Med school?

[bio_research]

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sorry this is so long...



I was a bio/chem major for 4 years of college, then changed my major to allied health. I thought that with the health degree (public health) I would be better suited for a career in pharm. sales. Well, I am getting ready for grad school and I don't want to do anything that has to do with sales. My grades have never been good (2.5overall, and 3.0 in my major), but I get into the things that I am learning. For my anatomy classes I drew the anatomical illustrations for the final exams, and even purchased my own microscope to study the classifications of bacteria we were learning about in med-micro. I have ALWAYS been fascinated with science, however, my grades have never shown it. I interview well and have done an internship with Johnson & Johnson to finish my degree. What can I do to get into med school. I work full-time now and I am a firefighter with EMT training, so I have a little medical experience that might help, but there is so much emphasis placed on past performance. I have been out of school for a while and have gotten married and bought a house. I am much more mature than the college kid who didn't care about his grades. I was thinking of taking a step back and taking a pre-med program at a university about 40 min from my house, but would really like to try to get into med school with my BS in health sciences. I am going to take the MCAT in august if I am adequately prepared, if not I will have to wait until April I guess. I studied for my GMAT for just 2 months and was accepted into a MBA and MSHSA program at the school I was banking on, but I have been having second thoughts and would really like to follow my dreams...Just looking for some input. Thanks

 

[ntmed]

I'm sorry to say that it is near impossible to get into medical school with a 2.5 GPA. It just does not happen. In addition, you likely will not do well on the MCAT if you did poorly in your premed courses.

If you want to go to medical school, it will likely take 2 to 4 years to turn things around. You probably will need to retake all of your premed courses and complete a masters degree in biology (not a soft science like an MBA or MPH). You may be able to get away with retaking only some of your premed courses, but you want to make sure you have a strong foundation in the sciences before starting your graduate degree.

Finally, before you start, you should do some soul-searching. You're going to need all A's from this point on, or very close to it. Being "fascinated with science" and having the discipline to do well in science are two very different things. Like you said, you're more mature now, which should help.

I think you're on the right track. Enroll in the premed program you mentioned. After you complete these courses, apply to a large number of programs (at least 24 IMHO) on June 1st (no later). Then, during the 15-month application process, start your masters program, in case you need to reapply.

Best of luck.

 

[ShyRem]

Have you thought about DO?

 

[2tall]

sorry this is so long...



I was a bio/chem major for 4 years of college, then changed my major to allied health. I thought that with the health degree (public health) I would be better suited for a career in pharm. sales. Well, I am getting ready for grad school and I don't want to do anything that has to do with sales. My grades have never been good (2.5overall, and 3.0 in my major), but I get into the things that I am learning. For my anatomy classes I drew the anatomical illustrations for the final exams, and even purchased my own microscope to study the classifications of bacteria we were learning about in med-micro. I have ALWAYS been fascinated with science, however, my grades have never shown it. I interview well and have done an internship with Johnson & Johnson to finish my degree. What can I do to get into med school. I work full-time now and I am a firefighter with EMT training, so I have a little medical experience that might help, but there is so much emphasis placed on past performance. I have been out of school for a while and have gotten married and bought a house. I am much more mature than the college kid who didn't care about his grades. I was thinking of taking a step back and taking a pre-med program at a university about 40 min from my house, but would really like to try to get into med school with my BS in health sciences. I am going to take the MCAT in august if I am adequately prepared, if not I will have to wait until April I guess. I studied for my GMAT for just 2 months and was accepted into a MBA and MSHSA program at the school I was banking on, but I have been having second thoughts and would really like to follow my dreams...Just looking for some input. Thanks

In my opinion, once you hone in on what you really want to do...everything else will fall into place. You've thrown around MPH, EMT, MBA, and pharm sales to name a few. You need to focus! I mean really. Do you really want to be a doctor?

 

[2tall]

If the answer to my question is yes...let's get started.

First things first...the GMAT is not MCAT. I'm sure the GMAT/GRE/LSAT are really challenging test, but they're not as rigorous or humbling as the MCAT.

You have a home and a family. You need a plan. I hope you have discussed your career plan/changes with your spouse. You have to see eye to eye on this matter. I want your marraige to succeed. Sacrifices have to be made. There has to be an understanding that everyone supports this decision. You won't be finished with your medical training until ten years from now.

Getting to med school. A two-year plan seems like a good option. You can apply to medical school in 2007.

Prereqs and upper level sciences. Those two years could be one year post-bacc/one year special master's or just two years post-bacc. If you take 9 credits per semester that's at least thirty-six hours by the time you apply. I didn't include summer semesters. You can take the MCAT August 2006. That way if you're not happy with your score, you can retake April 2007.

School costs money. I don't know your family's financial situation, but here's where the understanding and sacrifices come into play.

You need clinical experience (I've heard some schools don't consider EMT clinical experience). Shadow docs...volunteer in a hospital/homeless clinic. Community service/leadership is also integral - could be church involvement, tutoring, anything.

Make a decision. Your post seemed to be a little wishy-washy. I have friends who are also wishy-washy about deciding on medicine. Most of that apprehension comes from fear and self-doubt. #1 Believe in yourself (even when others don't). They're tell you it's hard...and yeah it is...but so is life. You can do it!

