Should I even consider allopathic schools?

[SpaceHamsterBoo]

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I started off at community college, got A's in Physics, Chem, Organic, Calc, English, Bio, Microbio, etc. In regards to my gpa, because only 60 of 80 credits transffered, I've listed both gpas: 60 (3.83) of 80 (3.77).

At my new school, I didn't do too well. I was sheltered, didn't have a social life, never drank, never was a virgin, etc...essentially was depressed.
My gpa has been on a downward trend, I've had 3 semesters where I got a 2.9. One semester I had a 3.5 (started cancer research, got B's in molecular bio and genetics). I have one last semester left and plan to pull my gpa here at my new school to a 3.1.

That's my problem though, at my current school my gpa is a 2.9. The most I can raise it upto is a 3.1 if I get all A's this spring 2015.

Will med schools only look at my current gpa at my university or will they average the gpa of both schools?
School 1 gpa - 3.83 at 60 credits or 3.77 at 80 credits
School 2 gpa - 2.9 currently, I can work my butt off to raise it to a 3.1

Averaged out I'm at a 3.48

My plan is:
Graduate from my university and retake my 5 C's in my upper level division courses at university near my house. I'll save on the cost of rent/food. I pay more for this than my tuition. I got C's in Biochem, Histology, Ecology, Inorganic Chem and a Sociology class. Currently I'm applying DO only. I want to be at an MD school. Have i hurt myself too much?

 

[Virginian_Premed]

All the courses you've taken at College 1/2 will be in your AMCAS/BCMP because they are undergrad classes.

If you can retake those 5 classes, maybe do a DIY Post-Bacc with around 30-40 credits over a year, raise that cGPA to a 3.60+ you'll be in a good place.

Also kill the MCAT. Don't shoot for 33+. Like kill it, shoot for 35+.

MD isn't out of reach. Just focus.

 

[Fedekz]

I started off at community college, got A's in Physics, Chem, Organic, Calc, English, Bio, Microbio, etc. In regards to my gpa, because only 60 of 80 credits transffered, I've listed both gpas: 60 (3.83) of 80 (3.77).

At my new school, I didn't do too well. I was sheltered, didn't have a social life, never drank, never was a virgin, etc...essentially was depressed.
My gpa has been on a downward trend, I've had 3 semesters where I got a 2.9. One semester I had a 3.5 (started cancer research, got B's in molecular bio and genetics). I have one last semester left and plan to pull my gpa here at my new school to a 3.1.

That's my problem though, at my current school my gpa is a 2.9. The most I can raise it upto is a 3.1 if I get all A's this spring 2015.

Will med schools only look at my current gpa at my university or will they average the gpa of both schools?
School 1 gpa - 3.83 at 60 credits or 3.77 at 80 credits
School 2 gpa - 2.9 currently, I can work my butt off to raise it to a 3.1

Averaged out I'm at a 3.48

My plan is:
Graduate from my university and retake my 5 C's in my upper level division courses at university near my house. I'll save on the cost of rent/food. I pay more for this than my tuition. I got C's in Biochem, Histology, Ecology, Inorganic Chem and a Sociology class. Currently I'm applying DO only. I want to be at an MD school. Have i hurt myself too much?

"Never was a virgin" - so you got laid a lot? You're complaining about that?

Going from a community college to a real university (which I assume is what you did), and your GPA dropping significantly, and consistently getting 2.9 GPA semesters won't look good. If you couldn't handle the transition from community college to a university, what would make them think you can transition from a university to a medical school? Not saying give up, just understand your position and realize you need to have several strong semesters to prove you can handle real classes. Riding on your community college GPA for your first two years with a downward spiral the next two puts you in a bad place.

 

[FutureOncologist]

Ehh, if you're gonna dole out money for additional schooling, don't do a DIY Post-bacc, seeing as how they're kinda tricky and very informal.

Since you have a strong science background, I'd take off a year or two to work and get some clinical experience. EMT is a good way to knock out two birds with one stone. Then I'd do an SMP at a state school for cheap tuition. Take an SMP that is done at a medical school/with medical students. Those weigh more than ones done at another campus (though they aren't that bad.) If you get a 3.75+ GPA, you're golden for MD schools.

If you don't have the time to take gap years, start volunteering more, pull up the GPA to a 3.1, and get at least a 31 on the MCAT to be competitive at the SMPs you apply to.

 

[chillinillinkillin007]

I started off at community college, got A's in Physics, Chem, Organic, Calc, English, Bio, Microbio, etc. In regards to my gpa, because only 60 of 80 credits transffered, I've listed both gpas: 60 (3.83) of 80 (3.77).

