Low GPA, no MCAT yet...

[Yoshistr]

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I have my bachelors with a low gpa of 2.8 in Neuroscience/Biology and have not yet taken my MCATs because I was not sure I could afford med school. I received a lot of C's and low grades primarily because I did not strive to work hard thinking that I couldn't go to MD school either way. Well now I have been considering DO school (NYCOM to be specific) and am planning on taking my MCATs this upcoming year.

I am looking for advice on what to do, I believe I should be able to get at least a 30 on the MCATs with proper preparation but at the same time don't know if I stand a chance because of my lower gpa score. I am 22 years old so I was wondering if it is advisable to take post-BSc classes to raise my gpa and to do some research/extra curriculars (yes I have none right now...). I was specifically wondering if I should take easy non-science related courses or should I continue taking science courses on the same level I finished off at (which I will probably get Bs in unless I study and get As). What should I do, take the MCATs first or start doing everything at once or just give up? 😕

 

[MN premed]

Lol, if you really want to be a doctor, you will study to get A's instead of just settling for B's.

Anyways, I don't have much knowledge on whether or not you should do post-bac, but I definitely don't think you will get accepted anywhere if you don't have any volunteering or experience. That coupled with your low gpa will show them you haven't really worked very hard, and they won't be sure you're actually committed to becoming a doctor.

 

[beckhunter116]

I can't imagine that without post-bacc classes you could get in to NYCOM or the majority of other DO schools. Every year the average gpa's are on the rise...you need at least over a 3.0 both science and overall. I would retake any science class you made below a C in and take a few new upper level sciences.

Not to be harsh or anything, but I love it when people always say well I got a lot of C's but I know I can get a 30 at least on the MCAT. The MCAT is no joke, maybe you can get a 30, but there is no guarantee. Have you shadowed a DO? An MD? Volunteered? You need all of this.

Good luck!

 

[Mzeep]

I'm in a similar situation as you and I would say if you really want to be a doctor, start retaking classes you did poorly and get A's! Mostly science classes, you need to show that you an tackle the hard science classes. (D.O. schools will take your latest retake grade-someone correct me if I'm wrong here)

Just as MN said, you need to do some volunteering/clinical exposure, and if you're going D.O find one, shadow them, and get an LOR, it will be in your favor.

Anyway, hope this somewhat helps you! Don't give up and good Luck! 🙂

 

[djd2187]

I love these sort of threads, do you expect medical school to be easier than your undergrad? I didn't try is not a very good reason. Anyways, I would definitely recommend a post bacc or retake the classes you got C's in. Just fyi, no post bacc in the world will replace a 2.8 in undergrad. Then, shadow a doctor to see if you like the profession. Also, take your mcats, see how you do in them.

 

[RG73]

I don't even know where to begin with this.

First of all, what makes you believe you can get a 30+ on the MCAT when you have no history of working hard and you can't pull over a 3.0 GPA? It is possible, sure, but it is far more likely that you're going to score much lower than that given your grades and your admitted lack of discipline. The DO forum is filled with people that have higher GPAs and are happy to get a 28 on the MCAT.

So first, disabuse yourself of the notion that you can do well on the MCAT without first reversing your history of underachievement.

Second, you have no research or extracurriculars--I think I can say with confidence that there is zero chance of you being accepted to any US medical school right now. If you haven't so much as spent a few hours volunteering inside a hospital or shadowing, you have no idea what you're getting into. Granted, I will readily admit that even hundreds of hours of those experiences don't mean that you know jack about medicine, but you have to put in the time before anyone will take you seriously as an applicant.

As for the not being able to afford med school, of course you can't. No one can. Especially if you have to go to a private DO school. The good news is that people will loan you obscene amounts of money to go to medical school, and after you graduate people will pay you at least decent to possibly obscene amounts of money. Debt is a very real issue, but very few folks are paying for med school out of pocket. You're in the same boat as everyone else here.

The bottom line is that it sounds like you half assed it through undergrad, didn't do much of anything to make you stand out, and haven't put much thought or effort into making yourself a serious candidate for medical school. Your best bet is biting the bullet, take post-bac classes for a couple of years, raise your GPA significantly, show schools you can kick some butt when you put your mind to it, and spend that time getting clinical and other extracurricular experience. You're 22, you can easily afford to spend a few years to make up for your earlier performance.

