Should I get a second bachelor's degree?

[avi79]

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I have been aiming for med school ever since I started university, but due to a terrible first few years my gpa is terrible. I recently graduated with as a psych major and bio minor. I was thinking of going into psychiatric nursing, as I do think I would enjoy it. However, I know that no matter what I will still want to become a doctor(specifically a psychiatrist). I have a lot of volunteer experience in the mental health field and have seen firsthand what it is like to be a psychiatrist and I think I would enjoy it. I know my extracurriculars are enough for med schools in Canada at least, but my grades definitely are not. So I'm wondering if I should just go for the second degree or just even apply to med schools overseas like in Australia or the Caribbean.

Thanks! Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated 🙂

 

[Dr. Jan Itor]

How terrible?

You could always retake some of your bad classes and apply DO or do a post-bacc program. Again, it really depends on how bad your GPA actually is.

But I don't think you'll have too many people here suggest going to the Caribbean.

 

[Iridescent]

A second bachelors GPA will only be averaged with your current GPA.

Volunteer experiences mean absolutely nothing if your MCAT/GPA aren't good.

Lol med schools in Canada. You have no shot without high stats.

Stop with the Caribbean schools. Please just do a search before even thinking about that path.

Your best bet is to do grade replacement through the DO school application, do well on the MCAT with a high percentile score, and then apply DO.

 

[avi79]

Sorry for the late reply! I should probably mention that I'm Canadian, and some medical schools here do have a preference for Canadians and people from their own province. That's why I mentioned Canadian schools, but most of my friends have gone to med school in the same province as I have, and I do know that other med schools in Canada may have different requirements. I haven't really looked at the DO program so much, but I'm assuming it may be harder to be accepted as a Canadian? Or am I wrong?

Thanks for your input!

 

[premed010101]

A second bachelors GPA will only be averaged with your current GPA.

Volunteer experiences mean absolutely nothing if your MCAT/GPA aren't good.

Lol med schools in Canada. You have no shot without high stats.

Stop with the Caribbean schools. Please just do a search before even thinking about that path.

Your best bet is to do grade replacement through the DO school application, do well on the MCAT with a high percentile score, and then apply DO.

How does the competitiveness of canadian medical schools compare to that of american ones?

 

[Catalystik]

Pictorial review of Canadian application process:

 

[Iridescent]

How does the competitiveness of canadian medical schools compare to that of american ones?

My home state is NY. There are plenty of threads that can answer your question though. Check them out

 

[avi79]

Pictorial review of Canadian application process:

This is actually pretty useful. Thanks!

 

[Holmwood]

I have been aiming for med school ever since I started university, but due to a terrible first few years my gpa is terrible. I recently graduated with as a psych major and bio minor. I was thinking of going into psychiatric nursing, as I do think I would enjoy it. However, I know that no matter what I will still want to become a doctor(specifically a psychiatrist). I have a lot of volunteer experience in the mental health field and have seen firsthand what it is like to be a psychiatrist and I think I would enjoy it. I know my extracurriculars are enough for med schools in Canada at least, but my grades definitely are not. So I'm wondering if I should just go for the second degree or just even apply to med schools overseas like in Australia or the Caribbean.

Thanks! Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated 🙂

That's a matter of cost and whether you're willing to do a post bac or special master's program, perform well and pursue an MD..... or retake coursework and apply to DO schools (they honor grade replacements unlike MD schools).

I would avoid a second bachelor's at all costs. Avoid carrib at all costs. Not sure about the other foreign medical schools... but I understand that there's additional barriers you have to overcome if you're trying to practice in the US. Not very sure.