please give advice!!

[jetlink225]

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-2.93 cGPA
-3.75 science GPA
-Undergrad Degree is a BS in Social Science and an AS in Aviation Operations, there are a few F's on my undergrad transcript but I retook those classes.
-I did all of my pre-req's after my undergrade
-MCAT 31
-EC's: I have 1 1/2 years direct patient care/work experience as a nurse assistant, rural volunteer experience as an EMT-B, and I've been doing volunteer work with the Red Cross for 4 years. those are my main EC highlights, I have a bit more outside of healthcare.
-I have very well written LORs, 3- a MD, a RN, and a college professor

I have a strong desire to go into primary care and rural medicine. I'm career changing from being a corporate pilot. I really only plan on applying to U of North Dakota.. they're big on instate residency, which I will be a resident for 2 years when I apply.

Please give me advice!! thanks guys!

 

[tremulousNeedle]

I interview for the adcom at my medical school:

Most schools use a tape score to screen their applicants. This equation is typically dominated by GPA and MCAT scores. This screening is usually a computerized process, so if your score is below the threshold for an instant rejection, then no human eyes will ever see your application.

My biggest concern is that your cumGPA might be below this minimum threshold, so admission committees may not see all of the other things your have done with your life.

Everything else in your application seems above average. Real clinical experience is usually highly valued (it shows that you truly know what you are getting into). It appears as though you are lacking research experience, but that is not necessarily a deal-breaker.

Another concern of mine is that you are only applying to one institute. With a GPA below 3, many people would suggest that you apply to several places; 15-30 wouldn't be unreasonable.



You can always call the school and ask them too.

 

[J ROD]

Since you are only applying to one school basically, I would call them and see what they say...and do it....I would get my overall over a 3.0.

They may look past your low GPA...when you were younger...

 

[Catalystik]

Consider applying to some DO schools as a backup plan, as your GPA will be much higher for them due to the retaken grades.

 

[jetlink225]

Thanks for the advice, guys, I really appreciate it.

 

[MisterJ4729]

Short and sweet of if. Graduated in 2007 with degree in biology. Then in 2009 I took some more science courses to try and boost my GPA...had a major meltdown..here is what I'm left with.

Cum. GPA 2.025
Sci GPA: 1.97
Over 200 Credits.

For most of this decade my education has been pretty scattered and I have lacked the focus necessary to maintain good grades.

I just recently registered at a local community college and am taking Bio 1 and Chem 1 over again. In fact, I'm retaking ALL of my premed reqs all over again as well as taking some non science courses. I'm doing this because I want to establish a strong foundation and this time build upon it successfully.

Now I work full-time and can only go to school part time...and with this scenario it will take me four years to retake my premed prereqs, retake upper level bio courses, and non science courses. I will have accumulated 96 credits, with a GPA close to a 4.0. My plan then is to apply to a Master's program( hopefully an SMP).

Now I know that my uGPA will never get above a 3.0, but to do 96 credits with a 4.0 as well as getting above a 30 on the MCAT, coupled with my lab/work experience, and massive upward trend in grades should at least get me an opportunity at a SMP program. That being said, after I complete my masters, will med schools still screen me out or will they see my complete turn around and judge me based on my most recent work?

Furthermore, do you think the plan I have laid out has any merit at all?

 

[MisterJ4729]

It has also been 7 years since I took my premed prereqs

 

[J ROD]

Short and sweet of if. Graduated in 2007 with degree in biology. Then in 2009 I took some more science courses to try and boost my GPA...had a major meltdown..here is what I'm left with.

Cum. GPA 2.025
Sci GPA: 1.97
Over 200 Credits.

For most of this decade my education has been pretty scattered and I have lacked the focus necessary to maintain good grades.

I just recently registered at a local community college and am taking Bio 1 and Chem 1 over again. In fact, I'm retaking ALL of my premed reqs all over again as well as taking some non science courses. I'm doing this because I want to establish a strong foundation and this time build upon it successfully.

Now I work full-time and can only go to school part time...and with this scenario it will take me four years to retake my premed prereqs, retake upper level bio courses, and non science courses. I will have accumulated 96 credits, with a GPA close to a 4.0. My plan then is to apply to a Master's program( hopefully an SMP).

