If I don't get an acceptance, what should I do?

[Irongirl03]

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If I don't get in this go around, I definitely want to re-apply, but other then applying earlier I don't know what else I should do.

I've taken the MCAT 3 times & raised my score from a 19 to a 26.
I've taken all of the pre-reqs & then some. Some of these are 10years old & some are post-bacc done over the last 5 years.
GPA is low-Cum.UG is 2.8 (sci), 2.9 (non-sci), 2.8 total (My post-bacc is 3.2sci/total from 34 units)

I can take more classes, but I have so many units they will effect my post-bacc mostly & hardly budge my overall GPA.

I have plenty of the EC, volunteering, shadowing etc. If I take more classes, I feel I need to start this Jan in order to have any effect.

Am I agonizing over this too much?🙂

 

[mletter]

So, your plan is that if you don't get in this round you will apply again. If that's your plan stick to it and you'll eventually get in. Remember to apply early! 🙂

 

[toothless rufus]

I admire your stamina, and perseverance! If your consuming passion is to go to medical school, you are bound to succeed! I hope its this cycle! Good luck!

 

[Hamilcar]

Only thing that comes to mind is having some paid clinical experience. Perhaps working as an ER tech or EMT-B on an ambulance? I dunno, it sounds like you have everything well under control.

Good luck!! 🙂

 

[Testy McAterson]

congratulations on your mcat improvement! that's an impressive leap that will no doubt be noted 🙂 and shows a lot of dedication. how frustrating that the only 'obvious' set-back to an otherwise shining application might be a gpa that can't really be changed. did you address it in your essays? some people suggest doing that, i really don't know--but your improvement both with your mcat and your post-bac gpa is worth mentioning.

i think the best advice has already been given: apply wide and get everything in ASAP. it really doesn't seem like there's much more you could do--you sound very well-rounded on paper 🙂

since some schools ask reapplicants to state what they've done to strengthen their application, you might consider adding a thing or two (though you'll no doubt have more volunteer hours and exposure to talk about). just random ideas: you might consider preceptoring or tutoring a class (college, high school, whatever. leadership/teaching experience to brag about). or, maybe you could do research with a professor. any of those would provide/maintain great LORs, for sure. emt has been mentioned. personally, i'd lean more towards a hospital position -- phlebotomist, tech, advocate, scribe, unit secretary but that's just me. you could really impress them by working or volunteering in a community health center, underserved hospital, or inner-city (or rural) clinic.


you might ask this in the non-traditional forum, as well. i bet you could get some great tips there. good luck to you!

 

[koennen]

I admire your perserverance and I agree with pretty much everything said above. How are things going for you this cycle? Any interviews?

 

[HemaOncoDoc]

If I don't get in this go around, I definitely want to re-apply, but other then applying earlier I don't know what else I should do.

I've taken the MCAT 3 times & raised my score from a 19 to a 26.
I've taken all of the pre-reqs & then some. Some of these are 10years old & some are post-bacc done over the last 5 years.
GPA is low-Cum.UG is 2.8 (sci), 2.9 (non-sci), 2.8 total (My post-bacc is 3.2sci/total from 34 units)

I can take more classes, but I have so many units they will effect my post-bacc mostly & hardly budge my overall GPA.

I have plenty of the EC, volunteering, shadowing etc. If I take more classes, I feel I need to start this Jan in order to have any effect.

Am I agonizing over this too much?🙂

In the short term, I don't think you can do very much more than you have already in terms of your GPA and MCAT. In the event that you have to apply next year, get your application in early and you should be thinking about whether paid clinical experience, work abroad, or research would be something that you'd consider in the interim. Best of luck.

Hint: If you do not mind taking undergrad courses again, take the prereqs over that you did not score a "B" or better in. The AACOMAS weighs in the highest grade. That will probably shoot up that sGPA and probably the GPA. I'm not sure how conventional it is though.

 

[TerpDO]

Hey if you think you need any drastic actions there are 1 year MPH programs out there that if you get a MPH before applying you will be very far ahead of other applicants in your cycle. Many med schools are now pushing MD(or DO)/MPH programs to try to turn out more community sensitive physicians. So that is always an option. I didn't do one but had a friend who completed one and was accepted into a MD school and her GPA and MCAT were not all that impressive. In addition I just interviewed at Touro-MI and they spoke to us for like 30 min just about an optional DO/MPH degree. I hope this helps. 🙂

 

[MJB]

Have you looked into programs like KCUMB's 1 year masters that will give you a seat in their MS1 class if you attain a certain GPA?

Might be one route. What I would do is really focus on getting in this year...and if it doesn't work out, spend the time with adcom's and find out EXACTLY why, and what you need to do.

It's like a car salesman (hate to use this analogy)....you need to get them to tell you "what do I have to do to get into your school...specifically".

Kind of like the old "if I can get you this price, will you buy this car today" tactic.

Your perseverance is amazing. My hats off to you.

 

[jp104]

Sent you a PM Irongirl 🙂

 

[silverpaw54]

Only thing that comes to mind is having some paid clinical experience. Perhaps working as an ER tech or EMT-B on an ambulance? I dunno, it sounds like you have everything well under control.

Good luck!! 🙂

How do you become a ER Tech? Do you need to take the EMT license course?

