Seeking advice: Nontrad in first semester at state university

[Na⁺]

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I’ll try to be as honest as I can and all I ask is the same in return.

Some quick stats: 27, caucasian, 2018 CC graduate with an AA — cGPA 2.89, sGPA i’m not sure. Employed as fresh CNA + ~4.5 years uncertified DPC in AFC environment, including memory care (Dementia & Alzheimer’s mostly).

Background: I was going on and off to CC for 8 years, graduated last year and have since transferred to a R2 university — currently in my first semester, 2 online courses.

While at CC I completed following courses: Abnormal Psych (B), Developmental (A-), Anatomy 1 (of 2) (B), repeated gen Bio for non-science (B). Sitting at >60 credits, Psychology with ~3.4 major GPA.
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For prerequisites, I have the opportunity to take Anatomy at the uni with a cadaver lab and Physiology separately. Would this be worth the risk of retaking the B i already received? My worry is keeping the GPA up but since I just transferred, I have a bit more wiggle room since its starting fresh.

For additional course load, I have ~14 Psych credits to complete + my prerequisites. If I am retaking Anatomy, my next schedule would roughly be Anatomy, Psych Stats, and either Chem 1 or Microbiology — any suggestions on that as well?

End goal is a DO program or a PA program if I get no acceptances to the former. No spouse or kids, so I’m really just looking for a stable future. I looked at BSN and direct entry NP programs before because I like the flexibility in work environments but I don’t think I’d enjoy the nursing model long-term. The autonomy of DO would be ideal if possible.

 

[MusicDOc124]

Since you haven't taken MCAT yet and are still pretty early in that you haven't finished your bachelors yet and are still around the 60 credit mark, not everything will necessarily apply in the following link:

Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention

With that said, your GPA definitely needs to come up and needs to be above 3.0. Many PA programs have a minimum of 3.0 just to apply, for instance. To be competitive for DO programs, you generally need to be in the 3.3 - 3.5 range.

As for anatomy 1 with a B, I would not retake that. DO grade replacement is gone, and for DO, MD, or PA, even if you retook it for an A, you'd average out at B+/A-, and while As are of course preferable, a B is fine. Focus on getting As on the pre-reqs especially, but don't retake a B.