size me up (again)

[uglyduckling]

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hello everyone
i posted this in the pre-med section, but you all probably know more about my situation than they do...

what are my chances...?
i just finished a post bacc program and am planning on applying for 2008
here are my stats...

gpa
UG 2.45 (7 years), bcpm - 1.83... (i know...)

post bacc gpa - 4.0 (yaay) (taken directly after UG grad)

makes overall gpa - 2.96
overall bcpm - 3.25

mcat - 34N

EC
1yr research assistant
2yr work as lab tec
2yr hospital volunteer, doctor shadowing


what do you guys think? have i redeemed myself? or do i need to take more classes?
is a DO a better choice? id prefer an MD, but what do you guys think?

id need 9 more credits of 'A' to raise overall gpa to 3.00, but ive heard that you need fulltime semesters to count toward your gpa. either way i dont want to spend more money unless im sure its coming back.

how should i approach applications?

 

[Phoenix.]

I'd guess that you're a long shot for an MD slot since I've heard that a number of MD schools screen for over 3.0 overall gpa, but there are probably exceptions. I'd think you have a great shot at a DO.

I have no idea what you mean about needing a fulltime semester to count toward your gpa. I just took some post-bac classes, 2 classes + 2 labs a semester, and they definitely counted. I could even take once class a semester and it'd count.... Or did you mean something else?

If you really really really want an MD, I think that you're simply going to have to take those 9 classes. But even then, it'll be a long shot with a 3.0 gpa. Would you consider the Caribbean? Then you'd have an MD, but I'm thinking that it'd be easier to get a residency as a DO than a carib-grad. Then again, I could be very wrong. I just really think your best bet is a DO school, and I've heard there are some great ones. Speaking of which, what state are you a resident of?

Regardless, good luck!

 

[LifetimeDoc]

MCAT is great
Post Baccalaureate GPA is awesome
Cumulative Undergrad GPA is too low.

Take more post-bacc classes. How many credits have you taken in post-bacc?

 

[Think Big]

Your stats look strikingly similar to mine, except that my undergrad grades were lower. I got a whole pile of rejections, but I also got four or five secondaries from schools that screen meaning that, at many schools, my sub-3.0 cumulative and bcpm GPA's did not automatically put me out of the running.

 

[uglyduckling]

state - nj
72 cr post bacc

i havent researched caribbean schools. are there schools in other countries? a friend of a friend went to the philipines a while ago. need to do research...

dont want to do an smp. im getting tired of school w/o a secure future...

i think ill take the extra 9 credits to move up to 3.00.
rack up some more ec's in the meanwhile.

 

[viostorm]

GPA 3.0 is a cutoff for MD schools (or so I have heard). I think that would be helpful to get above that. But, if you can apply now I'd just start and get going.

You are a great candidate for DO school, and I wouldn't turn that down.

You'll get an extra year doing what you want to do in life, that is being a doctor.

 

[t33sg1rl]

3.0 is a common cutoff, but the cutoff is NOT used on people with graduate or post-bacc work.

Your stats are similar to mine... I took just 16 hours of graduate classes, getting a 3.5 GPA, and I did really well on the MCAT. I had NO volunteering or EC's beyond working in a clinical research lab. I applied to 6 schools, got 5 interviews. You're in great shape. Just focus on writing a wonderful, humble PS... you will have to write about the following:
1. Why you were such a slacker in the first place, but do NOT make excuses
2. The "Aha" moment where you realized you wanted to do something big with your life
3. How you buckled down and started working hard to achieve your goals
4. How you learned that even when it seems like you're not on track, hard work and determination (and God if you're religious) can turn everything around

On one of my interviews, the interviewer said flat out that she'd rather accept a more mature student who's bombed out and turned things around and learned from it than a student who's never, ever failed at anything. So get those apps in early and start shopping for a nice suit!

 

[coloradocutter]

i am inspired now and have not asked this yet:

undregrad GPA: 3.9 (BA)
pre-req GPA (still need org I and II, and biochem if required) - all pre-reqs are from 2000: 4.0
law school GPA: 3.4

current position: patent licensing attorney in biotech
age: 32

two great dogs and wonderful husband (oops, they don't care about that!)

no mcat yet.

have worked in hospital for 6 months (again, this was in initial exploration - 2000).

 

[Faze2]

i am inspired now and have not asked this yet:

undregrad GPA: 3.9 (BA)
pre-req GPA (still need org I and II, and biochem if required) - all pre-reqs are from 2000: 4.0
law school GPA: 3.4

current position: patent licensing attorney in biotech
age: 32

two great dogs and wonderful husband (oops, they don't care about that!)

no mcat yet.

have worked in hospital for 6 months (again, this was in initial exploration - 2000).

Hey, I care about that. (not an adcom though. sorry)