The **NEW & IMPROVED** official low gpa thread...

[deleted248403]

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EWO:
Lets be realistic - going from a C+ student to a 4.0 student for 2 straight years? Unlikely, not impossible but unlikely. So be more realistic and factor in a 3.7 or 3.5, thats much more likely. And if you surprise yourself great, but dont make plan assuming you are going to be a 4.0 in science classes for two years cos nothing you have done suggests that.

Also a 36-39? Again, unrealistic. Something like 5% of ppl get above a 35, and I doubt many of those got a lot of Cs in the prereqs. Im not saying dont shoot for it, but itd be foolish to plan the next 3 years of life on the basis of you suddenly morphing into a mega student who rocks the MCAT. Its a bit too fantasy land.

I do agree with the plan the UCF adcom gave you tho.

 

[EWO]

EWO:
Lets be realistic - going from a C+ student to a 4.0 student for 2 straight years? Unlikely, not impossible but unlikely. So be more realistic and factor in a 3.7 or 3.5, thats much more likely. And if you surprise yourself great, but dont make plan assuming you are going to be a 4.0 in science classes for two years cos nothing you have done suggests that.

Also a 36-39? Again, unrealistic. Something like 5% of ppl get above a 35, and I doubt many of those got a lot of Cs in the prereqs. Im not saying dont shoot for it, but itd be foolish to plan the next 3 years of life on the basis of you suddenly morphing into a mega student who rocks the MCAT. Its a bit too fantasy land.

I do agree with the plan the UCF adcom gave you tho.

Rob, I'm sure you read my post where I state I am merely aiming high even if the odds are against me. I do not see where I implied or gave the vibe that I am living or planning this journey a bit fantastical because I am not. However, your comment has been noted.

 

[deleted248403]

I did read about the aiming high part - i just want you to plan on high, and if you get skyscraper high then great; just not the other way around

2ish years of good undergrad work (maybe a 2nd bachelors), and then an SMP.

That way if you do well in your undergrad part 2, then you'll get into a good SMP, and then ultimately improve your odds of getting into a med school.

 

[greyeds]

.

 

[deleted248403]

Forget the engineering thing (jobs, internships, anything) if you want medicine.

Wasn't your masters in engineering? If so, then thats useless in the med school game in terms of recovering your poor GPA.

You need an SMP.

Clinical research is very different then bench research - and if you've never done it, how do you know its not for you? Doesnt seem to make sense

 

[greyeds]

.

 

[deleted248403]

What Guju said about research

I hated bench research with a passion, but I really enjoy clinical research. So much that its changed my medical career plans slightly

 

[greyeds]

.

 

[deleted248403]

But you know I wonder how hard it is to get clinical research positions? Was it very difficult not being a med student yet to get such a positiion? I feel like its harder to get such a job without a medical student status, or maybe I just don't know what they look for or where to begin if I did want to get such a job in the future.

I didnt have a hard time at all. I took a clinical research class at UPenn Post-Bac which def helped.
But I got offered a couple actually before I even took the class. They werent great paying or glamorous but it was a foot in the door and a start.
I love the research - am def gonna continue it while in med school

So would you recommend a research position (clinical or otherwise) over something like Americorps or a Teach for America-ish program? Or would it be worth it to take a year of classes (upper lev. bio.) and then apply to an SMP? I found a list of BPCM classes and discovered that I only have 62 credits of it as opposed to my previous assumption of 130 credits. Would it be worth it to get my sGPA above a 3.0 in that year (would not do much for my cGPA though)?

GPA sounds like ur biggest issue, s you should take classes, volunteer at big brother or something, apply to an SMP. And yes, a sGPA below 3.0 is going to kill your chances for any med school

 

[jslo85]

Getting a foot in the door is pretty key. Once you know how to write papers or case studies, opportunities will come more frequently to you if you have connections.

I'm not medical student status either but I've published in Journal of Hospital Medicine (1st auth) and Cutis (2nd auth). The first opportunity was not easy to come by and out of the 4 case studies I wrote, only one was accepted. Kind of a crapshoot ><

 

[cristiano]

del'd

 

[greyeds]

.