If you're not willing to put in that work now, you have no chance and yes, you should give up. It only gets much, much harder from here. Which is precisely why it is such a pain in the rear to get in the door to begin with. Now you are more than welcome to waste your money applying next cycle. No one will stop you and plenty of schools don't screen secondaries and will be happy to take your money before sending a rejection. But I'm pretty sure that almost every poster on here will tell you to save your money.

I mean honestly, you sound totally apathetic. "Yeah, I didn't really work hard for years, and then, I dunno, I just figured I'd be a doctor." That's how it comes off. Just being honest. Why do you want to be a doctor now? Sharpen your motivation first, figure out why you actually want to do medicine. If you're doing it just because, you're not going to make it. It's just too hard. So my two cents is figure out if you have a passion for it and why. It gets a little easier to work for a goal if you have a real reason for it and a passion for it. Obviously the passion wasn't there for you in undergrad. Find it or you're sunk.

 

[thepoopologist]

I have my bachelors with a low gpa of 2.8 in Neuroscience/Biology and have not yet taken my MCATs because I was not sure I could afford med school. I received a lot of C's and low grades primarily because I did not strive to work hard thinking that I couldn't go to MD school either way. Well now I have been considering DO school (NYCOM to be specific) and am planning on taking my MCATs this upcoming year.

I am looking for advice on what to do, I believe I should be able to get at least a 30 on the MCATs with proper preparation but at the same time don't know if I stand a chance because of my lower gpa score. I am 22 years old so I was wondering if it is advisable to take post-BSc classes to raise my gpa and to do some research/extra curriculars (yes I have none right now...). I was specifically wondering if I should take easy non-science related courses or should I continue taking science courses on the same level I finished off at (which I will probably get Bs in unless I study and get As). What should I do, take the MCATs first or start doing everything at once or just give up? 😕

Give up now if you don't want to be a doctor. If you do want to be a doctor, then here's my advice:

DO's replace your grades with the latest retake.

1. Calculate your current Overall, Science, and Non-science
2. Retake all your Science C's/D's and try your hardest to get A's in them. Shouldn't be an issue since you are a science major and it'll be your second time taking the classes.
3. Retake enough Non-science C's/D's to bring it up to a 3.0
4. At the very least, look into volunteering at the hospital. Hands on stuff with "patient contact." It doesn't have to be meaningful work, just get the experience.
5. Take the MCAT after you finish your retakes. Take a prep course.
6. If you get into med school, then you'll discover that most people pay for school with massive loans. Hooray you! But this is the least of your problems right now. You sound like you have a serious lack of motivation and you also have a gpa that wouldn't get you into a Big-4 carribean school, let alone a DO school.

 

[Bones DO]

I will not lambaste you for your previous apathy since that has been done already by the previous posters. I agree with most of them. Take some time to figure out this is what you want to do with your life.

Once you realize (if you do) that it is your calling, you need to dedicate your life to achieving the goal. My recommendation, again conditional that after a long soul-searching walk to "Dust in the Wind" this is what you want to do, would be to get an MCAT book, spend a few months on getting ready for it and take it. Next get a job in health care where you have a lot of contact with docs... (in my case, I do public health research... pays like crap but looks good and gives you good exposure). Then, spend a year to retake any and all pre-req classes that you did worse than a B in, and if you have any room in your schedule, retake any other C courses then spend a year in a post bacc, then, half way through the post bacc, take the MCAT again. Then apply early and very broadly (not just NYCOM...).

Long story short, figure your goals out and then spend the next couple years showing the med schools you can do it. Good luck either way.

 

[beckhunter116]

Then apply early and very broadly (not just NYCOM...).

This is a very good point I forgot to include in my first post. If being a doctor is your passion you need to be prepared to have to move. Even people with stellar stats apply broadly, so be prepared applying around and possible having to relocate.

