Is my plan realistic?

[Dwhite1017]

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So long story short I entered college not knowing what to do so I chose to major in biology and was "pre-med" but I wasn't serious, at all. I started to get my stuff together and changed my major to Architecture because I knew I would be good at it and enjoy it. I've just finish my sophomore year and I'm sitting at a 3.12 GPA and a 3.0 Science GPA after just 3 science classes. I got a C in intro to biology my first semester which shows how much I didn't care.

The thing with Architecture is that its a 5 year degree which gives me 4 more years to bring my GPA up. I've done some calculations and it seems that if I get a 4.0 the next 4 years, I should be able to get a 3.74 cGPA and a 3.7 sGPA. While this is the absolute best case scenario, I believe that I can do it. I haven't taken the MCAT and likely won't for a few years.

I know that applications vary widely based on volunteering, research, leadership experience, etc. With those variables aside, does my plan look at least somewhat plausible? Also, what should my MCAT be in order to be competitive?

Also, I'm an Oklahoma resident if that helps. I know OU Med is pretty favorable for residents considering the number of in-state students who apply and how many get matriculate.

 

[smukke]

Going from a 3.0/3.12 to getting straight As just like that? Sure. Why not?

I will suggest that if you aren't getting straight As you should stop trying (for now), graduate and reevaluate. You can always go back to take the science prereqs, it's much harder to go back to fix a bad GPA.

 

[benjamin94559]

i dont think its unrealistic; you're only a sophmore I think this is a pretty common trend to get your stuff together in the middle that even if you dont get the perfect thing that you want and end up with like a 3.6 but 3.8+for the final year and a half you'd be in good shape assuming you have a reasonable mcat

 

[Dwhite1017]

Going from a 3.0/3.12 to getting straight As just like that? Sure. Why not?

I will suggest that if you aren't getting straight As you should stop trying (for now), graduate and reevaluate. You can always go back to take the science prereqs, it's much harder to go back to fix a bad GPA.

Well my first 2 semesters were pretty terrible... Like below a 2.8 GPA. I was in a bad crowd and got into some stupid stuff. Luckily I got out of that crap and have been doing a lot better now. I really believe that a 4.0 is attainable for me. I got a 3.8 this Spring so I definitely know I'm capable.

 

[drewbins]

If you enjoy and excel at architecture then why don't you pursue a career in that field (or something similar). It's just unclear why you switched from biology to architecture and then decided to pursue medicine after your sophomore year.

Regardless, you need to score A's in most of your science classes especially the intro courses that all pre-med students take. Courses like organic and biochemistry are much harder and therefore a 4.0 over the next four years is going to be difficult (possible, but only you know the likelihood if it can be done based on your past ability).

If you achieve the ~3.7 gpa then you should be fine for an MD program assuming a solid MCAT score, good science research, and diverse volunteer/leadership experiences.

So, yes, it's a plausible plan. I just don't understand the architecture part.

 

[Dwhite1017]

If you enjoy and excel at architecture then why don't you pursue a career in that field (or something similar). It's just unclear why you switched from biology to architecture and then decided to pursue medicine after your sophomore year.

Regardless, you need to score A's in most of your science classes especially the intro courses that all pre-med students take. Courses like organic and biochemistry are much harder and therefore a 4.0 over the next four years is going to be difficult (possible, but only you know the likelihood if it can be done based on your past ability).

If you achieve the ~3.7 gpa then you should be fine for an MD program assuming a solid MCAT score, good science research, and diverse volunteer/leadership experiences.

So, yes, it's a plausible plan. I just don't understand the architecture part.

Well I was always told not to major in something strictly because it was “good” for getting into medical school. So I switched to a major that I enjoy.

 

[AttemptingScholar]

Well I was always told not to major in something strictly because it was “good” for getting into medical school. So I switched to a major that I enjoy.

Exactly. Very few people have a passing interest in architecture. Why don't you want to be an architect? 'Cause you kinda sound like you want to be an architect. Medicine is a very common dream for people who excelled in high school, and college is for branching out and finding new dreams. You need to be able to convince us you want to be a doctor to be able to convince an interviewing committee. While it's true you should pursue varied interests in undergrad, we usually recommend people stay away from majors that so obviously feed into a profession that isn't medicine (like nursing!) because now you need to convince your interviewers that you studied for a whole other profession for fun.

Why do you want to be a doctor?

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

So long story short I entered college not knowing what to do so I chose to major in biology and was "pre-med" but I wasn't serious, at all. I started to get my stuff together and changed my major to Architecture because I knew I would be good at it and enjoy it. I've just finish my sophomore year and I'm sitting at a 3.12 GPA and a 3.0 Science GPA after just 3 science classes. I got a C in intro to biology my first semester which shows how much I didn't care.

The thing with Architecture is that its a 5 year degree which gives me 4 more years to bring my GPA up. I've done some calculations and it seems that if I get a 4.0 the next 4 years, I should be able to get a 3.74 cGPA and a 3.7 sGPA. While this is the absolute best case scenario, I believe that I can do it. I haven't taken the MCAT and likely won't for a few years.

I know that applications vary widely based on volunteering, research, leadership experience, etc. With those variables aside, does my plan look at least somewhat plausible? Also, what should my MCAT be in order to be competitive?

