need advice! please help!

[mdorphd]

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I just graduated with a major in Biomedical Engineering from an ivy league school. I decided to work for two years in a lab to try and clear my head and decide what to do. I am very interested in medicine as well as clinically-based research. My GPA in college isn't very good (3.27), but it's my science GPA that kills me (below 3). Ironically, my major GPA is a 3.6, so the bioengineering classes really pulled me up. I haven't taken any standardized tests yet, but am thinking of taking the MCAT (and maybe the GRE) in April. I have a lot of research experience (worked in a lab during all of college, 2 summers, and now this lab), have given 2 podium presentations at conferences as well as poster presentations, and have publications (1st author on 1) as well as papers I will be submitting soon.

So, my major decision is: what degree should I go for? 😕 I'm considering a MD, PhD (in biomed engineering), or a MD/PhD (so pretty much everything). I am planning to take more science classes while I work (since I still need some classes for the med school reqts), but I really need some advice! Is there really no hope for me to get into med school? Would I have a better chance for a MD/PhD because of my research experience? What are my chances at getting into a good program? What should I do???????????????????? Thanks for your help!!! 🙂

 

[skypilot]

You certainly could get into med school. Just do a one year post bacc and retake all your prerequisite sciences. Then apply to medical schools in the US considering all options including osteopathic schools.

But a more important question is do you want to work as a doctor? Does the idea of taking care of sick and dying patients interest you? If you are only interested in research a PhD might be a route with more relevant work and a whole lot less debt.

Good luck with your decision

 

[aparecida]

I agree, the first question is whether you want to take care of patients (not necessarily sick and dying, but certainly real human beings from a diversity of backgrounds and in a wide range of physical and mental states) or whether you want to spend your days in a lab.

 

[mdorphd]

You certainly could get into med school. Just do a one year post bacc and retake all your prerequisite sciences. Then apply to medical schools in the US considering all options including osteopathic schools.

But a more important question is do you want to work as a doctor? Does the idea of taking care of sick and dying patients interest you? If you are only interested in research a PhD might be a route with more relevant work and a whole lot less debt.

Good luck with your decision

I'm definitely interested in patient care, and have shadowed some doctors/surgeons to gain clinical experience. I guess I just have to find out what degree will help me do clinical research (my ideal career would be to see patients and then do research based on things I see in patients...although I've heard that's hard to do). So the question is what degree(s) would help me do this?

Since I'm working full-time, I was just planning on taking the rest of the science classes I need for medical school (3-4 classes) and then applying next year. Should I retake all the ones that I already took (since I didn't do that well?) Thanks for all the help!!!

 

[skypilot]

Sounds like you want the MD or DO if you are interested in patient care. It will make things a lot easier. You can pick up the PhD along the way at some schools too but you will probably apply as an MD.

I would take the courses you need for the April MCAT and then begin to retake all your BCPM courses to bring your averages up. There really aren't that many of them and it will really show you've turned the corner academically if you can now get As.

 

[tinkerbelle]

"Since I'm working full-time, I was just planning on taking the rest of the science classes I need for medical school (3-4 classes) and then applying next year. Should I retake all the ones that I already took (since I didn't do that well?) Thanks for all the help!!!"

How badly did you do? If you got a C- or lower, then I'd probably reatke the class, but otherwise I wouldn't waste my time. Retaking a class doesn't boost your gpa that much. And how did you calculate your science gpa? I included most of my BME classes in my science gpa (and it really boosted my gpa...)

"(my ideal career would be to see patients and then do research based on things I see in patients...although I've heard that's hard to do). So the question is what degree(s) would help me do this?"

Sounds like an MD/PHD would work well for this type of job. And you really do have a chance. Lots of BMEs have sub-3.5 gpas. It's not that big of a deal. Or at least that's my opinion at the moment 🙂

 

[mdorphd]

My chem classes were all B- (including 1st semester ochem) and physics and 1st sem bio were C+...math was all around a B. I'm assuming that those are the classes to include for the science gpa that med schools look at? If I get to include BME classes, then that would definitely help...

 

[skypilot]

A few years working as a Biomedical Engineer might also help your application and interviews. I think you have a shot this time around but I would plan on retaking all your prerequisites and applying more than once if needed. Good luck, I'm sure you will eventually get in.

If you really rock the MCAT and you get to include your biomedical engineering courses in your BCPM who knows?! 🙂

Retaking prereqs and getting As would certainly change that BCPM average.

Your 3.27 overall in engineering is should be good enough with a really good MCAT.

 

[mdorphd]

So in terms of prereqs that I should take over...which ones would be the most helpful or important? I still have 3 science classes and 1 english class left (plus my full time job, meaning i'll probably only be able to take 1 class at a time). How about other classes like cell biology, genetics, and biochem? Which one of those are important for the MCAT/med school?

Since my GPA isn't the best, I agree that I probably have to get a great MCAT score to compensate (we'll see how that goes)...is there anything else that could help?

Thanks so much for the advice! Keep it coming!!! 🙂