sincere advice

[madamepreDO]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello,

I am looking for honest feedback/advice regarding my situation. I graduated from engineering school in 2011. I had one W and one semester of all C's. I took a gap year after graduating where I shadowed and volunteered. I took the MCAT in 2012 with no strict studying and obtained a 13Q. I then got an engineering job, but after the training it was not the best fit. So then I went back to volunteering at free clinics and mentoring an at risk child while taking refresher courses at the community college. I was then offered a scribe job and studied again for the MCAT while volunteering. I should have studied more as I got a 17 and 19, both taken in 2014. In August 2015, I was in a MA Biomedicine program and got a 3.6. I was withdrew from the Spring semester as I had to go back home to take care of a personal issue, which is now resolved.

My final undergrad gpa was a 3.08; not sure about science. In community college, I got all A's but there is one F from a class i took while I was a senior in high school that will be on record.

I am just confused if I should go back the school to finish my MA; it will take me 2.5 years instead of 2 and I will be a few months shy of turning 29 when I graduate. I have no idea what my science GPA is. My biggest fear is not getting an interview because I took a break and I took the MCAT more than 2 times. Also, I still need to shadow a pod.

I appreciate all advice and honesty about my chances of getting into POD school.

 

[burritodoc]

I am a first year pod student. I am not part of admissions decisions for my campus but this is what I think might give you more insight.

1. Finish your MA. IMO, your transcript and background shows a lack of commitment. Even though you are nearing 29, you have a long career ahead of you if you choose this route. Finishing your MA will open up other opportunities for you as well, in case you are still weighing in other options.

Have you finished all your prereqs for pod school? If you haven't, another option is to go back to a university and prove that you can handle a tough science workload while you knock out those prerequisite classes. Then apply. This could make your timing quicker.

2. You need to shadow some pods right now. Seriously. Pull up google, find some local ones, and send them a quick email asking if you can come shadow. Shadow more than 3.

3. My biggest reservation with your current situation is that your grades are below average, MCAT needs to be retaken, and it doesn't look like (on paper) this is something you are serious about. Your next MCAT needs to improve or you will have very poor chances of being successful in podiatry school.

If you are a genuine, hard working person, and have completed the above ^ , you could "get in" to a podiatry school. However, as most people on these forums will say again and again - this is not an easy decision to make. You are going to be a surgeon, and expectations will be much higher than most master's degree programs and undergrad curriculums. I got mostly As in undergrad and regularly struggle just to pass my classes. I think your biggest challenge is to prove to admissions that you have what it takes to succeed here, and you need to prove that academically first.

Good luck! PM me if you have any other questions.