Insane..

[md2bknox]

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Did you ever feel, or did any one make you feel as though you were insane for trying so hard to get into medical school? I have currently come to terms with the fact that I will need 3 years of repair to my gpa, and I have also just graduated from a university. My plans are to go back home and get another degree because I need practically a new one to fix the old one, yea it's that bad. Anyway like any new graduate the big question is "what's next?". when I tell people they are like "oh, well why not work or get a master's. While I understand they don't know A. gpa and B. how medical school works, it's frustrating me. Obviously I am doing it this way for a reason. I'm 23 and I have always wanted to go to medical school, and I am preparing for both DO and MD, by retaking classes while I am doing this extra degree. I figure worse case scenario I am applying at 28. It does feel weird looking at my friends progressing and I'm like waving as they are driving away type scenario.
To explain the horrible gpa, I had some health issues as well as a death for every year I was in college. The people who passed were influential people in my life and it really got me off track. I want to prove to ADCOMs that was not me. So at what point do you stop and give up? Side question, at what point can an upward trend be better than just getting over the 3.0 hump? I have heard of people (nontrads) apply with a 2.8ish and they get interviews, I guess I am wondering if I should stop at 2.8ish and try my luck or keep going until I hit atleast 3.0? Also can you get a second degree and a master's in say Public health? Everyone's points are welcome! Thanks!

PS. Is a school that was a cc and now is a college, how does that look to adcoms? Will they know it was a cc? Just curious what other peoples thoughts. Would you go to that to do some work?

 

[samuraiR]

if your interested, some DO schools (UMDNJ comes to mind) will take a graduate GPA instead of an undergrad GPA provided its in their SMP. This may be beneficial to you to consider so you dont need to spend 3 years provided you can do well in an SMP and rock the mcats.

Just a suggestion

 

[mspeedwagon]

Let me start of by saying that this post is my humble opinion.

I do not think your plan is reasonable. I commend you for wanting to work hard and make things right, but 3 years of GPA repair straight after undergrad leads to a lot of questions (namely, what the hell were you doing with your first shot at undergrad?). I can empathize with influencial people in your life dying, but this would lead me to the question of why did you not take time off for a few semesters realizing the hit it was taking on your GPA.

I would separate yourself a bit from your undergrad performance. Go work in a hospital-setting or similar. After a little break apply to SMP programs or do a formal or informal post-bac and then apply (money and your ability to get in will dictate which route you choose). If you spend 7 years taking undergrad courses and have only a 3.0 GPA at the end of it, I think your odds of getting in with no work experience, and nothing to show for it, are nill.

I would not worry about the community college vs four year college question (outside of a number of the top colleges it won't really matter much). Take some time off, make money, work in health care, show maturity, and then return to college to take on classes. I also wouldn't worry about another undergrad degree (it's pretty much a waste unless you want to pursue that as a career instead of medicine).

 

[SB720]

If I were you, I would begin taking the pre-requisites and spend a lot of time building your ECs. Really work on building solid references, take the MCATs and kick ass on them. I would then begin the application process for MD and DO schools AND SMP programs.

 

[md2bknox]

At this point anything I do right now I need to bring my gpa up. That being said even to get into graduate or anything I need to work on this gpa. SMP and DO are not out the question by any means, so thank you for that advice.
As SB said I will be applying to all three at the same time, and really what's weakening me at this time is my gpa. I have not taken the MCAT because I haven't taken all the prereqs, so I already have to go back to school for that. I did take a practice at my University and received an okay score, without any prereqs. So I assume it would only go up, when I take the prereqs.
While getting a job is a good point as well, that's what I did all of college and I realize that didn't help. I have plenty of connections(who are more than willing to write a recommendation letter), experiences, and great opportunities galore. It really sucks too because gpa aside I am sure I would be fine
Partially for my own sake, I want to bring my gpa up, sounds weird but it's not just med school. I really was stupid in that I should have just stopped for a minute. I had one semester where I should have just withdrew and I am thinking about doing a retroactive withdrawl because I just stop going to school. That really hurt me, the most. It was my determination and my sheer hatred for where I was that was my down fall. I felt as though I had to finish and get out of there. I also had a lot of racist interactions at my school.
I hate making excuses so I am not going to go in depth with that, I will take part of your advice in working for a hospital setting, as someone I know is working to get me a position at the VA. I do plan on doing some school on the side as well though.
Thanks for the responses other's are still wanted. Also can someone address the cc to college question. I know mrspeedwagon, why did you say it was of no concern? Thanks

 

[Practitioner]

I would separate yourself a bit from your undergrad performance. Go work in a hospital-setting or similar. After a little break apply to SMP programs or do a formal or informal post-bac and then apply (money and your ability to get in will dictate which route you choose). If you spend 7 years taking undergrad courses and have only a 3.0 GPA at the end of it, I think your odds of getting in with no work experience, and nothing to show for it, are nill.

