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I need an outsider's perspective!
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Your GPAs aren't half as deadly as that MCAT score. You know that's a problem and you're very right, prepare well for it and destroy it. That sGPA is going to hurt, but since you've stated you're not willing to do more classes I can't offer anything there.
Apart from grades and MCAT, I think the main issue for you (as with many non-trads) is going to be putting together a cohesive application that can clearly answer why medicine? and why now? You'll need to not only express what draws you to medicine, but that the experiences you've had so far in life come together to make a strong candidate who's made this decision for a reason.
The wee young'uns have a less complicated challenge in this regard, but this can be a big blessing to more experienced applicants if approached correctly.
Also: Strongly consider DO schools. DO will consider your graduate GPA together with undergrad, where MD separates them and more heavily weighs UG.
Apart from grades and MCAT, I think the main issue for you (as with many non-trads) is going to be putting together a cohesive application that can clearly answer why medicine? and why now? You'll need to not only express what draws you to medicine, but that the experiences you've had so far in life come together to make a strong candidate who's made this decision for a reason.
The wee young'uns have a less complicated challenge in this regard, but this can be a big blessing to more experienced applicants if approached correctly.
Also: Strongly consider DO schools. DO will consider your graduate GPA together with undergrad, where MD separates them and more heavily weighs UG.
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Tulane is known as a "low-yield" school. It's very popular to apply to (they get around 10,000 apps every year) and they accept around 190 if I remember right. Rough ratio. If you're a Louisiana resident with ties to Tulane you may have an better shot, but it's hard to say. Some schools show preference like that and some don't. I would talk to that med school prof you're working with about it, and get in touch very early with Tulane admissions to show them your face. See if you can talk early to admissions to both Tulane and LSU and see if they'll do a portfolio review with you and give you guidance on how to make yourself competitive.
Also I'm assuming you're a Louisiana resident...if you aren't one but want to stay in LA for school then become one ASAP. I don't know if you're aware of this, but if at all interested in rural practice Tulane has a very interesting program for LA residents: Tulane University - School of Medicine - Family Medicine - TRuMEd Home
Your GPAs are going to make this harder...I definitely would not limit your applications to only two schools. That's a bad move even for someone throwing a 4.0 around. Your MCAT is going to be a large factor in this, as the lower it is (be aware that most schools will average your scores) the wider you'll need to cast your net.
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That's really hard to answer. Are you coming from behind? Yes. Do I think you're absolutely out of the game? Not necessarily.
I think your best chances are going to be DO schools, given they will consider your grad GPAs and their average MCAT scores are still for the most part in the high 20s. If your MCAT average comes out around 30 you might have a shot at MD if you apply very broadly and very wisely. You did say you had an upward trend in grades, which can mean something depending how dramatic an upswing we're talking about.
I would focus your energy on the MCAT and come back to this decision when you get a score back, since that will be a major factor in this.
I think your best chances are going to be DO schools, given they will consider your grad GPAs and their average MCAT scores are still for the most part in the high 20s. If your MCAT average comes out around 30 you might have a shot at MD if you apply very broadly and very wisely. You did say you had an upward trend in grades, which can mean something depending how dramatic an upswing we're talking about.
I would focus your energy on the MCAT and come back to this decision when you get a score back, since that will be a major factor in this.
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Best of luck to you. I came from a very low GPA situation as well, so I have a soft spot for situations like that 🙂 . There are a lot of variables that come into play, but you sound like you know what you need to do right now. Feel free to PM me anytime if you have any random questions.
QofQuimica
Seriously, dude, I think you're overreacting....
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OP, your grades and MCAT score can be remediated; that's not the biggest problem you face. Right now the biggest problem you face is that you don't have reasonable expectations for what will likely be required in order for you to successfully get into medical school and complete your training.
