Is there hope yet?

[kratosis]

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I was going through health issues through my first two years in college and was not able to study.i left CUNY York College with a 2.4 cGPA. i spent 1 semester in SBU and left with a 1.1 gpa. Spent 2 semester at CUNY Queens college and withdrew or failed most of my classes due to my health issues.

after regaining my health, i came back to CUNY York College as a bio major and did well. overall cGPA right now is 3.18 and sGPA is 3.5.

Got an C- in Chem 1 (health issues),
got a C in Bio 1 (again...health issues).
Got an A in Chem 2,
got an A in Bio 2,
Got an A- in Orgo 1 lecture,
got an A- in orgo 1 lab,
got a B+ in Orgo 2 lecture,
got a B+ in orgo 2 lab,
got an A+ in Molecular Biology n Biotechnology,
got an A in Immunology,
got a B+ in Histology,
got an A- in Microbiology
got a B+ in ANP 1,


tutored general chemistry as well as organic chemistry for the chemistry dept for 1 1/2 year.
tutored general as well as organic chemistry for the Academic Achievement Center for a year,
interned at the FDA as a chemical analyst in the pesticide lab for 2 semesters,
did one semester of independent research and did a poster presentation,

continuing to do research currently.
member of the National Society of Leadership and Success,
mentor for the Student Development program for incoming freshmen, president of the premed club for a year,
secretary of the chemistry club.

what are my chances so far? i still have a year before graduation and im trying to raise my cGPA even more before graduation to atleast a 3.4/3.5 or higher before taking the MCAT. thank you all for your time and input. i appreciate it!

 

[TriagePreMed]

Chances are low to none.

Are these grades including the abysmal GPAs from the past? ALL college coursework goes into applying to school. My guess is you're not including all grades. I will venture into saying if that's the case then the damage is such that even post-bacc or trying for an SMP may be impossible.

Your EC are very much on the low side. The tutoring is good, but being "a member" of something means little to nothing. You don't have any volunteering or any medically related experience. There's no shadowing or other kind of activity.

Grade replacement for D.O. would likely be the best option. If not, Caribbean or another career would be better.

 

[giggle]

OP, congrats on overcoming your health issues. I'm sure you have compelling reasons for choosing medicine, and hopefully you will share your story well in your statement and essays.

For now, focus on getting all A's in the rest of your classes, and get that GPA as high as possible. Looks like you have a good upward trend going - keep it up! Like the previous poster said, you will also need clinical/medically-related experience to demonstrate motivation/preparation.

Go for it!

 

[giggle]

Oh, and I would also recommend that you NOT consider going to the Carribean (search the forums for why). You're on the right track now - focus on getting a US MD or DO.

And lastly, you must CRUSH THE MCAT! 👍

 

[leggo]

Yea, I don't think that GPA is with all of your past coursework. You need to figure out what your AMCAS GPA is, and then you can accurately decide what to do next.

 

[kratosis]

Yea, I don't think that GPA is with all of your past coursework. You need to figure out what your AMCAS GPA is, and then you can accurately decide what to do next.

how can i figure out my AMCAS GPA? is there an AMCAS GPA calculator. Because i was just relating my GPA from the college transcript. Thank you all for the input!!! 🙂

 

[kratosis]

Also, do you guys know how AMCAS calculates the GPA for a repeated course. For example I got an F in physics 1 when i first took it, it am repeating it now and say I get a B. My school has an F policy which upon retaking the course and passing it w/ a C or better calculates the F out of my overall GPA. Say if i repeat the course and get a B, would I still need to include the original F into the AMCAS GPA calculator, even though the F has been calculated out of my overall GPA???

AND what about repeated course. I got a C- in Chem 101, after repeating it this fall i hope to get an A and my school takes the average of the two grades and puts it into my GPA? how would i put that in the AMCAS GPA? Would i put two seperate grades or 1 combined grade for the course??? and would it go in the freshman section of the AMCAS calculator when i first took the course or the senior section when i repeated the course??? cuz i have this AMCAS spread sheet GPA calc!!!

thankx guys

 

[leggo]

Yes, the AMCAS GPA is different from the one on your transcript. AMCAS GPA takes into account all the coursework you have ever done, and lumps it into one cum and sci GPA. You can figure out how to calculate it from the AMCAS site, they tell how to get to the final AMCAS GPAs.

