Need Success Stories: Is it possible?

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Hey everyone! First off, I want to say that I am thankful for a community like this one and I appreciate this website greatly!



I have a few questions: I am currently a Cal State undergrad studying Microbiology and minoring in biochemistry (also pre-med, if not obvious.) I have a couple hundred hours of volunteering / shadowing, work as an SI tutor, and was in a cadaver Dissection program for a year. I've also been on Dean's list for a few years. Nevertheless, unfortunately, I have had a terrible past at my community college for the first three years of my college carrier. Since then, when I discovered my passion for medicine, I've been doing tremendously well. I'm expecting to graduate with a cumulative of a 3.1 (I know its low. That's due to my past grades. Most of them being non-science classes) and a Cal State GPA of 3.5 with a science GPA of 3.7. I am planning on doing research this year and I'm also an officer of a club on campus.



Now the question: am I screwed because of my past? I want to be a physician more than anything in life. Yes, I might be romanticizing it, but this is my passion. My back-up plan is to do a master's if I don't get in anywhere and then reapply. However, I'm 25 years old so I don't want to waste too much time. Any advice? Any encouragement?

 

[DrHart]

Now the question: am I screwed because of my past? I want to be a physician more than anything in life. Yes, I might be romanticizing it, but this is my passion. My back-up plan is to do a master's if I don't get in anywhere and then reapply. However, I'm 25 years old so I don't want to waste too much time. Any advice? Any encouragement?

You are not screwed because of your past. A 3.1 GPA is very low, even with your redemption at Cal State, which is also borderline low at a c3.5 (s3.7 is good) you might need an SMP
I would meet with a pre-med advisor on your campus to talk about it. Are you interested in DO at all? When do you plan to take the MCAT?

 

[cactusman]

GPA is lethal for MD, low for DO but maybe that upward trend is strong enough. Either way, your best bet is probably to do PB work with a 3.7+, and do well on the MCAT. Also, you say you might be romanticizing medicine - have you shadowed doctors yet? I would do that ASAP if you haven't, partly because you need it on your app and partly because it will help you to get a realistic view.

Don't do a master's unless it's an SMP, a regular master's won't help much.

 

[libertyyne]

I would take the MCAT and apply broadly. With a decent MCAT score you can open up some doors.

 

[Freshy]

You are not screwed because of your past. A 3.1 GPA is very low, even with your redemption at Cal State, which is also borderline low at a c3.5 (s3.7 is good) you might need an SMP
I would meet with a pre-med advisor on your campus to talk about it. Are you interested in DO at all? When do you plan to take the MCAT?

What is an SMP? I am interested in DO and will also be applying to DO. But I would really love to get into an MD school. I'm planning on taking it next August. So next summer will be my prep time.

 

[Freshy]

GPA is lethal for MD, low for DO but maybe that upward trend is strong enough. Either way, your best bet is probably to do PB work with a 3.7+, and do well on the MCAT. Also, you say you might be romanticizing medicine - have you shadowed doctors yet? I would do that ASAP if you haven't, partly because you need it on your app and partly because it will help you to get a realistic view.

Don't do a master's unless it's an SMP, a regular master's won't help much.

Hmm. I've heard that a Masters helps a lot. I've shadowed plenty of doctors. I know that this is something I want to do. It's not really a question whether I love medicine or not.

 

[DrHart]

What is an SMP? I am interested in DO and will also be applying to DO. But I would really love to get into an MD school. I'm planning on taking it next August. So next summer will be my prep time.

A SMP is a special masters program. They are usually only a year long and aimed at students who need to repair their GPA or prove they can handle upper level science coursework. Some SMPs feed into medical schools (if you do well in the SMP, you have a very good shot at getting accepted to that particular medical school). Other SMPs have "conditional acceptances" ie - do well in the program and you will automatically start med school the following year. It would be helpful to talk to your academic advisor about these options.
A 508+ MCAT would put you in a good spot for DO. An SMP and a 512+ would put you in a good spot for MD.

 

[Freshy]

A SMP is a special masters program. They are usually only a year long and aimed at students who need to repair their GPA or prove they can handle upper level science coursework. Some SMPs feed into medical schools (if you do well in the SMP, you have a very good shot at getting accepted to that particular medical school). Other SMPs have "conditional acceptances" ie - do well in the program and you will automatically start med school the following year. It would be helpful to talk to your academic advisor about these options.
A 508+ MCAT would put you in a good spot for DO. An SMP and a 512+ would put you in a good spot for MD.

I'll definitely talk to my advisor about the SMP.
When I talked to him most recently, he recommended the masters program idea and/or post-bac program. I’m applying to over 30 schools. So I will definitely be applying broadly. I’m hoping to get a 512+ and apply right after undergrad and get in without a SMP or a Post-bac program. Not sure if that’s realistic but that’s what I’m aiming for.