 

[deleted248403]

greyeds - doesnt matter. As long as its a 4-yr, and not a CC then you'll be ok

 

[CalandAbel]

Hi, I recently graduated from college with a B.A. in Neuroscience. I had an interesting academic career. The first year and a half of school I didn't take it seriously and eventually dropped out for two semesters. (The last semester before this i got 3 F's and a D). I came back and performed better with GPA's around 3.0 for the last 2 years of college. Overall my GPA is 2.52 with a science of 2.75. I know that past has weighted down both of the GPA's, but I remain optimistic about my self and my abilities. While I am not sure if i could ever pull off a 4.0, I think that a 3.5 is realistic and feel willing to put in the work. I feel my maturity since freshman year has helped me more than anything (in addition to kicking my college drinking habits).

OK. I am interested in pursuing a career in medicine. Specifically I am interested in the going to medical school to be a surgeon and having it paid for by the military. If my dreams come true I would love to do a residency with the airforce.

"When you find yourself in a deep hole, stop digging!"
I plan on taking the MCAT'S and this summer, with determination to do well, as a way to boost my credentials for either a postbac or SMP program.
Are my goals realistic?

 

[DrMidlife]

Are my goals realistic?

Not really, not with your past GPA and highest expectations of 3.5. (Although you do get extra points for honesty.)

First, don't bother taking the MCAT yet. You're not setting yourself up to succeed. When you know the material really well (based on strong science grades, such as A's), then start thinking about MCAT prep.

Second, you've got at least another 2-3 years before you'll have a serious med school app. During those 2-3 years, you'll need to do a great deal of additional undergrad, frankly at much better than 3.5.

Third, get comfortable with DO.

Fourth, consider moving to Texas, taking about 8 years off, and hoping that academic fresh start is still good then.

Best of luck to you.

 

[CalandAbel]

First, don't bother taking the MCAT yet. You're not setting yourself up to succeed. When you know the material really well (based on strong science grades, such as A's), then start thinking about MCAT prep.

These where my pre-med grades:
BIO1 C
BIo2 B+
GenCh 1 B-
GenCh 2 B
Orgo 1 C+
Orgo 2 B
Physics 1 A
Physics 2 B-

Should i really retake them all before attempting the MCAT?

 

[deleted248403]

Take an MCAT practice test and see how you do - i bet it wont be great.

I agree with Midlife on all her other points as well

 

[Isoprop]

Fourth, consider moving to Texas, taking about 8 years off, and hoping that academic fresh start is still good then.

i believe you still will have to report the old grades to med schools (at least the ones outside of tx, not sure how the tx apps work).

 

[DrMidlife]

i believe you still will have to report the old grades to med schools (at least the ones outside of tx, not sure how the tx apps work).

Texas Senate Bill 1321: Academic Fresh Start. Counts only within Texas but Texas has what, 157 med schools now? Any undergrad coursework earned 10 years or more ago is wiped out and no longer considered. So you have to do undergrad again. Also you have to move there and become a resident, which means getting a job and paying taxes before you (re)start school.

 

[CalandAbel]

if feel like in the ten years i would wait i would be able to make a lot of progress on my academic record.

With the low GPA, my plan was to take the MCATs and work on my academics.
Should do the reverse? Re-take some classes and do adv. courses, and then TRY the MCAT afterward? Or is waiting 10 years still seem a better option IYO?
Any advice/direction would be appreciated.

P.S. I tried the free online test from AAMC . I only did the science sections, scored a 7 in PS and 6 in BS. No studying and no course work since May.

 

[deleted248403]

I wouldnt wait 10yrs, but thats just me.

And you've been told what we think. 2-3 years of classes and an MCAT towards the latter stages.

As I thought you did pretty poorly on the MCAT. I know you didnt study but thats significantly below average, and even with studying you arent going to double each section score (no-one does).

 

[check077]

Community college classes: (Graduated with 3.42 cgpa)
1998 Fall: College Algebra - A (3 credits)
1998 Fall: Physical Science Survey I Lab – NC (no credit)
1998 Fall: Physical Science Survey I – B (3 credits)
1999 Spring: Microbiology Lab - A (1 credit)
1999 Spring: Microbiology – A (3 credits)
1999 Spring: Trigonometry – B (3 credits)
1999 Summer: Introduction to Organic BioChemistry Lab – A (1 credit)
1999 Summer: Introduction to Organic BioChemistry – A (3 credits)


4 Year Private College: (Declared Major as Comp. Sci. but, later, changed in Bus. Admin.)
1999 Fall: Calculus with Analytic Geometry – F (3 credits)
2000 Spring: Calculus with Analytic Geometry – D (3 credits)
2000 Fall: Elementary Statistics – B (3 credits)
2001 Spring: Finite Mathematics –B (3 credits)
Graduated with 3.15 after slow start (2 C's in the mist of courses as well)




Later, I went completed Bachelors; BS in Bus. Admin. W/ cgpa: 3.15


I completed an MBA (general business) with 3.5 gpa (Got a C+ in Managerial Finance).


