unexpected delay...what to do for 2 years

[dr milky]

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Looking for advice/ideas...

My situation:

Graduated in 2000 with a 2.71 ugpa, spent the last 7 years flying for the Navy (first carrier based jets, now an advanced strike flight instructor). 2 years ago I got the idea to make a radical career change and started fulfilling post-bacc credits while working full time active duty. Managed a 4.0 at a CC and studied for and took the MCATs this past Jan. Very pleased with my MCAT as it will help to offset the poor ugpa. This is my background, not a "what are my chances" thread as I have assessed them for myself already.

My dilemma:

Last year I was reasonably sure (vague promises from detailers/etc.) that the Navy would let me start med school in the fall of '08, provided I got in, and as long as I promised to be a Navy doc (they officially 'own' me until 2010). Now they have rescinded those vague promises and decided that I will have to serve as a flight instructor until 2010. This isn't a gripe about the military, just a fact. Since my application is ready to go now, with the MCAT score as the big exclamation point on my argument that "I'm all grownsed up now..." I'm kind of in a quandary as to what I should do for the next 2 years in order to keep it from going stale. I'm already working on additional shadowing and community service projects.

My options:
1. Additional ugrad science courses at a local CC or lower level state university (with the post bacc courses factored in I'm looking at a 2.88 cum, 3.27 bcpa).
2. Weekend MBA program at a mid-tier state univ.

 

[relentless11]

Keep boosting the undergrad GPA. An overall GPA of 2.88 is still very much in the red zone. You want to be at a 3.0 or better. Its not a magic number per se, but you're in a lot better place. Also please take into consideration the following:

(1) Although taking courses at a CC is convenient, the fact that you didn't do so hot in undergrad at a university but now doing better at a CC doesn't provide too much proof that you can do well in academic coursework. Adcoms, and med school advisers have always suggested that you take upper division undergrad classes to boost GPA. All CC courses are lower division. Of course there's also the potential (true or not) that CC's are viewed as inferior to university coursework.

There are tons of topics about this, but generally, going to a CC out of convenience to take your pre-reqs is OK if you have done well at a university too. However if you had a poor university GPA, and then go to a CC and do well, it may infer that you just did better because the classes were easier, and your performance not indicative of ability to do well in med school.

(2) MCAT does not replace a poor GPA, or vice versa. Most schools treat MCAT and GPA equally. A good MCAT score may raise a little flag to look at an application much closer. However you are competing against other applicants, not necessarily playing a numbers game with the adcom. You might see threads that talk about equations where MCAT is weighted, or GPA is weighted more. It may be true at some schools, but for the most part, they're treated equally, and non-interchangeable. Why? MCAT is an exam taken in what...5 hours? Its a standardized exam independent of the hardships faced by a student taking a full time courseload in upper division science classes. Conversely, the MCAT's standardization is important because not every teacher/school teaches a class the same way. Both are important.

(3) An MBA program (unless you see yourself using one as a physician) is completely useless in getting yourself into med school given your situation. Graduate level classes do not improve your GPA. With a poor undergrad GPA, doing well in an MBA program may very well just say that you might want to go into business since you apparently do better there. Do the MBA program if you like it and will use it, but really you should focus on getting your GPA up.

Therefore, I think you should look into (a) an official post-bacc program, or (b) take more university level classes, and (c) get your undergrad GPA to a 3.0 or higher. The Navy experience will be a good unique extracurricular for your application, however try to cover your bases with other aspects that may or may not include research, community service (which technically could be the Navy), and whatever else floats your boat. Good luck!

 

[DrMom]

I agree with the boosting UG GPA recommendation.

 

[QofQuimica]

I agree with the boosting UG GPA recommendation.

Me three. Get that GPA above a 3.0, OP, and take some upper level UG classes (junior and senior level). to you. 🙂

 

[Pemberley]

I suspect that undergraduate classes (you can enroll as a "non-enrolled student" -- or whatever similar terminology they use at your local four-year university) will help you far, far more than an MBA. Take at least some courses at a four-year if you can, but CC is much, much better than nothing.

But -- that's without knowing how many credits are already reflected in your 2.88... figure out how many credits of 4.0 (or 3.9, to allow yourself some room not to be perfect) will at least make your GPA not start with a "2"... if you went from 2.71 to 2.88 in two years, it's a pretty good bet that another 1.5-2 could get you above the 3.0 mark, but check the numbers and be sure.

Will your MCAT expire between now & when you can apply? If so, you've got a whole different problem on your hands.

If you PCS between now and then, give some serious thought to state residency. I firmly believe that I would not be starting med school this August if I were not a Texas resident.

MCAT won't erase a bad GPA. (I had been rather hoping that the one would mitigate the other -- but no.)

 

[dr milky]

Thanks for the responses.

