My next step....advice

[SC Pulse]

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I hope I'm I'm the right forum but here's my story:

I have my BA in geography with an overall GPA of 2.318, and a science GPA of 2.25. Throughout my college career I only took 20 hours worth of science credits. I am now working fulltime as a GIS Administrator but it's honestly not what I see myself doing for the rest of my life. I feel this need to do something bigger and better and to reach the top. My personal goal of reaching the top is to get into medical school and beyond. I've done some research on what to do next but I was wondering what someone in my boat has done. Should I take independent classes to boost my GPA and then do a post-bacc and shoot for a 4.0 and find a job in a healthcare field to raise my chances? Should I go for a post-bacc now? Would I still be able to get some sort of loans to assist my GPA boosting classes even though I have already graduated? And since I've graduated do any classes I take boost my GPA or start a slate? Thanks for any advice!!

 

[Chip N Sawbones]

I hope I'm I'm the right forum but here's my story:

I have my BA in geography with an overall GPA of 2.318, and a science GPA of 2.25. Throughout my college career I only took 20 hours worth of science credits. I am now working fulltime as a GIS Administrator but it's honestly not what I see myself doing for the rest of my life. I feel this need to do something bigger and better and to reach the top. My personal goal of reaching the top is to get into medical school and beyond. I've done some research on what to do next but I was wondering what someone in my boat has done. Should I take independent classes to boost my GPA and then do a post-bacc and shoot for a 4.0 and find a job in a healthcare field to raise my chances? Should I go for a post-bacc now? Would I still be able to get some sort of loans to assist my GPA boosting classes even though I have already graduated? And since I've graduated do any classes I take boost my GPA or start a slate? Thanks for any advice!!

Your best bet will be to go back to college, take the prereq science classes, and then retake classes until your GPA with retakes is about a 3.3. DO medical schools allow you to retake classes and replace old grades with new ones. Taking advantage of this policy is basically your only chance to get into medical school without spending a few years trying to boost your GPA. MD schools don't do grade replacement. With a GPA as low as yours, taking enough classes to bring your GPA up to a competitive level for MD schools will be a tremendous waste of time and money.

You will be able to get student loans. Attend whatever 4-year college is and easiest for you to take classes at. Enroll as a chemistry or biology major seeking a second degree, but don't actually try to get a degree. When you take classes they will boost (or lower) your cumulative GPA.

 

[SC Pulse]

Thank you so much for your reply!!

So if I enroll at the university of south carolina(where I got my BA), I should take all the prerequisite science classes for med school until I get my GPA up high enough to apply? I wouldn't have to get another degree before I apply? Also if I was able to get my GPA up high what would stop me from getting into an MD school vs a DO, because I wouldn't be retaking the science courses, most of them would be new credits. Again thank you so much for the response!!

 

[SamyLSF]

Because MD schools don't allow grade replacement so retaking then and getting a better grade won't matter. And you don't need a second degree just the prerequisites. Get in and get out fast. Get good grades and don't forget your ECs. Volunteer, get some shadowing experience, talk to docs. Apply DO.

 

[edgerock24]

DO is possible due to grade replacement. US-MD is not, unfortunately. You could also likely get accepted into an international MD school, but staying in the U.S. is much better.

 

[dsoz]

You would need A LOT of credits to raise that GPA without replacing some or all of those low grades.

Yes, you need to take the pre-requisite classes. 1 year bio, 1 year gen chem, 1 year organic chem, 1 year of physics. Also consider the probability that you will be applying after 2015, so you would need to take the new MCAT, so you need to add in a year of social science (psych, sociology, etc.). Some med schools also require some math and biochem.

Yes, you need to re-take some of the classes so you can get your GPA up enough to be considered for DO school. DO schools will replace your bad grade, but MD will AVERAGE the two grades. Which one has more impact? You don't need to have taken statistics to understand this idea.

No, you don't need a new degree. You can go about this on your own. a SMP (special masters program) can help focus you, but they are really expensive. But they work for a lot of people.

You have a lot of work ahead of you. If you keep working to pay the bills it can take a long time. If you quit work and become a full time student, it will take a lot less time, but you will have even more debt for an uncertainty of having an acceptance.

