Seeking some much needed advice

[metoo]

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Dear SDN Family,

I'm here seeking some much needed advice again.
Just to refresh your memory of me:
- sGPA 3.00
- cGPA 3.10
- MCAT 22
- Took one graduate level class, Gross Anatomy at the John A. Burns SOM. Got a B.
- 2 MD shadow (Urologist and Pediatric Surgeon).
- 1 DO shadow (Family Medicine). This doctor works at Hawaii's CHC. She's a preceptor and teaches 2nd year OMM. She let me attend the class, the students were amazing. She has written a LOR for me.
- Have another DO LOR. Only a mentor, did not shadow (Retired).
- Publication. Illustrated a chapter in a college level textbook. The chapter was on the reproductive system.
- Publication. Psychological research concerning stress related illnesses seen in first responders. Findings presented at Utah Legislation Conference.
- Missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
- Volunteer: Emergency Room, Boy Scouts of America-Asst. Scout Master, Hurricane Katrina cleanup (slept in a tent with other individuals who were part of the cleanup team), homeless shelter, play ground construction, medical supplies drives, and Church involvements.
- Phlebotomist at plasma center.
- Research Tech. for pharmaceuticals company.
- URM Native American (Lumbee Tribe).
- First gen. High School grad.
- 30 years old. Married with one child. Perhaps it will show that I am mature; I don't know.

I have added other things to my resume in the area of volunteering. I have not taken any more classes, which is what I want to get your advice on today. And obviously I am retaking the MCAT.

I've emailed every osteopathic medical school admissions office in the country and have explain to them my story. 99% of them have suggested that I do a graduate program of some sort to prove that I can handle the rigors of medical school. I 100% agree! I applied to LMU-DCOM's SMP and was rejected, LECOM's Post Bacc. (still waiting for an answer), and Mississippi College's one year SMP (accepted). I would love to go to LECOM because of its guaranteed interview if I maintain a 3.0 and have a overall 40 percentile on the new MCAT (will be aiming for much higher than that). Mississippi College has no such connection.

My wife does not want to move to Erie or Mississippi, but she agrees that an opportunity like LECOM's program is too good to pass up given my current academic situation. However, she feels Mississippi College is another story. She doesn't want to move because she has a good job with amazing benefits, we have a 3 year old child, and her support system is here.

If I am not accepted at LECOM, do you feel that an online masters in the hard sciences will help me just as much as the program at Mississippi College will? It doesn't have to be just a one year program, I will do a two year program as well if it meant that I could remain with my family.

Has anyone here moved away from a spouse and child to go to school? How did you deal with it? What was the outcome?

I'm sorry for such a long post.

Thank you for your time and advice.

Metoo

 

[Major]

What are your options for taking upper Division biology classes at a university near you?

 

[Red Lobster Actual]

do you feel that an online masters in the hard sciences will help me just as much as the program at Mississippi College will?

No, you must not do online. A post-bac in your situation will involve attending a brick and mortar program directly affiliated with a medical school that makes you take classes alongside of the medical students. All the good post-bac programs will have linkage of some sort. Due to this reasoning I would be very leery of going to Mississippi College's "post-bac".

Once you get your MCAT higher more post-bac/SMP programs with linkage will accept you.

You've done enough ECs, get your numbers up.

 

[metoo]

What are your options for taking upper Division biology classes at a university near you?

I've taken Genetics (B-), Molecular and Cell Biology (B), Gross Anatomy as an unclassified graduate student (B). I could still take Biochemistry.

Here are my grades just the lectures and not including what I've mentioned above.
Bio I (A-)
Bio II (B)
Physics I (B)
Physics II (C) hardest C I ever got. I just can't get physics. PS sections of the MCAT was a 6.
Chem. I (B)
Chem. II (A)
OChem. I (C) Took twice with two different teachers.
OChem. II (C) Took twice with same teacher. The teacher was one of the teachers from Ochem. I.