As for repeated grades, AMCAS takes both grades into account and averages the grades together, so there is no grade replacement.

 

[kratosis]

Yes, the AMCAS GPA is different from the one on your transcript. AMCAS GPA takes into account all the coursework you have ever done, and lumps it into one cum and sci GPA. You can figure out how to calculate it from the AMCAS site, they tell how to get to the final AMCAS GPAs.

As for repeated grades, AMCAS takes both grades into account and averages the grades together, so there is no grade replacement.

so you are saying that My F in physics 1 will be averaged with a B (after repeating it)??? that makes no sense. so an F grade will be averaged with the grade you receive the second time???

 

[CopaceticOne]

so you are saying that My F in physics 1 will be averaged with a B (after repeating it)??? that makes no sense. so an F grade will be averaged with the grade you receive the second time???

Correct! It's all about AMCAS being consistent. If you want grade replacement, then your best shot will be to go the DO route (totally respectable BTW). Based on your grades and history, this might be the most feasible option available to you.

The 3 semesters of bad grades are going to haunt you very much if you try the MD route (not to say it is impossible, there are always exceptions to the rule).

 

[leggo]

Yea, that is what they will do. That is why it will be so difficult for you to go MD, since all those F grades, and your previous low GPAs will count. There is no grade replacement for MD, so all of your repeat grades will be simply averaged with the first grade you received. So the F in Physics will remain, and your B will be averaged in with that.

 

[Entadus]

OP, if you want to go MD, you are not done earning A's.

Straight A's is what you need now, more straight A's 👍

 

[TriagePreMed]

so you are saying that My F in physics 1 will be averaged with a B (after repeating it)??? that makes no sense. so an F grade will be averaged with the grade you receive the second time???

Correct. That was the point of my post and the reason why MD is pretty much out of the equation for you. Your GPA is probably near 2.5 or lower.

 

[kratosis]

Yea, that is what they will do. That is why it will be so difficult for you to go MD, since all those F grades, and your previous low GPAs will count. There is no grade replacement for MD, so all of your repeat grades will be simply averaged with the first grade you received. So the F in Physics will remain, and your B will be averaged in with that.

so while calculating the AMCAS GPA in the excel spreadsheet, how do i put in an averaged grade for a science course? do i put in both grades separately in the order i took the courses, ie F in Physics 1 in summer 2010 being a lower junior, and the B in Physics 1 in Summer 2011 being a lower senior?

or do i put in 1 averaged grade (btw what the the average grade of an F and a B anyway) and where do i put it (in the junior section, or the senior section)

also i took chem 1 freshman year and got a C- and i am repeating it as a senior this fall and say i get an A... where do i put in the averaged grade (B+) in the freshman section or the senior section? or do i put them both in seperately in freshman (the first time) and senior year (when i repeated it) ???

 

[TriagePreMed]

so while calculating the AMCAS GPA in the excel spreadsheet, how do i put in an averaged grade for a science course? do i put in both grades separately in the order i took the courses, ie F in Physics 1 in summer 2010 being a lower junior, and the B in Physics 1 in Summer 2011 being a lower senior?

or do i put in 1 averaged grade (btw what the the average grade of an F and a B anyway) and where do i put it (in the junior section, or the senior section)

also i took chem 1 freshman year and got a C- and i am repeating it as a senior this fall and say i get an A... where do i put in the averaged grade (B+) in the freshman section or the senior section? or do i put them both in seperately in freshman (the first time) and senior year (when i repeated it) ???

You don't put averages down. You just write them down sequentially (like in your last question).

 

[kratosis]

You don't put averages down. You just write them down sequentially (like in your last question).

thanx mate. 🙂