Complete MPA (professional accountancy) with a 3.091 (grad gpa) with 2.75 ugpa for prerequistes = 3.08 cumulative accounting gpa.


I took two educational graduate degree courses: received an A and B – before completing MPA which brought up cgpa for degree to a 3.15 gpa.


Currently, I was just accepted to MAT to complete two additional graduate classes for 5 year teaching license. Presently, I'm studying for the CPA exam. I hate starting something and not finishing it.


However, my grades are not stellar because I had a great deal of anxiety that I managed to self-treatment and in which one session with a social worker helped me to get over it.


I know now to just be productive and stay on time and maintain consistency with that productivity. If I could have gotten help with my issues a while ago, I would have had the confidence to pursue something as rigorous as medical school. I've just turned 33 years old, so I'm no spring chicken.


SGPA: 2.62
cGPA for all college work: 3.21


I have about 238 college credits at this point. Is there any hope for me?

Mississippi doesn't have a formal post-baccaulaureate program, but it does have an daytime SMP, which will present obstacles for me to attend.

I've figured out how to get A's now, so that helps; for me, this means doing to work early and completing whatever is thrown at early. My procrastination caused by self-doubt and anxiety (according to Social Worker) is what caused this, for which I concur.

 

[Isoprop]

You have to separate out your undergrad GPAs and your graduate GPAs. They are different, and adcoms care more about your undergrad GPA unless you do a special masters program.

You have yet to complete your prereqs. You will need to go into a post-bacc program and take all your rereqs. I don't think the "survey to physical science" counts as physics, and you organic chemistry has to be in a "series." You also should retake calculus. I'm not sure if microbio will fulfill a biology prereq, but I wouldn't count on it.

This will require at least 2 years before you apply. It seems that your science GPA (BCPM for biology, chemistry, physics, math) is low but easily fixed because you don't have too many science credits.

SMP is not an option right now because you haven't done your prereq classes and you are nowhere near ready for an MCAT. After 2 years of post-bacc work and taking the MCAT, you should see where you stand.

If you are ready to commit, good luck. Post here if you have any questions or updates.

 

[Isoprop]

Holy crap, they're letting me into med school.

Just wanted to update that I got into my first choice med school. 2 interviews, 2 acceptances, 1 rejection, and i get to withdraw my application everywhere.

Feels good.

 

[check077]

My total sGPA is 2.809 (instead of 2.62) after corrections were made which solely come from undergraduate grades. Now, I've merged my Community College and 4 Year College grades to get total cGPA, which are respectively 3.42 and 3.15 to get a total of 3.27.

I have graduate gpa's of 3.5 (MBA) and 3.15 (MPA: includes 2 graduate education courses to boost gpa).

My cumulative uGPA is 3.23 while my cumulative grGPA is 3.31.

Although Physical Science Survey I and Intro to Org Biochem I would count as sciences, Adcom would just would not consider them prerequisites. Where is the application located?

So, should I differentiate from a science GPA and a BCPM gpa? That is, would the BCPM gpa exclude the Physical Survey I and Intro to Organic Biochemistry I courses--while the science GPA include them?

 

[DrMidlife]

Although Physical Science Survey I and Intro to Org Biochem I would count as sciences, Adcom would just would not consider them prerequisites. Where is the application located?

For MD: http://www.aamc.org/students/applying/amcas/
For DO: https://aacomas.aacom.org/

Traditional prerequisite science coursework is defined by this: the material is tested on the MCAT. Lots of science coursework doesn't meet this definition. Note that med schools can have any prereqs they want, or none, but the standard is still a year each, with labs, of genchem/orgchem/physics/bio. The courses for bio or chem majors tend to be the correct versions. Calculus-based physics is not required. See the MSAR or the DO book for 150+ school-specific examples (and then check med school websites to verify current requirements).