At my new school, I didn't do too well. I was sheltered, didn't have a social life, never drank, never was a virgin, etc...essentially was depressed.
My gpa has been on a downward trend, I've had 3 semesters where I got a 2.9. One semester I had a 3.5 (started cancer research, got B's in molecular bio and genetics). I have one last semester left and plan to pull my gpa here at my new school to a 3.1.

if this stuff is making you depressed forget medical school

 

[SpaceHamsterBoo]

Ehh, if you're gonna dole out money for additional schooling, don't do a DIY Post-bacc, seeing as how they're kinda tricky and very informal.

Since you have a strong science background, I'd take off a year or two to work and get some clinical experience. EMT is a good way to knock out two birds with one stone. Then I'd do an SMP at a state school for cheap tuition. Take an SMP that is done at a medical school/with medical students. Those weigh more than ones done at another campus (though they aren't that bad.) If you get a 3.75+ GPA, you're golden for MD schools.

If you don't have the time to take gap years, start volunteering more, pull up the GPA to a 3.1, and get at least a 31 on the MCAT to be competitive at the SMPs you apply to.

My plan was to RETAKE my C's during my gap year/study for the new mcat and apply. My uni gpa I can pull upto a 3.1. I hope MD schools will combine both gpas, this would put me at a 3.48. If I can replace my C's, that will only bring it up higher.

I'd rather do a DIY post-bacc to save money on tuition/rent and to live at home and cut distractions. Also I have a university hospital right near my house where I could continue shadowing.

 

[SpaceHamsterBoo]

if this stuff is making you depressed forget medical school

The stuff that made me depressed was being 20 and not knowing how to make eye contact becuase my parents raised me to look at the floor when talking to elders, not knowing how to even make sunny side up eggs, do laundry, clean a bathroom and then juggle junior/senior courses during that first year. On top of this, I never drank, never partied and was a virgin from an islamic background (am atheist now). I've had ONE good semester where I got a 3.5, did well in Genetics and Molecular and started research and won a research grant.

It's not like I can't do the work; I've just lost discipline and it is INCREDIBLY tough to regain it.

 

[Virginian_Premed]

My plan was to RETAKE my C's during my gap year/study for the new mcat and apply. My uni gpa I can pull upto a 3.1. I hope MD schools will combine both gpas, this would put me at a 3.48. If I can replace my C's, that will only bring it up higher.

I'd rather do a DIY post-bacc to save money on tuition/rent and to live at home and cut distractions. Also I have a university hospital right near my house where I could continue shadowing.

FYI, you can't "replace grades." For Example, if you get a C in Biochem and retook it and got an A, for AMCAS GPA calculation purposes, it's as if you took two classes, in one you got a C and in another you got an A. The second grade does not replace the first.

 

[masaraksh]

And I thought Virginian_Premed was because you're from Virginia....

 

[Virginian_Premed]

And I thought Virginian_Premed was because you're from Virginia....

It is? haaha

 

[SpaceHamsterBoo]

FYI, you can't "replace grades." For Example, if you get a C in Biochem and retook it and got an A, for AMCAS GPA calculation purposes, it's as if you took two classes, in one you got a C and in another you got an A. The second grade does not replace the first.

you can for DO schools. But thank you I'll keep that in mind.

 

[mehc012]

Ehh, if you're gonna dole out money for additional schooling, don't do a DIY Post-bacc, seeing as how they're kinda tricky and very informal.

I don't understand how they are tricky...and informal is a good thing! It means that you only take courses which are interesting to you and which match your needs. Most formal programs involve retaking prereqs, which is imo a waste of time compared to taking cool and interesting upper level courses to show that you have improved academically (DO grade replacement excepted, of course). Which would prove more to you, getting an A in Bio 101 the second time you took it, or getting an A in cardiac physiology the first time you saw the material? Plus, if you are interested in the material (which you would be if you were picking the courses), you are far more likely to get a good LOR that way. Profs can tell when you are into their subject and when you're BSing.

 

[Shams al Deen]

Well honestly there is nothing you've done to prove that you can handle medical school. Going from juco to university and having your grades completely fall off actually proves (in adcoms eyes) that you cannot handle it. If you still really want to be a physician you have a slim chance, as it'd take an SMP (with high GPA) and a killer MCAT (35+) to be competitive again. And shifting blame to family or religion is counterproductive. Part of growing up and being a man is taking responsibility.