 

[bio_research]

I try not to be wishy-washy, but I am really confused about what I should be doing…I know there is a big difference between what one wants to do and what needs to be doing. I do the EMS thing right now for something to do, I am a volunteer. I am still unsure about whether I should start the MS in health services admin in the fall as “something to do”, or take post-bac classes in the sciences. I KNOW that with the MSHSA I will at least be able to enter the healthcare industry…even if not in the capacity that I am looking for.
My father was able to do it, but it took him until he was 46 to get through college. The thing is, somehow, he raised 2 kids, supported my sick mom, while getting through school. He is now an immunology specialist for a leading biotech company and only has his BS in nursing…he’s going to be retiring in about 5 years at age 60 to his “hobby” as a real estate developer FL. I am still trying to figure out how he was able to do it. He is a long way from the part-time home health aid job that he had when he was out of the airforce 30 years ago…

What would be the difference with a DO?

 

[nockamura]

A DO school may be the only way to practice medicine in the US with your GPA. They typically have lower (slightly lower) MCAT and GPA averages. You will need to have some experience with a DO practioner and a LOR from him/her to apply to DO schools, however. If medicine is really what you want to do then you need to focus and sacrifice. I advise you to kick ass on the MCAT. Best of luck.

 

[shuzee]

A DO school may be the only way to practice medicine in the US with your GPA. They typically have lower (slightly lower) MCAT and GPA averages. You will need to have some experience with a DO practioner and a LOR from him/her to apply to DO schools, however. If medicine is really what you want to do then you need to focus and sacrifice. I advise you to kick ass on the MCAT. Best of luck.

are you absolutely sure that you need a letter of rec from DO if you wanna apply to a DO school???? Thanks

 

[nockamura]

I think so. You might want to ask in the DO forum. They want to make sure that you know what the DO philosophy is and that it's not just a backup for MD.

 

[DD214_DOC]

2.5 is still too low for DO.

 

[2tall]

I try not to be wishy-washy, but I am really confused about what I should be doing…I know there is a big difference between what one wants to do and what needs to be doing. I do the EMS thing right now for something to do, I am a volunteer. I am still unsure about whether I should start the MS in health services admin in the fall as “something to do”, or take post-bac classes in the sciences. I KNOW that with the MSHSA I will at least be able to enter the healthcare industry…even if not in the capacity that I am looking for.
My father was able to do it, but it took him until he was 46 to get through college. The thing is, somehow, he raised 2 kids, supported my sick mom, while getting through school. He is now an immunology specialist for a leading biotech company and only has his BS in nursing…he’s going to be retiring in about 5 years at age 60 to his “hobby” as a real estate developer FL. I am still trying to figure out how he was able to do it. He is a long way from the part-time home health aid job that he had when he was out of the airforce 30 years ago…

What would be the difference with a DO?

Your father's story is something that gives you a clear picture that IT CAN BE DONE. You should definitely ask him...how he did it. I wouldn't do something just to have "something to do" if I wasn't where God was leading me.

bio...the hardest part is taking the first step...I'm not going to make light of how difficult that is or how difficult it is to get past the initial fear/panic. I don't think anyone here is going to push you to make a decision that you have to make on your own.

 

[bioteacher]

#1) Shuzee - I used an MD LOR and I got into Touro.

#2) Bio_research meet bioteacher. I am married two children. I have a 3.04 GPA and same in BCPM (science classes). I got a 32 MCAT score. I have seven years teaching experience (which I personally believe is volunteer!) I applied to 47 medical schools. I only got one interview and waitlisted.

I decided to go to a post-bac program. You can't go back and redo your undergraduate classes unless it has been a long time (so I've heard). I would work towards a master's. Some pre-med programs won't accept you because you did most or all of the pre-req's already (they are for non-science major career changers). You need to apply to post-bac programs for science majors who need to increase their GPA. Some of these won't take you because you haven't even tried to apply to med school yet (some for reapplicants only). Others might only want you to have taken the MCAT (which you haven't taken and want to do well on the first time around).

I have been working on this for more than two years and I still have a year to go but I got into the post-bac program at EVMS and hope to be accepted there the next year.

 

[2tall]

I have seven years teaching experience (which I personally believe is volunteer!)

Why leave teaching? Is medicine something you've always wanted to do? Were your family and friends supportive? How did you get past the negative comments of others (if there were any)? How did you motivate yourself? Ever feel like giving up? Was it easy to take that first step? Was it financially draining?

 

[bioteacher]

That is a lot of questions

Why leave teaching?
Every job has lots of things that suck. Teaching was a love/hate relationship. Love educating, hate the bull#$%& that came with it. Plus I want to know more and make important decisions.

Is medicine something you've always wanted to do?
NO. My father was an MD but I am very different from him. I have always loved Biology since high school and through college. Tried research then teaching. Medicine is the next step. I will be able to use my knowledge and educate. Hopefully best of both worlds.

Were your family and friends supportive?
Extremely!

How did you get past the negative comments of others (if there were any)?
No negative comments. I teach in CA. In fact, most teachers are envious and can't leave teaching because they need the money or have already put so many years into teaching that it is too late to switch careers. (which is pitiful. I have to pay my own medical insurance in my district!)

How did you motivate yourself?
Amazing how a supportive wife and the need to change careers now or never can be a motivation. Besides, teachers are used to working extremely hard (well at least the good ones, and I have seen my share of lousy ones who never put in any extra time). I love working hard, I just also want the responsibility and pay that goes with it. I can't support my family on my teaching family and I'm not willingly to sacrifice my dreams yet. My daughters wouldn't want me to either.

Ever feel like giving up?
It was tough applying to 47 medical schools with a 32 MCAT score and not getting in but it is only one more year! Besides, 31 is still young. I will be a practicing physician for more than 25 years!

Was it easy to take that first step?
Yes. I enrolled in an MCAT course and that forced me to take the MCAT seriously.

Was it financially draining?

Yes and No. As I said earlier my father was a physician. With loans and financial help from him this is possible.

 

[2tall]

Thanks for replying teach.