Postbac complete, LOW GPA, take more classes?

[minwoo]

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Graduated at Virginia Tech as a finance major with cGPA of 3.48 and major GPA of 3.52. Decided to go pre-med in January 2008 and took the following courses post-bac with mediocre results:

Biology - A
Cell Biology - B
Physics I - B
Physics II - A
Gen Chem I - A
Gen Chem II - A
Orgo Chem I (summer 09) - B
Orgo Chem II - B
Anatomy/Physiology I - C... OUCHHH~
Anatomy/Physiology II - B

My post-bac cGPA is at 3.39 and I think my sGPA might be lower. I can take like 3 more science classes this Fall semester (which starts in 6 days lol) and raise my post-Bac cGPA to 3.509. The thing is I'm registered for the MCAT this month (Jan. 30). I've been following SN2ed's 3-month schedule and am taking full-length AAMC tests at the moment. If I do enroll this semseter I plan on taking: Virology, Immunology, Genetics. Professors have been telling me that these are tough courses. Should I go ahead and enroll and try to raise my GPA or should I keep my nasty GPA and go all-in on the MCAT and try to get like a 40? Although DO schools are always an option, I really do want to goto an Allopathic school. I'm in TN so I'm thinking UT Memphis medical school. Ugh...any advice/input is appreciated~

 

[scapermoya]

why are you taking non-prereq hard science courses? only do that if it will increase your GPA, which it sounds like it wont.

edit:

also, numbers are half the battle. maybe even less than half the battle. what about letters? clinical experience? research?

ECs mean a lot. looks like you got decent grades in the BCPM prereqs you listed. a massive MCAT will only mitigate your somewhat low GPA a bit.

 

[Catalystik]

AMCAS includes your postbac classes in the overall GPA calculations, and so far, you haven't done yourself any favors by getting a postbac GPA lower than your undergrad GPA. I wouldn't assume you're suddenly going to start getting straight As if you do more postbac work (especially as Genetics can be a killer).

I'd suggest you go all out on the MCAT prep, as a sterling score is the most likely to compensate for the mediocre GPA. Aim for a 33+ for allo schools. A 40 would be nice though. Don't take the test in January unless you are repeatedly scoring in your target zone on multiple practice tests.

 

[FlowRate]

This may be mean, but it seems like you keep shooting yourself in the foot with more and more classes. Maybe you should stop shooting yourself in the foot? Take the MCAT, that seems like a good idea. (by take, I mean focus on)

 

[minwoo]

also, numbers are half the battle. maybe even less than half the battle. what about letters? clinical experience? research?

ECs mean a lot. looks like you got decent grades in the BCPM prereqs you listed. a massive MCAT will only mitigate your somewhat low GPA a bit.

I have 2 years volunteering at Vanderbilt, alot of church volunteer work (homeless ministry, Korean interpreter for patients who don't speak English, etc). I am also scheduled to shadow a cardiologist for about a month. I feel like it's too late for me to do research or if that will even significantly help my stats.

In addition to raising my GPA, part of the reason I wanted to take more courses was to get better letter of recommendations. I wasn't very vocal in any of my classes and feel like this will hurt me when I ask professors to write me LOCs. I have always been courteous and nice to my professors but never really put the effort into becoming buddies with the profs or sucking up during office hours. I was going to do more of that this semester if I did take more classes. Truth is though...I would be totally forcing myself to do this and would have to take out $7k in private student loans. I'm already burnt out and the MCAT is a monster. Seems like the general consensus here is for me to focus on the MCAT...which is what I will probably do. I appreciate all the responses and will glad to see other input as well!

 

[disarticulate]

... I'm already burnt out....

Of all the things you've said, this is the most concerning. Find something to motivate yourself. Because as you turn the corner of matriculation, the perceived road to completion is much longer.