What Are My Chances?

[GetUrMinRite10]

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Hey, I've been lurking around this site for a while, and find it rather addictive. 😀 I've registered and I want to share my story; hopefully some of the great folks here will be willing to give me their opinion on my chances of making it into a post bac program.

I am currently a 21 year old rising senior at a small business university in NYC. My degree will be in Poli Sci and Journalism. Recently (over the last 6 months), I decided that I wanted to go pre-med to eventually become a forensic psychiatrist. I've already unofficially began taking some pre-med requirements, but unfortunately I got a D in gen chem. This pretty much made me seriously think about whether medicine was something I really wanted to do, but I am persisting and pushing on. I am currently (summer of 07 as of this post) taking a math class at a community college that will fulfill my math requirement at my current school, and may do so at a med school (one that doesn't require calc). For the record, I'm doing very well in the class.

I'd like to attend a post-bac program, but I realize that there are some things that will look very bad. For one, I was dismissed from the first college I attended out of state. My gpa was 0.something. However, I was having serious health issues, which culminated in me being hospitalized, and I have packets of paperwork that can prove this. I took a year off, and when I enrolled at my current university, my academic performance improved steadily. All in all, my performance at this point is 3.25- that D killed me. I have 2 W's, the D, and an F (in a remedial math course where I missed the final). Otherwise, mostly A's, a few B's, and about 2 C's. I am adding on an extra semester- so instead of graduating in summer 08, I'll be graduating in winter 08- to boost the gpa, and do some more pre-med requirements. I'd like to do my biology requirements in this time, as I've always found biology both easy and fun. Frankly, I know I can bring my gpa up to >3.5 before my graduation deadline because I'll be doing pretty much higher-level courses for my major and minor. I've also completed a course in both anthropology and psychology, which are sometimes considered pre-med electives. I did well in both classes. Also, I have found considerable success in politics (while enrolled at my university), and I'd be able to pull out very impressive LORs as well as a great essay.

I'd like to start a post bac program in the spring of 09, and be in med school by the fall of 10. This is why I'd like to have the biology out of the way. 😎 I will need to stay in the East, and Bryn Mawr sounds absolutely perfect because of the consortium program. I worry that regardless of my success and what my gpa will end up being, I will be rejected because of my past mistakes and wrong steps.

My questions pretty much are:
1). How will being dismissed affect me, even though it was related to serious health issues?
2). Would I be able to retake gen chem in a post bac program?
3). Is the year of biology, a bad chem grade, and 2 pre-med electives "significant work" in the pre-med core, or "too much"?
4). How much can a good essay and LOR's work in my favor?
5). How much does being a "career changer" work in my favor?

Also, my SAT grades weren't that good, so I'm taking the LSATs, which I'll want to send into any program I apply to instead of SATs. It will solve two issues, because if I don't get into a program, I can go to law school and work in forensic law.

 

[72531]

why would you use SAT scores? people typically take the MCAT but since you don't have a science background I would say take the GRE.

 

[GetUrMinRite10]

why would you use SAT scores? people typically take the MCAT but since you don't have a science background I would say take the GRE.

I wasn't going to use SAT's, I wanted to use LSAT's for the reason mentioned above. I thought they would be just as good as GRE, and pretty much kill two birds with one stone.🙂

 

[blackadder]

First off, I would say that your need to consider more than one post-bac program. Just like applying to law school, b school, whatever school, **** happens in admissions and you want to be prepared. There are many outstanding post-bac programs.

Regarding your questions/unique academic background, I would say you need to chat with some program directors about your situation. You'd be surprised how useful this can be (the program directors I dealt were all very friendly and tried to answer as many questions as possible).

I'm in the Bryn Mawr program right now and though we've only finished one summer term (our chem 1 final is tomorrow!), I'll give you my 2 cents on your situation based on my minimal amount of time here:

- It sounds like you have some legit reasons for your previous academic record so I would not let that stop you from applying (people here have all sorts of different academic backgrounds).

-To be honest, the biggest thing I see missing from your background is: experience in medicine. Maybe your just left this out of your post, but if you have never been involved in medicine in some capacity you need to get on that. You need to get on that now. There are many reasons you need to get involved (looking good on an app, etc), but the primary reason is this: You NEED to make sure that being a doctor is what you want. You do not find this out by reading books or watching scrubs. You discover if it might be for you by volunteering at a hospital or clinic, working with kids impacted by aids, getting involved with research, etc. I honestly can't think of anybody in our program who has not, in some way, been involved with health care/human services (the majority have been heavily involved). I would think about what aspect of medicine/helping people interests you and start volunteering/working in that area yesterday.

Good luck and feel free to shout out any other questions.

Back to studying!

 

[GetUrMinRite10]

blackadder, I'm sorry that I didn't mention this. My work and classes are keeping me busy for the time being; all I've had time to do so far is read every med book I can get my hands on. I have gotten some applications at local hospitals, and a psychiatrist has agreed to let me shadow him. I plan on having some med experience to put on my resume by the time I graduate.

 

[blackadder]

sounds good man. but remember, the primary purpose of volunteering is not to pad a resume. it's to help others and help you get your head around what part of medicine interests you.