I my humble (and largely uninformed from the adcom side of things) opinion too: I agree with the above.

My personal feeling at 25 and another year or two before starting med school, IF I get in (I won't try past starting med school at 28) is that you shouldn't feel pressure from those around you about what you should or shouldn't be doing. Follow the sound advice of adcom members you can speak with and SDN. General advice on proceeding with your education can be counter to advice directed at pursuing an MD/DO.

There are also better options you have, like MSWagon mentioned. Get some clinical related experience in the next year or two before applying to an SMP to "prove" yourself. You can even put a positive spin on it saying your motivation towards was challenged and then reaffirmed after working in a clinical setting so you're going through the SMP. Or whatever.

Did you ever feel, or did any one make you feel as though you were insane for trying so hard to get into medical school?

Yes, all the time. Especially that I have a decent job with plenty of room to grow. If you don't get it, you don't get it. People who get it are encouraging and I ignore the rest (although sometimes it is tempting.)

 

[trustwomen]

I was 26 and out of college for 4 years (in the workforce) before going back to school for what I thought would be a year or two of prereqs required to get into medical school. Every year it turned out I needed "just another year", until it became clear I'd need to finish another degree to get in. All in all it took 3.5 years and another entire degree. My prior GPA was dismal, about 2.5 or something, but my new GPA was 3.74 - with MCAT 35 - and I still didn't get interviews at 9 of the 10 schools I applied to, because of my old transcript. Now this is in Canada where it is MUCH harder and more competitive to go to med school, fair enough. But if I hadn't finished another degree I would have had no chance, because so many schools just count undergraduate grades.

If I had known going in that it would take so long to get in, and that I would be 30 in first year med, my 26-year-old self might not have done it. But that would have been the WORST mistake of my life. Getting in healed ALL the stress and pain of those years and I just graduated, am turning 34 this summer - and the future is bright and shiny and I am SO happy.

I think the idea of another undergrad is a fine one - but like the others I might recommend giving yourself a year or two to work, preferably in the health care or social services field, before going back for your next degree. That way there will be a clear "separation" between your new mature A-earning self and your old stressed failing self. In the adcoms' view, but also in your own view of yourself. Succeed at something else before going back to succeed in school - it will boost your self-image and increase your motivation.

 

[md2bknox]

Thanks trustwomen and practitioner, what you wrote was very helpful. I will look into working, I guess I just am nervous about stopping school and then picking back up..i will look into though.

 

[mspeedwagon]

There is a lot of debate whether or not community college classes are equal to their four year school counterparts. There are a number of people on here that got into schools that took all cc classes and didn't have a problem, and there are others that felt it hurt their chances at certain schools.

Given your current situation, I don't think this is a worry for you. If you bring your GPA up to 3.0, you will not be aiming for schools that are likely to care (Harvard, for example).

A former community college, that is now a four year one, or a private versus state university are all, in my opinion, splitting hairs (you have bigger problems to worry about). It's like addressing what color you should paint a house, when the foundation of the house is about to collapse (i.e. tackling the wrong problem).

I took a general chemistry class at a community college (I went to an Ivy) and I learned more in that class that I learned at my undergrad institute. The class at my undergrad was geared toward chemistry majors and didn't really focus on the basics (which are needed for the MCAT). What is more important is that whatever route you go down, you do well.

This is a technical question that will matter for the 3.7, 32+ applicant (and the answer is gray); it will not be much of a factor for you.

And, I think you will do yourself a great favor by working for a little bit and separating yourself from your undergrad performance (showing that was the "old" me and this is the "new" me).

P.S. I see my sn a variety of ways; for the record, I was a cross-country runner (in high school) and my first name starts with an M. Hence M-Speedwagon (after REO Speedwagon).

Also can someone address the cc to college question. I know mrspeedwagon, why did you say it was of no concern? Thanks