O What To Do??

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chan

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Ok so heres the deal. I just recently got accepted to my local state school as a 2nd Bacc student to complete all my prereqs for med school (I will be starting Spring 2006).

I am wondering if I should complete the entire degree in Bio, or just finish the prereq courses.

I have a whopping 2.6 overall GPA, but a ton of really good ECs/volunteer/work experience and come application time some great LORs.

So, should I just go for the gold and complete the whole degree in biology to show adcoms I have turned my academic lifestyle around. Or just finish the prereqs in a year and apply next cycle.

Thanks in advance.

-Chan
 
It probably depends on how much time you want to spend there, and also how much difference it will make in terms of GPA. If just completing the post-bac will significantly improve the GPA, maybe you don't have to complete the degree.
 
chan said:
Ok so heres the deal. I just recently got accepted to my local state school as a 2nd Bacc student to complete all my prereqs for med school (I will be starting Spring 2006).

I am wondering if I should complete the entire degree in Bio, or just finish the prereq courses.

I have a whopping 2.6 overall GPA, but a ton of really good ECs/volunteer/work experience and come application time some great LORs.

So, should I just go for the gold and complete the whole degree in biology to show adcoms I have turned my academic lifestyle around. Or just finish the prereqs in a year and apply next cycle.

Thanks in advance.

-Chan
You don't need to get the actual degree, per se, but you probably do need to take enough courses to move your GPA up significantly. And to rehabilitate a 2.6, that will be a lot of courses. Assuming you took the normal courseload in your first bachelors, there is no way that taking just the prereqs (even for straight A's) is going to move your GPA up into the 3.0 range. Plan on it being a multi-year journey. You are better off not making yourself a reapplicant by applying before you have the stats. Check out the posts of those others on SDN who are doing the 2d bachelors or equivalent routes -- there are several on here. Good luck.
 
Thanks, Anyone have any more advice... or has anyone been in this situation.


-Chan
 
I agree with the multi-year plan...relax, refocus and take your time. No sprint here you need a diligent demonstration over a longer term.
 
Hey there Chan,

I'm sort of in the same situation as you right now although my GPA is negligibly higher than yours at a seam-busting 2.83 from a top liberal arts school. I am also a bio major at my semi-local (hour and a half commute) state university and just got a 95% on my first Chem exam (WHOOP!). But every once in a while I get down on myself about the long road (both litterally and figuratively) to, in my case, dental school. But I've been keeping a "diary" on my computer of motivational thoughts and messages to myself that I read every once in awhile. I've been getting to class early and spend the first five minutes writing a paragraph at the top of my notes about how I'm feeling, what I need to do, and what I expect from my day. Perhaps it sounds a little corny (my vet-student girlfriend thinks so) but it works for me. Why? Because I'm a sprinter just starting a very long marathon. I need the continuous motivation. Working for Kaplan as an SAT teacher, one of the things I've learned that is absolutely imperative to the classroom atmosphere is a focus on test-day. We try to direct every thought, strategy, and idea to how it might be applied on test-day. That's what I'm doing with my "diary" and pre-class notes -- focusing myself on the final prize at the end -- an acceptance letter from a dental school. Set a plan, establish short-term and long-term goals and keep yourself focused on the finish-line and YOU WILL GET INTO MED SCHOOL. I guarantee it.

I hope this helps at least a little bit. Best of luck to you Chan and PM or IM me if you have any other questions or just want to chat about your plan.

My $2.00 (darn inflation)
Mack

PS: I guess I didn't directly answer your question. Me and my tangents 🙂 Anyway, what I was TRYING to say is that you should do what needs to be done. If you aren't finished with your degree but you know you will ace the MCAT then take it and apply. Your overall GPA will still be weak but you will make up for that with your science GPA which should rock, your awesome test scores, and LORs and ECs that adcoms drool over. Absolutely worst case scenario you're not accepted YET. Go back and take more classes in your second bachelor's program, find out from the schools what they need from you to make you a stronger applicant, and reapply. You'll be showing determination and you'll know exactly where you need to improve your application. Plus you'll have another year's worth of A's that will absolutely kick your application up a notch.

Another $1.50
The Mackster
 
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