Med school...MCAT... using a MS program to get in...

[bio_research]

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Hello,

I have been out of college for 5+ years and have been working in medical sales since finishing. WHen I was younger I always dreamed of being a Dr. I had VERY poor grades in college, but have always tested well. I had a 1380 on my SATs as a Junior in HS...During college I worked 40-60 hours a week and seemed to put that first...Now I am more mature and I am wondering if by finishing a MS in Health Sciences with a 3.75-4.0 and doing well on the MCAT, would I have a chance? Please message me and let me know what you all think about this... what path should I take... WOuld a PA program instead of the MS in health sciences be better?

Thanks

 

[p30doc]

Grades in a masters program are not used in your gpa calculation when applying, often they are not given much weight unless it is a SMP in which the grades you receive are very important. You need to get your undergrad gpa above 3.0, to do so you should take undergrad classes in either a formal or informal post-bacc program. When applying to DO schools, if you repeat a course only the latest grade will be used in your GPA calculation. So you can repeat things you got low grades in and significantly raise your gpa if you get A's in them. The exact course of action you should take depends on your current ugrad gpa and how many credit hours you have to your name. If you want to be a PA apply to PA school, but I wouldn't try to use it as a stepping stone to med school.

 

[DrMidlife]

Ditto redrumi. Do whatever you have to to get your undergrad GPAs over 3.0, and also consider doing an SMP. See the postbac forum for more info on such things.

 

[rajaholick]

what does SMP stand for?
I did a master's in Basic Medical Sciences (think 1st year med shool curriculum) from
Wayne State, and am pretty sure those grades counted because I have received
interviews from schools that I didn't last year. Nothing else about my application changed...

 

[p30doc]

what does SMP stand for?
I did a master's in Basic Medical Sciences (think 1st year med shool curriculum) from
Wayne State, and am pretty sure those grades counted because I have received
interviews from schools that I didn't last year. Nothing else about my application changed...

SMP = special masters program, it sounds like that is what you did. Usually they are similar to or follow 1st year med school curriculum, sometimes you take classes with med students and your grades are based off of how well you do compared the med students. Sometimes you are guaranteed an interview at the SMPs med school if you preform at a certain level.