Need a Honest Opinion...Really Depressed

[Member518]

---

Members do not see this ad.

hi guys, i'm seeking advice to see if i still have a chance for PA school. As of right now my gpa is 2.76, however i went back and retook some classes and got a 3.1 . With all the C's and the 4 D's and 1 F's i have, i was wondering if this would ruin my chances? I got accepted to a special masters program that would give me a masters in medical science, after im done with this, i still have 4 prerequisites left like A&P 1 and 2, microbiology lab, and medical terminology which i plan on taking at my undergraduate school after the master . I also have been working at a d.d.s. office and d.o. office for the past 3 years, doing filing work, assisting patients to their room and etc, also taking x - rays and recording things about the patient that doctor ask me to write down. Also have volunteer work, i volunteer at shelters to serve lunch, also volunteer at the local hospital. If i do good in the masters program and in the last prerequisites i have left, will i have a chance? I'm 24 and i dont want to get to 28 and have no job stability, i dont want my parents to incur anymore debt from me, i want to help them pay them off as soon as possible. Also my gre is 157 Verbal 152 Quant 3.5 writing ..... If this isn't the case I also thought about going back to school to get a degree in nursing, and then try to become a NP. (Pretty much like starting over, except i would have an RN to fall on, if NP doesnt work out). I think i have depression bc i just suddenly cry, lying in bed, upset bc the only one to blame is myself for my bad gpa...
Thanks for the advice....

 

[GLENMARK]

I personally do not think it will help much to attend Master's program of medical science.
Find a part time health care job while you are doing your pre-req. classes. If you do not mind
relocating, there is a PA program for you. Good Luck.

 

[AnnoyedByFreud]

that GPA is going to be hard to overcome for MD/DO, PA, or NP school. You could try for an ADN program in nursing, I believe those programs only look at your prereq grades. Try and ace the RN prereqs (anat/phys, micro, etc.)

 

[benny32311]

Well, if you're going to get in, you're going to have to bust it. You will really need to ace any of the pre-reqs that you have left. Is your increase of GPA due mostly to science courses? That would probably help.

If I were in your shoes this is what I would do. I would contact the programs that I would want to get in to. See what your chances are. I would finish my pre-reqs continue getting HCE and apply. The worst thing you can do is not apply and not try. If that doesn't work and you feel you need to get a move on with your life, go to your back up plan (mine was nursing) and if that didn't work out, I wanted to start investing in real estate.

Good luck. It's not the end of the world if you don't get in. Life is more than a career.

 

[Boatswain2PA]

I personally do not think it will help much to attend Master's program of medical science.
Find a part time health care job while you are doing your pre-req. classes. If you do not mind
relocating, there is a PA program for you. Good Luck.

Completely disagree. A masters program can give the OP a chance to greatly improve their GPA, show the adcomm that he/she has grown up, and is able to perform at the graduate level.

I was nearly complete with a MPH program when I was applying to PA programs and the topic came up in each interview.

 

[Drew12]

I would not do the special masters program if you want to be a PA. You will shell out a lot of money for a pretty much useless degree. Look into getting a degree where you can boost your GPA while obtaining quality health care experience. I would suggest going RN, respiratory therapy, paramedic, or med lab tech. Then you will have something to fall back on and you will stand out as a PA applicant.

 

[Manda12]

It's not going to be that easy to apply to a RN program with those grades. RN schools are impacted and many are only accepting students according to GPA.

 

[Denatured]

No matter what, it's going to be a difficult road. Here are you're choices IMO:
1) Do the special master's and Ace it. I mean really ace it. Show that you are not that person anymore I know some schools that would take a chance on you. I've got former classmates who got in with GPA like that, but you have to show that is behind you. HCE would also help. Apply to newer programs. This may take many application cycles, but you can't give up. Another former class mate of mine (don't know his stats), took 4 tries to get in.

2) Retake the courses you did badly in and use DO grade replacement (yes, they will take your higher grade on the application service)

3) Go get a associate's degree in nursing. A community college is much more likely to take you than a university and I've seen plenty of not so bright people do this route (not that CC education is bad, went to one myself before I transferred, but let's be honest admission standards aren't high). After that, work and get an online BSN. Now you have HCE, a hopefully better GPA, can fall back on being an RN, and can apply to NP or PA school with a much better chance.

 

[Member518]

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions! Just to update, i decided to go back to my university to get a BSN, some of my bio classes transferred over and its only going to take me 2 1/2 years instead of 4.

 

[benny32311]

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions! Just to update, i decided to go back to my university to get a BSN, some of my bio classes transferred over and its only going to take me 2 1/2 years instead of 4.

Good for you! Good luck in your endeavors!

 

[hughesn2]

Don't want to sound like the downer, but I am currently in a situation even better than this. I have a 3.25 GPA with one semester remaining (3.16 sGPA) and I completely switched back to DPM over PA school. PA schools have become more competitive than ever before and there are less spots and so many applicants. Most programs it seems as if you NEED a 3.4 GPA just to get an interview, well maybe that is just the 5 Michigan programs (since I live in MI).
The one thing I never look at are the post that say "Well if you get A's in MicroBio and A&P then you have a great chance" but if you did poorly in classes like Bio or Chem then you are not going to get an A in these two classes (maybe 3 if you have to take Anatomy and Physio separately).
Yes, aim for the A, but don't tell yourself "Well the only way I can get in is if I get an A in that class." Think about what you possibly have the best chance at getting and think that if this will still get you less than a 3.20 GPA then you have low chances in my mind.
Again, if you spend so much money on a Master's program that you will NEVER use if you go to PA school then it may be some bit of a waste in my mind. Yes, it will prepare you but you will spend tens of thousands of dollars on a master's program you won't use once you get accepted into PA school.

Also, some schools have a limit as to how long your pre-reqs need to be taken before you matriculate. Well at least in MI, at least 4 of the 5 programs require that your pre-req classes need to be taken within 6 yrs of matriculating