I guess I could try to take physics II again. I could take ochem. I and II again too but wouldn't medical schools just say, "Well dang, about time he made an A in these classes" and not really care about it?

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my post. I really appreciate it.

 

[metoo]

No, you must not do online. A post-bac in your situation will involve attending a brick and mortar program directly affiliated with a medical school that makes you take classes alongside of the medical students. All the good post-bac programs will have linkage of some sort. Due to this reasoning I would be very leery of going to Mississippi College's "post-bac".

Once you get your MCAT higher more post-bac/SMP programs with linkage will accept you.

You've done enough ECs, get your numbers up.

Thank you for your advice. My gpa comes from my AACOMAS application. I know I have no chance at any allopathic medical school because of so many retakes. I've looked into SMP/Post Bacc. programs at allopathic medical schools that seem to have low average acceptance gpa's. But those gpa's are calculated like AMCAS calculates gpa (factoring in ever instance of every class taken). In that case my sGPA would be something like a 2.4. So should I decline Mississippi College and just focus on the new MCAT then apply again to some SMP?

 

[Major]

I've taken Genetics (B-), Molecular and Cell Biology (B), Gross Anatomy as an unclassified graduate student (B). I could still take Biochemistry.

Here are my grades just the lectures and not including what I've mentioned above.
Bio I (A-)
Bio II (B)
Physics I (B)
Physics II (C) hardest C I ever got. I just can't get physics. PS sections of the MCAT was a 6.
Chem. I (B)
Chem. II (A)
OChem. I (C) Took twice with two different teachers.
OChem. II (C) Took twice with same teacher. The teacher was one of the teachers from Ochem. I.

I guess I could try to take physics II again. I could take ochem. I and II again too but wouldn't medical schools just say, "Well dang, about time he made an A in these classes" and not really care about it?

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my post. I really appreciate it.

Honestly man, I would not go for a SMP at this point. Reason being they are pretty expensive and most aren't covered by federal student loans.

Try to get into a Biochem course right now and this summer take a Mcat prep course and Do nothing this summer except MCAT prep. You really gotta get that mcat score up. Good thing is, the new Mcat is taking out some of the more complicated physics.

Apply early June, and apply broadly to DO programs. In the upcoming fall/spring try to take more upper division Biology courses such as immunology, microbiology, virology, physiology, pathogenic micro, etc.

 

[metoo]

Honestly man, I would not go for a SMP at this point. Reason being they are pretty expensive and most aren't covered by federal student loans.

Try to get into a Biochem course right now and this summer take a Mcat prep course and Do nothing this summer except MCAT prep. You really gotta get that mcat score up. Good thing is, the new Mcat is taking out some of the more complicated physics.

Apply early June, and apply broadly to DO programs. In the upcoming fall/spring try to take more upper division Biology courses such as immunology, microbiology, virology, physiology, pathogenic micro, etc.

I think you give some very sound advice. This will allow me to remain with my family and save a lot of money by avoiding an uncertain future at MS College.

 

[Red Lobster Actual]

Reason being they are pretty expensive and most aren't covered by federal student loans.

Disagree with bolded. I went to an allopathic affiliated SMP and I had it covered by federal loans. Unless DO affiliated SMP programs are not covered?...But they are very expensive sigh...

The reason medical schools want applicants such as you and me to do the SMP because it allows the adcoms to directly gauge your academic performance against the medical students. Quite frankly applications such as yours (and mine before I finished a SMP) are a huge risk to medical schools because they cannot be sure you can handle the classes. Even if you take another 90 credits worth of upper division biology. However, repeating those C's does have merit for your application.

Apply early June, and apply broadly to DO programs and maybe a select handful of MDs.

Up to you OP but I personally would not recommend applying until your new MCAT score comes out and you are sure your application is ready. Multiple application cycles cost way way way too much and given your life situation you need to get in on the first try.

