Trying to turn things around. Need advice please!

[SPika]

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Hello SDN! I've been lurking these forums for quite some time, and really admire everyone here for working cooperatively, lending strangers some advice, etc. I am a 21 year old male in New Jersey, and recently graduated with a BS degree. Well, here's my story:

My graduating cumulative GPA is 2.86, and science GPA about 2.50. I clearly didn't apply myself. I didn't have a purpose and was just floating around.

Of course, I don't have the credentials, and have been nothing but ashamed of my performance. However, shortly after graduating, I took a family vacation to see my relatives overseas. It was a totally life-changing experience, and right now, as I am back in the States, it's exactly like night and day - I feel like an absolutely different person. Spiritually, mentally, and emotionally...which affects me physically too. Some people here know what I'm talking about. The desire, will power, etc...I could go into more detail, but I want to limit my post as much as possible so I don't possibly lose viewers in my wall of text 🙂

I've been accepted to a one year Masters degree program at the same school I completed my BS work, and will pursue it, aiming to show my true colors.

Since my grad classes will be held at night, I hope to get a part time job during the day (related to my degree), and plan on volunteering at my local ambulance corps (I've had ~1 year experience prior). As far as my extracurricular activities go, I teach violin, started a club at school, have done two undergrad research projects, and doctor shadowing. Any suggestions here?

I've been prepping for the August 24th MCAT for a number of months already, and feel quite confident I can hit around 10-12 in verbal and biological sections. I've gotta work on my physical section a bit more though. My current assessment is that I will score around 7 or 8...

So, assuming I do well in my graduate program with a high GPA, and my MCAT score is good, will I be a competitive MD applicant? I understand admissions committees will look at my trend, but would it be enough for MD matriculation? Or would I have to go to post-bacc program?

All advice is appreciated, thanks in advance.

 

[alwaysaangel]

Hello SDN! I've been lurking these forums for quite some time, and really admire everyone here for working cooperatively, lending strangers some advice, etc. I am a 21 year old male in New Jersey, and recently graduated with a BS degree. Well, here's my story:

My graduating cumulative GPA is 2.86, and science GPA about 2.50. I clearly didn't apply myself. I didn't have a purpose and was just floating around.

Of course, I don't have the credentials, and have been nothing but ashamed of my performance. However, shortly after graduating, I took a family vacation to see my relatives overseas. It was a totally life-changing experience, and right now, as I am back in the States, it's exactly like night and day - I feel like an absolutely different person. Spiritually, mentally, and emotionally...which affects me physically too. Some people here know what I'm talking about. The desire, will power, etc...I could go into more detail, but I want to limit my post as much as possible so I don't possibly lose viewers in my wall of text 🙂

I've been accepted to a one year Masters degree program at the same school I completed my BS work, and will pursue it, aiming to show my true colors.

Since my grad classes will be held at night, I hope to get a part time job during the day (related to my degree), and plan on volunteering at my local ambulance corps (I've had ~1 year experience prior). As far as my extracurricular activities go, I teach violin, started a club at school, have done two undergrad research projects, and doctor shadowing. Any suggestions here?

I've been prepping for the August 24th MCAT for a number of months already, and feel quite confident I can hit around 10-12 in verbal and biological sections. I've gotta work on my physical section a bit more though. My current assessment is that I will score around 7 or 8...

So, assuming I do well in my graduate program with a high GPA, and my MCAT score is good, will I be a competitive MD applicant? I understand admissions committees will look at my trend, but would it be enough for MD matriculation? Or would I have to go to post-bacc program?

All advice is appreciated, thanks in advance.

I dunno - those scores are pretty dismal and you're not far enough out to be a true "non-trad." You're probably going to need to repeat some courses (especially any prerequisites that you got C's or Ds in) at a local CC.

Honestly, I think at this point your best bet is to retake as many bad grades as possible, rock the MCAT, complete your masters programs and apply DO (they replace grades for retaken classes, MD doesn't making it MUCH harder for you to look like a good applicant).

Good luck.

 

[Catalystik]

So, assuming I do well in my graduate program with a high GPA, and my MCAT score is good, will I be a competitive MD applicant?

Graduate degree grades do not generally bail out a low undergrad GPA. There are a few allopathic med schools that will regard the BCPM GPA in a hard science traditional masters, but most do not. A grad degree will usually be regarded as a very nice EC, but it won't help get you into med school except as it might provide opportunities for teaching and research.

To make an MD acceptance more likely: If, by taking additional undergrad coursework, you can raise your cGPA to > 3.0, and you get a 30+ on the MCAT you would be a candidate for a Special Masters Program (SMP) which could override your uGPA if you get an extraordinarily high GPA in the program. You can read more about this in the Postbaccalaureate Programs forum of SDN. This is not the same as a traditional masters.

In your case, it would be easier and cheaper to redeem your low uGPA by retaking classes you did poorly in and applying to DO schools which only count the most recent class in their application GPA calculation. Unlike AMCAS, the DO schools merge their undergrad and graduate GPAs on the application. Some, but not all of them, consider the traditional masters degree GPA so that it helps to override a previous poor academic performance.

 

[SPika]

Thank you Catalystik and alwaysaangel for your advice.

Graduate degree grades do not generally bail out a low undergrad GPA. There are a few allopathic med schools that will regard the BCPM GPA in a hard science traditional masters, but most do not. A grad degree will usually be regarded as a very nice EC, but it won't help get you into med school except as it might provide opportunities for teaching and research.

I am pursuing a masters in chemical biology. So hopefully that counts as a "hard science" 😛

I have tried speaking to my adviser about my situation, and he has shot me down in every way possible, and has yet to offer positive advice to me. In fact, every time I went talk to him, I have always left his office with that feeling that he looks down on me and does not support me at all. Anyway, I really appreciate this forum. You guys are more helpful than my college adviser, seriously. Thank you.
Also, more advice is always appreciated!

I will update this thread with my progress in the upcoming months, so hopefully other people in my situation or similar can see what's going on 🙂