In need of some solid advice

[Jedimuscle23]

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Hello there! I'm in need of some solid advice.

I live in Texas (17 years now) and I graduated in 2013 from Texas state university with a BS in psychology. I Didn't know I wanted to go to med school back then so as a result my gpa was terrible. (2.82 overall)

Fast forward to 2016 and I have completed all my prerequisites for med school and my gpa has improved marginally. (3.00 overall and 3.1 sci)

Many of my advisors have recommended doing TCOM (UNTHSC) bost bacc program in order to get into a med school here in Texas. At the same time it has come to my attention that if I apply to DO schools (not including UNTHSC) I can just take classes for grade replacement and up my gpa significantly in just 2 short semesters. (I can think of about 6-7 classes that if I retook and got all As in my new gpa would be hovering around a 3.21 overall and 3.45 sci)

Where I need advice is on what I should do next. The post bacc program seems promising but the only problem is that the deadline is march 1, 2017, and it requires an MCAT score before hand. (Minimum of 20 is required on the old scale out of 42.) I have not taken the MCAT yet and in fact I haven't even started studying. Basically my last date to take the MCAT to meet the deadline is January 28, 2017. I never imagined when I went back to school 2 years ago that I would cram studying for the MCAT in just one short month. I don't want to waste any more time considering I'm a month away from being 27.

What option is best for me???

Option 1: spend every day in January studying my butt off for the MCAT on January 28, 2017. Then hope I get at least a 20 or above and apply to the post bacc program and complete one year SMP in hopes of getting into a med school.

Option 2: dont cram for the MCAT in January. Take Kaplan MCAT prep course from January-April and take the MCAT in April/may when I feel more prepared. At the same time focus on taking classes for grade replacement and only apply to DO schools. (Wouldn't mind the out of state options at this point)

I think option 1 gives me more schools to chose from if I hypothetically make it to the post bacc program and complete it with stellar GPA. However I think option 2 is a less stressful route since I wouldn't be cramming for the MCAT and replacing grades that should have been higher if my 18 year old self wasn't too concerned with partying. Option 2 only works if I plan on strictly applying to DO schools.

Any thoughts?

 

[Marrowist]

Option 2, except don't take the Kaplan MCAT prep course unless you just have tons of money lying around. Self studying with resources on this forum worked for me. Just my opinion.

 

[swarley1820]

I honestly would not consider cramming for the MCAT just to apply to a post bac program. Taking it and hoping for something over a 20 is not beneficial to you and your future. What if you don't get into the post bac, whatever MCAT score you get will never disappear. You're better off taking your time, retaking your courses, and preparing for the MCAT adequately. Don't make decisions about your future career based on hypothetical scenarios!

 

[Wcm21]

Option 2. IMO it's going to be tough for you to get into a Texas MD program even if you do well on the MCAT (unlikely if you cram for it). What was your GPA for the prereqs you've gotten since graduating? Your low GPA could be forgiven by MD schools if you've done stellar in your coursework you've taken recently after deciding to go to med school, but it doesn't sound like this is the case if your sGPA is only 3.1. I'd say rushing to take the MCAT to get into a postbac to ultimately get into an MD school is very risky as that MCAT score will follow you and if you don't do well in the postbac it will ultimately hurt you more and if you do well, still will be very difficult to get into an MD school (in no way impossible though). I'd focus on DO schools and grade replacement

 

[psu228]

Definitely don't take the MCAT in January. Even if you just do well enough to get into a post bacc a low score for med school admissions could be held against you later.

I'm gonna repeat a question another poster posited; what have your grades been since you graduated? If you have a strong upward trend you may not need to retake everything.

I think being admitted for the 2018 cycle (as in applying this spring) is probably not realistic. In theory you could retake three or four classes at a CC or something while studying for the MCAT and taking it in late spring or early summer. It's possible but is definitely a tall order.

Really is a question of do you think you can get As if you retake some classes this upcoming semester and learn the material well enough to augment studying for the MCAT. I also do feel like the prep courses are worthwhile; if you're organized you will be fine studying on your own.

Best of luck. Don't let your age impact the process of getting into medical school. If you get in at age 28 rather than 27 in the grand scheme of things it's not really that big of a deal.

 

[esob]

How old are your grades? You can do academic fresh start in TX if they are over 10 years old and wipe all of them out. Then you get to apply to Texas MD with whatever new grades you get. If you have a degree already and take 1 class post fresh start and get an A, your GPA for Texas MD schools is a 4.0.

 

[pseud0]

You will never get into a US medical school with a 20 mcat and 3.0 gpa. Make sure you're consistently getting in the a 'good enough' DO range (more like 26/27 and up although with your low gpa you'll want it as high as possible) on a few practice exams before you take it.

 

[Goro]

Do NOT take the MCAT until you are 100% ready for it.

Hello there! I'm in need of some solid advice.

I live in Texas (17 years now) and I graduated in 2013 from Texas state university with a BS in psychology. I Didn't know I wanted to go to med school back then so as a result my gpa was terrible. (2.82 overall)

Fast forward to 2016 and I have completed all my prerequisites for med school and my gpa has improved marginally. (3.00 overall and 3.1 sci)

Many of my advisors have recommended doing TCOM (UNTHSC) bost bacc program in order to get into a med school here in Texas. At the same time it has come to my attention that if I apply to DO schools (not including UNTHSC) I can just take classes for grade replacement and up my gpa significantly in just 2 short semesters. (I can think of about 6-7 classes that if I retook and got all As in my new gpa would be hovering around a 3.21 overall and 3.45 sci)

Where I need advice is on what I should do next. The post bacc program seems promising but the only problem is that the deadline is march 1, 2017, and it requires an MCAT score before hand. (Minimum of 20 is required on the old scale out of 42.) I have not taken the MCAT yet and in fact I haven't even started studying. Basically my last date to take the MCAT to meet the deadline is January 28, 2017. I never imagined when I went back to school 2 years ago that I would cram studying for the MCAT in just one short month. I don't want to waste any more time considering I'm a month away from being 27.

What option is best for me???

Option 1: spend every day in January studying my butt off for the MCAT on January 28, 2017. Then hope I get at least a 20 or above and apply to the post bacc program and complete one year SMP in hopes of getting into a med school.

Option 2: dont cram for the MCAT in January. Take Kaplan MCAT prep course from January-April and take the MCAT in April/may when I feel more prepared. At the same time focus on taking classes for grade replacement and only apply to DO schools. (Wouldn't mind the out of state options at this point)

I think option 1 gives me more schools to chose from if I hypothetically make it to the post bacc program and complete it with stellar GPA. However I think option 2 is a less stressful route since I wouldn't be cramming for the MCAT and replacing grades that should have been higher if my 18 year old self wasn't too concerned with partying. Option 2 only works if I plan on strictly applying to DO schools.

Any thoughts?