What are My Options (I'm running out)?

[Icantplayspades]

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I graduated last December with a B.S. degree (interdisciplinary conc. with minor in Biology and Chemistry). I applied to medical school and was quite unsuccessful. I have since spoken to one school and they said my problem was my science GPA and MCAT; they recommended a medical masters program. My problem is this: no one seems to want to help me pursue anything academically (i.e. my letter writers ignore me, as if I'm some huge failure). I did apply to one masters but I was rejected.

What can I do in this situation? I want to do something but it needs to be an option where I can get financial aid (i.e. I'm very broke and no one can help me financially). I'm still waiting to hear from Meharry's MHS program but if I'm not accepted, I don't know what I'm going to do. I still want to go to medical school but it feels like I have insurmountable blocks in the way.

Someone, please offer some good advice.

 

[DrRedstone]

It sounds like you didn't apply widely enough to SMPs. I know there are several schools that have them.
Do your best to get more shadowing and clinical experience. It sounds like you may need to get new letter writers.

I know future commenters will want to know: What are you GPA and MCAT?

 

[Icantplayspades]

It sounds like you didn't apply widely enough to SMPs. I know there are several schools that have them.
Do your best to get more shadowing and clinical experience. It sounds like you may need to get new letter writers.

I know future commenters will want to know: What are you GPA and MCAT?

I know I may need new letter writers but I'm not sure how to go about finding them.
I'd like to shadow and gain more clinical experience although it's very hard in my area.

3.3gpa (3.0science); 500 MCAT (I know this is a terrible academic profile but I'm willing to fix it if I can).

 

[DrRedstone]

What was your school list? Did you apply MD/DO, just MD, just DO?

As far as new letter writers, try to find some new shadowing experiences by reaching out directly to physicians. If your experience was good and you connected, ask for a letter. I know it is a lot of work, but medical school is worth the extra work.

Also, just in case it is not obvious, do not apply to Caribbean schools. They may look tempting based on your GPA/MCAT, but they are absolutely not worth the risk.

 

[Icantplayspades]

What was your school list? Did you apply MD/DO, just MD, just DO?

As far as new letter writers, try to find some new shadowing experiences by reaching out directly to physicians. If your experience was good and you connected, ask for a letter. I know it is a lot of work, but medical school is worth the extra work.

Also, just in case it is not obvious, do not apply to Caribbean schools. They may look tempting based on your GPA/MCAT, but they are absolutely not worth the risk.

My school list was all MD (I know, terrible mistake). I shadowed one person but they seem to not be able to be reached at present.
I guess I'll keep plugging away. I know I'm not lazy but there seems to be so few options for me to move forward.

 

[DrRedstone]

I'd recommend reading Goro's Guide for Reinvention. Your scores are not great for MD applications. I believe that you are in the DO-only application range.

 

[880cylon]

Have you thought about getting clinical experience through scribing? Maybe do that for a year and then apply to some SMPs, in order to improve the GPA and obtain more academic letters in a formal program, which is probably easier?

 

[Icantplayspades]

Have you thought about getting clinical experience through scribing? Maybe do that for a year and then apply to some SMPs, in order to improve the GPA and obtain more academic letters in a formal program, which is probably easier?

I have but getting a scribe position in my city is not so easy. The adcom I spoke with said my science GPA was really the culprit, along with my MCAT(my all other GPA is very high). I was considering a masters in physiology along with an MCAT retake and reapplying; is this a good course of action? The adcom said my clinical stuff and ECS were good.

Thanks everyone

 

[lavender_stingray]

Does your local community college or branch college have science courses you could taken to improve your GPA? Could you start volunteering someplace like a hospital or a homeless shelter to build new connections? Have you talked with your college’s premed office about options?

 

[Icantplayspades]

Does your local community college or branch college have science courses you could taken to improve your GPA? Could you start volunteering someplace like a hospital or a homeless shelter to build new connections? Have you talked with your college’s premed office about options?

The community college mostly has courses I've taken already. I could start volunteering. I could contact my premed office today.

 

[GypsyHummus]

I'll give you my opinion and my observations if I had to contend with a situation like this.

Your scores are not competitive for MD or DO school and if you want to go to those schools, you have to do a master's program or get a higher MCAT score. Realistically, unless you have something special going for you (URM, Military, Economically Disadvantaged, etc.) you need a 3.4c/s GPA and a 500+ MCAT to be considered for DO schools, or a compensating number to balance out (498 is fine if you have a 3.8 GPA or vice versa) . You have a couple options.