 

[Mohammed1989]

OP, it's never too late to apply to med. Your going to have to work on your grades and get a good MCAT score. Retake those classes you received a C in and that should boost your gpa. It can be done with dedication heres an example

http://www.studentdoctor.net/2007/12/staying-the-course-a-guide-to-messing-up/

Good luck

By the way you really have to commit to your studies, I sure didn't at first and that's why I got a C in Physics 1 and I know for a fact I'm going to have to retake that in the future maybe during the summer

 

[ArsenalEPL4Life]

I have to agree with what most, if not all, have said so far. To become a physician, you must have serious dedication and strong will power. Going through undergrad and just getting C's with no volunteering/shadoiwng experience shows me you do not have those key components. Almost every student accepted to medical school has an outstanding resume. Being able to study hard and make A's, be involved in extracurricular activities, hold leadership roles in various organizations, conduct research, work part time/full time, volunteer, shadow, and study for the MCAT has become the norm for matriculating students. All these are expected by the admissions committee, which is a testament to how difficult it is to be accepted to a US medical school.

Now about the MCAT, don't just assume you can get a 30+. Have no illusion that it is something you take without serious preperation. You may be able to get the 30+, but you will have to put a lot of hard work into it. Retake the prereq classes and any other classes you got a C in. Start volunteering, shadowing, doing research, strengthening your EC's......as I mentioned before these are all components that are EXPECTED by the admissions committee. In addition to all of that, do something else that will make you standout to the committee. You will have to figure that out on your own. Good luck, and listen to people on these forums, for the most part they have gone through it all and know what it takes.

 

[EricH]

No MCAT experience but "At least a 30"....I love it

Formula: take/retake a ton of classes, get A's....and get that 30+...if you can

 

[willen101383]

Yeah it is hard...but possible. I have posted this in threads before and dont really feel like reposting anything...but i had a 2.45 undergrad gpa...and managed to get into medical school in the US by: working in the field (for about 6 years now) rocking a masters degree, and getting a good MCAT score. It isnt always realistic to aim for 30+ in your situation. The MCAT (in my experience) doesnt always test pure memorization skills. It tests your ability to use your brain in an outside the box fashion. I took a kaplan course and did almost no outside of class studying and was able to get pretty damn close to a 30....but my "area of expertise" is that outside the box thinking style..and not just hard memorization. Anyhow, It is a rough road...and I want to give you some encouragement because I did it. It took a few years to do...but I wanted it bad enough and got it....and so can you....just grow up a bit and figure out what you want in life...and if you want to become a dr bad enough you will get there.

 

[Yoshistr]

It irritates me at how people scoff when I say I can get over a 30 on the MCATs; obviously I implied I would be working hard to study as I have all the prep books since my brother took the course. The reason I got a 2.8 GPA was not because I'm simple-minded but on the contrary had a lot of things in my life to deal with during these past 4 years. My friend ended up with a 3.6 GPA from the same college and even he admits I am much smarter than him, the problem has been my motivation (family history, social issues, et cetera).
It is my understanding that MCAT scores are kept for 3 years, however if I plan on retaking my science courses then wouldn't it make more sense to spend this time also studying for the MCATs and take it near the end of finishing?
I'm also not against volunteer work, I plan on getting my certification for EMT work by taking a 120 hour class this upcoming summer followed with retaking my science classes in the fall semester.

My current GPA is 2.85, I have my transcript below if anyone will be kind enough to take a look and let me know what classes I should retake or any tips I would greatly appreciate it.
http://yoshistr.com/trans.txt

Would you recommend retaking early courses such as BIO 150 or should I concentrate more on the later courses?

 

[RG73]

It irritates me at how people scoff when I say I can get over a 30 on the MCATs;

It irritates everyone else that you think you can get over a 30.

obviously I implied I would be working hard to study as I have all the prep books since my brother took the course.

But you also admitted that you have never worked hard. Old habits are hard to break. Thus, there is no evidence that you are at all capable of reversing course.

The reason I got a 2.8 GPA was not because I'm simple-minded but on the contrary had a lot of things in my life to deal with during these past 4 years.

No one said you were simple minded. And we all have things to deal with. Big deal. It isn't an excuse that flies with ad coms. They want people that can do well despite having a lot of things to deal with in their lives.

My friend ended up with a 3.6 GPA from the same college and even he admits I am much smarter than him,

Your friend's opinion carries no weight with ad coms. And, even if you are smarter, it's irrelevant. People care about outcomes, not promise. Your friend got a better GPA because your friend worked harder. The promise of you being smarter is irrelevant if you can't back it up.

the problem has been my motivation (family history, social issues, et cetera).