Also, I'm an Oklahoma resident if that helps. I know OU Med is pretty favorable for residents considering the number of in-state students who apply and how many get matriculate.

OSU is also very favorable to IS applicants.

Your plan sucks because it assumes perfection when you have literally no evidence that is even something you can do. Go get a few semesters of straight As in science classes and then come back. Oh and do some shadowing and medical volunteering too.

And you are correct, no one cares what your major is. You don’t show interest in medicine with your major. That’s what ECs are for.

 

[Dwhite1017]

OSU is also very favorable to IS applicants.

Your plan sucks because it assumes perfection when you have literally no evidence that is even something you can do. Go get a few semesters of straight As in science classes and then come back. Oh and do some shadowing and medical volunteering too.

And you are correct, no one cares what your major is. You don’t show interest in medicine with your major. That’s what ECs are for.

Thats fair. I have no evidence at the moment proving I can do it but I really think I can. I understand that anyone reading my post would think its total fantasy... Assuming I do get straight As (or close to that), what more should I do? Take a good amount of upper division science classes? I'm really worried about seeming indecisive because of my switch to Architecture. But the truth is that I knew I could do good at it and I didn't hate it.

 

[Dwhite1017]

Exactly. Very few people have a passing interest in architecture. Why don't you want to be an architect? 'Cause you kinda sound like you want to be an architect. Medicine is a very common dream for people who excelled in high school, and college is for branching out and finding new dreams. You need to be able to convince us you want to be a doctor to be able to convince an interviewing committee. While it's true you should pursue varied interests in undergrad, we usually recommend people stay away from majors that so obviously feed into a profession that isn't medicine (like nursing!) because now you need to convince your interviewers that you studied for a whole other profession for fun.

Why do you want to be a doctor?

I could be an architect and not hate it. I just would rather be a doctor for many reasons I guess: is obviously a very fascinating field, its exciting (at least compared to architecture), relationships with patients, job stability, it involves a lot of critical thinking, etc. Theres many reasons I want to become a doctor as opposed to an architect. My biggest worry is seeming indecisive because of my switch to Architecture and I really need to counter that.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

it involves a lot of critical thinking, etc.

You need to shadow and see what medicine is really like. There is far less critical thinking than pre-meds think.

My biggest worry is seeming indecisive because of my switch to Architecture and I really need to counter that.

That’s what ECs are for.

 

[Dwhite1017]

You need to shadow and see what medicine is really like. There is far less critical thinking than pre-meds think.



That’s what ECs are for.

I’ve shadowed and worked as a scribe before. From what I observed there was decent amount of critical thinking, depending on the situation obviously.

Also, what ECs are you talking about? Is it mainly medical related (volunteering, shadowing, research) or is it unrelated (leadership, campus involvement, athletics, etc.)? Or both?

 

[PreMedStudent55555]

I didn't do so well my first 2 semesters and now am consistently getting 4.0s in my semesters. Is it impossible? No. Is it hard? Yeah.

Be motivated, OP and you can definitely do it. People will tell you it's hard and it is but it is up to you to rise above that and work your *** off to make your dreams happen.

"Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen"-Michal Jordan

Make it happen, OP.

 

[MedicineN'Jazz]

So long story short I entered college not knowing what to do so I chose to major in biology and was "pre-med" but I wasn't serious, at all. I started to get my stuff together and changed my major to Architecture because I knew I would be good at it and enjoy it. I've just finish my sophomore year and I'm sitting at a 3.12 GPA and a 3.0 Science GPA after just 3 science classes. I got a C in intro to biology my first semester which shows how much I didn't care.

The thing with Architecture is that its a 5 year degree which gives me 4 more years to bring my GPA up. I've done some calculations and it seems that if I get a 4.0 the next 4 years, I should be able to get a 3.74 cGPA and a 3.7 sGPA. While this is the absolute best case scenario, I believe that I can do it. I haven't taken the MCAT and likely won't for a few years.

I know that applications vary widely based on volunteering, research, leadership experience, etc. With those variables aside, does my plan look at least somewhat plausible? Also, what should my MCAT be in order to be competitive?

Also, I'm an Oklahoma resident if that helps. I know OU Med is pretty favorable for residents considering the number of in-state students who apply and how many get matriculate.

This is perfectly possible! I did this and brought my GPA up by .4 points. Although, the GPA for my last two years ranged from 3.7-3.9. I agree with AnatomyGrey12, don’t kill yourself trying to get consecutive 4.0’s. But if you try your best and get close to there...it’ll be viewed very favorably.

Good luck! I love that you’re majoring in architecture by the way. That’s really unique

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

I’ve shadowed and worked as a scribe before. From what I observed there was decent amount of critical thinking, depending on the situation obviously.

Also, what ECs are you talking about? Is it mainly medical related (volunteering, shadowing, research) or is it unrelated (leadership, campus involvement, athletics, etc.)? Or both?

Medical related. Shadow, Do some volunteering, do some research, clinical experience etc. Show adcoms that you have a passion for medicine

As for critical thinking I’m just telling you in reality there is less than you think. There are threads in the medical student forum every year with people voicing how surprised they are with the lack of critical thinking.

Source: I’m a medical student.