Trying to find my way in this world... help a re-applicant out

[airblaster]

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I applied twice, once in undergrad and most recently last year during graduate school. Denied both times. I am now graduated and unemployed, trying to decide if I want to work or try to give it another crack. Regardless, I need to get a job soon, perhaps something research or medically related to help boost my stats.

Is it worth applying this cycle? I have considered DO schools and over-seas. I am also getting over some personal issues and am finding it really hard to concentrate and focus on myself, making this even more difficult.

About me::
Undergrad in microbiology, GPA 3.00 (bad, I know)
Master's in bacteriology, GPA 3.15 (bad, I know, especially for grad school)
MCAT (taken three times): 19, 18, 24 (again, not good)
My father is a physician and I've shadowed him as well as other doctor's he knows.
Hospital volunteer for 2 years
1 year of neuro research
1 summer of microbiology research
Micro lab teaching assistant
Leadership certificate through my university
Involved in boy scouts, outing club, bio club, pre-med club
Personal interests are snowboarding and art


My stats are not great. I was an excellent student in high school, scored very highly and didn't have to try very hard. I got to college and lost my way a bit, got my heart broken and had family issues, this made it extremely difficult to focus on school. I am still dealing with some of these issues.

I am looking to start from scratch and fight back hard. I am deciding if I should apply now with the stats I have, or get a job and spend the year upping my stats (volunteer more, study for the MCAT), and apply next cycle. I'm 25 so I really hate to waste any more time.

I have even considered applying and trying to get into Ross University's January class. I'd really like to go to a US MD school, however. Where should I look? Can I still apply this cycle with decent chances?

I appreciate any help.

 

[Valadi]

Hey man,

Sorry to hear about all the personal troubles you've gone through in the last couple years.

Unfortunately, that while your undergrad GPA wasn't great, there wasn't much of an upward trend in grad school. Schools do take personal issues into account when there is otherwise evidence of having overcome them and doing significantly better than you had. Moreover, the MCAT is holding you back from US MD schools as well.

A poster in I think the premed forums made a list of all US MD/DO schools with average stats (I think it was LizzyM?). There are a handful of DO schools with an average MCAT around 24, and DO schools are becoming more and more competitive.

I think looking into Carib schools at this point would be a good option, but again, they have also become more competitive in recent years. If you can get into Ross, I would go for it. St. George I think also has a pre-med school curriculum for 6 months which you can go to if you apply and they defer you to it to build a stronger basic science foundation. I'm not very familiar with carib schools, so hopefully someone else can comment on them.

Good luck.

 

[HumbleMD]

Hey man,

Sorry to hear about all the personal troubles you've gone through in the last couple years.

Unfortunately, that while your undergrad GPA wasn't great, there wasn't much of an upward trend in grad school. Schools do take personal issues into account when there is otherwise evidence of having overcome them and doing significantly better than you had. Moreover, the MCAT is holding you back from US MD schools as well.

A poster in I think the premed forums made a list of all US MD/DO schools with average stats (I think it was LizzyM?). There are a handful of DO schools with an average MCAT around 24, and DO schools are becoming more and more competitive.

I think looking into Carib schools at this point would be a good option, but again, they have also become more competitive in recent years. If you can get into Ross, I would go for it. St. George I think also has a pre-med school curriculum for 6 months which you can go to if you apply and they defer you to it to build a stronger basic science foundation. I'm not very familiar with carib schools, so hopefully someone else can comment on them.

Good luck.

Why do yo want to become an MD? Do you like managing care teams? Or is it that you want to help sick people? If it's the latter, I'd strongly consider PA school, or the accelerated NP schools. They're both great careers, and quicker and cheaper than MD.

 

[400292]

well...sounds like your life has been the average American life. Not everyone can kick ass in school and on the MCAT (I def didn't, and I kicked ass at a top 20 college and have a kick ass resume). No one cares how you did in high school anymore.

Unfortunately, stats for admission into ever more education are getting higher by the year. Thus, even though you may want to help people (like the 40,000 other applicants), you must have those damn stats to 'qualify' you to say you want to help others. Really....I am a big supporter of the high non-correlation between awesome stats and complete success at the career (a medical student...and doctor after med school). Just ask any current med student...most will say all that memorization really didn't help them cure people who come to them off the street. They still have to go look up stuff and read a book for a diagnosis, until after 100+ of the same they finally get the 'muscle' memory to know how to diagnose that illness properly and quickly.

You sound like a shoe in for a PhD. Sure, everyone and their mother has a PhD...but if you are really just looking for more education or shelter from 'real' life, then grad school Otherwise, 90+% of employers today want bachelor degrees...and anything else is 'overqualified'. The advise above about PA or RN is good....large need for those, and guaranteed employ.