Yes, as I pointed out above. Motivation is a huge issue. You have admitted that you have never shown any. We all have family history and social issues. For every heartbreak story you have, someone else out there had it worse and did better.

I'm also not against volunteer work, I plan on getting my certification for EMT work by taking a 120 hour class this upcoming summer followed with retaking my science classes in the fall semester.

See, now this here is great. Good for you. This is what schools want to see. Stop making excuses for the past. Go use your EMT training for a while. Then you get experience that is relevant and you'll know if you really want to pursue medicine.

My current GPA is 2.85, I have my transcript below if anyone will be kind enough to take a look and let me know what classes I should retake or any tips I would greatly appreciate it.

It's evident from your transcript that you can do well. So you're intelligence and ability aren't in question. But it's the up and down nature of your transcript which is a red flag IMO. There's not a sustained improvement, nor a continuous decline. Which is precisely why you'd be well served taking a couple years either retaking those classes you bombed or doing a master degree program and doing consistently well. And which is why I don't understand the desire to take the MCAT in the spring when your transcript is going to be an issue regardless of how well you do on the MCAT.

You could get a 35 on the MCAT, but it still looks like you run the risk of bombing any given semester from the perspective of the adcom. Which brings me back to the issue of promise. It is irrelevant how smart you are potentially, but what you do with it. For example, Chris Langan has an IQ of around 200, but he worked for much of his adult life as a bouncer because he couldn't deal with "issues" that came up in his life like getting financial aid for college. He couldn't get into any medical school. Schools will go for someone with a lower MCAT than you who shows stability and consistency in their life. That is the sort of person who will succeed through the incredibly stressful process of becoming a physician.

I'm not trying to be a jerk here--like I said, I think you've shown you have the intelligence, and I think the EMT thing is a great idea. You're 22 if I recall from the original post. Take some time, improve your app, and apply in a couple of years. You'll be 24 and have a much, much stronger application if you show consistent effort and performance. Why handicap yourself when you can put yourself in a superior position by taking a little more time?

It will make a world of difference getting straight As or nearly so for a couple of years and getting hundreds or thousands of hours as an EMT before applying. Not to mention that a couple more years of consistently studying hard will mean that you will rock the MCAT. Or you can disregard everything I said and continue to be irritated.

 

[Daedra22]

I agree with RG here... you're not an idiot, and no one is saying that. However, just being intelligent does not make up for a lack of motivation and hard work. I think you can pull it out if this is your genuine desire, so you should try. However, there are people who have faced unspeakable hardship and still got greater than a 3.0, so you cannot rely on the "I had a hard time" story. That only helps if you managed to get average numbers in the face of troubles.

On the other hand, it will also look good if you can get your numbers up and show real dedication now that you've decided to do so. I wish you the best of luck, wherever your path leads you. 🙂

 

[EricH]

When I was in college taking freshman biology I was in a room with 300 people who were all certain that they were pre-med. Last year about 30 people from my alma mater were accepted into medical school, osteopathic and allopathic combined. The bitter truth is that interest and desire are not enough. In the end, it's the people who have the talent AND put in the work who make it.....and even then it can be kind of a crap shoot.

If you want to talk about challenge, I could write a book. From being abused as a child, to being on my own at 17. I didn't have good mentors at important times in my life and I had to fight tooth and nail to go to school and keep a roof over my head. Is my story unique? NO WAY The difference between me and the guy who didn't get into med school was my ability to transcend my circumstances and get good grades/good MCAT despite my struggles. Otherwise, it's just another unfortunate story in a world full of sad stories.

You are catching flak because you are being cavalier about a test that has embarrassed some damn talented people. The MCAT is about work, more than it's about talent. So to say that you are being naive about the test is not inappropriate. Look, a 30 is roughly the 80th percentile for the MCAT. So 8/10 people who take that test don't get >30. I'm not saying that you wont be successful, you very well may. Just be careful with certainty, as is often true "Pride cometh before the fall."

There are few things in this world more common than squandered talent. You have a long way to go on your journey to medical school. I wish you the best of luck.