1) You should absolutely NOT go to medical school if you're not willing to move MULTIPLE times, once for each stage of training. This is common and even the norm for medical training. I am not saying it's impossible to stay in one place, but you should not go into this training pathway EXPECTING to be able to do it. Even if you were a stellar rock star of an applicant, there is no guarantee that any specific school will accept you. And even if you get into your local medical school, there is no guarantee that you will get to stay on at that institution for residency in four years. So if you and your family are not prepared to move at least twice (once for med school, and again for residency), I would advise you to reconsider your med school aspirations. I will tell you now that I've moved half a dozen times and lived in a different state at every stage of this game (premed, med school, residency, two cities here in FL for my faculty job, and I'll be moving again to a fourth state for fellowship next week).
2) As someone who is applying from a bit of a disadvantage given your low GPA and initial MCAT, unfortunately, you do not get to call the shots. Have you spoken to your local med schools yet about what they'd like to see you do to improve your app? Have you considered what you will do if they tell you, "we want you to do a year of FT UG post bac?" If the med schools you talk to want you to take coursework at the UG level, and some likely will strongly encourage you to do so, then it really doesn't matter that you already have two MSes. Then you have a decision to make regarding whether you want to attend medical school badly enough that you're willing to suck up jumping the hoops set before you. So again, you may need to significantly readjust your expectations here. But talk to the schools you're looking to attend, and find out from them exactly what they'd like to see you do to demonstrate academic readiness for medical school.
3) Make sure your husband (and your kids, if they're old enough to understand) are aware of and are on board with all of the above. It's not just you who will be making significant sacrifices for your medical training over the next decade. Medical training is stressful enough even with a fully supportive family. If your family is resentful or unwilling to support your dream of becoming a physician, then going to medical school could severely stress your relationships or even result in the family breaking up (unfortunately, divorce during med school and residency is not uncommon).
I don't mean to suggest that it's impossible for you to become a physician, or that you shouldn't bother trying. But I do think that you and your family need to go into it with a completely realistic understanding of the challenges involved and a plan for overcoming those challenges together.
Hope this helps, and best of luck to you.
1) You should absolutely NOT go to medical school if you're not willing to move MULTIPLE times, once for each stage of training. This is common and even the norm for medical training. I am not saying it's impossible to stay in one place, but you should not go into this training pathway EXPECTING to be able to do it. Even if you were a stellar rock star of an applicant, there is no guarantee that any specific school will accept you. And even if you get into your local medical school, there is no guarantee that you will get to stay on at that institution for residency in four years. So if you and your family are not prepared to move at least twice (once for med school, and again for residency), I would advise you to reconsider your med school aspirations. I will tell you now that I've moved half a dozen times and lived in a different state at every stage of this game (premed, med school, residency, two cities here in FL for my faculty job, and I'll be moving again to a fourth state for fellowship next week).
2) As someone who is applying from a bit of a disadvantage given your low GPA and initial MCAT, unfortunately, you do not get to call the shots. Have you spoken to your local med schools yet about what they'd like to see you do to improve your app? Have you considered what you will do if they tell you, "we want you to do a year of FT UG post bac?" If the med schools you talk to want you to take coursework at the UG level, and some likely will strongly encourage you to do so, then it really doesn't matter that you already have two MSes. Then you have a decision to make regarding whether you want to attend medical school badly enough that you're willing to suck up jumping the hoops set before you. So again, you may need to significantly readjust your expectations here. But talk to the schools you're looking to attend, and find out from them exactly what they'd like to see you do to demonstrate academic readiness for medical school.
3) Make sure your husband (and your kids, if they're old enough to understand) are aware of and are on board with all of the above. It's not just you who will be making significant sacrifices for your medical training over the next decade. Medical training is stressful enough even with a fully supportive family. If your family is resentful or unwilling to support your dream of becoming a physician, then going to medical school could severely stress your relationships or even result in the family breaking up (unfortunately, divorce during med school and residency is not uncommon).
I don't mean to suggest that it's impossible for you to become a physician, or that you shouldn't bother trying. But I do think that you and your family need to go into it with a completely realistic understanding of the challenges involved and a plan for overcoming those challenges together.
Hope this helps, and best of luck to you.
