I messed up a post bacc

[mrsug]

Before making it a goal to go to med school I began some part-time transcript repair over the last couple of summers to buoy a 2.5cGPA up for some sort of postgrad. At one point I signed up for a couple of classes which I subsequently found out that ultimately I could not finish due to work. It was a mistake and by the time I realized the error it was too late to withdraw, I took the F’s with the idea that I would just retake and replace (which I did with the same institution, both A’s).

Well well well I’m sure you all know where this going…no replacing these grades.

70 credits have passed at a 4.0 GPA since this blunder. I didn’t even realize how much of a blunder it was until very recently. It bumps me down to 3.7 on my DIY post bac, an absolute gut punch considering the mountain of work I have put it for now what feels like no reason. Is there any hope here?

Otherwise strong. Tons of clinical, tons of volunteering, my career that I have now walked from was very hands-on, very high profile work (I was in the New York Times!). I was grinding myself to the bone to get this cGPA up to 3.0 and now it’s basically impossible. I have not taken the MCAT yet, I am reevaluating whether it is worth my time.

Appreciate any advice, thank you.

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[Faha]

What are your sGPA and cGPA including your post bacc courses ?

 

[mrsug]

What are your sGPA and cGPA including your post bacc courses ?

c2.90 s2.96

At this point more coursework barely moves the needle. I am at over 200 total credits.

 

[Faha]

You should be able to receive interviews at some DO schools as long as your MCAT is 500 or higher. Let us know what your MCAT score is when available and we can suggest schools. Do not take the MCAT until your practice scores are consistently 505+. Assuming you have a good MCAT score, you will be seen as a successful re inventor with your GPA 0f 4.0 with 70 credits.

 

[mrsug]

You should be able to receive interviews at some DO schools as long as your MCAT is 500 or higher. Let us know what your MCAT score is when available and we can suggest schools. Do not take the MCAT until your practice scores are consistently 505+. Assuming you have a good MCAT score, you will be seen as a successful re inventor with your GPA 0f 4.0 with 70 credits.

Thank you. I will report back, it may be some time before I take the MCAT though (February?)

An aside, would it benefit me to take some more courses? The GPA increase will be negligible, but it will put more “time” between myself and this colossal screwup.

 

[Goro]

c2.90 s2.96

At this point more coursework barely moves the needle. I am at over 200 total credits.

It's not about moving the needle. It's about showing that the you of now is not the you of then, and the academic Excellence that you have displayed shows that you have reinvented yourself.

You will need to get a good MCAT score, and apply broadly to the MD schools that reward invention, and all DO schools.

 

[Faha]

Thank you. I will report back, it may be some time before I take the MCAT though (February?)

An aside, would it benefit me to take some more courses? The GPA increase will be negligible, but it will put more “time” between myself and this colossal screwup.

Yes, take more undergraduate level science courses. Since your sGPA is now 2.96 you should be able to increase it to 3.0 .

 

[mrsug]

It's not about moving the needle. It's about showing that the you of now is not the you of then, and the academic Excellence that you have displayed shows that you have reinvented yourself.

You will need to get a good MCAT score, and apply broadly to the MD schools that reward invention, and all DO schools.

My issue here is that these F’s occurred during my “reinvention” phase, which is why I’m so worried about them. I took a four break after finishing undergrad before taking these two courses which I failed and it hasn’t actually been that long since these F’s (June 2023). I have just taken full boat DIY semesters mixing local CC, online university and a couple local university classes. I piled on 22 credits this past summer, aced all of them. So while I’ve buried this mess on my transcript not much time has really elapsed.

Believe me when I say I am not trying be another misanthropic, woe-is-me pre-med. I actually am a genuinely reinvented student and these two F’s are a blip, but if my transcript can’t tell that story I don’t want to spin my wheels. Hope you understand my concern, thank you for response.

 

[Goro]

My issue here is that these F’s occurred during my “reinvention” phase, which is why I’m so worried about them. I took a four break after finishing undergrad before taking these two courses which I failed and it hasn’t actually been that long since these F’s (June 2023). I have just taken full boat DIY semesters mixing local CC, online university and a couple local university classes. I piled on 22 credits this past summer, aced all of them. So while I’ve buried this mess on my transcript not much time has really elapsed.

Believe me when I say I am not trying be another misanthropic, woe-is-me pre-med. I actually am a genuinely reinvented student and these two F’s are a blip, but if my transcript can’t tell that story I don’t want to spin my wheels. Hope you understand my concern, thank you for response.

Sometimes, you have to apply with the app you have, warts and all and see how the application cycle turns out.