 

[zootycoon]

When I was in college taking freshman biology I was in a room with 300 people who were all certain that they were pre-med. Last year about 30 people from my alma mater were accepted into medical school, osteopathic and allopathic combined. The bitter truth is that interest and desire are not enough. In the end, it's the people who have the talent AND put in the work who make it.....and even then it can be kind of a crap shoot.

If you want to talk about challenge, I could write a book. From being abused as a child, to being on my own at 17. I didn't have good mentors at important times in my life and I had to fight tooth and nail to go to school and keep a roof over my head. Is my story unique? NO WAY The difference between me and the guy who didn't get into med school was my ability to transcend my circumstances and get good grades/good MCAT despite my struggles. Otherwise, it's just another unfortunate story in a world full of sad stories.

You are catching flak because you are being cavalier about a test that has embarrassed some damn talented people. The MCAT is about work, more than it's about talent. So to say that you are being naive about the test is not inappropriate. Look, a 30 is roughly the 80th percentile for the MCAT. So 8/10 people who take that test don't get >30. I'm not saying that you wont be successful, you very well may. Just be careful with certainty, as is often true "Pride cometh before the fall."

There are few things in this world more common than squandered talent. You have a long way to go on your journey to medical school. I wish you the best of luck.

👍👍

 

[Yoshistr]

Thanks for the information and advice, I believe it would be best for me to prepare and take the MCATs to see how I do prior to retaking the courses which can take a much longer time to do. This way I will have an idea of where I stand and decide if I want to continue working hard to hopefully pay off since there aren't many decent jobs with a Biology bachelors.

 

[osteohopeful09]

well I wont flame you. I know my grades and mcat aren't stellar. I'll just say good luck, I hope you rock the MCAT- I'm done with that damn test lol.

 

[Yoshistr]

"A lot of people will tell you that you can't do something most likely because they couldn't do it themselves, never give up on your dreams based on somebody else's failure."

I'm not trying to change the world, I'm not looking to land on the moon, I'm just looking to do something millions have done before me...

 

[ArsenalEPL4Life]

I have to agree with EricH and RG73. No one here is trying to undermine your intelligence. Saying that you had social and family troubles isnt going to cut it. Lots of people have those, myself included. Admissions committee's can care less about that stuff, they want people who are commited and will push through the most challenging situations.

Like Rocky said, "its not about how hard you can hit, its about how hard you can get hit and keep on moving, how much you can take.....thats what winning is."

 

[thepoopologist]

Thanks for the information and advice, I believe it would be best for me to prepare and take the MCATs to see how I do prior to retaking the courses which can take a much longer time to do. This way I will have an idea of where I stand and decide if I want to continue working hard to hopefully pay off since there aren't many decent jobs with a Biology bachelors.

Do what you want, but I don't recommend it. The fact is, you have to retake courses anyway to boost your gpa and if some of those courses are prereqs, then it only helps with your prep to have taken it the second time, received an A, and then went on to MCAT prep. I don't think the quality of the schools you'll have, should you get in with a 2.8 and 30+, will be as good as if you redid classes and then took the MCAT.

Besides, the test is not one you take to "see where you stand." You take it after you've thoroughly prepared for it. If you really insist on taking it, I recommend practice tests under real conditions. That way nothing is on your permanent record should you **** up on it.

And you still sound like you're hedging your bets. Go all in or stay out. Half assing it is not the way to do it with this thing.

 

[thepoopologist]

"A lot of people will tell you that you can't do something most likely because they couldn't do it themselves, never give up on your dreams based on somebody else's failure."

I'm not trying to change the world, I'm not looking to land on the moon, I'm just looking to do something millions have done before me...

Yes, many have made the jump after fixing a crappy gpa and getting a good MCAT, but there are also many who fall flat on their face. If you feel your heart isn't into it right now, then hold off for awhile. You're going to waste a lot of money if you don't put in the required effort.

 

[thepoopologist]

It irritates me at how people scoff when I say I can get over a 30 on the MCATs; obviously I implied I would be working hard to study as I have all the prep books since my brother took the course. The reason I got a 2.8 GPA was not because I'm simple-minded but on the contrary had a lot of things in my life to deal with during these past 4 years. My friend ended up with a 3.6 GPA from the same college and even he admits I am much smarter than him, the problem has been my motivation (family history, social issues, et cetera).
It is my understanding that MCAT scores are kept for 3 years, however if I plan on retaking my science courses then wouldn't it make more sense to spend this time also studying for the MCATs and take it near the end of finishing?
I'm also not against volunteer work, I plan on getting my certification for EMT work by taking a 120 hour class this upcoming summer followed with retaking my science classes in the fall semester.

