steps for medical school....

[behealthy]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I'm not sure what forum to post this in, as I believe I could post in at least 2 that are relevant...

Here's my issue. I'm a 5th year, graduating this spring w/ appx 2.95 gpa ( and a ton of units, something like 240). A number of reasons for the poor gpa ( some health issues, big major switch....). I'm going to be entering a MPH program this coming fall ( yay, so excited) but my ultimate goal is to be a doc. I've basically done all my pre-reqs, but I need another bio lab ( and I'd like to take anatomy...). Never taken the mcat. Tons of EC's, research, clinical experience. I know my GPA is insufficient to get into any MD school.

I was thinking of doing my mph, then trying to enter a post-bacc, then take the mcat. Does that seem reasonable? I'm confidant I can change my grades, but my large number of units will obviously limit my gpa changeability.

Anyone got any suggestions?

 

[JJMrK]

Since you have so many units, a post-bacc can't really help your GPA too much, at least for MD schools.

Look into DO schools, which will allow grade replacement via retakes. What would your GPA be if you replace 20-30 units of C grades with As?

 

[Anthony Hartsoc]

apply to some lower-tier MD schools and some DOs...plus maybe apply to some SMPs...but i think some schools will appreciate your MPH and hopefully you can work hard on shadowing, ec's, and volunteering...

oh...and knock the **** out of your MCAT....that will help you out a bunch more than a post-bacc will..

 

[JJMrK]

Statistically speaking, if you get a 33-35 on the MCAT you have about a 30% chance of acceptance. If you can get your GPA up to a 3.0, with that same MCAT score you have a 40% chance. Source. If you are an URM, your chances are probably better.

 

[nlax30]

Look into DO schools, which will allow grade replacement via retakes. What would your GPA be if you replace 20-30 units of C grades with As?

Yea, see what this would raise you up to. Keep in mind though you may still have to do some talking in regards to the previous grades, but at least you may be able to get your foot in the door.

With a 2.9 and that many credits you're going to find it incredibly hard to raise it much with some post-bacc courses.

What about a SMP? Don't think an MPH is going to help you all that much unless you're just interested in getting it. Maybe some post-bacc courses to retake any bad grades and then do a SMP. I never looked into those sort of programs buy my general understanding is that they're more geared toward situations like this.

 

[witness23]

steps would be

1. mcat (keeeeel it), there are people w/ similar GPAs (im guessing more than 30%) that have gotten in with above 40 scores
2. your mph (you should study for your mcat alongside, take it when you are ready)
3. apply (assuming you are getting a 2 year mph and applying before the 2nd year)
or finish your mph and then apply the summer of.
4. if you are applying after a 1 year mph i'd do undergrad courses while continuing to work on ECs
5. think about the ongoing process and plan

ok i got tired, but you get the picture, something along those lines, smp, blah blah blah

good luck!

 

[nlax30]

Statistically speaking, if you get a 33-35 on the MCAT you have about a 30% chance of acceptance. If you can get your GPA up to a 3.0, with that same MCAT score you have a 40% chance. Source. If you are an URM, your chances are probably better.

Wow, I had never seen that before.

There was 1 person accepted with a GPA of 2.60-2.79 and an MCAT between 5-14...... gutsy applicant.

 

[witness23]

Wow, I had never seen that before.

There was 1 person accepted with a GPA of 2.60-2.79 and an MCAT between 5-14...... gutsy applicant.

swagggg

 

[JJMrK]

OP, I'd forget about the MPH. It's not going to help your GPA situation.

 

[behealthy]

The mph won't help my gpa, but I'm interested it, and want to do it. I understand I won't ever get to a 3.5... but if I can get to a 3.1, I'm much better off. I'm waiting to hear from my mph schools ( got into USC, waiting on 2 others, but all are 2 year programs).

I'm pretty sure I don't need any ec's, except if I can publish. I've got a 300 hours of hospital volunteering, and 3 years of research ( in 3 separate fields). been a ta, grader, started my own study, my own business...

If I were to retake pre-req classes, would medical schools not like that? I understand only DOs do grade replacement, but I'd be using the retake to help for mcat ( depending on how I feel closer to taking the test), and help get the gpa up.

One more question: I know that medical schools prefer classes taken at big unis, but given I'm a CA resident ( and that the UC's near me have packed bio classes), would it be bad if I took some classes at local cc's?

 

[JJMrK]

The mph won't help my gpa, but I'm interested it, and want to do it. I understand I won't ever get to a 3.5... but if I can get to a 3.1, I'm much better off. I'm waiting to hear from my mph schools ( got into USC, waiting on 2 others, but all are 2 year programs).
Just to be clear, courses taken toward your MPH won't raise your undergrad GPA.

