Is med school still realistic?

[ruieu]

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Hi SDN, I'm currently a sophomore at the University of Michigan. I currently have a 3.2 GPA after a rough freshman year. After looking at my current classes I'm taking this semester, my projected GPA after first semester of sophomore year looks like it's going to be a 3.3. I'm having a harder time than I thought in my neuroscience major requirements and I'm hoping to set an upward trend, but I'm wondering, is med school still a possibility for me? I know that it gets harder and harder to increase your GPA as your credits accumulate and that 3.6-3.7 seems so far away.

I also looked into other options if my GPA for a traditional med school does not work out, such as dental or DO (osteopathic school??). I really want to be in a health field. I guess this semester is just stressing me out, but I would like to hear your opinions?

 

[Terror Billy]

Can't speak to the difficulty of majors at UMich, but perhaps switch to the easiest pre-med major and take as many "easy" science classes as you can to boost not just your cGPA, but also your sGPA. At this point what you find interesting should be raising your GPA so that you have a shot at US medical schools. Go on ratemyprofessor and look to build a schedule for the next semester. I believe it'll be in your best interest to apply after you complete your senior year so that you can have the best GPAs.

**You should be stressed, but you haven't dug your grave yet, you still have time to provide a track record of academic success to med schools, just have to start NOW.

 

[candbgirl]

Uh you know that DOs are doctors, right? They go to medical
school too. There are lots of careers in health fields so relax. Read up on DO and keep doing the best you can. See where you are after you graduate, or even consider putting graduation off so you can keep working on your GPA. As @Goro always says-med school isn’t going anywhere. Don’t rush. Develop the best application possible.

 

[Walter Raleigh]

• DO schools may take you with a low GPA like a 3.2 if you make up for it with a 510+ MCAT.
• Take the core premed courses; you could then major in something you find less challenging to boost your GPA. You don't need to be a bio major to get into medical school. In fact, philosophy majors have the highest acceptance rate to medical school! A 4.0 in Underwater Basketweaving from Easy U. beats a 3.0 double-major in Biomedical and Chemical Engineering from Caltech.

 

[CyrusHabs7695]

Hi SDN, I'm currently a sophomore at the University of Michigan. I currently have a 3.2 GPA after a rough freshman year. After looking at my current classes I'm taking this semester, my projected GPA after first semester of sophomore year looks like it's going to be a 3.3. I'm having a harder time than I thought in my neuroscience major requirements and I'm hoping to set an upward trend, but I'm wondering, is med school still a possibility for me? I know that it gets harder and harder to increase your GPA as your credits accumulate and that 3.6-3.7 seems so far away.

I also looked into other options if med school does not work out, such as dental or DO. I really want to be in a health field. I guess this semester is just stressing me out, but I would like to hear your opinions?

You might want to research more about what a D.O. is. When you come to realize that theyre actually doctors, youll want to get some shadowing with one and get at least a 500 on the MCAT and you might be able to become one.

Edit: If you were referring to an Optometrist (O.D.) then I take that back. In all seriousness, a 3.3 doesnt eliminate you from D.O. school

 

[878956]

Slay the the foul beast know as the MCAT (510+).

 

[DrStephenStrange]

D.O. is also part of U.S medical schools. It's not a totally different field like Dental schools. DOs go to Osteopathic medical school with the same curriculum as MDs and much more. And by the way you still have a chance at DO if you can keep a 3.3 GPA (both science and cumulative) and get a 500+ MCAT. With that being said it doesn't mean they have an easier medical program, it just means that their applicant pool offers more leeway than most MDs.

Sent from my SM-G950U using SDN mobile

 

[zhong361]

Don't stressed out, just keep on trying you still have time to improve your academic records, you have just started now.

 

[Detective SnowBucket]

You've obviously put thought into the issue but don't make the same mistake I did. I focused intensely on my GPA and totally neglected my volunteer hours. If you don't start soon, you'll be frantically trying to make them up later and that doesn't look good. Having a mediocre GPA is one thing, but a mediocre GPA without hours is a whole lot worse.

 

[ruieu]

Thanks for all your input! I started doing hospital volunteer hours during the past summer (before sophomore year) and I'm currently still putting in a couple hours per week and planning to keep volunteering every semester. I'm also currently thinking about volunteer research positions, but the thing is that I don't really like laboratory research. 🙁 An older student told me I could also do other kinds of research, like psychology studies or similar, other than the "science-y lab research". My question is would it still look okay to med schools if I don't do any actual laboratory research?

 

[Detective SnowBucket]

Sure, you don't Have to have lab experience, but if you can, it will only strengthen your application. In short, get over it 😉 it'll be worth it.

 

[treatem-and-streetem]

Hi SDN, I'm currently a sophomore at the University of Michigan. I currently have a 3.2 GPA after a rough freshman year. After looking at my current classes I'm taking this semester, my projected GPA after first semester of sophomore year looks like it's going to be a 3.3. I'm having a harder time than I thought in my neuroscience major requirements and I'm hoping to set an upward trend, but I'm wondering, is med school still a possibility for me? I know that it gets harder and harder to increase your GPA as your credits accumulate and that 3.6-3.7 seems so far away.

I also looked into other options if my GPA for a traditional med school does not work out, such as dental or DO (osteopathic school??). I really want to be in a health field. I guess this semester is just stressing me out, but I would like to hear your opinions?

You also need to look at the fact you are living in Michigan which is a huge advantage when applying to Michigan schools. Michigan st actually has two medical programs (DO and MD). You should get some community service and volunteer experience as well as shadow a physician. The higher the MCAT the easier it will be to get interviews.