Please keep in mind that your grad work "doesn't count" in med school apps. Undergrad GPA and MCAT are the dominating factors. However there are "special" masters programs, where you effectively do the first year of med school to prove you can handle med school...the grad GPA from such programs will counter a sub-competitive undergrad GPA at some med schools. That said, expect to be questioned on why you "only" got a 3.15 in your MPA.

I'm thinking straight A's in the prereqs and a competitive MCAT (32+) will get you into MD school. Less than that and you'll be in for a fight.

I can't see your earlier post, what are you thinking for getting prereqs done? What part of the country?

Best of luck to you.

 

[check077]

1) That said, expect to be questioned on why you "only" got a 3.15 in your MPA.

2) I'm thinking straight A's in the prereqs and a competitive MCAT (32+) will get you into MD school. Less than that and you'll be in for a fight.

3) I can't see your earlier post, what are you thinking for getting prereqs done? What part of the country?

3) I'm a Mississippi resident and a URM. So, attending a local 4 year college for an informal post-baccalaureate degree program is ideal. Hopefully, I'll be working as a teacher or accountant while getting my prerequisites.

2) However, would Community College be good choice? I've noticed that many do not think it would be a good choice for acquiring the prerequisites. How many prereqs will I need to take? Even at my current job (the temporary job), I've been here for longer than three (3) years. I can study while I'm on this job at times, depending on how slow the day is (2 to 6 hours), for which I didn't take advantage of when working on the MPA. I was reluctant to read anything academic at the time, until I worked myself out of the burnout, slump or mental rut.

1) The 3.15 gpa for the MPA? Well, I knew I should have not majored in that, especially while working in less than ideal circumstances. This was stressful time mentally for me, especially while adjusting to full-time graduate work while working. Actually, it's a long story; however, I'll condense it.

Both then and now, I've been in a rut to find a stable job for YEARS now. I must admit that I finished that degree while as a temporary employee, for which I still am. It's a tough economy in Mississippi. However, I've had anxiety issues that have plagued me since childhood that is the result of unrealistic expectations. I've lately thought about getting some counseling, especially after an informal session with a social worker rendered positive results.

When faced with supposed uncertainty, I used to have anxiety attacks&#8212;thinking I would do bad no matter how much I tried. In hindsight, in the cases where I forraged ahead, I had great results and when I didn't, not so great results. In a sense, I believe my mediocrity may have run its course, because now I've learned from my experiences what NOT to do. I know now that I need to keep it simple. An education professor also told me to keep it simple, and to tone down the unrealistic expectations. I now know how to keep myself at a steady pace and pragmatically plan my day. In short, I've learned to stop over-analyzing stuff and to live in the here and now by not getting too far ahead of myself.

Other contributing factors to the low MPA gpa:
Currently, I'm overcoming health issues like secondary high blood pressure, diabetes, mild kidney disease (or dysfunction), sleep apnea, GERD, high cholesterol. The good news is that if I can lose the weight many of these may not pose a problem in medical school.

 

[DrMidlife]

3) I’m a Mississippi resident and a URM.

Look for an URM program. These are small, supportive, cheap & successful. Probably the closest to you is Wake Forest. Category 5 here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8329886&postcount=1 Also google for more.

So, attending a local 4 year college for an informal post-baccalaureate degree program is ideal. Hopefully, I’ll be working as a teacher or accountant while getting my prerequisites.

Hopefully, you won't have to work during your prereqs, so that you can concentrate on your prereqs. And get A's. If you pay for your postbac with federal student loans, then you're in a manageable situation. But if you have any consumer debt (credit card, car) get rid of it *before* starting prereqs, and then go to school full time. And get A's.

2) However, would Community College be good choice?

No.

Please do some homework on the requirements for med school so that SDN serves as confirmation, not as basic education.
1. Pick a med school.
2. Find their web page
3. Find their admissions page
4. Find the prereqs and other admissions info.
Repeat at least a dozen times with different schools. And/or: get an MSAR. And/or: get this book: http://www.galenpress.com/024.html

1) The 3.15 gpa for the MPA?

Don't worry about your explanation. This is the postbac forum, where 85% of the traffic is GPA comeback strategy for underachievers. (Welcome!) Killer grades in the prereqs, solid MCAT, letters of recommendation, volunteering, clinical exposure: these will get you into med school. Order of events during the pursuit of med school:
1. Get merits.
2. Sell yourself on your merits.
3. Any detriment-recovery that makes a good story becomes a merit.
...
10. When forced, explain your detriments.

