Looking for some advice

[kaylak05]

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I'm really worried about my current GPA and the few C's I have received in undergrad. I feel like compared to many other applicants I'm mediocre at best and I was just looking for some advice on if I have a chance and what I can do to strengthen my chance. I started at a Community College, received my Associates Degree in Science and this is my first year in a university setting. Also, I still have about two more years before I graduate with my bachelors degree and I can either take the MCAT next spring (2013) or the following spring(2014). I haven't done any shadowing yet and haven't been able to land a job in healthcare thus far. I was considering becoming a CNA to work in a hospital setting and become familiar with patient interaction. Am I behind on my ECs considering how very little time I have left before applying?

My grades are as follows:

Trigonometry: C
Pre-Calc: C
General Chemistry I: B+
Organic Chemistry I: B+
Organic Chemistry I Lab: A
Basic Biology I: C
Basic Biology II: A-
Microbiology: A-
Basic Health: A
Psychology: A
Psychology: C+
Sociology: B+
Cell Bio: B
Intro to Art: A
English: A-
French I: A
French II: A-
French III: B+
Music: A-
English: C


The C's are really killing my GPA and currently I believe it only stands at about a 3.2. I still have Genetics, Gen Chem II, Orgo II, Physics I, Physics II, and many other science courses to take in order to fulfill my requirements for my degree. I'm just worried that I won't be able to turn it around in such a short amount of time. I know it's not necessary to see all my grades but I do have SOME A's in there. My science GPA is unfortunately pretty low. Any advice would be appreciated. I'm stuck in panic mode where I keep wondering what the heck I'm going to do if I can't get into medical school. I don't want to hope for the worst but I also want to be realistic. I have amazing people skills and a true love for medicine I just don't know if I'm good enough on paper.

Thanks for taking the time to read my obnoxiously long post

 

[Catalystik]

I'm really worried about my current GPA and the few C's I have received in undergrad. I feel like compared to many other applicants I'm mediocre at best and I was just looking for some advice on if I have a chance and what I can do to strengthen my chance. I started at a Community College, received my Associates Degree in Science and this is my first year in a university setting. Also, I still have about two more years before I graduate with my bachelors degree and I can either take the MCAT next spring (2013) or the following spring(2014). I haven't done any shadowing yet and haven't been able to land a job in healthcare thus far. I was considering becoming a CNA to work in a hospital setting and become familiar with patient interaction. Am I behind on my ECs considering how very little time I have left before applying?

My grades are as follows:

Trigonometry: C
Pre-Calc: C
General Chemistry I: B+
Organic Chemistry I: B+
Organic Chemistry I Lab: A
Basic Biology I: C
Basic Biology II: A-
Microbiology: A-
Basic Health: A
Psychology: A
Psychology: C+
Sociology: B+
Cell Bio: B
Intro to Art: A
English: A-
French I: A
French II: A-
French III: B+
Music: A-
English: C


The C's are really killing my GPA and currently I believe it only stands at about a 3.2. I still have Genetics, Gen Chem II, Orgo II, Physics I, Physics II, and many other science courses to take in order to fulfill my requirements for my degree. I'm just worried that I won't be able to turn it around in such a short amount of time. I know it's not necessary to see all my grades but I do have SOME A's in there. My science GPA is unfortunately pretty low. Any advice would be appreciated. I'm stuck in panic mode where I keep wondering what the heck I'm going to do if I can't get into medical school. I don't want to hope for the worst but I also want to be realistic. I have amazing people skills and a true love for medicine I just don't know if I'm good enough on paper.

Maybe you aren't aware that retaking classes for the same credit hours results in grade replacement for DO med schools outside Texas. You could completely remove the effect those Cs are having by invoking this policy and replacing them with As. More As in upper-level Bio and Biochem will also help prove you have what it takes to do well in med school.

Also, there's no rule about applying to med schools at a set time. Apply when you are ready and you've done the needed GPA repair, like after you graduate or after doing additional postbac GPA repair if necessary. And when your ECs are solid and comprehensive.

The average applicant has 1.5 years of clinical experience, usually through a job or volunteerism. About 50 physician shadowing hours is typical. Nonmedical community service is increasingly expected. An hour or two a week for a casue you care about is a good goal. Research, teaching, and leadership also make an application stronger, though none of them are required.

 

[kaylak05]

Clearly my pre-medical advisors at my school are utterly useless because they have told me time and time again that retaking those courses would do absolutely nothing for me. Thank you very much for your response, now I just have some decisions to make.

 

[Catalystik]

Even if you aimed at MD schools, retaking and getting As would raise your GPA (exactly the same as taking a new class for the first time), just not so much as grade replacement would.

Some schools don't allow retakes if you have a C or bettter, maybe due to limited class seats or to keep folks on track to graduate on time, which forces them to enroll in another school.