My current GPA is 2.85, I have my transcript below if anyone will be kind enough to take a look and let me know what classes I should retake or any tips I would greatly appreciate it.
http://yoshistr.com/trans.txt

Would you recommend retaking early courses such as BIO 150 or should I concentrate more on the later courses?

Retake as many classes as you can below a B, starting with science classes. The easier the class, the better chance you have of getting an A the second time.

And nobody gives a crap about your problems. You have a 2.8 gpa and no extracurriculars. Having problems does not make up for that.

 

[Wildebeest]

Just to give you an idea, I applied last year only to allopathic schools with a 3.96 GPA and a 28 MCAT. I worked extremely hard for my gpa and studied my @$$ off for the MCAT (verbal always killed me). I volunteered/shadowed a lot, worked at a hospital for two years, had an EMT license, was on a sports team all four years, and had lots of other ECs. I didn't even receive a single interview. So yeah, it is no doubt going to take some work to get back to where you should be in order to be considered for an acceptance, but you can do it if you really improve your work habit and set your mind to it!


PS: I applied again next year with a 3.97 and a 30O MCAT and to osteopathic schools as well, and only received interviews/acceptances from DO schools. CCOM Class of 2014 is where I'll be!

 

[Yoshistr]

I'm not looking to apply to Cornell or some other top-notch MD school, I'm willing even to do it over seas and even people in Africa become doctors. I'm not doing it for the money as many other people but just because I want to help other people where they have no money to afford medical bills/insurance which most likely means working over-seas however I do plan to become medically licensed.
Now a lot of people said my GPA is really low and I will admit I had no idea what I did during my undergraduate years, most of the time I was drinking or playing sports or just sitting in class thinking about the universe. I did take some advanced math classes and I'm quite good with physics and even biology but felt empty inside and now have realized it was because I was not giving my brain enough "exercise".

I understand that the circumstances do not excuse the results however sometimes people have to hit rock bottom before they know where their goal in life lies.
I will slowly begin to build a sense of myself to know who I am again so I don't feel that void inside of me akin to depersonalization disorder so I can focus on my grades and succeeding in life.
Even if I don't get an interview or accepted into any school I can always join the Army or Navy and get specialized training there and work a governmental job using those qualifications.

Also keep in mind I got my bachelor's in neuroscience and have studied molecular pathways whereas people with business or English degrees apply to medical school and get accepted (which also gives them a much higher GPA score). I opted to take difficult Calculus classes even though it was not required because I enjoyed learning new things, fortunately my upper division Biology classes were run by a professor who treated us as if we were in medical school already and gave us scientific papers similar to those used in medical school so I believe I have gained experience on that note.

Furthermore I have stopped abusing vicodin and oxycodone as well as alcohol to relieve my stress but now can use meditation and relaxing thoughts to clear out my mind so now I should be able to concentrate solely on studying. I'm the kind of person who once sets his mind to something I can become obsessed with it and use that to further my success which will be the case with this.

 

[beckhunter116]

I'm not doing it for the money as many other people but just because I want to help other people where they have no money to afford medical bills/insurance which most likely means working over-seas however I do plan to become medically licensed.

I don't know where you live, but this statement is ridiculous. There are people all over the country who can't afford decent healthcare or who can't afford any...HELLO that's why healthcare reform was a major political debate this past election. No matter what your politics are I'm pretty sure we all agree that plenty of people have little or no insurance.

I can understand wanting to help on a global aspect and I hope that if I get into medical school I would love to go on an international medical trip to help out those that are less fortunate, but I know how many people are not fortunate enough to receive the care they deserve.

 

[Daedra22]

I don't know where you live, but this statement is ridiculous. There are people all over the country who can't afford decent healthcare or who can't afford any...HELLO that's why healthcare reform was a major political debate this past election. No matter what your politics are I'm pretty sure we all agree that plenty of people have little or no insurance.