Also, start volunteering in a clinical environment (hospital, clinic) right away. 4 hours a week. Forever. Push stretchers, ask questions, be willing to decide it's not for you if you don't love it.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Isoprop]

MD or DO? which school? But even if you don't want to say where exactly, MD or DO?

MD. Wright State.

Repeat at least a dozen times with different schools. And/or: get an MSAR. And/or: get this book: http://www.galenpress.com/024.html

This is the DO version of the MSAR. The pdf is free (the paper/book version costs 12 bucks).

 

[Isoprop]

Thanks! I've eyed this thread even before I started an account here. And I dreamed that I would post my success story here one day. 😎

 

[check077]

Community college classes: (Graduated with 3.42 cgpa); * = Updated
*1997 Fall: Biology I Lab - A (1 credit)
*1997 Fall: Biology I - A (3 credits)
*1998 Spring: Elementary Algebra -C (3 credits)
*1998 Spring: Biology II Lab - B (3 credits)
*1998 Spring: Biology II - B (3 credits)
*1998 Summer: Intermediate Algebra -C (3 credits)

1998 Fall: College Algebra - A (3 credits)
1998 Fall: Physical Science Survey I Lab – NC (no credit)
1998 Fall: Physical Science Survey I – B (3 credits)
1999 Spring: Microbiology Lab - A (1 credit)
1999 Spring: Microbiology – A (3 credits)
1999 Spring: Trigonometry – B (3 credits)
1999 Summer: Introduction to Organic BioChemistry Lab – A (1 credit)
1999 Summer: Introduction to Organic BioChemistry – A (3 credits)

*Two English courses: English I & II w/ B and C

* indicates updated courses, previously omitted

Private College: (Declared Major as Comp. Sci. but, later, changed to Bus. Admin.)
1999 Fall: Calculus with Analytic Geometry – F (3 credits)
2000 Spring: Calculus with Analytic Geometry – D (3 credits)
2000 Fall: Elementary Statistics – B (3 credits)
2001 Spring: Finite Mathematics –B (3 credits)

*English course - A

Graduated with 3.15 after slow start


I have no pure science grades of less than a B, but math grades fluctuated between A (1), B (3), C (2), D (1), and F (1).

While retaking Calculus I, it is my premise that I should take higher level biology courses regardless of the fact that the entry level biology courses have expired. This is to show recent grades and academic performance in that area to Adcoms.

 

[deleted248403]

Your science GPA is usually calculated (AMCAS style) by combining Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Math - thus you'll see BCPM referred to around here.

Thus, when calculating your sGPA you should factor in your math classes - which at quick glance look to tank your sGPA

 

[utexaspremed]

Does anyone know of any post-baccalaureate program in Texas that specifically enhances your undergraduate GPA?

Thanks

 

[DrMidlife]

Does anyone know of any post-baccalaureate program in Texas that specifically enhances your undergraduate GPA?

Thanks

Any 4yr university that will let you take classes will do the job.

UT Dallas has a program with structure for taking more undergrad. There's a long thread in this forum about it.

Postbacs don't enhance your GPA. You do. Postbacs just let you take classes.

Best of luck to you.

 

[tley1115]

I come and read stats on here a lot and I would like to ask a question:

How is it that someone I know got into a very reputable MD school with a 2.8 undergraduate gpa and 3.0 in science? Had a masters degree (non science and definitely not SMP) at a 4.0 and a 34 mcat score? You guys always say how impossible md schools are so I am just curious as to what may have happend in this situation. The person was not an underrepresented minority student either. Just a typical applicant...

What would lead them to make exceptions like that?

 

[deleted248403]

Tley - per the MSAR, 102 applied and were accepted with a 2.80-3.0 cGPA and a 34; I would imagine a good number of those are URMs thus making your friend truly an exception.
The solid masters will certainly have helped their situation, and they might have had some other ECs or circumstances which an adcom might have taken into account.

