how to dig yourself out of a hole?

[LadyK]

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[PlumpyJeaneze]

What have you been doing since graduating?

SMP is too risky. I would do a post bac. It is still a risk to give up what you have been doing since graduating to do a post bac, but if you can pull off a 3.7+ in your post bac & do well on the MCAT then you will have a chance at MD programs. But the key is that you have to know that you will be able to do well in the post bac courses... that is something only you can answer.

Or if you take the MCAT and do okay (get some ECs) you can apply straight to a DO school.

 

[LadyK]

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[kami333]

Why would an SMP be risky? If I commit myself 100% to my studies, do I not have a chance? I took the MCAT many years ago, the scores have since expired.

I would say because your stats aren't that bad. Not ideal, but a years worth of post bacc classes could make it ok. Plus there are DO schools too

SMPs are expensive and even if you do well they don't guarantee an acceptance. On the other hand, not doing well in one could completely ruin your chances of getting in anywhere, there was a post about a guy getting a 3.0 in a SMP and not being admitted to Carribean schools. It's the end run scenerio, when all else fails.

 

[montessori2md]

I think the benefit to working is that you will appear more "non-trad" and less "dude-whose-gpa-was-too-low (and so volunteered instead of starting med school)". And they do pay you to work : ) It would be best to find a job where your presence was valued and needed, especially if the skills required included interpersonal skills and critical thinking. Y

Also agree w/ above about post-bacc. Enroll as an undergrad if you want (you can do this even w/ a degree in hand), or do a formal post-bacc. To me, the ideal is a post-bacc program with linkage to several med schools, or a med school you'd like to attend. If doing a grad program, I'd do it only if it's a fall-back (if I don't get into med school, I can use this degree to get a job I could like, maybe not adore).

For the outside of school stuff, I'd 1) keep busy and 2) do really cool stuff, not necessarily medical. I wouldn't be afraid to be a kayaking instructor for a year, at least you'd have a fun story or two to tell. Just keep in the back of your mind that you'll need to talk about it at interviews, and saying you worked 20 hours a week at the Gap and took a genetics class isn't exactly gonna knock someone's socks off.

 

[kami333]

Enroll as an undergrad if you want (you can do this even w/ a degree in hand), or do a formal post-bacc.

I would definately enroll as an undergrad/2nd bachelors/degree seeking student, you don't necessarily have to complete the 2nd bachelors. As a non matriculated/degree seeking student, at a lot of univeristies you will have last pick of the classes and may not be able to enroll in the classes you want/need or have to go through the waitlist/beg the prof, though I think it is less of an issue if you are looking at upper level classes. (Look at the Florida post bacc thread in this forum, I can register for classes a full 3weeks ahead of my gf).

 

[jtamu]

What have you been doing since graduating?

SMP is too risky. I would do a post bac. It is still a risk to give up what you have been doing since graduating to do a post bac, but if you can pull off a 3.7+ in your post bac & do well on the MCAT then you will have a chance at MD programs. But the key is that you have to know that you will be able to do well in the post bac courses... that is something only you can answer.

Or if you take the MCAT and do okay (get some ECs) you can apply straight to a DO school.

What's an EC? 😳