 

[Valadi]

Just ask any current med student...most will say all that memorization really didn't help them cure people who come to them off the street. They still have to go look up stuff and read a book for a diagnosis, until after 100+ of the same they finally get the 'muscle' memory to know how to diagnose that illness properly and quickly.

I don't speak for every medical student, but that has definitely not been my experience. While many (I hope most) will search the literature for current data on a specific illness to fill a gap in knowledge, there should be a foundation for it put down well ahead of time. If we went to a book with each patient to come up with a diagnosis, we'd simply be trying to match symptoms with a disease. We might as well use WebMD.

I don't know what the data is on how well standardized tests correlate with clinical skills, especially the MCAT. As of right now, though, the MCAT is the best predictor of board exam scores for medical schools. Hence why it is strongly looked at. It's not a great predictor, it's just simply the best they have right now.

OP's best bet is to work hard now and show that he can handle drinking from the open fire hydrant of med school information and do well. It's an uphill, never ending battle. Case-in-point, I'm cruising an all-nighter on a research year 😱 trying to bust out pubs.

OP: Put your past issues behind you, bust your ass, and with time you can make anything happen.

 

[Inkoate]

Hi man, I'm a reapplicant like yourself, and I also had a broken heart after ending a very rocky relationship in college. I know this affected my performance on my first and second MCAT. My best advice is to give yourself some time to first of all deal with the emotions. For me, that involved meditation, prayer, talking to friends and supportive family members. There is no one easy answer, but first of all, get your focus back, and if being a doc is what you want, you'll definitely achieve it.

If you apply to Ross, I think you can be admitted if you apply now. I don't think they require an interview. Just highlight your strengths in the app and your rationale for pursuing medicine, and you should be fine. You got this...👍

 

[Morsetlis]

I'm not sure what you can do without money at this point. The most expedient way to get into med school would be Caribbeans, but I would strongly recommend against it due to the new US med schools and non-rising GME slots. The second most expedient way would be a formal post-bacc or SMP with linkage, but that would cost ~$50k which you'd have to borrow. You will in very high probabilities NOT get into medical school with your current stats without some sort of remediation. One thing which you CAN do without spending too much money would be replacing the basic BCPM grades with some community courses, then apply DO.

 

[MsRen]

Caribbean schools are a good option. try getting into Grenada's.

 

[FTFY]

It sounds like it may be a tough journey ahead. No one can fault you for being honest about your reflection of yourself. I believe the other posters have given great advice about your options.

PA school and advanced NP schools are great. They also provide you great fulfilling careers. Much of the training after school will be on the job training, and looking at your GPA's, perhaps on the job training may be more rewarding to you than an intensive medical school program.

Life does throw us many curveballs and it is unfortunate that many of us are often unprepared. Being that your studies have not improved through attending a graduate program, I would be wary of going through an expensive Caribbean program, especially since they are usually lacking in resources to help struggling students. It would terrible to have anyone start a program they will ultimately not finish, or not become accepted to a US residency which they desire. This is not to say that you will not be successful, however, it looks like you will be facing a significant uphill battle by going to a Caribbean that will not help you in your studies.

I would take some time to really delve into yourself and reflect upon your reasons for becoming a provider. You may want to look into doing a medical assistant certification course, gaining some work experience, and then moving forward from there. Further, you may want to look back at your graduate and studies and perhaps you may want to dive back into that arena to see if you can find your original passion that caused you to begin those studies.

I wish you luck in your travels and hope that you find what you are looking for.

 

[Total180]

I'm not sure why people are trying to get you to change to PA or NP without having suggested DO schools. If you want to be a doctor you can, but obviously you know it is going to take time and money to get into a US MD school. The caribbean schools are a good option for someone who doesn't have a chance at a US school. However, I think you could really have a shot at DO schools even with your stats the way they are. It will be much easier in the long run having gone to a US school, especially the way things are going politically right now concerning medicine.

 

[dragonfly99]

Are you sure you want to be a doc? Sometimes people feel pushed, or that they "should" do it by default, if a parent was a doc.
Your 24 MCAT is better, but still very low. I don't think your idea of getting into a US MD school is realistic right now. You have to show that you can do much better academically. 3.0 students are not the ones who populate med schools (in general...unless you are some very underrepresented minority and with significant volunteer experiences, etc. to boot).

You need to show that you are very determined and that you can do the work.

Caribbean schools would take you now, but you might not graduate if you don't change what you've done in the past. Even if you managed to graduate you might not pass your USMLE board exams, and that = the same as not graduating.

You need to take a long hard look at what you want out of life and what you are willing to do to get it.