 

[gyngyn]

My issue here is that these F’s occurred during my “reinvention” phase, which is why I’m so worried about them. I took a four break after finishing undergrad before taking these two courses which I failed and it hasn’t actually been that long since these F’s (June 2023). I have just taken full boat DIY semesters mixing local CC, online university and a couple local university classes. I piled on 22 credits this past summer, aced all of them. So while I’ve buried this mess on my transcript not much time has really elapsed.

Believe me when I say I am not trying be another misanthropic, woe-is-me pre-med. I actually am a genuinely reinvented student and these two F’s are a blip, but if my transcript can’t tell that story I don’t want to spin my wheels. Hope you understand my concern, thank you for response.

Apply for a retroactive withdrawal. It may not work, but it's worth a try.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Before making it a goal to go to med school I began some part-time transcript repair over the last couple of summers to buoy a 2.5cGPA up for some sort of postgrad. At one point I signed up for a couple of classes which I subsequently found out that ultimately I could not finish due to work. It was a mistake and by the time I realized the error it was too late to withdraw, I took the F’s with the idea that I would just retake and replace (which I did with the same institution, both A’s).

Well well well I’m sure you all know where this going…no replacing these grades.

70 credits have passed at a 4.0 GPA since this blunder. I didn’t even realize how much of a blunder it was until very recently. It bumps me down to 3.7 on my DIY post bac, an absolute gut punch considering the mountain of work I have put it for now what feels like no reason. Is there any hope here?

Otherwise strong. Tons of clinical, tons of volunteering, my career that I have now walked from was very hands-on, very high profile work (I was in the New York Times!). I was grinding myself to the bone to get this cGPA up to 3.0 and now it’s basically impossible. I have not taken the MCAT yet, I am reevaluating whether it is worth my time.

Appreciate any advice, thank you.

70 credits with a 4.0 you can probably get into one of these linked masters programs then transition easily into the medical school. I wouldn't get discouraged. Just take the MCAT and apply broadly to actual DO programs and masters

 

[Robin-jay]

my career that I have now walked from was very hands-on, very high profile work (I was in the New York Times!).

Sounds like you already have a better job haha

 

[premed19876787]

Before making it a goal to go to med school I began some part-time transcript repair over the last couple of summers to buoy a 2.5cGPA up for some sort of postgrad. At one point I signed up for a couple of classes which I subsequently found out that ultimately I could not finish due to work. It was a mistake and by the time I realized the error it was too late to withdraw, I took the F’s with the idea that I would just retake and replace (which I did with the same institution, both A’s).

Well well well I’m sure you all know where this going…no replacing these grades.

70 credits have passed at a 4.0 GPA since this blunder. I didn’t even realize how much of a blunder it was until very recently. It bumps me down to 3.7 on my DIY post bac, an absolute gut punch considering the mountain of work I have put it for now what feels like no reason. Is there any hope here?

Otherwise strong. Tons of clinical, tons of volunteering, my career that I have now walked from was very hands-on, very high profile work (I was in the New York Times!). I was grinding myself to the bone to get this cGPA up to 3.0 and now it’s basically impossible. I have not taken the MCAT yet, I am reevaluating whether it is worth my time.

Appreciate any advice, thank you.

That’s rough, not going to lie. 70 credits at a 4.0 says you are capable of doing the work just as well as anyone else. At this point it’s just figuring out how not to get screened out. You’re almost there… don’t quit!

 

[venusdream]

Before making it a goal to go to med school I began some part-time transcript repair over the last couple of summers to buoy a 2.5cGPA up for some sort of postgrad. At one point I signed up for a couple of classes which I subsequently found out that ultimately I could not finish due to work. It was a mistake and by the time I realized the error it was too late to withdraw, I took the F’s with the idea that I would just retake and replace (which I did with the same institution, both A’s).

Well well well I’m sure you all know where this going…no replacing these grades.

70 credits have passed at a 4.0 GPA since this blunder. I didn’t even realize how much of a blunder it was until very recently. It bumps me down to 3.7 on my DIY post bac, an absolute gut punch considering the mountain of work I have put it for now what feels like no reason. Is there any hope here?

Otherwise strong. Tons of clinical, tons of volunteering, my career that I have now walked from was very hands-on, very high profile work (I was in the New York Times!). I was grinding myself to the bone to get this cGPA up to 3.0 and now it’s basically impossible. I have not taken the MCAT yet, I am reevaluating whether it is worth my time.

Appreciate any advice, thank you.

I'm no expert but here are my two cents. Congratulations on the 4.0 for 70 credits while working! It was probably not accomplished without sweat, tears, time, money, discipline, hope, faith, and many other things. Be encouraged to not worry and not give up.