1) Retake the MCAT. This is going to be the cheapest a easiest step going forward. Your GPAs are barley acceptable for DO school, but a MCAT of 510 will prolly net you several DO interviews. High MCAT can forgive a lot of undergrad mishaps at DO schools. Easier said than done.

2) Do a masters. As you are finding out, not so easy to get into these places, and rounding up letter writers is hard.

3) Do something else. You science GPA communicates to me that you will struggle in medical school, and your MCAT is barley acceptable. Look into: Podiatry (Numbers are fine, if a bit low for them), Optometry (sciecne is a bit low, but the OAT is easier than MCAT), Physical therapy (GPA is a bit low). Dental is a strech, but your GPA isnt out of the realm of possibility and the DAT is easier

If this were me, Id do dental and study for the DAT.

 

[el_duderino]

Your academic profile suggests you would struggle, hard, with medical school. Schools might be doing you a favor by not accepting you.

I echo the above comments. Raise your MCAT by several points, do a special master's, or find another career.

 

[Icantplayspades]

I'll give you my opinion and my observations if I had to contend with a situation like this.

Your scores are not competitive for MD or DO school and if you want to go to those schools, you have to do a master's program or get a higher MCAT score. Realistically, unless you have something special going for you (URM, Military, Economically Disadvantaged, etc.) you need a 3.4c/s GPA and a 500+ MCAT to be considered for DO schools, or a compensating number to balance out (498 is fine if you have a 3.8 GPA or vice versa) . You have a couple options.

1) Retake the MCAT. This is going to be the cheapest a easiest step going forward. Your GPAs are barley acceptable for DO school, but a MCAT of 510 will prolly net you several DO interviews. High MCAT can forgive a lot of undergrad mishaps at DO schools. Easier said than done.

2) Do a masters. As you are finding out, not so easy to get into these places, and rounding up letter writers is hard.

3) Do something else. You science GPA communicates to me that you will struggle in medical school, and your MCAT is barley acceptable. Look into: Podiatry (Numbers are fine, if a bit low for them), Optometry (sciecne is a bit low, but the OAT is easier than MCAT), Physical therapy (GPA is a bit low). Dental is a strech, but your GPA isnt out of the realm of possibility and the DAT is easier

If this were me, Id do dental and study for the DAT.

I'm still set on medical school but thanks for the vote of confidence

 

[Icantplayspades]

Your academic profile suggests you would struggle, hard, with medical school. Schools might be doing you a favor by not accepting you.

I echo the above comments. Raise your MCAT by several points, do a special master's, or find another career.

I had A LOT going on in undergrad... I'm not stupid and I know I could handle medical school if I put my mind to it.

 

[el_duderino]

I had A LOT going on in undergrad... I'm not stupid and I know I could handle medical school if I put my mind to it.

There's no way for you to "know" that other than wishful thinking, and you can't offer "I know I could handle it" as proof when the actual evidence suggests that there's a significant chance you can't.

Whatever you had going on in undergrad, your MCAT is sub-par. Significantly so. If you're so good, it shouldn't be too hard to study for a couple of months, retake it, and get a 510+. If you can do that, you start looking like someone a DO school might take a chance on. If you can't do that, you don't have a high likelihood of passing Step 1 and graduating.

 

[Icantplayspades]

There's no way for you to "know" that other than wishful thinking, and you can't offer "I know I could handle it" as proof when the actual evidence suggests that there's a significant chance you can't.

Whatever you had going on in undergrad, your MCAT is sub-par. Significantly so. If you're so good, it shouldn't be too hard to study for a couple of months, retake it, and get a 510+. If you can do that, you start looking like someone a DO school might take a chance on. If you can't do that, you don't have a high likelihood of passing Step 1 and graduating.

I didn't have time to study for the MCAT and several people passed in family during undergrad. I could study for a few months and improve my MCAT but, once again, thanks for being condescending.

 

[el_duderino]

I didn't have time to study for the MCAT and several people passed in family during undergrad. I could study for a few months and improve my MCAT but, once again, thanks for being condescending.

I'm not being condescending. I'm telling you how it is.

Taking the MCAT without having studied was very poor judgment. One of the things that adcoms look for in candidates is, on top of raw academic ability and the ability to continue to perform in the face of adversity, is the ability to exercise good judgment. Your profile as you are presenting it does not support any of those qualities.

