Second Degree or SMP?

[rom73085]

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B.S. in Economics from Emory U. May '07 with 2.9 GPA

Undergraduate:
Freshman Yr Cumulative: 1.9 GPA
-Due to:
Gen. Chem 1 - F (Retook last year in my Post-Bacc: B)
Calculus 1 - F (Retook Sophomore year of U.grad: B+)

Sophomore Yr Cumulative: 2.4 GPA

Junior Yr Cumulative: 3.6 GPA

Senior Yr Cumulative: 3.5 GPA

Post-Baccalaureate:
Current GPA at 4 Year Institution: 3.8

Because of my (2) F's Freshman year (1 in Gen. Chem 1, the other in Calculus 1), is my BCPM gpa screwed even though I retook both courses? With my Post-Bacc. program I basically wanted to start from scratch and have taken Gen. Chem. 1 and 2 w/Labs; Physics 1 and 2 w/Labs; Orgo 1 and 2 w/Labs (Summer '09), Bio 1 and 2 w/Labs (Fall '09/Spring '10).

Question is, after Spring of '10 I will have completed all the necessary pre-requisites (1 Yr Gen Chem, 1 Yr Orgo, 1 Yr Physics, 1 Yr Bio).

I will be a couple classes (1 Yr. of classes) short of attaining a second degree in Biomedical sciences from the 4 yr. institution I am attending. I was planning on taking one course spring of '10, and studying for the April/May MCAT. With this out of the way, I can either apply to an SMP and apply to med. school that summer...

OR

Take a full load of classes Spring of '10, study and take the MCAT in the summer, stay an extra year and attain a second B.S. in Biomedical Sciences and apply summer of '11 without a Masters.

What is a better idea? Both will take 3 years. Which will prove to be more advantageous? Will having another bachelors degree wipe out my poor undergrad, or perhaps overshadow it? Or will having an SMP with good performance make me out to be a sharper candidate. I don't want to do both. I almost feel like getting another bachelors might be a total waste of time.

EC's are strong, I'm certain I can attain good LOR's, and I'm hoping to do study my butt off for the MCAT.

Just trying to decide what to do with my next year.

 

[Barfalamule]

You need to wait until Spring of '10 to make that decision. With a cgpa ~3.0 you will need a solid MCAT score (35+) to have a healthy shot at MD schools. Without an MCAT score and the rest of your post-bacc grades, I'd say it's best to just keep all of your options on the table.
Another bachelor's degree will neither wipe out nor overshadow your first one. The primary thing they look at is cgpa and science gpa. That is it. The amount by which you have to bring up your gpa is inversely correlated to the score you obtain on the MCAT i.e. big MCAT score can mask a lower gpa.

MD schools just average everything in. DO schools will replace grades with retakes.

 

[rom73085]

I sincerely hope that my Post Bacc. coursework which consists ENTIRELY of all the sciences required for med school, plus another 28 hrs of upper level Biology/Chemistry courses, will overshadow the two awful mistakes I made more than five years ago when I got an F in Gen. Chem and an F in Calculus. I know I can't blame anyone but myself, but I was reading another thread about advisors, and I only wish I had known then, what I know now.

Conversation with "Pre-Med Advisor" (Dr. X - Physics Professor)
"Dr. X I'm not doing so well in these two classes. I was thinking of withdrawing and receiving a W and trying again next semester."
"Well, you know a W looks really bad on your transcript and you need these classes to continue to pre-med. Why don't you just stay in them and try to get a C and pass them."
"Okay."

Being a foolish, trusting and immature 18 year old, I walked out of his office and tried to make an A on both finals, and failed miserably. I blame it on myself, poor study habits, immaturity, whatever, but there you have it - the two eye sores on my transcript that will forever haunt my overall and BCPM GPA.

With those two F's, if I manage a 3.7 in my post bacc. I still only have a 3.3 BCPM and a 3.1 overall GPA. If med. schools choose to omit or "look past them," I have a nice cushioned 3.7 BCPM and a 3.3+ overall with 59 credit hours in post bacc. classes pre-req/upper level sciences.

🙁

 

[gman33]

With those two F's, if I manage a 3.7 in my post bacc. I still only have a 3.3 BCPM and a 3.1 overall GPA. If med. schools choose to omit or "look past them," I have a nice cushioned 3.7 BCPM and a 3.3+ overall with 59 credit hours in post bacc. classes pre-req/upper level sciences.

🙁

Hate to say it, but with those numbers you will still be a below average candidate at MD schools. You probably would need a SMP as well.
MD schools will not omit any classes. DO schools will count the retakes.
I'd finish the prereqs and apply to MD/DO with a focus on DO schools.
The degree won't make much of a difference and I would rather just get started on med school. It might take an extra 2-3 years of work to become a competitive MD applicant.