 

[GetUrMinRite10]

Thanks Blackadder.

Bump...I'm interested in hearing other's opinions as well.

 

[GetUrMinRite10]

Opinions:
1) A 3.5 is good, especially with a strong upwards trend
2) Take the GRE
3) A House avatar is very cliche.
4) Apply to a whole lot of post-bacs, not just one or two
5) Start looking at personal statement and LOR requirements, then start asking and writing. LORs, in particular, can take forever.

1). I'm hoping it will be enough.
2). The LSATs are not a good substitute?
3). I'm new. I'm not very creative (I work in politics, that's proof) 😳. And House is the only medically-related show I like. I could change my avatar to the cover of some medical journal, but I suspect that might be even worse.
4). I'm looking at eight, but I'm hoping to narrow it down to 5-ish (application fees suck). Bryn Mawr is my first choice, however.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[sfnix]

Also, my SAT grades weren't that good, so I'm taking the LSATs, which I'll want to send into any program I apply to instead of SATs. It will solve two issues, because if I don't get into a program, I can go to law school and work in forensic law.

hey geturminrite-

i'm also a student currently at BM. I think you should definitely continue to work on volunteer stuff, that seems to be the "weakness" in your application (like my boy blackadder said).
also- there are 2 JDs here, both of whom obviously took the LSAT. Big difference is they went on to complete their JD after taking the LSAT and only later decided to do Med School. Jodi (our godfather) is going to be very interested if you send in LSAT scores from so recent of a date w/out a JD. The bigger point here though is clearly, "well i'm taking the LSAT incase i don't get into a post-bac program, then i'll do law." formal programs like BM, Goucher, Hopkins, Scripps, etc. etc. etc.... have no interest in applicants who have any hesitancy about medicine. they want to know that medicine is THE career of choice for you now. If you truly think your SAT is not competitive enough (which considering mine, i would be very weary of doing so), take the GRE not the LSAT, in my opinion.
good luck in the application process.

 

[GetUrMinRite10]

hey geturminrite-

i'm also a student currently at BM. I think you should definitely continue to work on volunteer stuff, that seems to be the "weakness" in your application (like my boy blackadder said).
also- there are 2 JDs here, both of whom obviously took the LSAT. Big difference is they went on to complete their JD after taking the LSAT and only later decided to do Med School. Jodi (our godfather) is going to be very interested if you send in LSAT scores from so recent of a date w/out a JD. The bigger point here though is clearly, "well i'm taking the LSAT incase i don't get into a post-bac program, then i'll do law." formal programs like BM, Goucher, Hopkins, Scripps, etc. etc. etc.... have no interest in applicants who have any hesitancy about medicine. they want to know that medicine is THE career of choice for you now. If you truly think your SAT is not competitive enough (which considering mine, i would be very weary of doing so), take the GRE not the LSAT, in my opinion.
good luck in the application process.

Thanks, I am still going to take the LSATs (paid for it, and studying as we speak), but I suppose I'll take the GREs as well. 🙄
Would I have to report both tests in a pre-med program application?

 

[xDreamer]

If you're going for anything other than a Liberal Arts MA/Law School, then the GRE is a much better choice than the LSAT. I have a decent LSAT score (165+), and I can guarantee you that hardly any of my pre-med advisors care. LSAT is a just a pure logic reading type of exam, taking it won't be much of an indicator if you'll be able to handle the MCAT. The GRE on the other hand, has more of the verbal, quantitative and critical thinking stuff that is similar to the MCATs (and a writing section that actually counts.)

Also, I hope you know that you do not need a MD degree for Forensic Psychologist. Most Forensic Psychologist holds a PsyD degree, as their line of work has less to do with MED. A lot of Forensic Psychologist are actually Forensic Law/Criminal Law/Med Law JDs who go for a PsyD degree later on in their career (APA approved schools).

If only I can trade my LSAT scores for your GPA...*sigh*

someone come give me a hug XD

 

[GetUrMinRite10]

If you're going for anything other than a Liberal Arts MA/Law School, then the GRE is a much better choice than the LSAT. I have a decent LSAT score (165+), and I can guarantee you that hardly any of my pre-med advisors care. LSAT is a just a pure logic reading type of exam, taking it won't be much of an indicator if you'll be able to handle the MCAT. The GRE on the other hand, has more of the verbal, quantitative and critical thinking stuff that is similar to the MCATs (and a writing section that actually counts.)

Also, I hope you know that you do not need a MD degree for Forensic Psychologist. Most Forensic Psychologist holds a PsyD degree, as their line of work has less to do with MED. A lot of Forensic Psychologist are actually Forensic Law/Criminal Law/Med Law JDs who go for a PsyD degree later on in their career (APA approved schools).

If only I can trade my LSAT scores for your GPA...*sigh*

someone come give me a hug XD

Awww, electronic hug. 😍 Thanks for the advice. It's funny that you should mention Forensic Psychology (and the PsyD), because that was my first post-UG plan. When it became Forensic Psychiatry, everything changed and I ended up on this site talking about being in medical school studying hard-core for the next 11 years of my life. I honestly have not made a decision as of yet.