New to pre-med. Need guidance

[Sente]

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Hello everyone,

I am a current senior at ASU and I have been working on my bachelors degree in psychology for the past few years, but I never really wanted to continue with psychology. I will be graduating in December of this year. I have decided recently that I want to become a doctor, and first of all, it is amazing to finally know what I want to do with my life. But, I have looked a lot of posts in these forums, and I feel REALLY behind.

My current GPA is 3.0, and I am going to take the MCAT this June. I have been able to get some medical volunteer hours in, but not many, and I have had one shadowing opportunity. I am willing to take as much time as needed to get in to medical school, as long as it is in the states. If it takes another 4 years....... then so be it.... I am hoping that it does not take that long, but I am serious about this so please, no discouraging posts about how I am not suited for medical school.

If possible, I would love to go to AT Still for their focus on under-deserved communities. I have MANY hours of non-medical volunteer work in some of the poorest places in Argentina, as well as in my home state of Arizona.

I know that I wont be able to get in with what I have now, I am just lost on what to do, and when to do it. A list of what I could do would be appreciated.

Thank you all!

 

[AlteredScale]

Hello everyone,

I am a current senior at ASU and I have been working on my bachelors degree in psychology for the past few years, but I never really wanted to continue with psychology. I will be graduating in December of this year. I have decided recently that I want to become a doctor, and first of all, it is amazing to finally know what I want to do with my life. But, I have looked a lot of posts in these forums, and I feel REALLY behind.

My current GPA is 3.0, and I am going to take the MCAT this June. I have been able to get some medical volunteer hours in, but not many, and I have had one shadowing opportunity. I am willing to take as much time as needed to get in to medical school, as long as it is in the states. If it takes another 4 years....... then so be it.... I am hoping that it does not take that long, but I am serious about this so please, no discouraging posts about how I am not suited for medical school.

If possible, I would love to go to AT Still for their focus on under-deserved communities. I have MANY hours of non-medical volunteer work in some of the poorest places in Argentina, as well as in my home state of Arizona.

I know that I wont be able to get in with what I have now, I am just lost on what to do, and when to do it. A list of what I could do would be appreciated.

Thank you all!

Do you have any courses that are C/D/F? If so I would retake (DO app service replaces those grades).

If not would suggest a post-back to bump your GPA up to around 3.25. The higher the better.

What is your prep schedule for the MCAT?

 

[Sente]

After finals I am quitting my job, and taking a Kaplan prep course. I have been lightly studying for it during this semester, but every day, all day, after next week is what I a planning on. I do have one failed class that I am planning on retaking next semester.
Would you suggest I take Bio-Chem?? I have not taken it yet, but I could either do that or re-take another class I got a C in. (Or, I could graduate even later and take another semester)

A post program is a possibility. I was hoping to avoid the longer route if possible, but I will do it if needed.

 

[AM508]

As my esteemed colleague @AlteredScale suggests, you should work on doing some GPA repair through retakes and/or getting a few more A's in other germane science courses before applying, as a 3.0 is pretty low on the acceptance spectrum.

 

[PKA<0]

After finals I am quitting my job, and taking a Kaplan prep course. I have been lightly studying for it during this semester, but every day, all day, after next week is what I a planning on. I do have one failed class that I am planning on retaking next semester.
Would you suggest I take Bio-Chem?? I have not taken it yet, but I could either do that or re-take another class I got a C in. (Or, I could graduate even later and take another semester)

A post program is a possibility. I was hoping to avoid the longer route if possible, but I will do it if needed.

Yes, take biochemistry. It's a prerequisite at some schools so that gives you more options when it comes to apply. It's also on the new mcat.

 

[IAmNotaRobot]

After finals I am quitting my job, and taking a Kaplan prep course. I have been lightly studying for it during this semester, but every day, all day, after next week is what I a planning on. I do have one failed class that I am planning on retaking next semester.
Would you suggest I take Bio-Chem?? I have not taken it yet, but I could either do that or re-take another class I got a C in. (Or, I could graduate even later and take another semester)

A post program is a possibility. I was hoping to avoid the longer route if possible, but I will do it if needed.

I don't know if this is any help to you, but a lot of my friends were displeased with how prepared they felt after taking the Kaplan course.

 

[Sente]

I was wondering about that... I feel like the structure of the Kaplan course will help me though. When I am left with just the topic of "Organic Chemistry" to study, am not good making the study plan by myself. I have some old books from them a friend gave me and I liked how they were structured. I am open to other ideas though.

On another note, what should I do with my lack of volunteer hours? Should I be worried about that over this summer? (or at all?) Or should I just really focus on the MCAT?

 

[AM508]

I don't know if this is any help to you, but a lot of my friends were displeased with how prepared they felt after taking the Kaplan course.

Was that the Kaplan course for the new MCAT or the old one? I took a Kaplan course for the old MCAT and thought it largely worthwhile. It really is what you make of it. I thought the whole passage mapping thing was pretty useless for me, but the resources were good, there was a boat load of practice passages and exams, complete access to all the AAMC exams, and copious feedback. Some of the advice from the Kaplan class teacher was pretty spot on IMO. I wouldn't dismiss the class as I think it was benefitial, but by the same token, I would use other resources in addition to Kaplan.

 

[Sente]

What other resources would you suggest?

 

[AM508]

What other resources would you suggest?

I personally used Kaplan and all of the AAMC materials. Some folks swear by Examkrackers and The Princeton Review. However, I am not sure what things are available for the new MCAT, as I took the old one. I think the key is mixing up the practice tests...Folks should definitely not just rely on the Kaplan tests IMO. I found doing a mix of the Kaplan full-lengths and AAMC full-lengths to be a fair representation of the test. However, on their own, I thought the MCAT felt quite a bit different than either Kaplan or AAMC. The key was mixing them. If I had done just the Kaplan or just the AAMC, I don't think I would have been as well prepared.

 

[Sente]

Thanks! I will definitely do that in my studies.

Just to reiterate, what should I do with my lack of volunteer hours? Should I be worried about that over this summer? (or at all?) Or should I just really focus on the MCAT?

 

[shaggybill]

Your volunteer hours don't need to be medical. You just need to show the school that you possess the altruistic attitude that doctors ought to have. If you have a bunch of volunteer work in foreign countries, you're good to go on that front. Work on getting more clinical experience though. If you haven't had much face time seeing first hand how doctors work, schools will wonder what makes you think medicine is where you belong.

I raised my gpa from a 2.7 to a 3.4 over a few years before I applied. It takes time, but it's doable. Focus on taking it one day at a time and realize it's not going to happen overnight. You'll get there.

 

[surgeryDO]

Just a side note here, Kaplan's course for the new MCAT now has little to no content review. It's largely test taking strategies. They have a new feature called the MCAT channel that you can use to help with content but don't expect your weekly classes to do this, you have to do it yourself.

 

[spenguin]

Have you made sure you have all the premed class req? I'm not sure if you have taken chemistry physics yada yada

If you havent, there are post bach meant to bring nonsci majors up to speed.
Calculate your science GPA too because thats important (bio chem physics only)