Looking For Some Advice, please respond!

[SyrianHero]

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Hi everyone,

I am a computer science and engineering student at Ohio State University with a cum GPA of 3.05 and s. GPA of 2.75. I will graduate in May 2013 and I have recently decided to pursue medicine after graduation. My GPA is horrible so I know I have a lot of work to do. Here is my plan and I would like to hear what you guys think. After graduation I plan to study for the MCAT and do very well (goal is 34) then I will finish pre reqs (I have a few pre reqs done during engineering) and that will take 3 semesters. This will allow me to bring my GPA up to around 3.25. I will do all this while increasing clinical experience obviously. First I would like to know what you guys think of my plan? Second, let's assume I get 32 MCAT and 3.2 GPA, do u think that would be good for let's say Ohio university DO school or any MD school? If not what would you suggest to get my app competitive for MD/DO?i know it's a long question but I really appreciate your time!

 

[NuttyEngDude]

I plan to study for the MCAT and do very well (goal is 34) then I will finish pre reqs (I have a few pre reqs done during engineering) and that will take 3 semesters

the mcat tests the content knowledge of your pre-reqs. Finish the pre-reqs, learn them well (ace them of course) and THEN prep for the mcat. By doing well in the pre-req classes, you are effectively studying for the MCAT, albeit passively.

Unless you have a job lined up, put off graduation and just take the classes you need. Your upward trend will reflect. They partition your grades out by year so senior year (or everything in chunks for 30 credits) shows by itself, so if you get a 4.0 this next year (add those additional pre-req classes on) AND do well on the MCAT you have a good case. Assuming you do all the other stuff like, volunteer, shadow, etc.

For "chances" of getting into a medical school, there is the MSAR:
https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/requirements/msar/

For specific schools, you can go to that school's website and look at their numbers (check 10% and 90% percentile ranges for MCAT and gpa ranges of admitted students). Keep in mind, that schools are usually looking for a good "fit" meaning what matches the goals and visions of the school's charter/mission statement. So if you want to do primary care and the school is heavy into research, it may not line up.

If you have a job lined up, work for a few years while taking the pre-reqs part time, get some good Letters of Rec through the workplace and some "life experience" under your belt in the process. Use your spare time to take classes and prep that way. Keep in mind, there is no fast path for you right now and it will take a couple of years minimum. Good luck senor!

 

[SyrianHero]

I have some pre reqs done and I thought I could study for the MCAT and teach myself what i havent taken yet while working, and then i would finish pre reqs after proving to myself that I'm capable of doing great on the MCAT.

 

[NuttyEngDude]

oops, i edited my post and added more..... which pre-reqs do you need still? o-chem and bio?

 

[qwerty2012]

MD probably will need a smp. If you do well 3.7+ with 30 or more credits then everything ultimately is down to your Mcat. assume ec is great.

For DO, you can still take courses at your undergrad institutions and use their gpa replacement policy.

P.S study prereqs really well, they are the greatest tool to getting high MCAT.

 

[SyrianHero]

Yea I have ochems and one bio left

 

[NuttyEngDude]

bio you could probably learn on your own but i wouldnt recommend it. Ochem, no way should you try to learn this material fresh on your own, it's not the most straight forward and many many many premeds consider the ochem series the hardest of all the subjects (the close second being physics).

 

[rguil15]

O chem takes time to sink in for most, it's not very intuitive at first. I would not recommend taking the MCAT before having it. You'd be fine learning the Bio solo though.

 

[SyrianHero]

Thank you all for your advice. So, what do you think is an acceptable cGPA and sGPA that I need to obtain before applying. I have almost 150 credits so raising my GPA significantly is going to be difficult, what do you guys think?

 

[mehc012]

Thank you all for your advice. So, what do you think is an acceptable cGPA and sGPA that I need to obtain before applying. I have almost 150 credits so raising my GPA significantly is going to be difficult, what do you guys think?

I'm curious about this as well...I am also trying to raise my GPA after graduation (didn't realize I wanted to be a doctor until I seriously considered working in research for the rest of my life!)

Given an otherwise competitive app (which is an entirely separate issue), what GPA do you think is necessary to be considered at MD schools? Is there a place on the primary to explain the discrepancy between your postbacc performance and your relatively lower uGrad grades?

**(I'm not asking WAMC or what GPA is necessary to get in...I'm asking what GPA is necessary to prevent automatic screening and allow consideration of your overall application profile! I recognize that it's an uphill battle from there, but at least you're in the fight instead of sitting on the sidelines!)**

 

[SyrianHero]

Yea, I just don't know how much I have to pull my GPA up to. What do you guys think?

 

[NuttyEngDude]

Not sure anyone knows to be honest. I believe the average accepted matriculant is like 3.5. I *think* the general number to get past auto-computer screens could be 3.0 but it is best to call the schools you have targeted to get some info. Some schools are sympathetic to your plight some are very much not. Some state schools look at every applicant by hand, some do not.

But to answer your question, the best answer is....at this point, as high as possible. What makes it difficult is that some get accepted with worse stats than others, so it is not purely a numbers game but generally those with better numbers get in than those that do not. Look at it like this, you want to show that all those bad grades were a fluke and not the other way around, once you start making the good grades, you know? Be the cold, hard, observer and honestly assess if a stranger were to walk up to you and hand you your application, what would you think?

take a look at this thread for some more info:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=675835

Good luck. It's a tough road, and not just academically but... a tough road is better than no road 🙂

 

[mehc012]

Haha, my biggest concern with GPA therapy is that most places which allow me to take non-degree-seeking classes have a limited course selection. I took primarily science courses in undergrad, so I'm actually running into difficulty finding enough new ones!

Current plan:
Work full time as a research assistant/lab tech.
Take a mixture of online and extension courses through a local uni in the evenings and on weekends (3 courses/semester).
Volunteer, shadow, etc.

If I can pull this schedule off for the next 2 years I'll have a 3.40, 2 years of volunteering, solid college ECs, dedicated MCAT study time, and plenty of research!