Not Sure What to Do

[Tony Freeman]

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My situation: I am a 34 year old high school teacher (unrelated subject). I became interested in becoming a doctor much later in life. I am certain this is what I want to do.

I completed undergrad in 2006 with a 2.9 GPA. I have taken some graduate classes (A's). My overall GPA is 3.1.

I have not taken any prerequisite courses (Waiting to spend the money until I learn the best route). My only option is to stay in the state of Michigan and attend the one DO program on the western side of the state (working spouse, baby, etc.).

My questions are:

What is my best option to get my GPA to around a 3.5 (competitive range)? Do I retake undergraduate classes, get a masters degree, get a new undergraduate degree, take online classes, community college? I believe my only option is DO as they take overall GPA, correct? I believe I would need to get an A in around 130 credit hours if so. This sounds absurd, but I believe it might be my only option if I'm not mistaken.

Any insight is much appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to help!

 

[LikeDaniel]

Depending on how long ago you sub 3.5(ish) coursework was, they might be more interested in seeing that you've reinvented yourself with current high grades than the grades of a decade ago. (You're recent coursework will need to be better than 3.5, I'm just saying one B five years ago at a 4-year university shouldn't kill you.)

How many classes do you need? I don't know. But you need to rock them and the MCAT to show that the student you were isn't the student you are.

That's what I've been told by a couple of Ohio adcoms anyway.

In the same boat,
-LD

P.S.- Just a fair warning... while I certainly understand your predicament, get your shield out... people are going to jump all over you for not applying to a couple dozen schools. (They're probably right, but I understand where you're coming from.)

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using SDN mobile app

 

[backside_attack]

Important: graduate credits do NOT count towards your cGPA.

On your apps, you'll have undergraduate GPA credits averaged together as cGPA and sGPA (science) and then any graduate work listed separately.

So, getting a master's won't do you any good here. The people who usually do an MS to get into med school do the special master's programs that are linked to med schools - and they're more of a last ditch effort. You need to find a way to take the prereqs - DIY or organized program, it doesn't matter - and get that GPA up above 3.5.

If you really only will apply to one school, you should be an amazing applicant. 4 in 10 applicants get in SOMEWHERE, even fewer get into their top choice.

 

[zukunft195]

AACOMAS adds both graduate and post-bacc courses to your cGPA, I believe.

OP, if you're serious about this, do a post-bacc and get as close to a 4.0 as possible, study hard for the MCAT, gain volunteer/shadowing experience, and apply to DO schools.

By "serious about this," I mean serious enough to apply to a broad range of schools and re-locate to another part of the country. Think about it.

Best of luck.

 

[precisiongraphic]

I know that you want to stay in the west side of Michigan but at one time Wayne State IIRC had some kind of forgiveness of prior low grades (like an academic fresh start). Not sure if they still have it but when it comes time for you to apply, try Wayne even if it might mean commuting or moving. Good luck.

My situation: I am a 34 year old high school teacher (unrelated subject). I became interested in becoming a doctor much later in life. I am certain this is what I want to do.

I completed undergrad in 2006 with a 2.9 GPA. I have taken some graduate classes (A's). My overall GPA is 3.1.

I have not taken any prerequisite courses (Waiting to spend the money until I learn the best route). My only option is to stay in the state of Michigan and attend the one DO program on the western side of the state (working spouse, baby, etc.).

My questions are:

What is my best option to get my GPA to around a 3.5 (competitive range)? Do I retake undergraduate classes, get a masters degree, get a new undergraduate degree, take online classes, community college? I believe my only option is DO as they take overall GPA, correct? I believe I would need to get an A in around 130 credit hours if so. This sounds absurd, but I believe it might be my only option if I'm not mistaken.

Any insight is much appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to help!

 

[Tony Freeman]

Thanks all,

I would consider a move to Detroit if "forgiveness" is an actual option. I am not coming across any forgiveness programs in Michigan, however (not sure if that's a thing).

It seems there is some disagreement about whether undergraduate and graduate grades are included in gpa post bacc. Would it be wise to go back and take undergraduate classes? I could add a teachable major in biology or chemistry and boost my GPA to at least a 3.4. Or, should I simply add a graduate degree (generally easier classes and more flexible)?

Am I right in assuming that DO programs will average in GPA post bacc. and MD programs will not?? If so, could I take online courses or community college courses as well? I am thinking for an undergraduate GPA boost, cheaper is better. It seems crazy that a 34 year old college graduate would have to attend a bunch of undergraduate classes to increase GPA, but it sounds like that is the way the current system is set up. At least that is what I am getting from reading the forums.

As before, any insight is much appreciated.