I'm pretty sure I don't need any ec's, except if I can publish. I've got a 300 hours of hospital volunteering, and 3 years of research ( in 3 separate fields). been a ta, grader, started my own study, my own business...
ECs look good.

If I were to retake pre-req classes, would medical schools not like that? I understand only DOs do grade replacement, but I'd be using the retake to help for mcat ( depending on how I feel closer to taking the test), and help get the gpa up.
If you're focusing on MD schools, I'd take a higher level course to prove that you can handle the material. If you're looking at DOs, I'd retake the classes you got C's in.

One more question: I know that medical schools prefer classes taken at big unis, but given I'm a CA resident ( and that the UC's near me have packed bio classes), would it be bad if I took some classes at local cc's?
It might look bad to retake pre-reqs at a CC, especially if you originally took them at a UC or a CSU.

..

 

[behealthy]

I'm saying retaking u-grad classes post mph. I'd rather take classes at a UC, but given how hard it is to get into a class as a registered U-grad, getting in as a extension student might be nearly impossible. If that's the case, how do I take classes?

 

[JJMrK]

I'm saying retaking u-grad classes post mph. I'd rather take classes at a UC, but given how hard it is to get into a class as a registered U-grad, getting in as a extension student might be nearly impossible. If that's the case, how do I take classes?

CSU? A school with a defined post-bacc program?

 

[behealthy]

Would I be able to get into a post-bacc with a 3.0? I'd assume so, but I haven't read too much about post-baccs. Cal-states... good suggestion. so here's my tentative schedule
Graduate June 09
Mph Sept 09-> June 11
Post-bacc ( either formal, or informal) June11->June 12 ( and take mcat in june?)
Apply, and work for a year ( or travel...) if I get in, yay.. if not..
SMP....

Does that sound reasonable? I might have to do two years of post-bacc...

 

[JJMrK]

Would I be able to get into a post-bacc with a 3.0? I'd assume so, but I haven't read too much about post-baccs. Cal-states... good suggestion. so here's my tentative schedule
Graduate June 09
Mph Sept 09-> June 11
Post-bacc ( either formal, or informal) June11->June 12 ( and take mcat in june?)
Apply, and work for a year ( or travel...) if I get in, yay.. if not..
SMP....

Does that sound reasonable? I might have to do two years of post-bacc...

Sounds reasonable. I think you'll have some success at DO schools if you are able to replace a bunch of grades during a post-bacc.

Where are you doing your MPH?

 

[behealthy]

Don't know yet. Only got into USC ( waiting on two UC's). I've been offered a job to lead a study, but I figure my resume is solid enough, it's my grades that are poor. I know mph won't help that, but I'm interested in public health, and I figure a mph can't hurt. It's a little depressing knowing how long that road is ahead ( just to get to the real road... med school), but hey, I gotta do what I gotta do.

 

[JJMrK]

Don't know yet. Only got into USC ( waiting on two UC's). I've been offered a job to lead a study, but I figure my resume is solid enough, it's my grades that are poor. I know mph won't help that, but I'm interested in public health, and I figure a mph can't hurt. It's a little depressing knowing how long that road is ahead ( just to get to the real road... med school), but hey, I gotta do what I gotta do.

Well, congrats on that acceptance. Just work hard and you'll get where you want to go. I honestly think that you have a shot at DO schools if you apply while you're doing your MPH.

 

[behealthy]

I have to look into DO schools. I think I might actually fall in line with DO philosophy. Do you mean have a shot during MPH- or after I retake some classes?

 

[JJMrK]

Maybe during your MPH, definitely after taking some classes. Check out the pre-osteo board.

 

[behealthy]

Anyone else have any insight?

 

[nlax30]

I have to look into DO schools. I think I might actually fall in line with DO philosophy. Do you mean have a shot during MPH- or after I retake some classes?

After you retake some classes, 2.9/3.0 is still going to be low. I think average for DO schools overall was somewhere from 3.4-3.6 You'd have to calculate what you could get up to if you retook the courses you had bad grades in.

If you follow this link that first book is the college info book (free PDF download) with info on all DO schools --> http://publish.aacom.org/resources/bookstore/pages/default.aspx

Don't worry too much about the DO "philosophy", of course look into it and decide if learning OMM is a deal breaker for you.... but in general I'd recommend making a list of schools (MD AND DO) that you would attend if accepted and then apply to those.

 

[behealthy]

I'd go anywhere. I've lived on both sides of the country, and visited the middle, and I haven't found a place that I couldn't deal with for 4 years. I understand the process is long ( especially for me), but I want to make myself a decent schedule that at least gives me a fighting chance. I'm thinking I'm going to basically end up redoing all my pre-reqs, and shoot DO, plus have a slightly higher gpa ( overall) to shoot for a few allo.