Need Some Realistic Advice

[Melabroma]

---

Members do not see this ad.

About 7 years ago I started college and ended up leaving after 3 years, 90 credits, and a 1.64 GPA. At the time, I lacked the maturity to realize enough was enough and thought that each new semester would be different, resulting in a string of W's and F's before I left. I moved to a different state and started working construction until one year later when I transferred to a new university that only accepted me after showing up to the admissions building day after day convincing everyone who would listen to me that I could complete a degree if given another chance.

Well, during my time at the new university I did what I promised and was able to bring my cGPA to a 2.81 and my AACOMAS sGPA to a 3.03. My university specific cGPA is a 3.76 with an upward trend of a 3.95 my last 62 credits while taking the upper level sciences (sGPA similar). I have held back my graduation date in order to take 36 more credits to further raise my cGPA and sGPA to a 3.03 and 3.33, respectively, which will be about all I can squeeze out of my undergrad classes.

What I want advice on is that if medical school (DO) would even be realistically possible for me in the next 2 years? I have other EC's in research, shadowing, volunteering, club leadership, and will be getting a clinical job to continue getting experience and proving this is really something I want to do. I have yet to take my MCAT but will be in the spring of 2020 and am already studying for it. I am also open to a SMP but would prefer that only as a last resort due to cost.

So what do y'all think, can I make this happen?

 

[JowellHollyBuddy33]

My journey was very similar to yours. Nearly identical actually... though my GPA was lower in the end.

I personally took the SMP route and was able to secure an acceptance at the same university. I will be starting at their medical school in August. Just do the best you can in the remaining courses and then do well on the MCAT... then decide from there.

You CAN do this!

 

[Goro]

About 7 years ago I started college and ended up leaving after 3 years, 90 credits, and a 1.64 GPA. At the time, I lacked the maturity to realize enough was enough and thought that each new semester would be different, resulting in a string of W's and F's before I left. I moved to a different state and started working construction until one year later when I transferred to a new university that only accepted me after showing up to the admissions building day after day convincing everyone who would listen to me that I could complete a degree if given another chance.

Well, during my time at the new university I did what I promised and was able to bring my cGPA to a 2.81 and my AACOMAS sGPA to a 3.03. My university specific cGPA is a 3.76 with an upward trend of a 3.95 my last 62 credits while taking the upper level sciences (sGPA similar). I have held back my graduation date in order to take 36 more credits to further raise my cGPA and sGPA to a 3.03 and 3.33, respectively, which will be about all I can squeeze out of my undergrad classes.

What I want advice on is that if medical school (DO) would even be realistically possible for me in the next 2 years? I have other EC's in research, shadowing, volunteering, club leadership, and will be getting a clinical job to continue getting experience and proving this is really something I want to do. I have yet to take my MCAT but will be in the spring of 2020 and am already studying for it. I am also open to a SMP but would prefer that only as a last resort due to cost.

So what do y'all think, can I make this happen?

Yes, DO school is very possible, and is MD (with a good MCAT score).

 

[Melabroma]

My journey was very similar to yours. Nearly identical actually... though my GPA was lower in the end.

I personally took the SMP route and was able to secure an acceptance at the same university. I will be starting at their medical school in August. Just do the best you can in the remaining courses and then do well on the MCAT... then decide from there.

You CAN do this!

Congrats on the acceptance! Did you try applying without the SMP first or go straight in to it?

 

[Melabroma]

Yes, DO school is very possible, and is MD (with a good MCAT score).

Would you say both DO and MD would be doable without an SMP or after one, assuming a high MCAT?

 

[Goro]

Would you say both DO and MD would be doable without an SMP or after one, assuming a high MCAT?

Yes to both. I think that you have displayed enough reinvention that an SMP isn't needed, or at a minimum, apply to one in the same cycle that you apply to med school. Thus, the SMP will be your backup if you get too ruthlessly screened out.

 

[Melabroma]

Yes to both. I think that you have displayed enough reinvention that an SMP isn't needed, or at a minimum, apply to one in the same cycle that you apply to med school. Thus, the SMP will be your backup if you get too ruthlessly screened out.

Awesome. Thank you very much for the help!

 

[JowellHollyBuddy33]

Congrats on the acceptance! Did you try applying without the SMP first or go straight in to it?

Because my GPA was still below 3.0 when I graduated with my BS, I decided to just go straight for the SMP. So I completed it during my first app cycle. But as Goro mentioned, you may not need to do that. You’d save money and energy if you could avoid it!