Your road will be longer than mine. I wish you luck.

dsoz

 

[NuttyEngDude]

One more thing, if you are not pursuing a degree, it might not matter if you declare a major as biology or chemistry unless you need to do so to get into certain classes. The reason why I am mentioning this is because some schools (like mine) charge you extra fees just for being in the "biology" department, which you would not have to pay if you were taking classes from a different school within the university. This stuff adds up over time.

 

[TriagePreMed]

The best advice anyone can give you is to look into another career if you think you can be happy elsewhere. I started with a low GPA (2.7), and after 3 years of working at this, which involved taking 70+ units, volunteer work, tutoring, shadowing, research, club leadership, honor society and an associate in science, I'm barely competitive and unlikely to get into an MD college if that were my goal. On top of this there are bills, debt, minimal free time and loss of friendships. These are the realities of changing careers that aren't always spoken, and when they are, you think it's okay because you overestimate yourself and what it'll mean. That said, I would do all of this again because medicine is my calling.

As it stands now, an MD school is basically a pipe dream. An osteopathic school is possible yet difficult. How do you feel about the idea of retaking a bunch of geography classes to get into med school? Sounds ridiculous, but you will have to if you want a competitive GPA. Be prepared to invest 3+ years of your life into this.

 

[TwinsFan]

The best advice anyone can give you is to look into another career if you think you can be happy elsewhere. I started with a low GPA (2.7), and after 3 years of working at this, which involved taking 70+ units, volunteer work, tutoring, shadowing, research, club leadership, honor society and an associate in science, I'm barely competitive and unlikely to get into an MD college if that were my goal. On top of this there are bills, debt, minimal free time and loss of friendships. These are the realities of changing careers that aren't always spoken, and when they are, you think it's okay because you overestimate yourself and what it'll mean. That said, I would do all of this again because medicine is my calling.

As it stands now, an MD school is basically a pipe dream. An osteopathic school is possible yet difficult. How do you feel about the idea of retaking a bunch of geography classes to get into med school? Sounds ridiculous, but you will have to if you want a competitive GPA. Be prepared to invest 3+ years of your life into this.

We don't always agree, but this is spoken like gospel Triage. I have walked an almost identical path and it isn't something to take lightly.

Unless you think, test, and confirm medicine is your calling walk away with 2.2/2.3. It will take years of unwavering commitment and flawless performance just to have a semi-competitive app. Either way, be honest with yourself.

 

[Chip N Sawbones]

lso if I was able to get my GPA up high what would stop me from getting into an MD school vs a DO, because I wouldn't be retaking the science courses, most of them would be new credits. Again thank you so much for the response!!

I'll let you do the math to figure out exactly what the numbers will be in your situation, but if you graduated with, say, 120 credits and a 2.3 GPA, then even if you took another 120 credits and if you got a perfect 4.0 in them, your cGPA will still only be a 3.15. Even after four years of work you still wouldn't be anywhere near competitive for MD schools. Willing to do six more years of undergrad? 180 credits will bring you up to a 3.3, and that still isn't good enough. It won't help that medical schools keep raising their standards, so things will be even more competitive four years down the road. Therefore, you need to take advantage of the retake policy for DO schools. Every year you spend trying to chase an MD degree means one less year you have to do a doctor's job and earn a doctor's salary. In your case, the difference between MD and DO will be hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential earnings.

 

[Goro]

First, start doing some physician shadowing and patient contact volunteer experience to see if this is really what you want to do.


Your GPAs might be too low for a post-bac program right off the bat, so I'd start with re-doing the basic: Year a basic Bio and general Chem, then a year of physics and Orgo Chem.


Should I take independent classes to boost my GPA and then do a post-bacc and shoot for a 4.0 and find a job in a healthcare field to raise my chances?
Should I go for a post-bacc now?

Yes, all classes will boost your GPA; for DO programs, re-taking and doing better will only count the higher grade, not both.

You have a long road ahead...good luck!


And since I've graduated do any classes I take boost my GPA or start a slate? Thanks for any advice!![/QUOTE]

 

[survivordo]

It sounds like you have just kinda decided on medicine because it is "the next greatest thing". Have you put much thought into this? This is a LONG road which you have made even longer by your previous performance. You have to really determine if medicine is what you envision it to be.

If you are set on medicine then others are right, DO grade replacement is your best bet.

