My dillema...HELP

[8230]

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Good day,

I have a dillema. I just took the MCAT for the first time and I got a 39 😀. The prolem I am having is that my overall GPA is a 2.7 and my science GPA 2.5 👎. I have already received 1 my degree. I am not sure what to do next
My GPA is not high enough to get into a medical school or a medical post bac program. But I do not want to go back and get a second bachelor's degree😡. Most of the post bac programs require a 3.0 gpa. It would take me about a year and a half or 2 to raise my gpa to a 3.0 (esp science). That would be just to get in a post bac program.

Are there any post bac programs that would consider me with these stats?
I know this is a long shot, but are there any med schools that will accept these stats?😳

 

[livelaughlove]

how'd you study to get 39??? That's amazing considering you gpa! I think you would be an exception if you personally talked to some post bac admissions offices. Good luck

 

[8230]

I bought some of those Kaplan books and CD's. I devoted my whole summer to studying it and understanding everything. I think my GPA could have been better, but I have a child. I was taking Organic Chem, Physics, and a Biology while pregnant (all of which I got b/w a C to C+) I went back to school right after my pregnancy with a baby and that was not good. It was not that I did not know the stuff, it was that I was just worn out tired. I am thinking about retaking those science courses that I have taken. 2 days before I took the MCAT, I rented a hotel room and just relaxed. I think that was what helped me out.

 

[st3ady]

Hey just wanted to say congratulations!! that really rocks, that is definitely inspiring for me. I took my first practice MCAT and scored terribly, and I am planning on taking the Kaplan course. When you were at the hotel, did you do any studying or did you really just lay there and chill?

I too am in a similar situation, I am currently doing an informal post bac, and it looks like I might end up getting a C in physics 1 (ARRGGH!! got a D on the 2nd exam, class avg was a 66!!! Hopefully I can pull off a B!!!)

Any advice for 8230 and me?

I am sure you have a chance 🙂

 

[drizzt3117]

Once you get a 3.0 (in 1-2 years), you would apply right away - there is no need to do a post-bac. With a 3.0 and a 39, you have a good shot I think. If you want to go to school earlier, look into Caribbean and DO options. With DO, you can improve your GPA faster by simply retaking the courses.

Even with a 39, applying to allo schools with a 3.0 is going to get you screened out at many places and if you did get an interview, you'll get hammered with questions about why your grades weren't good (although I think the OP has a very good reason)

 

[Chauffeur2MD]

Good day,

I have a dillema. I just took the MCAT for the first time and I got a 39 😀. The prolem I am having is that my overall GPA is a 2.7 and my science GPA 2.5 👎. I have already received 1 my degree. I am not sure what to do next
My GPA is not high enough to get into a medical school or a medical post bac program. But I do not want to go back and get a second bachelor's degree😡. Most of the post bac programs require a 3.0 gpa. It would take me about a year and a half or 2 to raise my gpa to a 3.0 (esp science). That would be just to get in a post bac program.

Are there any post bac programs that would consider me with these stats?
I know this is a long shot, but are there any med schools that will accept these stats?😳

Hi,
You should be commended on your perseverance! I have had experience with two postbac programs personally, and have several friends who have completed them. They tend to be small and are usually not in the business of turning students down. So, if I were you, I would make an appointment to speak directly with the director of a program near you (postbac or special master's even). Explain that your family situation made things difficult for you temporarily, but that you would be able to excel now, as evidenced by your ability to study for the MCAT. Have the score report in hand to give to them and you should be set. I really doubt that any postbac would turn you away.

As for med schools, that is a different story. You definitely need to do well in a few postbac courses before they will consider you seriously (not screen you out). Be careful in what you choose. Try to take 2-3 or more at one time, even for just one semester. If you can pull off A's, it will show that you can really handle the workload and the trouble before was just situational. This is why many postbac programs (any one worth its salt) forces students to take Orgo and Bio together, for example. Med schools need to see proof that applicants can handle an intensive courseload of basic sciences. Showing them a semester or two of that should make a big difference.