 

[FutureOncologist]

I don't understand how they are tricky...and informal is a good thing! It means that you only take courses which are interesting to you and which match your needs. Most formal programs involve retaking prereqs, which is imo a waste of time compared to taking cool and interesting upper level courses to show that you have improved academically (DO grade replacement excepted, of course). Which would prove more to you, getting an A in Bio 101 the second time you took it, or getting an A in cardiac physiology the first time you saw the material? Plus, if you are interested in the material (which you would be if you were picking the courses), you are far more likely to get a good LOR that way. Profs can tell when you are into their subject and when you're BSing.

I was comparing them to SMP programs at your local university. DIYs aren't bad at all if you don't care for getting into DO schools. However, if he wants to have a true second shot at getting a fantastic GPA, then an SMP is the best option since it is a separate GPA (graduate GPA.) You take medical school classes that, if you get a 3.75+, then you will prove yourself without a doubt that you can handle medical school academically. Yes, taking an upper-level bio class or two and acing them is great, but they don't compare to actual medical school classes taken with medical students.

 

[mehc012]

I was comparing them to SMP programs at your local university. DIYs aren't bad at all if you don't care for getting into DO schools. However, if he wants to have a true second shot at getting a fantastic GPA, then an SMP is the best option since it is a separate GPA (graduate GPA.) You take medical school classes that, if you get a 3.75+, then you will prove yourself without a doubt that you can handle medical school academically. Yes, taking an upper-level bio class or two and acing them is great, but they don't compare to actual medical school classes taken with medical students.

An SMP is a massive risk and should be a last resort. I hadn't realized that we had completely shifted gears from postbacc to Hail Mary. 🙄

 

[Aquinas]

I don't understand how they are tricky...and informal is a good thing! It means that you only take courses which are interesting to you and which match your needs. Most formal programs involve retaking prereqs, which is imo a waste of time compared to taking cool and interesting upper level courses to show that you have improved academically (DO grade replacement excepted, of course). Which would prove more to you, getting an A in Bio 101 the second time you took it, or getting an A in cardiac physiology the first time you saw the material? Plus, if you are interested in the material (which you would be if you were picking the courses), you are far more likely to get a good LOR that way. Profs can tell when you are into their subject and when you're BSing.

I was kinda wanting to do both actually. I'm retaking my prereqs to really learn the material because obviously I didn't the first time round🙁. And then I wanted to take SMP type courses to prove that I can hold my own. Is this not advisable?

 

[mehc012]

I was kinda wanting to do both actually. I'm retaking my prereqs to really learn the material because obviously I didn't the first time round🙁. And then I wanted to take SMP type courses to prove that I can hold my own. Is this not advisable?

You can't just take SMP-type courses. You either do an SMP (the full program) or you don't. If you're going to do one (which I think is far from necessary if OP truly does end up with a 3.48 once they do the real numbers), skip the postbacc...you don't need it to get in and it'd be a waste of time and money if you're doing an SMP.

However, with ~3.4-3.5, OP is far from the 'SMP is my only option' category...which is the only time you should do an SMP.

 

[Aquinas]

You can't just take SMP-type courses. You either do an SMP (the full program) or you don't. If you're going to do one (which I think is far from necessary if you truly do end up with a 3.48 once you do the real numbers), skip the postbacc...you don't need it to get in and it'd be a waste of time and money if you're doing an SMP.

However, with ~3.4-3.5, you are far from the 'SMP is my only option' category...which is the only time you should do an SMP.

Sorry for hijacking the thread.

But I was thinking about taking the year to retake all of my prereqs to really master the material (and up my gpa slightly), more volunteering, more EC's, more clinical experience. Then summer of 2016 I would apply early and broadly to MD and DO schools and to TCOM's SMP just in case things don't work out. Just not sure how feasible my plan is.

 

[mehc012]

Sorry for hijacking the thread.

But I was thinking about taking the year to retake all of my prereqs to really master the material (and up my gpa slightly), more volunteering, more EC's, more clinical experience. Then summer of 2016 I would apply early and broadly to MD and DO schools and to TCOM's SMP just in case things don't work out. Just not sure how feasible my plan is.

lol, sorry...thought you were OP as you responded like it was your thread. I edited my previous post slightly to reflect that.

If you're going to apply DO, that's fine...retakes are helpful for them. For MD, upper levels are somewhat better, but the advantage there is nowhere near as great as the advantage you gain for DO by doing retakes of low grades. ONLY retake low grades, though...why replace an A with an A, or even a B with an A, when you could instead add another one in the mix and show improvement over time at hard courses?
The SMP you can apply to in January or later, after you find out whether your app cycle is successful. I can't really give you any better advice w/o knowing more about your specific situation, and that would be going well beyond thread hijacking.