- Joined
- May 21, 2018
- Messages
- 6
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Hi everyone,
I've been browsing around SDN, but haven't really been able to find a profile that resonates with me - so I really need some advice!
As an undergraduate, there was extensive medical illnesses that directly implicated my performance in my school. I struggled a lot and my physicians recommended that I finish up the quickest degree I could and get out, which is what I did. This wasn't because I was incapable of doing school; it was a mix of external factors causing me not able to focus diligently on school due to health related issues completely out of my natural control - but I am in a much better place & have come a long way. I know I can do medical school - I just need to figure out how to get in!
While I did majority of the premedical requirements, I am not proud whatsoever of the grades I got in them because of said issues. My sGPA is below a 3.0 (haven't calculated officially, but I want to say ~2.5) while my cGPA is a 3.12. I graduated without taking courses like physics, biochemistry, and anatomy/physio, and I need to retake some premed courses because of grades I received in those courses which are too low. In short, my gpa is the weakest spot on my application and transcript wise I also have a few withdrawals dispersed throughout. There's no upward trend and it's really, really, really uneven performance. Not proud & I'm being realistic about my chances here.
Following undergraduate, I took some time off to focus on myself and get better. Soon thereafter, I went on for my M.S. in global health (terminal degree part of my PhD) and am currently working on my PhD which I should finish in the next year or two (2, realistically). While I love the work I am doing - primarily global health strategy implementation/introduction efforts and governance in developing countries - a part of me still desires to pursue my medical degree in order to work in a more hands on capacity treating and healing the populations I am working with. I also feel as if I will have a better understanding of the clinical approaches to the work I am doing on a more intimate level and can better connect with the physicians I am working with on a day-to-day basis. Also, I don't want to be stuck in academia forever which is what often happens with PhD's lol. I have a strong desire to do field-work and directly serve the patients I am seeing struggling in parts of the world that we often don't even think about being in America.
With that said, I want to apply to medical school, but I fear that my undergraduate performance will deter me from gaining admission into MD schools (I am set on MD, not DO - but if push comes to shove I will do a DO. I'm gunning for the MD b/c in my fields it's quite honestly just more respected. I have nothing whatsoever against DO's, but I'm just stating facts about having worked in international health for the past few years; I realize I also can't be choosy and will take whatever though lol). Also, to clarify, my undergraduate degree was like 6 years ago.
Though I have a poor sGPA and haven't even taken some of the prerequisites, I assiduously studied for the MCAT whilst in my phd program and got my score back a few weeks ago with a 526 !! I feel like this is what might make my application get a second look at despite my GPA. I am worried, however, about auto-screening :/
My activities I believe are above average:
- Hospital volunteer ~200 hours,
- Undergraduate research for 3 years with a publication, and of course all of my graduate research
- Over the past several years, I've worked with and for places like the USDHHS, International Rescue Committee, United Nations, etc.
- Founded my own international education organization whilst in undergrad and founded one more venture working in international empowerment issue areas for young social entrepreneurs (i.e. poverty eradication, environment health, etc.) that's working on all 6 continents.
- Medical scribe for 450 hours
- Working part-time right now for a healthcare agency on how to go about introducing new medical services, devices, etc into different parts of the world - it's quite interesting actually!
I have a strong MCAT, I have good EC's, but my only concern is my GPA. I'm worried that I'll just get auto-screened at several places with a sGPA below 3.0.
I would like to stay in the northeast areas. Of course, however, I can't be choosy and I'll take whatever I get when time comes.
What I'm thinking right now: I need to go back and finish some of the premed requirements that I never took in the first place and I will retake classes I got a C in and one stinkin D (urgh). After this, I'm not sure if I should do a DIY post bacc with upper level courses OR do a formal SMP. Thoughts? Any help is greatly appreciated. I need to definitely apply within the 3 year time limit, because I sure as heck don't want to lose this MCAT score. I rather go the DO route if it means that I will be able to get into a med school within the 3 year expiration date.