I can understand wanting to help on a global aspect and I hope that if I get into medical school I would love to go on an international medical trip to help out those that are less fortunate, but I know how many people are not fortunate enough to receive the care they deserve.

I like your style.

 

[beckhunter116]

I like your style.

Thanks 😀

 

[J-Rad]

Thanks for the information and advice, I believe it would be best for me to prepare and take the MCATs to see how I do prior to retaking the courses which can take a much longer time to do. This way I will have an idea of where I stand and decide if I want to continue working hard to hopefully pay off since there aren't many decent jobs with a Biology bachelors.

I'm not looking to apply to Cornell or some other top-notch MD school, I'm willing even to do it over seas and even people in Africa become doctors. I'm not doing it for the money as many other people but just because I want to help other people where they have no money to afford medical bills/insurance which most likely means working over-seas however I do plan to become medically licensed.
Now a lot of people said my GPA is really low and I will admit I had no idea what I did during my undergraduate years, most of the time I was drinking or playing sports or just sitting in class thinking about the universe. I did take some advanced math classes and I'm quite good with physics and even biology but felt empty inside and now have realized it was because I was not giving my brain enough "exercise".

I understand that the circumstances do not excuse the results however sometimes people have to hit rock bottom before they know where their goal in life lies.
I will slowly begin to build a sense of myself to know who I am again so I don't feel that void inside of me akin to depersonalization disorder so I can focus on my grades and succeeding in life.
Even if I don't get an interview or accepted into any school I can always join the Army or Navy and get specialized training there and work a governmental job using those qualifications.

Also keep in mind I got my bachelor's in neuroscience and have studied molecular pathways whereas people with business or English degrees apply to medical school and get accepted (which also gives them a much higher GPA score). I opted to take difficult Calculus classes even though it was not required because I enjoyed learning new things, fortunately my upper division Biology classes were run by a professor who treated us as if we were in medical school already and gave us scientific papers similar to those used in medical school so I believe I have gained experience on that note.

Furthermore I have stopped abusing vicodin and oxycodone as well as alcohol to relieve my stress but now can use meditation and relaxing thoughts to clear out my mind so now I should be able to concentrate solely on studying. I'm the kind of person who once sets his mind to something I can become obsessed with it and use that to further my success which will be the case with this.

There's almost too much here, but here goes...
Look, you still sound like a navel-gazing slacker who seems to be approaching this as a "what the hell...I'd make a good doc, and it'll give me the warm and fuzzies" proposition. First, get an actual idea of what a career in medicine is like before you make a temporal and financial investment in a long shot. There might be a third rate Carribean school that will be happy to take your money for two semesters before you fail out because you told them how much smarter you are than anything you've accomplished has actually demonstrated. That's an expensive and demoralizing way to go. If you find that you actually have some passion for medicine (because nothing above speaks to any true desire for a medical career. There are lots of other ways, much more within your grasp, to "help people") then retake at least the course that would be recalculated by ACOMAAS for your SGPA. Please approach this process with some sense of humility as there is an underlying air of arrogance here (hey man, I'm one smart dude, just ignore everything I've failed to do...just let me in, I want to hold someones life in my hands someday...). Imagine being on the other side of an interview with you for even a job in the business sector. You'd be a 2nd-3rd rate candidate there in a tough economy. Healthcare reform notwithstanding, medicine is still a pretty stable job in this economy and I'd imagine competition is only getting steeper. And BTW, any drug convictions?
As for the military: it might not be a bad idea for instilling some sense of discipline and work ethic, currently lacking. Certainly there are negatives to this course that I won't belabor, but there are a few things to think about (Drug convictions?). 1) You are not prime officer material. In this economy, recruiting for the military has been booming, so going in as an officer is possible, but much less likely. 2) Again, with competition higher, getting a specific job may be a little more difficult. But the ASVAB really is an easy test, so just do well and you may have your pick. I wouldn't take the job unless they guaranteed a MOS/AFSC/(whatever the Navy calls it).
Given your psych and drug history, I'm not sure the Peace Corps will take you, but that's also a great way to get some real-world experience and help people.