I will be within 3 years of my MCAT when I can apply again, which is still good for most schools.

20 4.0 credits should get me above a 3.0, its just a real pain in the arse to get my command to work with a class schedule.

I am a TX resident.

Not counting on the MCAT (13 x 3 = 39M) to cancel the GPA, just to get a school to look more closely at my application, which, like most with military service, is better than its numbers.

BTW, Q, I'm a newbie, what does OP stand for?

 

[QofQuimica]

Thanks for the responses.

I will be within 3 years of my MCAT when I can apply again, which is still good for most schools.

20 4.0 credits should get me above a 3.0, its just a real pain in the arse to get my command to work with a class schedule.

I am a TX resident.

Not counting on the MCAT (13 x 3 = 39M) to cancel the GPA, just to get a school to look more closely at my application, which, like most with military service, is better than its numbers.

BTW, Q, I'm a newbie, what does OP stand for?

OP=the original poster. That would be you. 🙂

I didn't apply to the TX state schools, so I don't know how it works for y'all. But here in FL, if you have an UG GPA below a 3.0, the FL schools usually screen you out presecondary. So I really think it would be worth taking those classes and getting yourself at least up to that 3.0 mark. If you can go to that state U where you were going to do your MBA, you can definitely find enough classes to take. How is your science GPA? If you want some ideas of science classes to take, I'd recommend biochem (some med schools require it anyway) and some kind of cell or molecular bio. I don't think they really cover those subjects too well in med school (well, not at mine anyway), and if you come in not being a bio major, it is a helpful background to have.

Nice showing on the MCAT, BTW. 👍

 

[wook]

Looking for advice/ideas...

My situation:

Graduated in 2000 with a 2.71 ugpa, spent the last 7 years flying for the Navy (first carrier based jets, now an advanced strike flight instructor). 2 years ago I got the idea to make a radical career change and started fulfilling post-bacc credits while working full time active duty. Managed a 4.0 at a CC and studied for and took the MCATs this past Jan. Very pleased with my MCAT as it will help to offset the poor ugpa. This is my background, not a "what are my chances" thread as I have assessed them for myself already.

My dilemma:

Last year I was reasonably sure (vague promises from detailers/etc.) that the Navy would let me start med school in the fall of '08, provided I got in, and as long as I promised to be a Navy doc (they officially 'own' me until 2010). Now they have rescinded those vague promises and decided that I will have to serve as a flight instructor until 2010. This isn't a gripe about the military, just a fact. Since my application is ready to go now, with the MCAT score as the big exclamation point on my argument that "I'm all grownsed up now..." I'm kind of in a quandary as to what I should do for the next 2 years in order to keep it from going stale. I'm already working on additional shadowing and community service projects.

My options:
1. Additional ugrad science courses at a local CC or lower level state university (with the post bacc courses factored in I'm looking at a 2.88 cum, 3.27 bcpa).
2. Weekend MBA program at a mid-tier state univ.

Only other thing I would add is to consider getting an MPH (Master of Public Health) if you have an interest. It may open doors later on in your medical career.


Wook

 

[ut2010]

You should definitely take more upper level undergrad classes to improve your GPA. An idea is to matriculate in a one year master's program and and in addition to taking required classes for the degree, take upper level undergrad science classes.

MBA is fine or any other degree for that matter, choose a degree that will be useful to you in the future.

Also, make sure you have clinical experience, a job in clinical research or a position in an hospital would strengthen your application. Certain jobs only require a bachelors degree in a science subject.

 

[Dianyla]

What about applying, and then deferring matriculation? Is that even possible? 😕

 

[powerbooki]

dr. milky, what aircraft do you fly? If I were on the committee, I will give anyone with 39M + >500hrs PIC in F18/F14/A6/JSF/Harrier... nod. I think the combo is simply so unique, I doubt any one has seen a second just like you. Good luck!

 

[MentorOfMinos]

Were it me, sir, I would shoot for lots of time spent working with doctors. See if you can use some of your designated "community service" time to volunteer in a hospital emergency room or a neonatal ICU or something of that sort (depending on what kind of medicine you want to go into). It never ever hurts to shadow another doctor or shadow any that you've already shadowed MORE (assuming they're willing to have you back). You need your letters of recommendation to be as up-to-date as possible, which means you've got to keep yourself out there schmoozing with current doctors/researchers.

That being said, I caution you that I too had a bad ugpa (about 3.1) and now am pulling a 4.0 and have a great MCAT score and am doing all the stuff I just said to you and am still nervous as hell about not getting in! Why don't you ask the Navy to get you into the U.S. Armed Forces med school? Maybe you can do something about Walter Reed after you matriculate! Good god man, it needs all the helping it can get!!!

Best of luck to you,
Minos