Good luck!

 

[gman33]

Congrats on the great score. If you are open to DO, retake the prereqs and apply asap. Allo will take a bit longer. Assuming you have about 120 ug credits, you'd probably need about 60 more at 4.0 to get your GPA close to 3.0. At that point, you may still need a SMP to get much love from MD schools. That would be 3-4 years of full-time work.

 

[Perrotfish]

If you get to a 2.75 EVMS's SMP will take you. You can probably get to a 2.75 in time to apply for fall. Rosalind Franklin's SMP will probably take you right now. Once you're in those programs your grades won't matter, only your performance in their program. Do well and you'll get into the medical school that hosts the SMP the next year.

Of course if you botch one of those programs you're out of medical school forever, so make sure you square away whatever problems you were having as a parent before applying.

 

[8230]

Very true - but if he applies widely and to DO schools at the same time, he may get lucky. With a 39 & a 3.0, it would be worth a try. Unless I was confident in my ability to get a similar score again, I wouldn't let that score expire without trying. This would especially be true if he comes from a state which has schools that heavily favor IS students.

That is exactly what I was thinking. No way I am going to not try to get in a medical school or a post bac with that score on the MCAT. No way...no how. I am confident in my ability to make a similar score but then again I am not. What will end up happening is that I will go into the test OVER confident and do terrible. I was thinking about going to our local medical school and speaking with the directors once I get my GPA close to a 3. This is so my application won't get screened out. Since this medical school is appx 15 minutes from where my family and I live this would be great because we will not have to relocate😀

 

[8230]

Hey just wanted to say congratulations!! that really rocks, that is definitely inspiring for me. I took my first practice MCAT and scored terribly, and I am planning on taking the Kaplan course. When you were at the hotel, did you do any studying or did you really just lay there and chill?

I too am in a similar situation, I am currently doing an informal post bac, and it looks like I might end up getting a C in physics 1 (ARRGGH!! got a D on the 2nd exam, class avg was a 66!!! Hopefully I can pull off a B!!!)

Any advice for 8230 and me?

I am sure you have a chance 🙂

Well...my advice to you is to not give up on your dreams. I spoke with pre med advisors that told me to give up basically because of my gpa. I asked them what about the MCAT they basically told me given your grades I would not expect a good MCAT score from you😡😱. When I heard them telling me to give up, I basically stopped seeing them...did my own research on what I needed to do...and I did it. I have not acheived my primary goal yet, but I feel that I am close. 🙄. ...And if I were to listen to what my pre med advisor told me, I would have ended up doing something that was probally part of my dream.

Oh yeah when I was in the hotel I did not study. I relaxed relaxed relaxed. I was already burned out from studying. I went into the exam saying "I know what I know. The questions that I do not know will not throw me off track because the things I know will help me answer it."

 

[caliprincess]

Congrats on your MCAT! I think your best bet is to maybe think about the Drexel program that is a combination of undergrad/grad/med school classes. You want to get your GPA to at least a 3.0 AND show that you can handle grad/med school course work. With an MCAT that high and a conflicting GPA, some schools will screen of course, but many will give your app a second look. Regardless of how you do it, take a few more undergrad classes (maybe this spring/summer), rock them and bring that GPA up! Reiterating what everyone else has said, you may be able to get away with a D.O. school with a 3.0/39. If you still want a shot at allopathic though, definately look into the SMP route. Good luck!

 

[8230]

Congrats on your MCAT! I think your best bet is to maybe think about the Drexel program that is a combination of undergrad/grad/med school classes. You want to get your GPA to at least a 3.0 AND show that you can handle grad/med school course work. With an MCAT that high and a conflicting GPA, some schools will screen of course, but many will give your app a second look. Regardless of how you do it, take a few more undergrad classes (maybe this spring/summer), rock them and bring that GPA up! Reiterating what everyone else has said, you may be able to get away with a D.O. school with a 3.0/39. If you still want a shot at allopathic though, definately look into the SMP route. Good luck!

I will def. look into that