You need to things to prove to adcoms that you can possess and exercise these abilities. "I know I can" doesn't cut it. Going out and doing well on the MCAT can help, though.

 

[Dr. Meliodas]

I had A LOT going on in undergrad... I'm not stupid and I know I could handle medical school if I put my mind to it.

You have been given good advice.

You have time now, study for the MCAT retake and kick ass and apply DO. That is your cheapest option as has already been said above.

Your other option is take more classes. Do a DIY post-bacc somewhere, anywhere. If you already took most of the courses at your community college then go to a different community college, if not then go to the nearest university, if not that then move and take classes somewhere else. Take classes as a non-degree seeking student at George Washington. Don't say you can't because you don't have money. Nobody ever has money. Most people fund these things through loans. Depending on the person this is a big gamble.

It is your responsibility to find a way, to make it happen, regardless of the obstacles in front of you. You need to show that you can get sh#t done.

 

[el_duderino]

Another quality a medical student must possess is the ability to take valid, honest criticism well. You will be criticized a lot during your medical school and residency career. It will often be direct and not sugarcoated and it may sometimes hurt or make you feel bad.

 

[GypsyHummus]

“I didn’t have time to study for USMLE/COMLEX” Is a phrase I cant imagine rings well with residency directors.

And it’s easy to talk a big game of “never giving up to become a doctor”, but that phrase starts to ring hollow after a while of trying and failing. Sometimes the smartest thing someone can do is focus their energy on something else that yields fruitful results.

For what it’s worth, I don’t think you should give up on MD/DO school, but you have demonstrated at this time you would be crushed by the coursework via the objective metrics we have seen, particularly your undergrad GPA. You had a 3.0 in science. Medical school is ALL science. You take roughly the equivalent of 40 credit hours of pure science coursework every semester. How do you know you can handle that? How many credit hours have you taken of sciences during your heaviest semester in undergrad? 10 credits? 15?

Each Medical school subject (biochem, anatomy, micro, etc.) is about 3X harder/more material than an undergrad science class, EACH Med school class to EACH undergrad class. If you took 2 science classes a semester vs 2 Med school classes, it would be 6X the work.

Hopefully you take this to heart and improve instead of spinning your wheels for 2+ years like so many others do and end up failing. Good luck.

 

[MedicineN'Jazz]

I had A LOT going on in undergrad... I'm not stupid and I know I could handle medical school if I put my mind to it.

Honestly azolesoul, i think your outcome this cycle has less to do with your stats and more to do with your insecurity and lack of motivation to give this year your all. You had a really good chance with GEMS and you screwed it up. Why? The essays were too long (and don’t give me that bullsh*t of not having money bc you were just as ready to enroll in another post bacc). If you’re going to embark down this path, then you need to damn well act like it. Stop moping and groping on sdn, and do something. Get a job, get over your personal issues, and for god’s sake seek help for your mental health. Then, and only then, reapply. You’re doing yourself a disservice by building up your anxiety on this forum. You need a healthy outlet. I’d recommend bodybuilding, karate, or a local sports team.

 

[Icantplayspades]

Honestly azolesoul, i think your outcome this cycle has less to do with your stats and more to do with your insecurity and lack of motivation to give this year your all. You had a really good chance with GEMS and you screwed it up. Why? The essays were too long (and don’t give me that bullsh*t of not having money bc you were just as ready to enroll in another post bacc). If you’re going to embark down this path, then you need to damn well act like it. Stop moping and groping on sdn, and do something. Get a job, get over your personal issues, and for god’s sake seek help for your mental health. Then, and only then, reapply. You’re doing yourself a disservice by building up your anxiety on this forum. You need a healthy outlet. I’d recommend bodybuilding, karate, or a local sports team.

I have no reason to lie; I really didn't have any money. I thank you for your input but I don't need someone trying to come down on me. In addition, please don't play armchair psychiatrist with me.
I know my application wasn't great but I'm sick of people acting like I'm a complete failure or a *****.

 

[MedicineN'Jazz]

I have no reason to lie; I really didn't have any money. I thank you for your input but I don't need someone trying to come down on me.

Im not going to argue with you. If you wanted to get into medical school so bad, you would have made it happen. $125 is nothing in the grand scheme of things. That can easily be loaned by parents, friends, or placed on a credit card (which is what I did).

 

[Icantplayspades]

Im not going to argue with you. If you wanted to get into medical school so bad, you would have made it happen. $125 is nothing in the grand scheme of things. That can easily be loaned by parents, friends, or placed on a credit card (which is what I did).

