AaqDasaq721
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2019
- Messages
- 9
- Reaction score
- 12
Hi, I am a longtime lurker on SDN, and finally created an account to post in WAMC as I finish up my DIY post-bacc.
I graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in pure mathematics and a very low c/sGPA, both around 2.5-2.6. I took about 120 units, but about 30% was done Pass/Fail, which also included Math and Statistics classes. I also failed 4 classes (3 NP's, and 1 F). There were no extenuating circumstances other than the fact that I was very lazy and stupid, and had no clear career goal in mind. I thought I wanted to be a software engineer, then an actuary, then a data scientist, then the lack of direction imploded on me.
I took about a 6-month break to figure out what I wanted to do, and during that 6 months I took EMS classes and volunteered at a hospital in Southern California. I absolutely loved the training/work I did as EMT, and the work felt extremely meaningful. I knew I wanted to pursue a career in health, but didn't really think about becoming a doctor until I shadowed and gained some more work experience as an EMT. During that summer I decided to enroll in psych classes at Santa Monica College to ease myself back into academics and fix my studying habits. A semester later, I was certain I needed a higher GPA to pursue any career in medicine (on top of prereqs), and began my post-bacc at UCLA and UCLA Extension.
Race/Status:
Post-Bacc GPA:
This is what my GPA trend looks like broken down by semester/quarter:
And this is what my GPA trend looks like broken down by year:
MCAT:
Total: 517
C/P: 128, CARS: 128, B/B: 129, P/S: 132
EC's:
I know I screwed up royally during my undergrad, and I really don't have an excuse for it. But I guess my failures as an undergrad was almost necessary for that big slap in the face to grow the **** up and take responsibility for my future.
I would really like to avoid an SMP due to the financial burden, but I'm running out of classes to take post-bacc. UCLA concurrent enrollment is a huge pain to get into classes with, and I can imagine CSU classes will be as difficult as well.
I understand my combined GPA is quite low at 3.35 cGPA and 3.44 sGPA. I'm open to both MD and DO, but of course I'd prefer MD due to the greater # of doors it opens. Do I have realistic, competitive chances at mid to low tier MD's, or do I need an SMP to have a real chance? Time is not a factor for me as I'm in no rush to get into medical school (in fact I've really enjoyed the post-bacc material), and I'll gladly delay my app for a year or two to maximize my chances.
Should I apply 2019-2020? If so, where? If not, what should I do? Thank you.
I graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in pure mathematics and a very low c/sGPA, both around 2.5-2.6. I took about 120 units, but about 30% was done Pass/Fail, which also included Math and Statistics classes. I also failed 4 classes (3 NP's, and 1 F). There were no extenuating circumstances other than the fact that I was very lazy and stupid, and had no clear career goal in mind. I thought I wanted to be a software engineer, then an actuary, then a data scientist, then the lack of direction imploded on me.
I took about a 6-month break to figure out what I wanted to do, and during that 6 months I took EMS classes and volunteered at a hospital in Southern California. I absolutely loved the training/work I did as EMT, and the work felt extremely meaningful. I knew I wanted to pursue a career in health, but didn't really think about becoming a doctor until I shadowed and gained some more work experience as an EMT. During that summer I decided to enroll in psych classes at Santa Monica College to ease myself back into academics and fix my studying habits. A semester later, I was certain I needed a higher GPA to pursue any career in medicine (on top of prereqs), and began my post-bacc at UCLA and UCLA Extension.
Race/Status:
- Asian ORM
- CA Resident
- Graduated HS in NY (if this counts as a tie to the state?)
- undergrad cGPA: 2.67 (2.5 if you count the F as AAMC would)
- undergrad sGPA: 2.4 - 2.5
- Total Units: ~120, with ~90 counting towards GPA, rest taken P/F.
Post-Bacc GPA:
- Both cGPA and sGPA is 4.0.
- Took about 90 semester units including science classes from UCLA and UCLA Extension, and 5 humanities classes from Santa Monica College.
- Took upper division biology classes in Virology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Parasitology, Immunology, and Developmental Biology. Also took 1 year of Biochemistry.
- Humanities classes are: 3 Psych classes, and 2 semesters of Spanish.
- A in prereqs; also took Anatomy and Physiology at lower div. level. Took microbiology at SMC for financial reasons.
- cGPA: 3.35
- sGPA: 3.44
This is what my GPA trend looks like broken down by semester/quarter:
And this is what my GPA trend looks like broken down by year:
MCAT:
Total: 517
C/P: 128, CARS: 128, B/B: 129, P/S: 132
EC's:
- Projected 3000-4000 hours paid clinical time as EMT.
- Projected 500 hours clinical volunteer at 2 hospitals.
- Projected combined 500 hours nonclinical volunteer at an immigration center (I'm a first-gen immigrant myself and I know the bitter life of an "alien", and wanted to help out in any way I can), YMCA, and a soup kitchen.
- 0 research experience.
- I obtained 2 science letters from UCLA Extension professors, and 1 humanities letter from a SMC professor. They seemed to like me, so hopefully they were well written.
I know I screwed up royally during my undergrad, and I really don't have an excuse for it. But I guess my failures as an undergrad was almost necessary for that big slap in the face to grow the **** up and take responsibility for my future.
I would really like to avoid an SMP due to the financial burden, but I'm running out of classes to take post-bacc. UCLA concurrent enrollment is a huge pain to get into classes with, and I can imagine CSU classes will be as difficult as well.
I understand my combined GPA is quite low at 3.35 cGPA and 3.44 sGPA. I'm open to both MD and DO, but of course I'd prefer MD due to the greater # of doors it opens. Do I have realistic, competitive chances at mid to low tier MD's, or do I need an SMP to have a real chance? Time is not a factor for me as I'm in no rush to get into medical school (in fact I've really enjoyed the post-bacc material), and I'll gladly delay my app for a year or two to maximize my chances.
Should I apply 2019-2020? If so, where? If not, what should I do? Thank you.
