Should I try or improve my chances first

[Dermas1]

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Hi, so currently I am in my Junior year. I have one more year to graduate. I am a chemistry major doing pre med (minored in biology though I know med schools don't really care about minors). Right now I have a 3.0 GPA. If all goes well the best I'll graduate with is probably like a 3.1 GPA. Science GPA is more or less around that area too. I'm planning to take the MCAT in August after studying all summer. Hopefully I can get at least a 510, but I know my GPA is still not med school material, so I know that even if I get the highest MCAT possible my chances are still under 50%. I'm not rich, so I don't want to spend crazy money applying when I have very low chances of eve getting an interview. I have heard about DO schools but would really prefer to go the MD route, though I may change my mind when applying time actually comes around. I have average EC's, volunteering, etc. Nothing special there, but I still have a little time to improve in that area.

Anyways, my school has an accelerated MPH in Biostatistics. It's only one year long, so it won't put me too far behind. Would it be better to take my chances and apply, risking wasting a lot of money that I don't have, or should I do this MPH? Will med schools see the MPH grades? If I do REALLY well in the MPH and then apply do I have a greater chance of getting in somewhere.

Just looking for some advice. Has anyone been in this situation or have gotten in after being in this situation?

 

[Save a life]

To be blunt, 3.0 is a pretty low gpa and it's going to be tough to come back from for MD schools. I have a friend that got in with a 3.2 to a decently ranked MD school but he had straight A's in the premed prereqs.

So I'd say the best route is either score high on the MCAT and go for DO schools and low ranked MD and possibly get into a school. Or, get a masters/do a post bach program. I'd also recommend a biological science based program and not public health. There are several that are meant for people in your situation to get into med school, they even have MCAT prep built into them. Public health is great but it doesn't show adcoms you can handle the rigors of preclinical blocks.

Don't give up and keep working hard and if you really want to, you will get in.

 

[Goro]

Your GPA is lethal for MD and on life support from only the newest DO schools. You'd get rejected from mine and many others. An MPH will not make you a more attractive candidate for MD schools, but maybe for DO, IF you start aceing courses.

Hi, so currently I am in my Junior year. I have one more year to graduate. I am a chemistry major doing pre med (minored in biology though I know med schools don't really care about minors). Right now I have a 3.0 GPA. If all goes well the best I'll graduate with is probably like a 3.1 GPA. Science GPA is more or less around that area too. I'm planning to take the MCAT in August after studying all summer. Hopefully I can get at least a 510, but I know my GPA is still not med school material, so I know that even if I get the highest MCAT possible my chances are still under 50%. I'm not rich, so I don't want to spend crazy money applying when I have very low chances of eve getting an interview. I have heard about DO schools but would really prefer to go the MD route, though I may change my mind when applying time actually comes around. I have average EC's, volunteering, etc. Nothing special there, but I still have a little time to improve in that area.

Anyways, my school has an accelerated MPH in Biostatistics. It's only one year long, so it won't put me too far behind. Would it be better to take my chances and apply, risking wasting a lot of money that I don't have, or should I do this MPH? Will med schools see the MPH grades? If I do REALLY well in the MPH and then apply do I have a greater chance of getting in somewhere.

Just looking for some advice. Has anyone been in this situation or have gotten in after being in this situation?