• Are the Fs and the 70 credits at a 4.0 from the same institution? If not, just don't report the institution with Fs on the AMCAS application, then only your 4.0 is counted.
• If they are from the same institution, maybe call the institution you took classes at and negotiate with them to remove the Fs from your transcript? Explain the situation to them and that you have retaken those F courses to become As. Ask them what else do you need to do to get rid of those Fs from your transcript and how important this is for you and your medical school career. You made a wrong assumption before but there's gotta be a way to fix that mistake.
• Regardless of the outcome, contact medical schools of interest directly and ask them what they think of your profile.
• Use the WedgeDawg application rating system, which takes into account multiple factors for one's chance for medical school other than stats (if using the online calculator, pull your browser window open as widely as possible to see all the sliding bars).
• With your discipline and study skills, you'll surely crush the MCAT. I recommend checking out the MCAT Reddit. It has a lot of good information.
• Here are profiles of people who have gotten in with a GPA lower than 3.0, ranging from Tufts, UCincinnati, Case Western to Stanford, Johns Hopkins, Harvard: profile1, profile2, profile3, profile4, profile5.
• Personally, I believe top schools are more open-minded to outlier applicants than other schools. But for top schools, you do need to have either experienced really significant hardships or possess the "it" factor, something outlandishly impressive that people desire but not many can accomplish, such as being good at something at world level. To have the it factor requires a lot, but the journey there will be hella memorable, and will be worth it in the end.
• The work you put in becomes the skills you have for life. Whether or not you decide to continue the medical school journey, you'll be successful. When you are successful, come back and share your story to encourage others!

 

[karaya]

just don't report the institution with Fs on the AMCAS application

really bad advice

 

[venusdream]

really bad advice

Whether or not it's bad depends on your perspective.

 

[karaya]

Whether or not it's bad depends on your perspective.

Yeah, it's bad advice from the perspective of the AAMC. AMCAS requires the listing of all academic courses taken at all institutions. An application submitted with omitted coursework is fraudulent and most likely grounds for dismissal if discovered at any point post-matriculation. Especially if the omission regards multiple F's.

 

[venusdream]

Yeah, it's bad advice from the perspective of the AAMC. AMCAS requires the listing of all academic courses taken at all institutions. An application submitted with omitted coursework is fraudulent and most likely grounds for dismissal if discovered at any point post-matriculation. Especially if the omission regards multiple F's.

• "Fraudulent" means faking grades, hours, activities, and events. In this case, not following instructions is the furthest you can stretch it.
• AAMC is the same business that charges premeds, medical students, residents, fellows, and attendings thousands of dollars in applications and exams.

 

[Nontrad_FL_LGBT]

@venusdream You will absolutely get a blanket ban from all MD schools if you obviously leave out a bunch of bad grades from years ago. This is basic integrity, a necessary trait for any doctor. They will do an investigation if they find out which is basically the biggest, reddest flag you can have. The rest of your advice about reaching out re: retroactive withdrawals and advice are good though.

 

[gyngyn]

• "Fraudulent" means faking grades, hours, activities, and events. In this case, not following instructions is the furthest you can stretch it.

Applicants sign an attestation that indicates:
"I certify that the information in this application and associated materials is current, complete, and
accurate to the best of my knowledge."
See page 6: https://students-residents.aamc.org/media/11616/download?attachment

Deception for personal gain is the very definition of fraud.

 

[Goro]

• "Fraudulent" means faking grades, hours, activities, and events. In this case, not following instructions is the furthest you can stretch it.
• AAMC is the same business that charges premeds, medical students, residents, fellows, and attendings thousands of dollars in applications and exams.

So you see nothing wrong in advising that the OP try to enter a profession that values honesty by being dishonest??

There's a reason why my clinical colleagues treat professionalism very strongly. It's because they know dishonest doctors start out as dishonest Medical students.

There's an admissions Clearing House that scours transcripts from all undergraduate Institutes to then send to medical schools to make sure that people are not doing exactly what you are recommending.

 

[mrsug]

Apply for a retroactive withdrawal. It may not work, but it's worth a try.

I began this process at your suggestion and it’s been a bit of a slog. For one they do not offer retroactive withdrawals, just a retroactive drop. I’m not sure how this jives with the AMCAS requirements, would I still be obligated to report it? Does it make that much of a difference?

Also curious how grade replacement is viewed, since that seems much more achievable within the policies of the institution I got these from.

 

[gyngyn]

There is no grade replacement at either MD or DO schools.