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Hello everyone. I wanted to share my situation and hopefully get some advice. I am a non-trad premed who will be applying this year with a less than ideal GPA of about 3.0 for both cumulative and science. I graduated college many years ago but had a <3.0 GPA, mainly because I just didn't know how to study and lacked motivation and discipline. After college I still wanted to do med school and enrolled in an SMP, which did not go well. I happened to develop a health condition which was misdiagnosed for a while, leading to a failed first two semesters of the SMP. I did a lot better after diagnosis and medication, with the last 20 credits being a 3.7, but the damage was already done and I ended with a 3.0. It's a 3.4 if you factor in the repeated classes, but I know most schools don't do grade replacement anymore.
At the time, I spoke to my SMP's counselor and also to their medical school's admissions, and they said I would need to ace a post-bacc or a second SMP if I wanted to continue down this path. For financial reasons, I chose to do a DIY post-bacc. It was about 40 credits of advanced level biology classes with straight As throughout. However, only the last two semesters were full time because I was afraid to mess up again, so I started slow then added more credits as I became confident I could handle them. I've been working as a scribe ever since then and am currently studying for the MCAT, which I will take soon. By the time I apply I will have accumulated over 4,000 scribing hours from my current and old jobs, but I don't have many volunteering hours. My ECs include 100 hours of shadowing an MD, 150 hours volunteering with disabled patients, and 50 hours of additional clinical volunteering. These activities were years ago, but I more recently have 150 hours as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters and 150 hours at a homeless shelter over the past two years. Both activities are ongoing so hours will be slightly more by the time I submit my application.
Do you think my upward trend in the SMP followed by the 4.0 post-bacc remedies my earlier academic performance? Please note I am only interested in DO schools and will be applying to DO only. I spoke to several DO admissions staff who all encouraged me to ace the MCAT and apply, but I am getting anxious as we approach the beginning of the cycle. I just want to know if I am on the right track here and how my application would come off. I do understand the low SMP GPA is a huge red flag, but I also don't think it should define me as it was majorly caused by something out of my control. I am hoping that I proved myself with the post-bacc, but I'm not sure if it is enough. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!
At the time, I spoke to my SMP's counselor and also to their medical school's admissions, and they said I would need to ace a post-bacc or a second SMP if I wanted to continue down this path. For financial reasons, I chose to do a DIY post-bacc. It was about 40 credits of advanced level biology classes with straight As throughout. However, only the last two semesters were full time because I was afraid to mess up again, so I started slow then added more credits as I became confident I could handle them. I've been working as a scribe ever since then and am currently studying for the MCAT, which I will take soon. By the time I apply I will have accumulated over 4,000 scribing hours from my current and old jobs, but I don't have many volunteering hours. My ECs include 100 hours of shadowing an MD, 150 hours volunteering with disabled patients, and 50 hours of additional clinical volunteering. These activities were years ago, but I more recently have 150 hours as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters and 150 hours at a homeless shelter over the past two years. Both activities are ongoing so hours will be slightly more by the time I submit my application.
Do you think my upward trend in the SMP followed by the 4.0 post-bacc remedies my earlier academic performance? Please note I am only interested in DO schools and will be applying to DO only. I spoke to several DO admissions staff who all encouraged me to ace the MCAT and apply, but I am getting anxious as we approach the beginning of the cycle. I just want to know if I am on the right track here and how my application would come off. I do understand the low SMP GPA is a huge red flag, but I also don't think it should define me as it was majorly caused by something out of my control. I am hoping that I proved myself with the post-bacc, but I'm not sure if it is enough. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!
