I need some real talk

[bkennedy]

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Okay,

I have posted here a few times, but as I am getting closer to starting school again I am getting nervous. Do I really even stand a chance? First of all I live in South Carolina.

I am a nurse practitioner. I did poorly in my first two years of school 13 years ago to due the usual new kid in college. Did okay my last two years of undergrad. I believe I had 3.5-3.6. The real problem is with my first two years.

With the grades I made my cumalative uGPA is 3.0-3.1. I guess that would put my science around 2.46. I plan to have 3.2 science after I finish my pre-reqs. This will be higher if I do the DO route, which I am not opposed to. My grad GPA was 3.8.

I have taken the following sciecne classes 10-13 years ago.
Bio 1: C
Chem 1: B
Bio 2: C
Chem 2: C
Micro: B
Anatomy 1 (nursing): C
Anatomy 2 (nursing): B

As you can see not much effort was applied. I certainly know I am capable. I plan on taking chem and bio 1 in the fall at a CC. Chem 2 and Bio 2 in the spring at CC. I will then take physics, Org, and Biochem at a 4 year university.

I do have over 1000 clinical hours while I was in NP school with most of those being with MDs. I have 7 years nursing experience and almost one year NP experience.

I feel completely unfulfilled as an NP. I want to learn and know more to be better for my patients. I have always wanted med school. I am at a good place in my life now to start this.

Any thoughts? Suggestions?

 

[popopopop]

Retake those classes and you'll be in the running for DO. You might consider other classes to bolster it up your science GPA pass 3.0.

 

[bkennedy]

Retake those classes and you'll be in the running for DO. You might consider other classes to bolster it up your science GPA pass 3.0.

Thank you for your reply. If I get As in the 8 standard pre-reqs (bio, chem, org, physics) it will put my science around a 3.2. I know that will be a lot of studying and discipline. That is my aim.

 

[gracie369]

I feel completely unfulfilled as an NP. I want to learn and know more to be better for my patients. I have always wanted med school.

You've only been an NP for one year. What field do you work in? Why do you feel unfulfilled? What specific areas do you feel deficient in? Are you reading journals, books, etc.? What specialty are you interested in after medical school?

Just curious. I work with NPs and PAs and have heard that sometimes they feel deficient. Most of them will just continue to read and do practice questions. Your answers might help others. Good luck.

 

[bkennedy]

You've only been an NP for one year. What field do you work in? Why do you feel unfulfilled? What specific areas do you feel deficient in? Are you reading journals, books, etc.? What specialty are you interested in after medical school?

Just curious. I work with NPs and PAs and have heard that sometimes they feel deficient. Most of them will just continue to read and do practice questions. Your answers might help others. Good luck.

The caliber of training for NPs are quite different than med school. Medical school is much more involved in the science behind treatment. In NP school we had to take silly nursing theory classes instead of something of use. I am sorry, learning about nursing theories is not going to help me take care of my patient.

I currently work in pediatrics and internal medicine. I have to say our physicians here are absolutely wonderful and answer any questions we have. They are extremely patient and have lots of knowledge. I woud like to understand more of the pathophysiology of illnesses. Yes, we did have a short course in NP school. Not nearly enough. I do read journals and learn so much, but I want more.

It is hard to explain the need for knowledge I have. I certainly could settle, but that is just not me. I want to be a better provider for my patients. I believe I do well now, but could be so much better.

I am really interested in internal medicine or emergency medicine if I were to get in medical school. I have almost 7 years of ED nursing experience and really love this.

 

[AlphaBeta<3]

Okay,

I have posted here a few times, but as I am getting closer to starting school again I am getting nervous. Do I really even stand a chance? First of all I live in South Carolina.

I am a nurse practitioner. I did poorly in my first two years of school 13 years ago to due the usual new kid in college. Did okay my last two years of undergrad. I believe I had 3.5-3.6. The real problem is with my first two years.

With the grades I made my cumalative uGPA is 3.0-3.1. I guess that would put my science around 2.46. I plan to have 3.2 science after I finish my pre-reqs. This will be higher if I do the DO route, which I am not opposed to. My grad GPA was 3.8.

I have taken the following sciecne classes 10-13 years ago.
Bio 1: C
Chem 1: B
Bio 2: C
Chem 2: C
Micro: B
Anatomy 1 (nursing): C
Anatomy 2 (nursing): B

As you can see not much effort was applied. I certainly know I am capable. I plan on taking chem and bio 1 in the fall at a CC. Chem 2 and Bio 2 in the spring at CC. I will then take physics, Org, and Biochem at a 4 year university.

I do have over 1000 clinical hours while I was in NP school with most of those being with MDs. I have 7 years nursing experience and almost one year NP experience.

I feel completely unfulfilled as an NP. I want to learn and know more to be better for my patients. I have always wanted med school. I am at a good place in my life now to start this.

Any thoughts? Suggestions?

Those nursing classes aren't counted towards your sGPA if they were classified as anything besides "Bio, Chem, Physics." So if it was classified aas a nursing class, they aren't counted toward sGPA

 

[DrMikeP]

DO has grade replacement, so you could retake F/D's and potentially C's if needed and pull your gpa up significantly. The science GPA is the one that will be looked at the most and you really really want it above 3.2.

Also, depending on the particular nursing classes, some will be counted toward your science gpa, even if they don't meet the "required classes." AACOMAS discusses what will count and what won't.

 

[bkennedy]

DO has grade replacement, so you could retake F/D's and potentially C's if needed and pull your gpa up significantly. The science GPA is the one that will be looked at the most and you really really want it above 3.2.

Also, depending on the particular nursing classes, some will be counted toward your science gpa, even if they don't meet the "required classes." AACOMAS discusses what will count and what won't.

Thanks. The only F I have was in a computer programming class that was horrible and I made the mistake of not going. The only D was in philospohy. I say only, but I guess it could be worse. I had never made either of these grades before until then. I will probably take more science or math classes than the norm to pull my GPA up even further.

 

[DrMikeP]

Thanks. The only F I have was in a computer programming class that was horrible and I made the mistake of not going. The only D was in philospohy. I say only, but I guess it could be worse. I had never made either of these grades before until then. I will probably take more science or math classes than the norm to pull my GPA up even further.

The new information book is out for DO. Get as close to the gpa/mcat avgs as possible in the next year to be competitive.

http://www.aacom.org/news-and-events/publications/cib

 

[bkennedy]

Those nursing classes aren't counted towards your sGPA if they were classified as anything besides "Bio, Chem, Physics." So if it was classified aas a nursing class, they aren't counted toward sGPA

Thank you..I am not sure. They were for nursing but I don't think they are labeled nursing. I will need to figure that out. I know they don't start with NURS like my actual nursing classes.

 

[Goro]

1000% agree with my young colleague.

DO has grade replacement, so you could retake F/D's and potentially C's if needed and pull your gpa up significantly. The science GPA is the one that will be looked at the most and you really really want it above 3.2.

Also, depending on the particular nursing classes, some will be counted toward your science gpa, even if they don't meet the "required classes." AACOMAS discusses what will count and what won't.

 

[DrMikeP]

1000% agree with my young colleague.

Thank you for referring to me as young. 🙂

 

[bkennedy]

1000% agree with my young colleague.

Thank you. I think the grade replacement is a great option since I have so many credit hours. There is a DO college not far from me. The MD program is even closer and I heard they like non-traditional students but, I know it is still so competitive. The hospital I work for is partnered with the med school so hopefully that will help some too.

 

[Goro]

Your best chances for MD are with the SC schools.