously never had the opportunity for research. I did poorly in my undergraduate, so I did not have much time to devote to it, and in my post-bac, I found that my undergraduate GPA held me back when applying for research opportunities as they would often find more qualified candidates. Thus I feel the master's would help me kill two birds with one stone with the hopes of reapplying the cycle after the one that just opened a few days ago.
Right now I'm getting advice from my counselor(s) (those from my post-bac program and those from programs I'm looking to - Caribbean and Master's), but I just wanted to ask here and get the opinion of people who are...more actively living in the situation I'm in...so to speak. I am a firm believer in gathering as much information as possible before making a decision, and that's why I decided to make an account and ask.
If there's anything I need to add to this post to clarify, let me know!
Where to begin? Well I suppose it would be prudent to start at the beginning of relevant education.
I started my undergraduate in 2012 and finished my degree (a BA in Psychology) back in 2015 with a 2.5 total GPA. I won't sugar-coat it -- I did rather horribly due to some life-changing issues which lead to a decline in my mental well-being, to put it most simply. I was initially a biochemistry major, however due to such issues and a decline in my GPA, it was suggested I change majors to finish my degree - if at all. Fast forward to 2016 (after I was able to overcome the issues which were previously plaguing me), I did a post-bac over the course of two years and achieved a 4.0, which pulled up my total to 2.9 and my science to just above a 3.4. I took my MCAT last year and got a 509. My ECs aren't the best, but they aren't horribly below average either. I've maintained a steady volunteer experience for many years and regularly shadow two physicians for almost a year now.
I applied a little late last cycle, due to the timing of my MCAT and other required courses. I chose about 8 schools that I met the GPA requirements for and thought would be a good fit, and (retrospectively) not surprisingly, did not get into any of them. Due to pressures of my parents (and success stories they have heard from relatives who's children have succeeded), they have pushed me to apply for the top Caribbean schools. So far I have gotten interviews with Ross, SGU, and AUC. AUC is set to give me a decision this Thursday.
My issue with this is ultimately residency placement. I hear a lot of things on all sides. From people who went there and are now successful physicians to people who are applying to residency now to people who say I should not go at all, because it's too risky (residency placement is a huge issue/worry for me). If it helps any, I would like to do a residency in psychiatry. I know that can change in the future, but one of the physicians I shadow now is a psychiatrist and despite not finishing in biochemistry as planned, I developed a great love of psychology and its medical applications in psychiatry.
Going to the Caribbean is one option for me. Another option I have considered is a Masters/SMP in Medical Science or similar. Right now I am eyeing Boston University (I heard this one was very good, and as badly as I've done, I've talked to the admissions head and they encouraged me to apply as I do technically meet their requirements on a case-by-case basis), as well as a couple of others. While I understand the dichotomy between undergraduate and graduate GPA, I would like to show DO schools I am more than capable of handling the required work and that what happened in my initial undergrad work was something that does not define me as a student or as a person. Most importantly, I would like to use the opportunity to get into research and to involve myself in it. I have previously never had the opportunity for research. I did poorly in my undergraduate, so I did not have much time to devote to it, and in my post-bac, I found that my undergraduate GPA held me back when applying for research opportunities as they would often find more qualified candidates. Thus I feel the master's would help me kill two birds with one stone with the hopes of reapplying the cycle after the one that just opened a few days ago.
Right now I'm getting advice from my counselor(s) (those from my post-bac program and those from programs I'm looking to - Caribbean and Master's), but I just wanted to ask here and get the opinion of people who are...more actively living in the situation I'm in...so to speak. I am a firm believer in gathering as much information as possible before making a decision, and that's why I decided to make an account and ask.
If there's anything I need to add to this post to clarify, let me know!
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. While I understand most people here are against it, I want to make sure my other option is a wise one 
