Non Trad looking to polish application

[ordlight]

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Hi all, first time poster. I graduated with a psych degree 8 years ago with a cGPA of 3.0 , and a sGPA of 2.1 (abysmal, I know). Reasons for the poor showing included being the sole caretaker for an ill parent, among other personal factors. Have taken all the prereqs and some high level science classes in undergrad, with poor performances in all.

I was selected on aptitude and have been working in aviation for the federal gov since graduation. My MCAT score is a 36, and I've been volunteering at a homeless shelter for about two years.

Far as I can tell, the most glaring deficit on my app would be my GPA. Not sure how I should go about trying to rectify it.

Any and all advice would be appreciated.

 

[FutureDrB]

Hi all, first time poster. I graduated with a psych degree 8 years ago with a cGPA of 3.0 , and a sGPA of 2.1 (abysmal, I know). Reasons for the poor showing included being the sole caretaker for an ill parent, among other personal factors. Have taken all the prereqs and some high level science classes in undergrad, with poor performances in all.

I was selected on aptitude and have been working in aviation for the federal gov since graduation. My MCAT score is a 36, and I've been volunteering at a homeless shelter for about two years.

Far as I can tell, the most glaring deficit on my app would be my GPA. Not sure how I should go about trying to rectify it.

Any and all advice would be appreciated.

The fix here is simple. You need to retake your pre-reqs and do well in them. This will in turn raise both your sGPA and cGPAs. You'll want to be in the 3.2+ range, preferably higher.

Your MCAT score is obviously awesome. If you don't mind me asking, how did you score that high if you did so poorly in your classes?

 

[DrMidlife]

Any and all advice would be appreciated.

I suggest two things:
1. protect that MCAT score - avoid a retake if at all possible. That means you want to apply within 2, maybe 3 years of getting that score.
2. definitely get back in the classroom and take some harder, upper division science classes, and get nothing but A's. You need this to show that you can still handle academics, and that your MCAT isn't a fluke.

You could theoretically try to get into an SMP for Fall 2012. An SMP is a low-GPA "back door" to US MD schools, for those whose apps are very strong with the sole exception of low GPAs. It's expensive, and there aren't very many. A 2.1 in science should be a dealbreaker, but your cumulative is ballpark, and that crazy 36 MCAT might get you through. Come over to the postbac forum for more info. I suggest that you need to get SMP applications out by the end of January (next month) for Fall 2012.

Retaking the prereqs, with that MCAT score, doesn't really make sense to me. If you got less than a C in any prereq, you have to retake. Regardless, fresh new A's in hard biosci classes are in order.

Best of luck to you.

 

[ordlight]

Thanks for the response. I prepped for the MCAT using my old ochem, gchem and physics textbooks. Once I felt comfortable I had the basic material down, I got all the TBR books, along with Examkrackers and FL AAMC tests, and continued prep using those. Took me about 3 months to go through the textbooks, and about 4 months for all the other prep.

If I retake the pre-req classes somewhere, is it true they would be averaged in with my old GPA? Or would they be a standalone as far as MD Adcomms are concerned?

 

[ordlight]

I suggest two things:
1. protect that MCAT score - avoid a retake if at all possible. That means you want to apply within 2, maybe 3 years of getting that score.
2. definitely get back in the classroom and take some harder, upper division science classes, and get nothing but A's. You need this to show that you can still handle academics, and that your MCAT isn't a fluke.

You could theoretically try to get into an SMP for Fall 2012. An SMP is a low-GPA "back door" to US MD schools, for those whose apps are very strong with the sole exception of low GPAs. It's expensive, and there aren't very many. A 2.1 in science should be a dealbreaker, but your cumulative is ballpark, and that crazy 36 MCAT might get you through. Come over to the postbac forum for more info. I suggest that you need to get SMP applications out by the end of January (next month) for Fall 2012.

Retaking the prereqs, with that MCAT score, doesn't really make sense to me. If you got less than a C in any prereq, you have to retake. Regardless, fresh new A's in hard biosci classes are in order.

Best of luck to you.

I'll definitely start looking into SMP programs. If fresh As in the hard biosci classes are enough to offset the adcom's apprehension of me in a class setting, then I would prefer to not retake any of the basic classes. Appreciate the info, and I'll check out the postbac forum as well.

 

[TriagePreMed]

With a 2.1 sGPA there is no hope for US-MD or Osteopathic. However, with a 1 year of retakes hitting a 3.0 sGPA and you'll be golden for any D.O. school, provided the application isn't lacking on ECs.

 

[ordlight]

With a 2.1 sGPA there is no hope for US-MD or Osteopathic. However, with a 1 year of retakes hitting a 3.0 sGPA and you'll be golden for any D.O. school, provided the application isn't lacking on ECs.

Do you mean that even if I were to have a successful showing in some SMP program, there isn't any hope for any US-MD school?

 

[TriagePreMed]

Do you mean that even if I were to have a successful showing in some SMP program, there isn't any hope for any US-MD school?

I would think you'll have a hard time getting accepted to any reputable SMP program. Most of them require a 3.0 at least (both cumulative and science).