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Agreed wholeheartedly with @QofQuimica, but have a slightly different opinion than @Eccesignum with regard to the MCAT. Personally, no matter a new MCAT, your grades will be an anchor.
1) If you plan to apply exclusively DO they will take your graduate grades into consideration for your overall GPA, so you should see what your sGPA and cGPA would be by the AACOMAS method. If they are >3.3ish, then you may have the 'reinvention' required for DO schools (though I still think they take grad work less seriously). You could take the MCAT and if you score well enough, apply next year. Assuming you can put together the cohesive story and app in 1 year.
2) If you want to apply to any MD schools, you need to do some post-bac work. No matter the cost/time/etc, it would need to be done if you want serious consideration. If you take the MCAT, ace it, and apply with a 3.02 sGPA, they will still have hesitations... Time (and grad degrees) don't prove you're ready to excel in a rigorous science curriculum. With the new MCAT, schools are only accepting them for 2-3 years, so you'd need to have done some repair, or be in the process, if you want to apply MD. Otherwise, you run the risk of a good MCAT, but not enough time to get your GPA in shape to apply... I say this as someone who had a low 3.4 sGPA and an engineering masters -- I was told (by the school that later accepted me) that my GPA was on the low side and that my high GPA grad degree didn't offset it. I had ~20 credits of postbac work (all A's) at the end, which I think helped. Sadly, you'd need to do any courses/mcat before you apply, because you need those As on your transcript/application, so the application year will be a bit "lost" in a sense. (You can update schools for work in progress, but your first evaluation will set the course for your app).
I'll be a 30 year old when I matriculate. Others are older. If you want to apply, I'd do it "right" and understand that there's a lot you can do to give yourself the best chance of being admitted to medical school, but it will take time.
Some extra time for your kids to grow while you cover your bases and make a more cohesive path to medicine would pay dividends. You're a bit short on volunteering for those in need, would need to prove yourself in some science coursework, as well as the mcat. While DO schools may be more forgiving of your GPA, doing some extra coursework and improving your app could be the difference bewteen a new and established school, and 4 years after enrolling, you'll want yourself to be coming from the most established and best institution possible.
Good luck!
1) If you plan to apply exclusively DO they will take your graduate grades into consideration for your overall GPA, so you should see what your sGPA and cGPA would be by the AACOMAS method. If they are >3.3ish, then you may have the 'reinvention' required for DO schools (though I still think they take grad work less seriously). You could take the MCAT and if you score well enough, apply next year. Assuming you can put together the cohesive story and app in 1 year.
2) If you want to apply to any MD schools, you need to do some post-bac work. No matter the cost/time/etc, it would need to be done if you want serious consideration. If you take the MCAT, ace it, and apply with a 3.02 sGPA, they will still have hesitations... Time (and grad degrees) don't prove you're ready to excel in a rigorous science curriculum. With the new MCAT, schools are only accepting them for 2-3 years, so you'd need to have done some repair, or be in the process, if you want to apply MD. Otherwise, you run the risk of a good MCAT, but not enough time to get your GPA in shape to apply... I say this as someone who had a low 3.4 sGPA and an engineering masters -- I was told (by the school that later accepted me) that my GPA was on the low side and that my high GPA grad degree didn't offset it. I had ~20 credits of postbac work (all A's) at the end, which I think helped. Sadly, you'd need to do any courses/mcat before you apply, because you need those As on your transcript/application, so the application year will be a bit "lost" in a sense. (You can update schools for work in progress, but your first evaluation will set the course for your app).
I'll be a 30 year old when I matriculate. Others are older. If you want to apply, I'd do it "right" and understand that there's a lot you can do to give yourself the best chance of being admitted to medical school, but it will take time.
Some extra time for your kids to grow while you cover your bases and make a more cohesive path to medicine would pay dividends. You're a bit short on volunteering for those in need, would need to prove yourself in some science coursework, as well as the mcat. While DO schools may be more forgiving of your GPA, doing some extra coursework and improving your app could be the difference bewteen a new and established school, and 4 years after enrolling, you'll want yourself to be coming from the most established and best institution possible.
Good luck!
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