 

[rom73085]

Hate to say it, but with those numbers you will still be a below average candidate at MD schools. You probably would need a SMP as well.
MD schools will not omit any classes. DO schools will count the retakes.
I'd finish the prereqs and apply to MD/DO with a focus on DO schools.
The degree won't make much of a difference and I would rather just get started on med school. It might take an extra 2-3 years of work to become a competitive MD applicant.

I know its the name of the game, but 😱 can they be so harsh!? Can't they cut a guy some slack?! If all other things considered, MCAT is a 30+, EC's are strong, LOR's are strong, essays show a strong passion for medicine, and the individual has continually exercised strong grades in science classes for the past three years, they're still going to harbor on those two F's (at the point of applying, more than eight years ago)!!

Say it isn't so!


I'm wishing for the best and hope that a bad semester can be looked past with years of hard work.

 

[Barfalamule]

At the end of the day it is the numbers that matter. Take it from someone who's been there. They do not forget. Those Fs are with you for the rest of your days and a 30 MCAT and a 3.0 GPA isn't enough for MD schools. Not even close. Like I said a 35+ and a 3.0 gives you a shot.

 

[RockMyWorldPlz]

I must coin in here. I can't resist. Now, keep in mind that I have not yet applied to medical schools and won't be doing so for at least another three years. From all the literature and advice that I've read, it seems that the ad coms will be a little more lenient with an individual who has displayed a STRONG upward trend in grades. If you failed two courses your freshman year and that went on to earn straight A's for the rest of your undergraduate days, I've heard that ad coms will be a little easier on you. I might be wrong but I think you've got a great chance for acceptance in the future.

As for how to enhance your app, I say to go the SMP route after you get your pre-med requisites out of the way. At some SMPs, the student will work right alongside medical students and your grades are based on the performance of those medical students. If you out-perform those kids, then ad coms will recognize that you're a strong and competitive candidate. If you just stay in undergrad work, then the ad coms will have no way of knowing how you'll perform in the med school environment. My vote is to finish your pre-requisites and apply to an SMP. I think it will be the best option.

Furthermore, I disagree with the posters that said it's just about numbers. There are stories all over the place with people getting accepting to med school with GPAs of less than 3.0. Anything can happen but I think you should do an SMP.

 

[rom73085]

I must coin in here. I can't resist. Now, keep in mind that I have not yet applied to medical schools and won't be doing so for at least another three years. From all the literature and advice that I've read, it seems that the ad coms will be a little more lenient with an individual who has displayed a STRONG upward trend in grades. If you failed two courses your freshman year and that went on to earn straight A's for the rest of your undergraduate days, I've heard that ad coms will be a little easier on you. I might be wrong but I think you've got a great chance for acceptance in the future.

As for how to enhance your app, I say to go the SMP route after you get your pre-med requisites out of the way. At some SMPs, the student will work right alongside medical students and your grades are based on the performance of those medical students. If you out-perform those kids, then ad coms will recognize that you're a strong and competitive candidate. If you just stay in undergrad work, then the ad coms will have no way of knowing how you'll perform in the med school environment. My vote is to finish your pre-requisites and apply to an SMP. I think it will be the best option.

Furthermore, I disagree with the posters that said it's just about numbers. There are stories all over the place with people getting accepting to med school with GPAs of less than 3.0. Anything can happen but I think you should do an SMP.

I agree with you. Sure it's going to be difficult to get some schools to even bat an eye at me, but after scouring MDapplicants.com for hours on end and reading the various threads of people who have had positive results following the same path as myself - I have hope that my my hard work will be recognized (perhaps not by all, but someone, somewhere).

As stated above, unfortunately (or fortunately if it works in my favor) the MCAT is currently the end all be all for me. It determines where I end up next year and the path I'll be taking.

 

[Nasrudin]

There exist some room, a crack of light albeit, for an individual to make a strong pitch. Poetic statement of prurpose and action. Or by some other stroke of gumption and genius.

Beyond that this is a game controlled by the dynamics of the upper-middle class citizenry of this Republic. And you have to play to pay.

For me, sitting in the cheap seat over there next to you with a crap cum gpa, I decided a while back that, F' It, I ain't paying no 50 G's to play. So I gotta sell this turd that is me to somebody, and if not, oh well, I'll be where I be I guess.

The thing is. Aint' nobody can give you a straight answer with this game. You gotta give it your best call from your own corner.

And good luck.

 

[Barfalamule]

I think we've just seen the post of the year.