 

[Andromeda]

I just want to say that everyone who has posted to this thread has been so supportive and positive with their suggestions to irongirl and this reflects on how wonderful you will be as physicians. this positive atmosphere is not always the case on certain threads on sdn.

irongirl, you really are an irongirl. keep it up! 👍
-andromeda

 

[m-said]

I agree! First of all, we need more good people in medicine, so I hope you all get in to your respective fav. schools!!!!Irongirl, I'm reapplying this year,& if you want my honest 2 cents, I guess my biggest regret is not having done all my homework last year. IE. I didn't look into all the possible programs out there. Apply to to a good range of schools- trust me, you really deserve recognition for improving on the MCATs (that was my biggest challenge in the process), & you're stats & more importantly your determination will take you far. Just keep in mind schools are a) numerous b)looking at all the qualities that you can bring to them, & I'm sure there's more I could say. But to make my point, reflect to them what you have to offer. TELL them why you want this & reflect on what you've done to get to where you want to be. In a realm as competitive as this one, you need to shine & show what you've done to deserve to progress & what you've learned from life & from others & how you think you'll be able to make a difference & interact with your colleagues& patients in the future. Also, try to do something if you don't get in this time, that will help you gain more experience but also bring more depth to your application (ie health tech positions or clinical research in an area you are interested in). I chose to to pursue my M.S. in neurobio, and I don't regret in one bit- if anything, it's given me a chance to reaffirm that I want to be a physician & it's also given me much more perspective that I was able to take to my interviews ( & will take w/ me in life in general). So, find your niche & work with it & also highlight your strengths & integrate them into your future. 🙂 I hope my insight can help.

 

[Irongirl03]

Wow! Thanks for all the encouragement and great advice. I definintely have some food for thought🙂

 

[medmom]

Don't get discouraged, someone will inevitably tell you that your stats are to low and to give up. On a lighter note: I got into WVSOM with a lower MCAT and higher GPA. You may need to retake some classes to hit the golden 3.0. Honestly, I would retake the critical pre-req's first if they are C's, after that I would retake whatever the easiet C's are that you can.😛

 

[dr.z]

So, your plan is that if you don't get in this round you will apply again. If that's your plan stick to it and you'll eventually get in. Remember to apply early! 🙂

👍

 

[DoctorMom78]

Have you looked into programs like KCUMB's 1 year masters that will give you a seat in their MS1 class if you attain a certain GPA?

Might be one route. What I would do is really focus on getting in this year...and if it doesn't work out, spend the time with adcom's and find out EXACTLY why, and what you need to do.

It's like a car salesman (hate to use this analogy)....you need to get them to tell you "what do I have to do to get into your school...specifically".

Kind of like the old "if I can get you this price, will you buy this car today" tactic.

Your perseverance is amazing. My hats off to you.

AWESOME ADVICE! I totally agree with everything. Irongirl, I admire your determination and I sure it will all work out for you in the end. I am sure you will become a wonderful doctor. Hang in there! Best of luck to you!

 

[timmah2k]

Keep working at it. I was in the same situation as you are in now. Let me tell you about myself and how I changed things to help me out.

My UG GPA overall was a 2.57 and my science GPA was lower than that, but I don't recall what it was. This was something I knew must be fixed in order to even be looked at. I took 37 credits as a post bac retaking most of the prereqs. I retook Inorganic Chemistry I and II, Physics I and II, Organic Chem I and II, Microbiology, Statistics, and Anatomy (all with labs). I had a 3.691 from those post bac classes. This raised by overall GPA to a 3.057 and science GPA to a 3.193.

My first MCAT was a 21N. I studied much harder to take it again and got a 26N.

I took time to shadow a family practice DO for about 50 hours and shadow various doctors and PAs in an ER for 70 hours.

I obtained my certification as an EMT-B and work for a transport company for the last half year.

This was all done in the span of about 1.5 - 2 years. I knew I really wanted to become a physician so this was a small sacrifice to take. I think if you retook all your prereqs that you got below a B in, your GPA will increase drastically since DO schools have a forgiveness policy. Basically I believe DO school admissions looks for GPA, MCAT, and clincal exposure. Make sure you are strong is all those three and you'll have a great chance. I could take time to work on those facets, but if you really want this, then it's worth it. I have two acceptances already from KCOM and WVSOM. Good luck. PM if you want to ask my anything else.

 

[Terpskins99]

Have you looked into programs like KCUMB's 1 year masters that will give you a seat in their MS1 class if you attain a certain GPA?

Just to add to MJB... (and I wholely endorse KCUMB's Masters... though it is a really intense program... even more so than the regular MS1 year, if you ask me).

Here's a link that briefly describes some of those other post-bacc programs.

http://hpap.syr.edu/LISTPB.HTM

Georgetown's Special Masters, Drexel/Hannemahn's Masters/Boston U's GMS are usually among the more popular ones (stay FAR away from the NYMC program, unless they've changed face and guarantee acceptance)...

I know Chicago Medical used to guarantee matriculation into their first year class if you maintain a certain GPA (*update* apparently Chicago Med does not anymore). Thats what you really need to look for...
1) Does the program GUARANTEE acceptance to their medical school should you complete their requirements... and...
2) Does the program allow you to take actual med school classes alongside actual medical students (Drexel has all of their lectures done via video... NYMC only lets you take research specific courses... ridiculous).

Good luck!

 

[brookliner7]

remember, RETAKE classes to improve your GPA!
Is this what you have been doing?
The most recent grade will REPLACE the old one in aacomas.
For goodness sakes...replace some C's with A's and get the GPA UP!!!!
GOOD LUCK!😀