Now I know that my uGPA will never get above a 3.0, but to do 96 credits with a 4.0 as well as getting above a 30 on the MCAT, coupled with my lab/work experience, and massive upward trend in grades should at least get me an opportunity at a SMP program. That being said, after I complete my masters, will med schools still screen me out or will they see my complete turn around and judge me based on my most recent work?

Furthermore, do you think the plan I have laid out has any merit at all?

It will be a long road.....

 

[MisterJ4729]

I gathered that...but does it sound like a plan that will work?

 

[Catalystik]

MisterJ, consider posting in your own thread to get more feedback, then come back and delete these posts.

 

[jetlink225]

MisterJ, consider posting in your own thread to get more feedback, then come back and delete these posts.

Yeah man, you're stealing my light! Haha I'm just kidding... but seriously, get your own thread.

 

[jetlink225]

.

 

[jetlink225]

I interview for the adcom at my medical school:

Most schools use a tape score to screen their applicants. This equation is typically dominated by GPA and MCAT scores. This screening is usually a computerized process, so if your score is below the threshold for an instant rejection, then no human eyes will ever see your application.

My biggest concern is that your cumGPA might be below this minimum threshold, so admission committees may not see all of the other things your have done with your life.

Everything else in your application seems above average. Real clinical experience is usually highly valued (it shows that you truly know what you are getting into). It appears as though you are lacking research experience, but that is not necessarily a deal-breaker.

Another concern of mine is that you are only applying to one institute. With a GPA below 3, many people would suggest that you apply to several places; 15-30 wouldn't be unreasonable.



You can always call the school and ask them too.

I'm not too worried about getting human eyes on my application at UND. I read on another thread that UND has a point system to award people an interview. It's based on 300 points. 100 for state residency, 100 MCAT, 50 cGPA, and 50 for science GPA. If you graduated a ND high school you automatically get 100 points, and you get at least 50 for meeting their 1 year residency requirement. So I'm hopeing my 2 years will grant me around 70 points. I also read that the lowest score for last year's interviews was 147. I'm not sure how credible this information is, it sounded like this guy was on the adcom at UND.

I really need to make up for my cGPA. I went to flight school after highschool and then flight instructed through my undergrad. I would choose to go on flights instead of writing a paper..that's just one example of why my cGPA sucks. My career path was set on being a pilot. You don't even need a degree to be a pilot, I just got one so I could be competitive. It was in my best interests (so I thought at that time) to choose to go on a flight instead of writing a paper. I really regret doing that stuff now... My GPA is a very poor measurement of my academic abilities. I was teaching people how to fly airplanes at 19 years old.

My question to you, seeing that you're on an adcom. Should I use that story (the truth) to explain my lower than average cGPA?? I'm sure they're going to pound me on that issue. Should I use my previous aviation career to my advantage, as well? How important is research experience to the adcom? Would you say it is essential for me to get some research under my belt? Thanks in advance if you take the time to answer my question. Very much appreciated!

 

[tremulousNeedle]

Always use the TRUTH when explaining concerns in your application. I have only been interviewing applicants for 2 years and I can spot a liar a mile away, so more experienced interviewers will easily be able to tell that they are not being told the whole story. The real trick when explaining problems is to show that you have identified you previous deficits and explain how you have overcome them. You have to convince them that this problem has no chance of recurring.

If there is something from your past that makes you different than the rest of the applicants (in a good way) by all means take advantage of it. So, yes incorporate the aviation theme into your application.

Just as you outlined earlier, adcoms look at quite a few different factors when considering applicants. I have read many posts saying that no research = reject; however, that is simply not true. I had no research experience and interviewed on the first interview date of my number 1 choice and was offered a seat 8 days later (in mid October, the absolute soonest non-early decision applicants can find out) and I was accepted to my second choice the next week. My MCAT and GPA were slightly above average, but nothing extraordinary. For me what made up for my lack of research was my abundance of clinical experience (EMT, ED Tech, CPR instructor: 4 years). Obviously, research is important for the Mayo’s and John Hopkin’s of the world, but each program values research experience differently. If getting research experience is really NOT an option for you, make sure that other areas of your application make up for it.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[swirldog]

It has also been 7 years since I took my premed prereqs

Hopefully that 31 helps but I still think the MCAT is overrated. Good luck!