Survivor DO

 

[SC Pulse]

So DO is the way to go. Also I have decided on a career in medicine no matter what. If I can't make it to medical school then I can settle for triage or something less but I am committed to giving the next several years of my life to medicine. I will give it everything I have to make it as far as possible.

I plan to do some shadowing, volunteering, and make a career change to prepare me for medicine. My next question is should I do the retake of classes and all the science prerequisites and then apply for DO or should I take classes and prereqs and then do a post bacc and then DO?

 

[Chip N Sawbones]

So DO is the way to go. Also I have decided on a career in medicine no matter what. If I can't make it to medical school then I can settle for triage or something less but I am committed to giving the next several years of my life to medicine. I will give it everything I have to make it as far as possible.

I plan to do some shadowing, volunteering, and make a career change to prepare me for medicine. My next question is should I do the retake of classes and all the science prerequisites and then apply for DO or should I take classes and prereqs and then do a post bacc and then DO?

In your case DO is definitely the way to go. VCOM just opened an excellent DO school in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and there are a few more in the surrounding states if you're hoping to stay close to home. I interviewed at VCOM last fall and was quite impressed with the school.

Doing a formal postbac program after already taking the prereq classes would be a total waste of time and money. Postbac programs are nothing but the prereq classes bundled together. They tend to be much more expensive than just constructing your own postbac at your local 4-year college. Some programs have linkages to medical schools that give you an automatic acceptance if you earn a certain GPA and MCAT, but those programs have fairly competitive GPA requirements of their own. They have good advisers that can help guide you in the med school application process, but you've found the nontrad forum, and you'll come to realize that this is the best source of advice anywhere. In your case, the easiest and cheapest route to med school will be to take classes at your local 4-year college. Take the prereqs, plus an additional six credits of science classes, as they are a requirement at a lot of DO schools. Retake bad grades from your past, starting with the lowest grades. Remember that this is going to be a long process, probably two years at a minimum. If you decide that this is truly what you want and you are willing to do the work it takes to get there, I'm certain you will be an excellent doctor at the end of the road.

 

[TriagePreMed]

So DO is the way to go. Also I have decided on a career in medicine no matter what. If I can't make it to medical school then I can settle for triage or something less but I am committed to giving the next several years of my life to medicine. I will give it everything I have to make it as far as possible.

I plan to do some shadowing, volunteering, and make a career change to prepare me for medicine. My next question is should I do the retake of classes and all the science prerequisites and then apply for DO or should I take classes and prereqs and then do a post bacc and then DO?

I'm wondering how it is that you decided to go into medicine if you haven't done any shadowing or volunteer work?

Yes, you should retake every single science course that's <B as well as the necessary about of non-science courses with <B to at least achieve a 3.0 GPA. Then after that you could either do a DO SMP or take upper division coursework. At the point where you have a 3.3 in both cumulative in science, you'll have a competitive chance. If you have a low cGPA but very high sGPA, that could work and vice-versa, but be warned that your MCAT will be weighed more heavily if any GPA is underneath the average of the institution you apply.

 

[SC Pulse]

In your case DO is definitely the way to go. VCOM just opened an excellent DO school in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and there are a few more in the surrounding states if you're hoping to stay close to home. I interviewed at VCOM last fall and was quite impressed with the school.

Doing a formal postbac program after already taking the prereq classes would be a total waste of time and money. Postbac programs are nothing but the prereq classes bundled together. They tend to be much more expensive than just constructing your own postbac at your local 4-year college. Some programs have linkages to medical schools that give you an automatic acceptance if you earn a certain GPA and MCAT, but those programs have fairly competitive GPA requirements of their own. They have good advisers that can help guide you in the med school application process, but you've found the nontrad forum, and you'll come to realize that this is the best source of advice anywhere. In your case, the easiest and cheapest route to med school will be to take classes at your local 4-year college. Take the prereqs, plus an additional six credits of science classes, as they are a requirement at a lot of DO schools. Retake bad grades from your past, starting with the lowest grades. Remember that this is going to be a long process, probably two years at a minimum. If you decide that this is truly what you want and you are willing to do the work it takes to get there, I'm certain you will be an excellent doctor at the end of the road.

Thank you so much for the advice! I would love to stay as close to home as possible and its good hearing that VCOM is a good school. I think I have somewhat of a layout of what I want to do.

I am going to try to get some shadowing/volunteer experience in over the summer and hopefully start taking classes by fall 2013 semester.