Thank you everyone!
I've been browsing around SDN, but haven't really been able to find a profile that resonates with me - so I really need some advice!
As an undergraduate, there was extensive medical illnesses that directly implicated my performance in my school. I struggled a lot and my physicians recommended that I finish up the quickest degree I could and get out, which is what I did. This wasn't because I was incapable of doing school; it was a mix of external factors causing me not able to focus diligently on school due to health related issues completely out of my natural control - but I am in a much better place & have come a long way. I know I can do medical school - I just need to figure out how to get in!
While I did majority of the premedical requirements, I am not proud whatsoever of the grades I got in them because of said issues. My sGPA is below a 3.0 (haven't calculated officially, but I want to say ~2.5) while my cGPA is a 3.12. I graduated without taking courses like physics, biochemistry, and anatomy/physio, and I need to retake some premed courses because of grades I received in those courses which are too low. In short, my gpa is the weakest spot on my application and transcript wise I also have a few withdrawals dispersed throughout. There's no upward trend and it's really, really, really uneven performance. Not proud & I'm being realistic about my chances here.
Following undergraduate, I took some time off to focus on myself and get better. Soon thereafter, I went on for my M.S. in global health (terminal degree part of my PhD) and am currently working on my PhD which I should finish in the next year or two (2, realistically). While I love the work I am doing - primarily global health strategy implementation/introduction efforts and governance in developing countries - a part of me still desires to pursue my medical degree in order to work in a more hands on capacity treating and healing the populations I am working with. I also feel as if I will have a better understanding of the clinical approaches to the work I am doing on a more intimate level and can better connect with the physicians I am working with on a day-to-day basis. Also, I don't want to be stuck in academia forever which is what often happens with PhD's lol. I have a strong desire to do field-work and directly serve the patients I am seeing struggling in parts of the world that we often don't even think about being in America.
With that said, I want to apply to medical school, but I fear that my undergraduate performance will deter me from gaining admission into MD schools (I am set on MD, not DO - but if push comes to shove I will do a DO. I'm gunning for the MD b/c in my fields it's quite honestly just more respected. I have nothing whatsoever against DO's, but I'm just stating facts about having worked in international health for the past few years; I realize I also can't be choosy and will take whatever though lol). Also, to clarify, my undergraduate degree was like 6 years ago.
Though I have a poor sGPA and haven't even taken some of the prerequisites, I assiduously studied for the MCAT whilst in my phd program and got my score back a few weeks ago with a 526 !! I feel like this is what might make my application get a second look at despite my GPA. I am worried, however, about auto-screening :/
My activities I believe are above average:
- Hospital volunteer ~200 hours,
- Undergraduate research for 3 years with a publication, and of course all of my graduate research
- Over the past several years, I've worked with and for places like the USDHHS, International Rescue Committee, United Nations, etc.
- Founded my own international education organization whilst in undergrad and founded one more venture working in international empowerment issue areas for young social entrepreneurs (i.e. poverty eradication, environment health, etc.) that's working on all 6 continents.
- Medical scribe for 450 hours
- Working part-time right now for a healthcare agency on how to go about introducing new medical services, devices, etc into different parts of the world - it's quite interesting actually!
I have a strong MCAT, I have good EC's, but my only concern is my GPA. I'm worried that I'll just get auto-screened at several places with a sGPA below 3.0.
I would like to stay in the northeast areas. Of course, however, I can't be choosy and I'll take whatever I get when time comes.
What I'm thinking right now: I need to go back and finish some of the premed requirements that I never took in the first place and I will retake classes I got a C in and one stinkin D (urgh). After this, I'm not sure if I should do a DIY post bacc with upper level courses OR do a formal SMP. Thoughts? Any help is greatly appreciated. I need to definitely apply within the 3 year time limit, because I sure as heck don't want to lose this MCAT score. I rather go the DO route if it means that I will be able to get into a med school within the 3 year expiration date.
Thank you everyone!
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