Quitting Job to Study MCAT or Working and Taking 3 undergrad classes?

[nontradnyc]

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My Current Stats/Personal Info:
• Princeton class of 2011 grad
• 2.88 sGPA, 2.88 cumGPA (strong upward trend starting in junior year and onwards)
• 24 MCAT (8/8/8 R)
• Full-time work in healthcare/social services agency from June 2011 to present (regularly shadow doctor and nurse practitioner)
• Took 2 classes in fall 2012 semester (upper level bio and stats) while working full-time. Got A and A+
• Low-income URM

Next Step Options
• Take 3 classes in spring 2013 semester (Calc 2, Intro to Genetics, Biochem of Cardiovascular Disease) while working full-time
• Quit full-time work to study for MCAT full-time to take in MCAT May 2013
• Take 3 classes in spring 2013 semester, quit work at end of March, study for MCAT and take 3 classes and take MCAT May 2013

Any suggestions for which of these 3 options I should choose? Trying to submit an AMCAS app in June 2013. I re-calculated my GPA were I to get 3 A's this upcoming semester and it would bring my science gpa to 2.99. Waiting to hear back from several post-baccs, but those won't get back to me until May 2013 - so I am trying to have a contingency plan.

 

[Postictal Raiden]

My Current Stats/Personal Info:
• Princeton class of 2011 grad
• 2.86 sGPA, 2.86 cumGPA (strong upward trend starting in junior year and onwards)
• 24 MCAT (8/8/8 R)
• Full-time work in healthcare/social services agency from June 2011 to present (regularly shadow doctor and nurse practitioner)
• Took 2 classes in fall 2012 semester (upper level bio and stats) while working full-time. Got A and A+
• Low-income URM

Next Step Options
• Take 3 classes in spring 2013 semester (Calc 2, Intro to Genetics, Biochem of Cardiovascular Disease) while working full-time
• Quit full-time work to study for MCAT full-time to take in MCAT May 2013
• Take 3 classes in spring 2013 semester, quit work at end of March, study for MCAT and take 3 classes and take MCAT May 2013

Any suggestions for which of these 3 options I should choose? Trying to submit an AMCAS app in June 2013. Waiting to hear back from several post-baccs, but those won't get back to me until May 2013 - so I am trying to have a contingency plan.

I think by intending to apply this year, you are rushing yourself. Your biggest hurdle now is your GPA. Although your MCAT is on the lower side of DO schools, you may not need to retake it.

I suggest to wait out this year, continue your full-time enrollment, retake as many C's and D's as you can, and do your best to bring those GPA's to 3.0+. Then and only then, worry about your mcat score.

 

[DrMidlife]

Trying to submit an AMCAS app in June 2013.

Please don't. Seriously. Don't apply to med school until you have the best possible app. You are 2-3 years from a reasonable med school app.

 

[nontradnyc]

Thanks, SDN-ers. I am leaning towards taking 3 classes to get A's and boost my science GPA to 2.99, while continuing to work full-time. I'll try to get these next 3 A's and see how I fare with the post-bacc programs I applied to when they notify me this May.

Do you guys think I would even be considered seriously for a Fall 2013 SMP, if I were to submit an app to the SMP programs with excellent Spring 2013 grades? That would put my app at 3.0 GPA and 24 MCAT. I know a lot of programs want a 27 MCAT though. Or should my focus be more undergrad classes? Thanks again.

 

[Back 5]

Thanks, SDN-ers. I am leaning towards taking 3 classes to get A's and boost my science GPA to 2.99, while continuing to work full-time. I'll try to get these next 3 A's and see how I fare with the post-bacc programs I applied to when they notify me this May.

Do you guys think I would even be considered seriously for a Fall 2013 SMP, if I were to submit an app to the SMP programs with excellent Spring 2013 grades? That would put my app at 3.0 GPA and 24 MCAT. I know a lot of programs want a 27 MCAT though. Or should my focus be more undergrad classes? Thanks again.

I think you need to start at the beginning. Why did you do so poorly in UG? Who cares what school you went to, why did you not succeed? Find and answer and fix that.

One of the ways you fix the issue is by performing well in school. Hense a post-bacc...either an official program that costs $40,000+ or unofficially by retaking all (or most) of the courses you did poorly in.

My understanding, from reading these boards, is that you need to have a considerable amount of courses under your belt to prove the UG performance was a fluke because of ________ (which you will clearly define) and that you have demonstrated your performance with this large body of near-flawless or flawless work etc etc etc.

As mentioned previously, this should take 2-3 years, so tuck in and prepare for the long haul.

 

[kinokoboy]

I'm resigning from my job in two weeks to study for the MCAT. However, I'm also going to become a full-time student with a lighter load of classes so the ADCOMS don't think I'm lazy.