really distressed about what I should do...need some help

[noworlater]

Hi guys,

I just signed up on this board and i've been reading up and gathering info., but im still feeling confused as to what i should do if i dont get accepted any where after i take the april 2005 mcat. I have a low GPA and im losing hope.
As of now i have a 2.75 gpa and i still have to take the mcat. I've had many family problems to deal with throughout my college career like my mother and my aunt being diagnosed with cancer, so i've had a few slip-ups with classes.
Basically i just need some advice on what options i have and what i should do. Also, i was considering retaking 2 classes in the summer and postpone my application until aug. to help boost my gpa...would this be a good idea?

-thank you all in advance for your help

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[kmnfive]

Hi guys,

I just signed up on this board and i've been reading up and gathering info., but im still feeling confused as to what i should do if i dont get accepted any where after i take the april 2005 mcat. I have a low GPA and im losing hope.
As of now i have a 2.75 gpa and i still have to take the mcat. I've had many family problems to deal with throughout my college career like my mother and my aunt being diagnosed with cancer, so i've had a few slip-ups with classes.
Basically i just need some advice on what options i have and what i should do. Also, i was considering retaking 2 classes in the summer and postpone my application until aug. to help boost my gpa...would this be a good idea?

-thank you all in advance for your help

im sorry to hear that man. i hope things work out for you.

nothing i can say or do will change what you are going through; i've been through some death and family sickness myself. my father right now is ill and we have Blue Cross HMO and we cant get the time of day from a specialist that he really needs to see...

i feel you.

but hang in there; because i dont mean to sound cliche, but this will make you (and i both) stronger.

 

[sunnyjohn]

Hi guys,

I just signed up on this board and i've been reading up and gathering info., but im still feeling confused as to what i should do if i dont get accepted any where after i take the april 2005 mcat. I have a low GPA and im losing hope.
As of now i have a 2.75 gpa and i still have to take the mcat. I've had many family problems to deal with throughout my college career like my mother and my aunt being diagnosed with cancer, so i've had a few slip-ups with classes.
Basically i just need some advice on what options i have and what i should do. Also, i was considering retaking 2 classes in the summer and postpone my application until aug. to help boost my gpa...would this be a good idea?

-thank you all in advance for your help

I am sorry thing are so tough for you right now.

Why don't you take some time for yourslf before you go ahead, Regroup.
Have you already graduated from college? Then chill for a few months.

Don't take any classes this summer or just take one class. Spend some time with the ones you love doing the things you love.

Even if you are still in an undergrad, it sounds like you need some time to clear your head. There is no shame in that. Really smart folks know when they have to step back in order to move forward.

Med school is hard and stressful. After taking a break you will come back with a clear head, prepared to work hard and kick butt!

You should not feel like taking a SHORT break is wasting time. Your family is important.

There are folks on this board who have retuned to the pursuit of medicine after YEARS in othere careers. Some of us (READ, ME) messed up so bad in undergrad we won't even tell you our GPA (on pain of death)!! You are one up on all of us!

You can do it buddy!!

Good fortune
Agape

 

[crys20]

I'm so sorry you have so much to deal with in your life; I really have no idea, or any words. I agree with the above posters, that you should maybe take a bit of a break and apply NEXT year. Are you about to graduate? You can go ahead and take the MCAT in April if you're confident and ready. If not, wait until August, or even next April. Between this summer and next, you could work on improving your GPA whether it be in classes at your college or in a masters program that are geared towards premeds just like you. I don't know much about life, or the premed game, but I have been reading these boards for long enough to know the options people have to achieving their dream of medicine...So if you want elaboration or more advice or anything PM me.

 

[Chisel]

Hi guys,

I just signed up on this board and i've been reading up and gathering info., but im still feeling confused as to what i should do if i dont get accepted any where after i take the april 2005 mcat. I have a low GPA and im losing hope.
As of now i have a 2.75 gpa and i still have to take the mcat. I've had many family problems to deal with throughout my college career like my mother and my aunt being diagnosed with cancer, so i've had a few slip-ups with classes.
Basically i just need some advice on what options i have and what i should do. Also, i was considering retaking 2 classes in the summer and postpone my application until aug. to help boost my gpa...would this be a good idea?

-thank you all in advance for your help

Don't give up!!!!

Try to step back and analyze if Med school is really what you want to do. If it is, I suggest that you go all out at it. Taking time off may be difficult if you do it for too long. Stay focused.

I think your goal should be to raise your GPA as much as you can while taking courses that will help you in med school. After that your next goal should be to get an interview and shine while you are at the interview.