 

[DrMidlife]

I come and read stats on here a lot and I would like to ask a question:

How is it that someone I know got into a very reputable MD school with a 2.8 undergraduate gpa and 3.0 in science? Had a masters degree (non science and definitely not SMP) at a 4.0 and a 34 mcat score? You guys always say how impossible md schools are so I am just curious as to what may have happend in this situation. The person was not an underrepresented minority student either. Just a typical applicant...

What would lead them to make exceptions like that?

MD schools aren't impossible. DO schools reject a similar percentage of applicants (55%+). The point is that it's a sucker bet to try to get in with sub-competitive stats - planning should focus on the bell curve, not anecdotes, imho.

For every anecdote like the above, there are 1-2 anecdotes (in my experience) of somebody with a 4.0, 38S, published etc. who can't get accepted.

In these anecdotes, there's ALWAYS something they're not telling you. The surprising-acceptee has a killer LOR from the excom's college roommate. The surprising-rejectee has f-bomb "Tourette's".

I was told once that it all comes down to ultimate frisbee. You're nothing special, you come to your interview, and your excom also played ultimate, and boom, now you're special.

Again, there's prudent planning, and then there's planning to win the lottery. I think the average low-GPA experience is like mine: apply with a sub-competitive app, see what happens...and then you're in, or you quit, or you recover by improving your chances. Or, sure, you can keep applying with low odds and try to win the lottery.

Best of luck to you.

 

[redstar33309]

Your science GPA is usually calculated (AMCAS style) by combining Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Math - thus you'll see BCPM referred to around here.

Thus, when calculating your sGPA you should factor in your math classes - which at quick glance look to tank your sGPA

Would computer science count as math?

 

[DrMidlife]

Would computer science count as math?

I got this one.

MD/AMCAS: computer science is not math
DO/AACOMAS: computer science is math...but math isn't science
TX/TMDSAS: computer science is math

That's as of 2007, so verify with the app services.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Moebius]

First off, that 34 MCAT makes a huge, huge difference. Second off, even though overall was not 3.0, their sciences were the 3.0 minimum at many schools, and 4.0 in a MS that may have made them look unique even if it didn't improve their GPA situation per se. Thirdly, they may for all we know be from a state that has schools that are easier to get into or may have a stunning story we don't know about with regards to what brought about that GPA or may have gotten that GPA from a school where there wasn't a lot of grade inflation in a major that wasn't the easiest such as Berkley Physics. Do you know if that 3.0 science was without doing a postbac of any sort? If a postbac was involved in the science part their overall may have been 3.0 but their postbac may have been a 4.0 and looked at separately. or perhaps they had a higher trend, and upper trends may make a difference at a lot of places as I've seen first hand. So maybe they have a 1.55 at first year but 4.0 several other years or something high. See my point? Assessing a single number is not assessing the whole situation. Do you know their ECs? The quality of their letters or their essays? There's a lot that goes into the process. You can do the best you can do. I won't give you my stats but tell you I was told some pretty bad advice on here and yet today I stand with at least one interview. And I was told I'd get automatically screened out everywhere by students on these forums through PM. So you can't assess a situation as black and white. it depends on the school and their individual policies. Good luck.

Gurudoc knows what she is talking about. There are a lot of people who have too much time and give out terrible, flawed, and foolish advices that are too often accepted as truth. I remember threads 3-4 years ago that bashed anyone who had less than a 3.5 until someone began posting official statistics. Now, we don't see the exact same threads, but it has reinvented itself, again, we see bad advice.

The overall lesson of getting into med school for a poor start is accepting that it will take time to repair the damages, and those that have succeeded were patiently enough to wait. Watch out for dangerous advice wrapped around false words and those giving them should be ashamed of plastering it. 🙂

 

[Bluehopeful18]

Stats:
sGPA: 2.879
cGPA: 2.980
Biological Science Major - UCI
increasing upward trend

I'm a 4th year graduating this coming June. I want to apply to the UC Postbaccs, but what are my chances? I've also looked into Western U's Masters Program/Postbacc, does anyone have an opinion on this program?

What else should I be looking into? I want to get into a program that will help my undergrad GPA and show medical schools that I can handle a hard course load.

ECs are great: 700 clincial hours (volunteer/internship), Research, a lot of community + campus involvement.

Any advice will help!

 

[jslo85]

UC post-baccs are usually for URMs or socio-economically disadvantaged students. That said, they also usually seem to look for those with relatively competitive stats as well.