 

[lonewolf1513]

First of all i would like to start off with is just because you are in a D.O. program doesn't mean you didn't get into an M.D. program. I did and i choose a D.O. program b/c i thought it will prepare me to be a better physician and of course i liked the philosophy. That being said, don't expect to much sympathy from me. First of all with your current stats you shouldn't even apply to any medicial schools. Honestly even if you get in you got C's in college, most likely you will fail in med school and well that pretty much ends your carrier in med school for a while. So take my advice and go do a post bac program, volunteer and do research. If you do well you will be well prepared to med school and if not, well maybe this field is not for you.

 

[sonofva]

I was actually in a spot very similar to yourself, only I hadn't taken any science courses in my undergrad except for "rocks for jocks." I actually went back and just did my prerequisites over the course of a year. I managed to get A's in all of them, and get in some research, medical volunteering, and clinical work. I got a 28 on my MCAT, which i was super happy about. I got into 1 MD (state school) and a couple DO schools. I chose a DO school.

HOWEVER, to accomplish this it took sleeping an average of 4 hours a night, working 7 days a week, and losing a few friends along the way. You have to realistically look at your capabilities, and make a grown up decision. That said: nothing, apparently, is impossible.

 

[maxwell0]

Just to give you an idea, I applied last year only to allopathic schools with a 3.96 GPA and a 28 MCAT. I worked extremely hard for my gpa and studied my @$$ off for the MCAT (verbal always killed me). I volunteered/shadowed a lot, worked at a hospital for two years, had an EMT license, was on a sports team all four years, and had lots of other ECs. I didn't even receive a single interview. So yeah, it is no doubt going to take some work to get back to where you should be in order to be considered for an acceptance, but you can do it if you really improve your work habit and set your mind to it!


PS: I applied again next year with a 3.97 and a 30O MCAT and to osteopathic schools as well, and only received interviews/acceptances from DO schools. CCOM Class of 2014 is where I'll be!

Congrats on getting into medical school. I am curious to know what your undergraduate major was. You must have applied to some very competitive allopathic schools to not even have received an interview invitation with a 3.96 GPA and all of youe ECs. Was it in a difficult major, like chemistry, or was it in a cake major, like nutrition/excercise science? I have heard ad coms tend to favor the more difficult.

 

[Wildebeest]

Congrats on getting into medical school. I am curious to know what your undergraduate major was. You must have applied to some very competitive allopathic schools to not even have received an interview invitation with a 3.96 GPA and all of youe ECs. Was it in a difficult major, like chemistry, or was it in a cake major, like nutrition/excercise science? I have heard ad coms tend to favor the more difficult.

You guessed it, I majored in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry, and I also had a Spanish and Biology minor. I didn't apply to extremely competitive programs, but they weren't non-competitive schools either. I applied to: Loyola, Rush, Rosalind Franklin, Medical College of Wisconsin, Creighton U, U of Iowa Carver COM, Emory (long shot), SLU, Wake Forest, SIU, Wright State, and U of Wisconsin Madison. Pretty much schools in the midwest area, I didn't want to go too far. So they weren't like Harvard or anything, but fairly well recognized schools.

 

[maxwell0]

You guessed it, I majored in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry, and I also had a Spanish and Biology minor. I didn't apply to extremely competitive programs, but they weren't non-competitive schools either. I applied to: Loyola, Rush, Rosalind Franklin, Medical College of Wisconsin, Creighton U, U of Iowa Carver COM, Emory (long shot), SLU, Wake Forest, SIU, Wright State, and U of Wisconsin Madison. Pretty much schools in the midwest area, I didn't want to go too far. So they weren't like Harvard or anything, but fairly well recognized schools.

Wow. I majored in chemistry with a lower GPA than you. I'm screwed.

 

[Wildebeest]

Wow. I majored in chemistry with a lower GPA than you. I'm screwed.

You know what though, I almost believe that the application process and getting accepted is a complete crap shoot. I've done the process two years in a row now with fairly competitive scores/EC's and finally came to this realization. It really depends if the admission staff takes the time to look at your application for more than a minute. If you are one of the lucky ones, your chances are good. But honestly, I have friends that are minorities and have higher scores than me (chemistry majors too) and are in the same boat as me. So really it just seems like a crap shoot, if your chosen out of the huge pool of applicants or not. Just my opinion though. So keep your head high, I could just be very unlucky! Lol.