Should I continue this path?

[ploidy]

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I'm a Michigan resident, studying human biology at a michigan university and I'm wondering if I should continue the premed path. My cGPA is about a 3.5. I am a junior and I'm starting my upper-level chemistry and biology courses. I got a 3.5 in chem 1 and a 3.0 in bio 1. Physics 1 & 2 3.5. I am now in chem 2 and bio 2 and I'm not sure how the courses will go. They seem to actually be easier, only because the first courses covered so many topics. Where these cover less but more in-depth. Anyways, I volunteered at an ER this summer got some cool experience learned how a ER functions at least. I am starting this semester volunteering with some cancer related organizations. My point saying this is I am trying to do all the right things that I have picked up on this website. But regardless of all the ECs I finish my grades need to be there. I'm curious if I should continue this path given the problems I had in the intro level chem and bio classes. My school doesn't do partial GPA, meaning they go from 3.0-3.5-4.0. My fear is that I put a lot of work into the first bio class and was only able to get a 3.0, it wasn't that I didn't try or wasn't attentive or anything.

I'm probably just tweaking myself out but I am just wondering if anyone here was in a similar position as I was and could use some honesty. Also, is Michigan a tough state for DO acceptance? I saw the average lizzy score but that isn't specific for DO/MD. I would like to go to MSU DO but I am unsure if I even have a shot with a 3.5 average GPA (if I can even keep it there), and MSU is the easiest school in Michigan to get into. Some feedback would be appreciated.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

What are both of your GPAs? A 3.5 will give you a decent shot at MSU, as long as the rest of your app is in order (ECs, MCAT)

 

[ploidy]

cGPA and sGPA both sit around a 3.5 If MSU isn't on the table, will some decent DO school in America take me?

 

[ploidy]

I'm working in the help room a lot. But if my mcat is competitive will any decent do school take me in America?

 

[ploidy]

What about a 3.5? I haven't taken the MCAT yet.

 

[kubyx]

A 3.5 is fine for DO and won't preclude you from any schools. Heck, it's even okay for MD, though it's definitely not competitive and is about as low as you can seemingly go outside of extenuating circumstances.

 

[ploidy]

I'm more interested in DO anyways so that's good for me.

 

[deleted831695]

Also, is Michigan a tough state for DO acceptance? I saw the average lizzy score but that isn't specific for DO/MD. I would like to go to MSU DO but I am unsure if I even have a shot with a 3.5 average GPA (if I can even keep it there), and MSU is the easiest school in Michigan to get into. Some feedback would be appreciated.

Both MSUs and CMU have similar average stats last time I checked (got interviews there with a LM 66(?) IIRC). The average sGPA is a 3.6+, but there are definitely people who got in with a 3.5 if everything else was good (MCAT score, ECs, LORs, etc). Also some of the base courses are weeder subjects. Especially if you enjoy the material, some of the upper-level courses are 'easier'. Just keep up with the grades, study and take your MCAT sometime this year or over next summer, and then going into senior year see where you're at. It's not a race to get into med school; I took my MCAT after I finished undergrad, took a break and worked for a couple of years, and then applied. You're not in a bad position, just focus, work hard, and get that science GPA as high as you can.

 

[kamakazi5]

Keep doing your ECs, maintain or raise your GPA, and get a 505+ on the MCAT and you'll be good for any DO school. Even a little lower would be fine for most schools. You'd probably have a reasonable shot at an MD school with a 510+.

 

[ploidy]

Both MSUs and CMU have similar average stats last time I checked (got interviews there with a LM 66(?) IIRC). The average sGPA is a 3.6+, but there are definitely people who got in with a 3.5 if everything else was good (MCAT score, ECs, LORs, etc). Also some of the base courses are weeder subjects. Especially if you enjoy the material, some of the upper-level courses are 'easier'. Just keep up with the grades, study and take your MCAT sometime this year or over next summer, and then going into senior year see where you're at. It's not a race to get into med school; I took my MCAT after I finished undergrad, took a break and worked for a couple of years, and then applied. You're not in a bad position, just focus, work hard, and get that science GPA as high as you can.

I was going to take the MCAT after I graduate, I want to be able to focus the most of my attention on it to get the best grade possible. Is that bad thinking?

 

[ploidy]

I'm starting my orgo next semester, so if I took it this summer I would not even have both orgos done.