For Western U, they reserve a certain limited number of seats for "linkage" straight into the medical/dental/pharmacy school out of the total seats. After your interview, they'll tell you if you've been accepted for a linkage seat. Good school but expensive program.

If you're down with osteopathic medicine, then go to a graduate biomedical program at an osteopathic school that you're looking to attend if accepted. If you're looking more broadbased for options, I'd focus on getting a high MCAT and attending an allopathic SMP such as EVMS or BU MAMS.

 

[NJD519]

Here we go,

Synopsis:
Graduated with a 2.86 uGPA as Medical Science major -- have a couple of awards. Worked for two years in the clinical laboratories (Microbiology, Hematology, Blood Bank, etc...). Started taking post-bacc courses (HES) while working full-time, volunteering, and shadowing. Next, took a full-time job as Clinical Research Coordinator (lots of patient contact, research, etc...). Current uGPA 3.0 / post-bacc GPA 3.8 (32 Credits).

ECs: Student government, 40 hrs ER physician (MD) shadowing, ER Volunteering, observed a few surgeries in a past job, will be teaching Pathophysiology lab at my alma mater.

LORS: Have very nice recommendations set up.

Plan:
Wanted to take at least 8 more credits next semester. Take MCAT in July, in order to focus my studies. Then apply. Not sure what is the best way to go from here, logistically. Also, I'm assuming I should only apply to SMPs.

Any help would be phenomenal. Yaay for camaraderie. 👍

 

[DrMidlife]

Plan:
Wanted to take at least 8 more credits next semester. Take MCAT in July, in order to focus my studies. Then apply. Not sure what is the best way to go from here, logistically. Also, I'm assuming I should only apply to SMPs.

Any help would be phenomenal. Yaay for camaraderie. 👍

Good work on that postbac.

If your MCAT score is strong, I think you should apply MD/DO and see what happens. You'll know whether you'll need an SMP by the time you need to apply to SMPs (apps open as early as October, as late as April).

Is it possible for you to take the MCAT by May, in order to have an early app? A July MCAT means you don't have your score until August or September. That's a late app for a comeback. Also, a July '11 MCAT puts you in an SMP in Fall '12. Not loving July here.

Regardless, don't take the MCAT until you're ready to get your best possible score.

Best of luck to you.

 

[NJD519]

Thanks for the prompt response DrMidlife.

However, I'm not sure if it is just me or the 5th Tecate I've had, but even if I take the MCAT this upcoming May '11, won't I still be looking at a SMP (or MD for that matter) start date of Fall '12?

 

[DrMidlife]

Thanks for the prompt response DrMidlife.

However, I'm not sure if it is just me or the 5th Tecate I've had, but even if I take the MCAT this upcoming May '11, won't I still be looking at a SMP (or MD for that matter) start date of Fall '12?

May '11 MCAT would allow for Fall 2012 MD or SMP.

July '11 MCAT easily covers Fall 2012 SMP, yes, but would imho rule out MD for Fall 2012. I think you have a chance at MD for Fall 2012, *if* you're in a state with a public med school that has heavy instate preference and isn't ridiculously competitive (CA, NY, PA etc), and *if* your MCAT score is strong.

If you have no intention to apply MD for Fall 2012, then take the extra prep time and take the MCAT in August or September imho. It costs $50 to reschedule and if you're anything like me, a deadline that CAN move WILL move.

Best of luck to you.

Edit: I would count MA as a reasonable state, if you like UMass.

 

[NJD519]

Ahh, I see. Getting early applications in...

However, I'm still skeptical on my application, even if I do well on the MCAT. I wanted my application to be as strong as possible the first time around, hence the SMP. I'm not sure how it looks applying to MS multiple times. Although, Google tells me that it doesn't make too much of a difference applying for a second time around. You agree?

Also, I would be working full-time, volunteering (Sundays), teaching Pathophysiology at UMass (Friday), taking 2 classes (Back-to-back on Tue), while studying for a May '11 MCAT. Strangely, I feel it will go o.k. Just say you also agree...

 

[copon]

km

 

[ledoc]

lj;l

 

[ledoc]

Or otherwise do an SMP like BUSM's MAMS or Tufts MBS where you can also strengthen your app in other ways and then apply.

That's pretty much why I was thinking Mt. Sinai's program might be a good route - because they give you a lot of research experience and it isn't as cut and dry as some of the SMPs...