Undergrad Junior...I need of advice

[VanessAssenaV]

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I am currently an undergrad junior (reside in N.J) enrolled in the spring semester. I have a low 3.2 GPA (Always took 20+credits a semester & worked full time). After reading lots of threads, I have decided to take my MCATS this summer and will apply my senior year. This will leave me with a year in between undergrad and hopefully med school (M.D).
**I have lowered my work hours, and work load with the hopes of getting my GPA up to at least a 3.4 by my senior year**
**All my work hours are at a private Optometry office. Lots of hand on experience with patients (over 5 years) but the doctor is an O.D not an M.D** However, I have hours of experience shadowing an Ophthalmologist.

So my questions are:
1. What should I do after graduation? Take grad courses? Volunteer at a hospital? I also heard an accelerated nursing degree, that can take 11 months would be a great option.

2. Do you think my chances of getting into a MD school are low?

3. Do you think my decision to take the MCAT in the summer is wise?

4. I wanted to do summer research but I heard I should stop working, & studying this summer so I can just 100% prepare for the MCAT. Do you think this is wise?
5. Do you think med schools will look at my work experience as valuable?

I would appreciate any advice you would have to offer. Thank you

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Your GPA is very low, I think if you can push a 30+ on the mcat you could apply to a SMP. You could also if you get around a 32+ on the mcat apply DO broadly and get in. Otherwise I'm not sure if your working in a optometry clinic counts as clinical experience or not. Research might help your application be a bit more competitive but it's not going to save your low Cgpa.
End of the line, I'll need to know your Sgpa. If you have a decent Sgpa you might be in a better situation, but if not and your Sgpa is like 3.0 then SMP.
Working full time does help make you more competitive, and if your economically disadvantaged then you might get some love from schools.

So SMP
or
Apply to 10 DO schools + a lot of lower tier MD schools(20+).

 

[VanessAssenaV]

My SGPA is 3.1. Now when you say SMP, do you mean a masters program?

 

[Bernoull]

I am currently an undergrad junior (reside in N.J) enrolled in the spring semester. I have a low 3.2 GPA (Always took 20+credits a semester & worked full time). After reading lots of threads, I have decided to take my MCATS this summer and will apply my senior year. This will leave me with a year in between undergrad and hopefully med school (M.D).
**I have lowered my work hours, and work load with the hopes of getting my GPA up to at least a 3.4 by my senior year**
**All my work hours are at a private Optometry office. Lots of hand on experience with patients (over 5 years) but the doctor is an O.D not an M.D** However, I have hours of experience shadowing an Ophthalmologist.

So my questions are:
1. What should I do after graduation? Take grad courses? Volunteer at a hospital? I also heard an accelerated nursing degree, that can take 11 months would be a great option.

2. Do you think my chances of getting into a MD school are low?

3. Do you think my decision to take the MCAT in the summer is wise?

4. I wanted to do summer research but I heard I should stop working, & studying this summer so I can just 100% prepare for the MCAT. Do you think this is wise?
5. Do you think med schools will look at my work experience as valuable?

I would appreciate any advice you would have to offer. Thank you

1. Don't take grad courses it's low yield (coming from someone completing a MS this semester). Only do an MS if u're specifically interested that field as opposed to gpa padding. Becareful about doing a nursing degree bcos u'll then have to explain u're change of heart from nursing to medicine, an unnecessary complication if all u're trying to do it improve ur gpa.

Best thing to do in ur gap year is take more science courses especially in the summer and fall (2011) and ace them, this way if schools want updated transcripts they'll see a continued uptrend.

2. It really depends on ur other EC (mcat, volunteering, leadership, research, LORs, essays etc) schools will look at ur complete package. To be more competitive, raise ur gpa, score well on mcat, apply widely and early. U'll have a decent shot if u do these things..

3. Take it when u're ready (consistently scoring well on AAMC tests), ideally schedule it so u'll have ur score by early June or sooner..

4. Don't bite more than you can chew, research is not as important as a) improving gpa or preparing for MCAT. Besides u'll just be getting ur toes wet in research by the time app cycle rolls in. Prioritize ur time..

5. Yes work exp is valuable, shows independence, maturity, responsibility, time mgmt, teamwork and working & schooling is even more impressive. HOWEVER, if ur grades suffer then it DOES MORE HARM THAN GOOD (again, from someone who worked throughout undergrad & grad school)...
Having the pt contact is desirable also. How many shadowing hrs do u have with the Optho, if need be increase it and try other specialties too.


You definitely can get in, u just need to improve ur package (gpa >3.4, >30 mcat) to be as competitive as u can by next June.

GL

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

My SGPA is 3.1. Now when you say SMP, do you mean a masters program?

Special master program. Its a program where you take medical school classes and if you can get a 3.7 gpa in that program ( costs a lot) you can get into MD school.
However i'd personally just go DO.