If you still do manage to get into an SMP, you'll have to make sure to apply to medical schools that don't automatically cut off people with <3.0 sGPA. A number of D.O. programs (e.g. Des Moines) do this too. Are you willing you spend over 50k for that narrow of choices?

If I were you, I'd seriously look into D.O; unless you're positive you want a high-end specialty, and even then the likelihood as an MD is low given the competition.

If you want a more direct answer: yes, I believe there's almost no hope for US-MD. But please don't take offense. It has nothing to do with your intelligence or capability. It's just how the system is set up.

 

[DrMidlife]

36 on the MCAT folks, keep that in mind.

 

[ordlight]

I would think you'll have a hard time getting accepted to any reputable SMP program. Most of them require a 3.0 at least (both cumulative and science).

If you still do manage to get into an SMP, you'll have to make sure to apply to medical schools that don't automatically cut off people with <3.0 sGPA. A number of D.O. programs (e.g. Des Moines) do this too. Are you willing you spend over 50k for that narrow of choices?

If I were you, I'd seriously look into D.O; unless you're positive you want a high-end specialty, and even then the likelihood as an MD is low given the competition.

If you want a more direct answer: yes, I believe there's almost no hope for US-MD. But please don't take offense. It has nothing to do with your intelligence or capability. It's just how the system is set up.

No offense taken. I appreciate the candor, and thanks for the response.

 

[DrMidlife]

Lots of stats and outcomes from folks who've done SMPs in the postbac forum. Find the low GPA thread - can't miss it, it's got 400k views.

 

[ordlight]

Lots of stats and outcomes from folks who've done SMPs in the postbac forum. Find the low GPA thread - can't miss it, it's got 400k views.

Just looked through that thread, definitely makes me feel better about the prospect of going SMP.

 

[theseeker4]

36 on the MCAT folks, keep that in mind.

Can't forget this. If you can get your sGPA above 3.0 and apply while the MCAT is still valid, you will likely get some attention from MD programs, despite your statistical chance of getting in with such a low sGPA (how many of those statistics apply with a 36 MCAT?)

 

[ChemMed]

Hi all, first time poster. I graduated with a psych degree 8 years ago with a cGPA of 3.0 , and a sGPA of 2.1 (abysmal, I know). Reasons for the poor showing included being the sole caretaker for an ill parent, among other personal factors. Have taken all the prereqs and some high level science classes in undergrad, with poor performances in all.

I was selected on aptitude and have been working in aviation for the federal gov since graduation. My MCAT score is a 36, and I've been volunteering at a homeless shelter for about two years.

Far as I can tell, the most glaring deficit on my app would be my GPA. Not sure how I should go about trying to rectify it.

Any and all advice would be appreciated.

GPA repair is my only suggestion. You obviously have the MCAT score. At least look into DO schools since they do have grade replacement in their application.

 

[ucsfstudents]

Postbac program. Expensive, but will hopefully raise your GPA. Good luck.

 

[ordlight]

Postbac program. Expensive, but will hopefully raise your GPA. Good luck.

Looking into all the SMP programs around, they're expensive all right; but if it can nudge my GPA into respectable territory, it'd be worth it. Thx

 

[ordlight]

GPA repair is my only suggestion. You obviously have the MCAT score. At least look into DO schools since they do have grade replacement in their application.

I'll look into the DO option as well.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

OP, I had a 26 on my MCAT, but didn't study nearly that much, not really at all, I just took practice tests! Anyway, that's an awesome score! I had a 2.8 cGPA and took ~2.5yrs worth of science courses (mostly upper level) & moved my GPA to a 3.18 with the post-bacc work being ~3.83c & 3.91s. I was accepted this cycle (my 1st) to two DO programs and waitlisted at two others, and we're not even into the new year. If I had a 36 MCAT, I probably could have had some love from my in-state MD schools as well (that was their reason for rejection, NOT my grades). Get your sGPA up, and write a compelling personal statement, and you should be fine. Remember, DO or MD=Dr!! Its the first two letters that matter not the last two!!

Oh, and do a GPA calculation to figure out how many credits of science it will take to get you above 3.0. Then DO it!! Straight As!! Good luck!

 

[ordlight]

OP, I had a 26 on my MCAT, but didn't study nearly that much, not really at all, I just took practice tests! Anyway, that's an awesome score! I had a 2.8 cGPA and took ~2.5yrs worth of science courses (mostly upper level) & moved my GPA to a 3.18 with the post-bacc work being ~3.83c & 3.91s. I was accepted this cycle (my 1st) to two DO programs and waitlisted at two others, and we're not even into the new year. If I had a 36 MCAT, I probably could have had some love from my in-state MD schools as well (that was their reason for rejection, NOT my grades). Get your sGPA up, and write a compelling personal statement, and you should be fine. Remember, DO or MD=Dr!! Its the first two letters that matter not the last two!!

Oh, and do a GPA calculation to figure out how many credits of science it will take to get you above 3.0. Then DO it!! Straight As!! Good luck!

Thats a really inspiring story. I know its gonna be a hurdle fixing my GPA, but its going to be worth it.