Is there any hope for me at all?

[forgivemexo]

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Alright alright so I'm not applying to med school just yet. I'm a junior at the moment. But I kind of need something to get myself in gear. I want to know if there's anything I can do to turn around from this. I've kind of dug myself into a hole WAY too deep, and I'm regretting it so much. Any suggestions on what will possibly give me a shot at MD?

I will spare you the whole "my mom's uncle's hairdresser's dog's sister died and i was really close with them and was mourning their death for a zillion years". Honestly, i was an idiot and didn't care. The difference is, now I do actually care.
Freshman GPA: 2.28
Sophomore GPA: 2.24
(and i'm sure my sGPA is a lot lower.)

EC's: Steady job for approx 2 years on campus, member of on-campus volunteer ambulance corps for approx 1.5 years, EMT-Basic and currently enrolled in EMT-Critical Care (not sure if this is only a New York thing, it's a step below a paramedic), volunteer organization member, dance team member

Is there any way I have ANY chance at anything? I know I need a killer MCAT, should I bother retaking my science classes? What would you guys suggest?

 

[JHU 2010]

just for clarification, what's your current cumulative GPA?

I would say knock out your last three semesters with awesome grades, and then do a graduate program. At least a 2 year masters, maybe even a PhD. that will give you some distance from your early rough grades, and show that academics aren't a weakness

 

[SitraAchra]

You'd need like, a 4.0 for junior and senior year, a post-bac or masters 4.0, some heavy duty research, and a 35+ MCAT.

So yes there is a chance but it's absurdly slim. You'd also need to mature a LOT and convey this to med school admissions. Why do you need an MD and not an RN or, if possible PA?

 

[forgivemexo]

My GPA is still a 2.24 (it was a 2.24 at the end of my sophomore year and I haven't finished this semester yet). This semester's looking like a 3.5-3.6 (hopefully, still depending on finals)

Thanks a lot guys! Any other suggestions? Should I start shadowing at a hospital, or do anymore EC's?

Also. I did consider PA and RN, but I just don't see myself as interested in them as I would be in medicine. Kind of silly, I know. But I feel like even if I went to PA school or nursing school, I wouldn't be happy.

 

[jtdMU2010]

Don't want to be a bearer of bad news but it's going to be a rough road for MD admissions, DO admissions and off-shores. People get rejected and wait-listed with 3.7+ GPAs and 30+ MCAT scores. MD schools are approx 3.7 and 30 MCAT and DO schools are somewhere along the lines of 3.5ish GPA and 27ish MCAT. You'll have to start getting As and Bs all the time, get a 30+ MCAT and probably do a post-bacc or re-take science classes. You're going to have to demonstrate to admissions committees that you can handle science classes somehow and that GPA of yours doesn't show it. In addition, GPA reflects one's work ethic since it is more of a long-term measure and it doesn't reflect highly on your work ethic. In addition, I would imagine you would need to come up with a compelling reason why you went from slacking off to "all of a sudden turning it around cause now I want to be a doctor." It's going to take serious commitment, sacrifice and LONG road. Still worth it?

ECs aren't going to pull your app up with that GPA. Numbers get you the first screen at a medical school essentially. You gotta pass the numbers test first. Then the ECs come into play to separate you from the app next to yours on the committees desk that has the same numbers.

Steps to success:
1. Buckle down and destroy all your classes. Humanities, English, Science. Show them you work hard in everything. Get that cliche "upward trend" of grades. It's not difficult to work hard (med school is a lot of hard work so might as well prepare now).
2. In addition to destroying your classes do shadowing once a month or so, volunteer at a hospital or clinic, get involved in non-medical volunteering, tutor or TA. All look great. Research is great as well w/ or w/o publications. Just show them your well-rounded and that you enjoy challenging and intellectual things so to speak.
3. Get a 30+ MCAT. Not too hard either. Just study!
4. Consider retaking science classes or enroll in a post-bacc after graduation. I think it would be important to show 4 years of strong grades since most candidates do. Two years left of undergrad for good grades and two years post-bacc.
You have many options and it's not impossible by any means. It will just be a long road and one you have to commit to it now. Anything can be done. You just never know...admissions can be strange sometimes.

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

It's not impossible.... for DO.
MD is out of the question.

 

[Ignatius M.D.]

I'd say your best bet is DO unless you can gain residency in a state with a school with low numbers and heavy IS preference (i.e. Mississippi, Arkansas, South Dakota, etc., and that's pretty impractical).You will need to get your GPA as close to 3.0 as possible (even a respectable 3.6 each semester may not cut it) and do an SMP. I'm not familiar with GPA minimums for SMP programs though, but if you can't reach 3.0 you may need to do post-bac work to even get into the SMP. You could take the MCAT after the SMP which should help you score higher (you will have to hit at least 33+). Having unique experiences, clinical work, and research will help as well. Even so, it will be arduous. I'm rooting for you 👍

 

[sector9]

Moving to "What are my chances?" Also, marking as MD for now (although hopefully you'll reconsider and apply DO as well)

 

[Catalystik]

Take advantage of the DO med school grade forgiveness policy. Their application service, AACOMAS, only counts the most recent grade if you retake for the same credit hours or greater. Retake all your most dismal grades for an A (especially science). Then take the rest of the prerequisites and some upper-level Bio and Biochem, getting great grades. You can still become a physician, but it all starts with consistent good grades from now on, and you're already making a great start this semester.

Don't worry about ECs until you've solidified your new study strategies. You've already got some good stuff, anyway.

 

[forgivemexo]

Thanks so much, you guys are the best 🙂

 

[gmcguitar4]

MD is not out of the question. You need straight A's and nothing else. Take two extra years of undergrad courses. Another 4 years of A's will definately raise your GPA to a competitive range. This plus >32 MCAT and you should be fine. You just have to prove to schools that you are serious about this. So do well in school..do research..volunteer..use connections..anything you can possibly do.

 

[Jenna124]

Hey guys, I'm new to this thread. I really want to go to med school but I'm worried I'm not competitive. If I do well in sciences this semester I will have a 3.5 science gpa. Also, I'm not a biology major and I took 13-14 credits my freshman year, 17 credits my sophomore year, and am now taking 13 credits my junior year. However, I'm taking hard courses such as physics and chems. Will med schools look down on me for taking so few credits and for not being a bio major but getting b's in some of the required cores? Thanks!

 

[sector9]

Hey guys, I'm new to this thread. I really want to go to med school but I'm worried I'm not competitive. If I do well in sciences this semester I will have a 3.5 science gpa. Also, I'm not a biology major and I took 13-14 credits my freshman year, 17 credits my sophomore year, and am now taking 13 credits my junior year. However, I'm taking hard courses such as physics and chems. Will med schools look down on me for taking so few credits and for not being a bio major but getting b's in some of the required cores? Thanks!

You may create your own thread in this forum to solicit advice for your own application.

 

[addo]

It is definitely possible to overcome a bad freshman year GPA, and a lot of people do, I did. Its going to be much much tougher with 2 bad years though. You need 4.0s from here on out, an awesome mcat and an awesome rest of application... obviously.

If you wanna apply MD, make sure thats absolutely what you want, because its going to be a long road, and you'll probably half kill yourself with stress about getting a B instead of an A. Also know, that even after trying your best, you may come out empty handed. Having said that, nobody can say its impossible. Good luck.