 

[Major]

I think you give some very sound advice. This will allow me to remain with my family and save a lot of money by avoiding an uncertain future at MS College.

Yeah why pay a ton of money and leave your family when you can stay where you are at, and take many of the same exact courses at your local university that most smp's offer...? I do understand the appeal of using SMPs as a backdoor way into med school. But in your case it seems far more feasible to stay put with your family, work on your mcat, and continue doing well in upper division Biology + Biochem courses. Best of luck to you!

 

[metoo]

Definitely won't be applying until I get those numbers up; both GPA and MCAT. I know I have a lot of work to do but I believe in myself and not cutting corners. I'll also look into retaking those C's as you suggested.

 

[Goro]

So do I. The MCAT deficit is going to need to be fixed as well.

I've emailed every osteopathic medical school admissions office in the country and have explain to them my story. 99% of them have suggested that I do a graduate program of some sort to prove that I can handle the rigors of medical school. I 100% agree!


Nope. I want to see you perform in both a lab and classroom environment. SMPs really are a dime-a-dozen. Do your homework and find some more. The hard fact is that you may have to relocate. Alternatively, do a DIY post-bac at your local university. Just make sure to take med school-like classes and ace them. A full year of ~30 credits and GPA > 3.6 and you can be very attractive to DO schools and some MD schools too.
If I am not accepted at LECOM, do you feel that an online masters in the hard sciences will help me just as much as the program at Mississippi College will? It doesn't have to be just a one year program, I will do a two year program as well if it meant that I could remain with my family.

I've had students go through our DO school separated from their family. If they can do it, so can you.
Has anyone here moved away from a spouse and child to go to school? How did you deal with it? What was the outcome?

 

[metoo]

So do I. The MCAT deficit is going to need to be fixed as well.

I've emailed every osteopathic medical school admissions office in the country and have explain to them my story. 99% of them have suggested that I do a graduate program of some sort to prove that I can handle the rigors of medical school. I 100% agree!


Nope. I want to see you perform in both a lab and classroom environment. SMPs really are a dime-a-dozen. Do your homework and find some more. The hard fact is that you may have to relocate. Alternatively, do a DIY post-bac at your local university. Just make sure to take med school-like classes and ace them. A full year of ~30 credits and GPA > 3.6 and you can be very attractive to DO schools and some MD schools too.
If I am not accepted at LECOM, do you feel that an online masters in the hard sciences will help me just as much as the program at Mississippi College will? It doesn't have to be just a one year program, I will do a two year program as well if it meant that I could remain with my family.

I've had students go through our DO school separated from their family. If they can do it, so can you.
Has anyone here moved away from a spouse and child to go to school? How did you deal with it? What was the outcome?

Hi Goro. Thank you for your advice. The GPA that I quoted is my AACOMAS GPA. My AMCAS sGPA is around a 2.4 and cGPA a 2.7. Now knowing this, do you think I could still be attractive to some MD schools after doing the things you mentioned above?

I was also wondering (this maybe asking too much) can I get your stamp of approval on the 30 credits that I will be taking? I will most likely be doing a DIY post-bacc at the local allopathic medical school. It's called the John A. Burns Schools of Medicine, it's where I took Gross Anatomy awhile back.

Thanking you for your confidence in me.

 

[Goro]

Goro approves!
The key thing will be to ace the post-bac. Having mostly Bs, B+'s won't cut it. It's all or nothing now.

Hi Goro. Thank you for your advice. The GPA that I quoted is my AACOMAS GPA. My AMCAS sGPA is around a 2.4 and cGPA a 2.7. Now knowing this, do you think I could still be attractive to some MD schools after doing the things you mentioned above?

I was also wondering (this maybe asking too much) can I get your stamp of approval on the 30 credits that I will be taking? I will most likely be doing a DIY post-bacc at the local allopathic medical school. It's called the John A. Burns Schools of Medicine, it's where I took Gross Anatomy awhile back.

Thanking you for your confidence in me.