Should I do it?

[mill_z]

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I have an overall GPA of 2.5 because of a bad fresh/soph unmotivated start. I want to get into medical school so bad, but getting discouraged. I plan to take the MCAT in this august and take classes all the way till the fall of '06. My question is...Does this seem like a logical goal or should I spread it out longer and take the MCAT later, or should I just take it and kick ass on it and apply with, hopefully, a 3.0-3.2 and a 30+ on the MCAT? I don't want to dream too big and have a let down at the end but I deffinately don't want to sell myself short...Any advice? 🙁

 

[shane679]

I have an overall GPA of 2.5 because of a bad fresh/soph unmotivated start. I want to get into medical school so bad, but getting discouraged. I plan to take the MCAT in this august and take classes all the way till the fall of '06. My question is...Does this seem like a logical goal or should I spread it out longer and take the MCAT later, or should I just take it and kick ass on it and apply with, hopefully, a 3.0-3.2 and a 30+ on the MCAT? I don't want to dream too big and have a let down at the end but I deffinately don't want to sell myself short...Any advice? 🙁

Are you applying for the class starting in August 2006? Have you finished all of the required science courses? When will you complete a BA/BS?

 

[mill_z]

Yes, I plan to apply that fall to med school. I have taken all pre-reqs and then some and I should have my degree by then. I'm just wondering if it's even feesible to get my GPA up in a year's worth of classes that won't even be pre-reqs. Should I retake some courses? Spread the timeline out a bit? Should I put off med school for a year or two and get a post-bacc degree?

I have so many questions and I don't know which route is best. I really want to go to med school but I'm afraid I won't get in. I know I can handle medical school once in, since I've basically been throught the first year of med school (I was is chiropractic school for a year and a half and the curriculum is nearly identical), but getting in is the hard part for me. I''m pretty sure I can rock the MCAT, but my GPA is very low for med school.

I'm just feeling a little lost right now and I'm not sure what to do next.

Thanks for any input 🙂

 

[shane679]

Yes, I plan to apply that fall to med school. I have taken all pre-reqs and then some and I should have my degree by then. I'm just wondering if it's even feesible to get my GPA up in a year's worth of classes that won't even be pre-reqs. Should I retake some courses? Spread the timeline out a bit? Should I put off med school for a year or two and get a post-bacc degree?

I have so many questions and I don't know which route is best. I really want to go to med school but I'm afraid I won't get in. I know I can handle medical school once in, since I've basically been throught the first year of med school (I was is chiropractic school for a year and a half and the curriculum is nearly identical), but getting in is the hard part for me. I''m pretty sure I can rock the MCAT, but my GPA is very low for med school.

I'm just feeling a little lost right now and I'm not sure what to do next.

Thanks for any input 🙂

If you are pretty sure you "can rock the MCAT" then go for it. If it is possible for you to prepare for the April MCAT, I do not see why you should not take it. The deadline for signing up is March 25 (I believe) and this will give you an opportunity to apply early in the application cycle. This route will allow you to work on getting your GPA (both science and overall) where you would like and then be able to apply immediately. It also provides a bit of a safety net, in my opinion, for a poor MCAT score. If you do not "rock the MCAT" then you can take it in August. This gives you an opportunity to do well on the MCAT and improve your GPA. This is my advice. Feel free to listen to both those that agree with me and those that do not. Hope you find success in your endeavors.

csh

 

[mill_z]

Do you think it's a good idea to take the mcat in april even though I haven't started studying yet? I have the Kaplan comp review and most of the science is still fairly fresh in my mind since I just recently withdrew from chiropractic school.

 

[shane679]

Do you think it's a good idea to take the mcat in april even though I haven't started studying yet? I have the Kaplan comp review and most of the science is still fairly fresh in my mind since I just recently withdrew from chiropractic school.

I think that you should review the "Kaplan comp review" and take the April exam. I think this will be of benefit because you seem to have confidence in your ability to do well on the science portions. If you have the money available, I would suggest that you take the upcoming MCAT. I do not know that it could hurt you, except financially. I say give it a shot. If you do well on the April MCAT, you will not have to take the August MCAT. This will afford you the opportunity to fully focus on your GPA. Prepare for a month and take the MCAT. The last day to register and the test date is posted on the AAMC website. I believe it is March 25 (deadline) and April 16 (test day). Hope that this helps and perhaps someone else can give you a different perspective.

csh

 

[smc927]

If you are planning to apply for the next application cycle then it doesn't really matter if you take another year's worth of classes and ace them. If you take the April MCAT you'll want to have your transcripts, etc, submitted so your application is ready and waiting ONLY for your MCAT scores. Any classes taken after this semester won't affect the GPA the med schools see.

 

[Scarletbegonias]

If you are going to apply this year, apply as early as you can. I would strive for June.

 

[kaikai128]

I have an overall GPA of 2.5 because of a bad fresh/soph unmotivated start. I want to get into medical school so bad, but getting discouraged. I plan to take the MCAT in this august and take classes all the way till the fall of '06. My question is...Does this seem like a logical goal or should I spread it out longer and take the MCAT later, or should I just take it and kick ass on it and apply with, hopefully, a 3.0-3.2 and a 30+ on the MCAT? I don't want to dream too big and have a let down at the end but I deffinately don't want to sell myself short...Any advice? 🙁

With a 2.5, you are not saying if this is science or cumulitive. You are sitting right on (maybe below some schools) lowest GPA that they will accept. You do need to research this before you go and apply to schools that won't even look at you. As pointed out before, the GPA that is going to count for your admissions is most likely going to be the one that you have on the day that you submit your application.

GPA...start working on it now. That way if you don't get in this next (2006 admitting) cycle...it will be fixed for the next one. Retake any classes that you got lower than a C in (especially science ones) and take some upper level science courses to prove that you can handle the rigor of the medical school course load.

Regardless, if you want to go to medical school...don't give up. It may take some time to prove yourself because of your bad start to college, but perseverance will pay off.