Urgent Help Needed Please!

[francheezy]

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Hey all, I could really use some helpful advice. Here is my situation:

-Graduated in Dec 2007 from undergrad (University of Maryland) with B.S. in Biological Sciences and B.A. in Psychology
-3.1 Cum GPA; 2.74 Sci GPA
-23O MCAT (9B, 8V, 6P) <-2nd time
-Decent ECs (1yr+ research on sleep apnea, volunteering 150+hrs, shadowed DO twice, American Red Cross VP, Resident Assistant for 2 yrs, VP of multicultural fraternity, and plethora of community service)
-Applying to DO schools; Caribbean option is backup
-I applied last year for this yrs cycle (Fall 2008) but was a little late for DO schools (sent primaries in dec, secondaries in feb)
-I am definitely reapplying for FALL 2009 cycle but needed advice before doing so
-I have applied to a couple 1 yr-long DO post-bac programs (PCOM & LECOM) and am still waiting to hear back from them (should be within a week or so)

So, hopefully when I get into one of these post bac programs, I can definitely improve my science GPA and prove to DO schools that I am capable of handling upper level science courses. However, since my science gpa is a 2.74 now and a lot of schools have a science gpa cutoff of 2.75 (to receive a secondary), I would get rejected right off the bat from certain schools even if I apply early. I want to apply as early as possible to increase my chances but was wondering whether I should retake any science classes I received a C in during undergrad? A couple possibilities include retaking Physics II or Animal Bio (both Summer session II classes). Even if I retook them, would it count as affecting my undergrad science gpa even if I graduated already? I want to make sure that the class I take will actually affect my science GPA accordingly.

I have thought about retaking the MCAT again but would prefer not to if I can get in with this score. If I do decide to take it, it would be sometime in August just so I would have enough time to prepare but if I was also taking pre-req science courses, balancing my time would be difficult to achieve both As and a high MCAT score (but not impossible).

If there are any other ideas or suggestions to help improve my application, please let me know. Any advice on this situation would truly be helpful. Thanks!!!

 

[francheezy]

Hey all, I could really use some helpful advice. Here is my situation:

-Graduated in Dec 2007 from undergrad (University of Maryland) with B.S. in Biological Sciences and B.A. in Psychology
-3.1 Cum GPA; 2.74 Sci GPA
-23O MCAT (9B, 8V, 6P) <-2nd time
-Decent ECs (1yr+ research on sleep apnea, volunteering 150+hrs, shadowed DO twice, American Red Cross VP, Resident Assistant for 2 yrs, VP of multicultural fraternity, and plethora of community service)
-Applying to DO schools; Caribbean option is backup
-I applied last year for this yrs cycle (Fall 2008) but was a little late for DO schools (sent primaries in dec, secondaries in feb)
-I am definitely reapplying for FALL 2009 cycle but needed advice before doing so
-I have applied to a couple 1 yr-long DO post-bac programs (PCOM & LECOM) and am still waiting to hear back from them (should be within a week or so)

So, hopefully when I get into one of these post bac programs, I can definitely improve my science GPA and prove to DO schools that I am capable of handling upper level science courses. However, since my science gpa is a 2.74 now and a lot of schools have a science gpa cutoff of 2.75 (to receive a secondary), I would get rejected right off the bat from certain schools even if I apply early. I want to apply as early as possible to increase my chances but was wondering whether I should retake any science classes I received a C in during undergrad? A couple possibilities include retaking Physics II or Animal Bio (both Summer session II classes). Even if I retook them, would it count as affecting my undergrad science gpa even if I graduated already? I want to make sure that the class I take will actually affect my science GPA accordingly.

I have thought about retaking the MCAT again but would prefer not to if I can get in with this score. If I do decide to take it, it would be sometime in August just so I would have enough time to prepare but if I was also taking pre-req science courses, balancing my time would be difficult to achieve both As and a high MCAT score (but not impossible).

If there are any other ideas or suggestions to help improve my application, please let me know. Any advice on this situation would truly be helpful. Thanks!!!

 

[gman33]

Slow Down!
Med school is not going anywhere and right now your app will not be very competitive.

I would advise taking a year to retake as many science classes as you can. Check out your lowest grades and retake those classes. This is the fastest way to boost your GPA for DO schools. Also, you need to retake the MCAT, but don't do it until you are scoring well on multiple practice exams. Consider taking a prep course as your past method of preparation didn't produce the desired results.

I wouldn't apply this cycle as you haven't done anything to improve your chances. Take a year, build a stronger application and reapply.

 

[HumidBeing]

My understanding is that DO schools will do grade replacement with the most recent grade in a class. So, if you are ready to do better than the C's you earned the first time around, that would help improve your BCMP.

 

[Blade28]

Agree with the above.

Study hard for the MCAT and retake it. Take post-bac classes to improve your undergrad GPA...and if you're applying DO, retake some of the pre-reqs and that will help quite a bit.

A 2.74 BCMP GPA and 23 MCAT isn't going to get you very far with MD/DO admissions. Take your time, retake classes, improve your application.

Best of luck!

 

[abcabc1]

I'm not sure, but think AMCAS might just list both times you took the same course and count both grades in your BCMP. The reality is, that getting an A is a course you previously got a C in probably won't impress too many people. That's not to say you should not do it, but keep that in mind.

I'd recommend retaking the MCAT, as your scores (esp PS) are weak. Try not to get less than 7 in any section and an overall score

 

[bcat85]

Agree with the above.

Study hard for the MCAT and retake it. Take post-bac classes to improve your undergrad GPA...and if you're applying DO, retake some of the pre-reqs and that will help quite a bit.

A 2.74 BCMP GPA and 23 MCAT isn't going to get you very far with MD/DO admissions. Take your time, retake classes, improve your application.

Best of luck!

This pretty much covers everything I would have said. Raising your GPA and MCAT are really all you need. Your EC's look pretty good. Good luck OP

 

[phillyDO215]

My fellow TERP, i was once in your situation. I graduated from UMD in 03 and had very similar grades. I did a post bac program, which proved i could do well in med school and was accepted. In my opinion that is one of your best options and besides you end up with another degree which makes you look good when applying for residencies. Right now im a fourth year at PCOM so something worked

 

[Pedsbro]

Also, if I remember correctly, DO schools will only use the most recent grade you received for a course. If you got a C in physics, retake it, and get an A, then DO schools will just count it in their GPA as an A (although they will know it was a repeat). As opposed to AMCAS, which would put the C and A and count them both in GPA. So retaking the prereqs that you got a C+ and below is a good idea.

 

[yaah]

Merging two identical threads.