 

[PygmyPuff]

Have you taken the necessary pre reqs already? It's not clear from your post but if you're a teacher in an unrelated subject then my guess is no. If you haven't, you need to go back to undergrad to do that anyways. You have at least 2-3 years of pre reqs if you're not taking a full course load. I wouldn't take the pre-reqs at a CC but instead at a nearby university.

This will be a pretty long road for you but it's doable if you want it. I understand the issue with a spouse and baby, I'm in the same boat but I would encourage you to apply broadly if this is really what you want to do.

Good luck!


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[zukunft195]

Have you taken the necessary pre reqs already? It's not clear from your post but if you're a teacher in an unrelated subject then my guess is no.

OP said this in his first post: "I have not taken any prerequisite courses." I'd say that's pretty clear.

 

[femmegoblue]

Wait, there is no DO program on the west side of Michigan.

 

[Tony Freeman]

Wait, there is no DO program on the west side of Michigan.

MSU. Not "west", but easy commute from west.

 

[PygmyPuff]

OP said this in his first post: "I have not taken any prerequisite courses." I'd say that's pretty clear.

I'm going to blame that on the fact that I wrote that before coffee. That and my poor skim reading abilities.

 

[esob]

The biggest thing that will help you in your journey is figuring out a way to make moving a reality. A sub 3.0 GPA makes you not even competitive for DO in general; limiting your options to a single DO school is suicide. If you had a 4.0, killer MCAT and something really interesting as a backstory (former Olympian, peace core, etc.) you still wouldn't have any guarantee of getting in to that one particular school. If you are sure you want to be a doctor, then you are sure you need to be able to move because in order to be a doctor you will have to go to medical school first and the chances of you going to any one particular school only are dismal regardless of numbers and are almost non-existent for someone with poor numbers.

 

[backside_attack]

Thanks all,

I would consider a move to Detroit if "forgiveness" is an actual option. I am not coming across any forgiveness programs in Michigan, however (not sure if that's a thing).

It seems there is some disagreement about whether undergraduate and graduate grades are included in gpa post bacc. Would it be wise to go back and take undergraduate classes? I could add a teachable major in biology or chemistry and boost my GPA to at least a 3.4. Or, should I simply add a graduate degree (generally easier classes and more flexible)?

Am I right in assuming that DO programs will average in GPA post bacc. and MD programs will not?? If so, could I take online courses or community college courses as well? I am thinking for an undergraduate GPA boost, cheaper is better. It seems crazy that a 34 year old college graduate would have to attend a bunch of undergraduate classes to increase GPA, but it sounds like that is the way the current system is set up. At least that is what I am getting from reading the forums.

As before, any insight is much appreciated.

There's not disagreement, I was speaking to AAMCAS which apparently is different from AACOMAS so you should do your homework. I didn't apply DO and made a [potentially incorrect] assumption about how they handle graduate GPAs. For MD applications, your graduate and undergraduate GPAs are calculated separately; your undergrad and postbacc work will appear separately with separate GPAs and then AAMCAS makes a composite of all undergraduate-level work to make your final AAMCAS GPA.

And FYI I'm a former teacher, too 🙂

 

[star.buck]

Edit. Reread what you said, going to assume Mt Pleasant/Saginaw is too far. Cmed loves the non-traditional tho.

 

[aerodoc]

I went to Wayne State and took advantage of their program where they will replace your science GPA with your most recent 20 credits of science classes. It doesn't replace your actual overall GPA and as others said graduate courses are not included. I graduated 2 years ago though so not sure if that policy still exists. I would also echo some of the above posters in saying that you should be applying more broadly as well. Wayne State at least tends to take a more holistic approach to their application process and I think you having previously been a teacher will work in your favor and many schools will see that as something that may offset your GPA a little bit. You still need to take the pre-reqs and knock them out of the park though. That should be your first priority and then doing well on the MCAT. If you can come back and get As in all your pre-reqs and then get a good MCAT score I think you can make a good case to even MD schools in MI that you could be a good student. Remember you have WMU, MSU MD (in GR), DO (which I thought was actually more based in the detroit area), Wayne State, Oakland, CMU. If you get in at an East side school you could always move somewhere in the middle, yeah you would have an hour commute for you and your wife but she could still keep her job. If you have any questions you can PM me.

 

[JoyandLight]

Important: graduate credits do NOT count towards your cGPA.

On your apps, you'll have undergraduate GPA credits averaged together as cGPA and sGPA (science) and then any graduate work listed separately.

So, getting a master's won't do you any good here. The people who usually do an MS to get into med school do the special master's programs that are linked to med schools - and they're more of a last ditch effort. You need to find a way to take the prereqs - DIY or organized program, it doesn't matter - and get that GPA up above 3.5.

If you really only will apply to one school, you should be an amazing applicant. 4 in 10 applicants get in SOMEWHERE, even fewer get into their top choice.

This is really helpful thank you!!