Focus on the positives in your life. Find motivation. Set tiny goals and keep the large goal in focus as you are successful in your smaller goals. Someone once told me "take care of the little things in life and the big things will fall into place."

And finally,
If I can make it as far as I did, anyone can.

Good luck. If I can be of any personal assistance, just PM me.

Chisel

 

[ntmed]

I agree with the other posters. Let me add a couple other comments.

1. It is very unlikely that you will get accepted to medical school with a GPA of 2.75.

2. It also is more difficult to get into medical school if you apply late in the cycle (such as in August, like you are considering).

3. As you and others mentioned, a more realistic plan might be to raise your GPA (both your overall GPA and your science GPA). Finish your undergraduate program with as many A's as possible and take the MCAT. If you feel you are ready, apply to a large number of schools (at least 18, probably more) on June 1st of the application cycle.

4. It is likely that you will not get accepted the first time around, especially if your GPA is still outside the competitive range. You may need to take an additional year or two to complete a post-bacc program or graduate degree in biology before reapplying. This is not uncommon, and will go a long way to making you a competitive applicant.

Best of luck.

 

[noworlater]

Thank you all for your support and suggestions. I don't feel as alone in my situation as i previously thought...right now i'm an undergrad (junior year) with a full course load and im taking TPR classes. So i think this is adding to some of the stress too.

Could someone give me a little more detail on post-bacc and grad programs (like how long they take and what needs to be done after finishing these progrms)? Also, would med. schools think less of me if i apply now and again at the end of my senior year if i don't get accepted the first time?

again, thank you all for these suggestions.

 

[crys20]

Well, the problem with applying this year I think for you is that it might be a big waste of money...Like someone up there said, it's almost impossible to get in anywhere with a 2.75. So while of course it's your perogative to apply this year, if it were me I would get all my ducks in a row first and then apply...Because, really, in the long run one year isn't going to make any difference.

A program that I know of is the Georgetown Special Masters Program. Here is a link:
http://www.georgetown.edu/departments/physiology/physios/

I know there is a similar program in Boston. They are a year long and the bulk of students in them do get accepted after completing them if the rest of their app is good. In your case, I really think that you need to do some post-bacc work to get your GPA up over a 3.0, then consider a masters program.

I wonder if you have considered DO schools? A competitive MCAT and a 3.0 undergrad GPA could get you into schools there with a lot more ease.

 

[Law2Doc]

4. It is likely that you will not get accepted the first time around, especially if your GPA is still outside the competitive range. You may need to take an additional year or two to complete a post-bacc program or graduate degree in biology before reapplying. This is not uncommon, and will go a long way to making you a competitive applicant.

I sort of disagree with this part of ntmed's post. I've been told by adcom members that one is at a disadvantage if one ends up having to be a reapplicant, so it's always best to get your house in order and forego the rush to apply if you haven't applied yet. Thus if you are going to need to take an additional year to do a postbac, or a special masters or retake the MCAT or whatever to get your GPA/scores closer to the acceptable range, you should really do so before you ever apply the first time. Have all your ducks in a row first. (Thus you may have posted your question on the wrong board). It also tends to be cheaper if you only have to go through the process once.

 

[Peon9985]

Well if you really want to attend med school when you graduate from your undergrad college.. do some shallowing of doctors this summer... Ramp up your activities.. get some good LOR's.. and think of either DO schools.. or foreign medical schools. Cause like the above posting have said.. it would be very hard for the adcom to dismiss a low GPA... even if you score a high MCAT.

 

[tacrum43]

Well, the problem with applying this year I think for you is that it might be a big waste of money...Like someone up there said, it's almost impossible to get in anywhere with a 2.75. So while of course it's your perogative to apply this year, if it were me I would get all my ducks in a row first and then apply...Because, really, in the long run one year isn't going to make any difference.

A program that I know of is the Georgetown Special Masters Program. Here is a link:
http://www.georgetown.edu/departments/physiology/physios/

I know there is a similar program in Boston. They are a year long and the bulk of students in them do get accepted after completing them if the rest of their app is good. In your case, I really think that you need to do some post-bacc work to get your GPA up over a 3.0, then consider a masters program.

I wonder if you have considered DO schools? A competitive MCAT and a 3.0 undergrad GPA could get you into schools there with a lot more ease.

Georgetown has requires a 3.0/27 minimum for their SMP program. Since the OP is only a Junior, they probably still have time to pull it up over a 3.0. Apparently they do make some exceptions, but you have to have a really high MCAT.