You obviously do not understand what being impoverished is like. I have no one to call on and I have nothing but thanks for telling me I'm lying. I'm not going to argue with you but you should watch how you talk to people.

I'm going to get in eventually; I'm not a loser and I'm not a huge idiot.

 

[DokterMom]

I didn't have time to study for the MCAT and several people passed in family during undergrad. I could study for a few months and improve my MCAT but, once again, thanks for being condescending.

I'm very sorry for your losses during undergrad. But life obstacles happen. Are they all behind you now? Or are you likely to continue to face similar obstacles during medical school and residency? It's not fair, but applicants whose families can shield them from such obstacles do have a more successful track record in medical school, and you will need to be able to show that you can succeed despite these difficulties.

As to your MCAT, if studying for a few months can net you a significantly higher score, do it! Start now and don't take it again until you hit your own personal plateau or are consistently scoring 510+.

A 500 MCAT and low SGPA suggest you will struggle academically in medical school. A 510 MCAT and a handful of new A's (no B's) in tough upper-level science classes at a respectable university (so not community college) are strong arguments that this is not the case. A generic MS will not achieve the same objective since grades in master's programs are widely considered to be inflated.




One other thing -- Throughout your posts I hear a tone of "it's hard" and "No one will help me" until the last few posts where it's "reasons why" that sound a whole lot like excuses. Right now, you are in a bit of a hole, but not such a deep one that you can't dig yourself out if you're willing to work hard. Adjust your mindset (it IS hard!), adjust your attitude, then get to work. When you're peddling at full speed and are projecting determination and confidence, you'll be able to find the help you need.

 

[el_duderino]

I have no reason to lie; I really didn't have any money. I thank you for your input but I don't need someone trying to come down on me. In addition, please don't play armchair psychiatrist with me.
I know my application wasn't great but I'm sick of people acting like I'm a complete failure or a *****.

You're certainly not exercising good judgment or handling any of this well.

You need a reality check and a huge dose of humility. You're far from ready for medical school, and you have a lot of work to do before you are.

 

[Icantplayspades]

You're certainly not exercising good judgment or handling any of this well.

You need a reality check and a huge dose of humility. You're far from ready for medical school, and you have a lot of work to do before you are.

Gee, thanks random person on the internet. You know nothing about me and my life or abilities. I'm willing to work but I'm not willing to have someone bash me.

 

[el_duderino]

Gee, thanks random person on the internet. You know nothing about me and my life or abilities. I'm willing to work but I'm not willing to have someone bash me.

Then do the work.

Your stats (and behavior) say that you either haven't done the work or aren't capable of doing the kind of work required in medical school.

You've been told what you have to do. It's time to shut up and go do it, and stop behaving like an insecure child. Go get it done.

 

[GypsyHummus]

Also important to keep in mind that just because someone fails to get into medical school doesn’t make them “a *****” or dumb. You seem to think people are accusing you of being a dumb person. I don’t think anyone thinks that.

I have met many people in my undergrad who didn’t get in who were very smart; some went into pharmaceuticals, some went into sales, some did Optometry, but nobody off the top of my head would I call a failure. Far from, they have successful careers while the people I graduated from school with are still in school and 300k in debt!

At least shadow other professions. You might find out you really want to be a physical or occupational therapist. How do you even know you want to be a doctor?

I couldn’t make the soccer team in high school. Fine. After I was denied, I tried a bunch of other different sports and guess what, turns out I was pretty good at anouther sport and lettered in it. If I had been fixated on trying to make the soccer team and kept trying for four years, I would have never tried out other sports and eventually found one that I could have success in. Could I have buckled down, bought new soccer shoes, worked on my conditioning, paid for private lessons, improve my eye hand coordination, and eventually make it? Maybe, or maybe not. The maybe Not would have left me broke and broken. Come to find out from a friend who did manage to do well in soccer, the players are all high strung, competitive, and generally unpleasant to be around anyway!

 

[Icantplayspades]

Also important to keep in mind that just because someone fails to get into medical school doesn’t make them “a *****” or dumb. You seem to think people are accusing you of being a dumb person. I don’t think anyone thinks that.

I have met many people in my undergrad who didn’t get in who were very smart; some went into pharmaceuticals, some went into sales, some did Optometry, but nobody off the top of my head would I call a failure. Far from, they have successful careers while the people I graduated from school with are still in school and 300k in debt!

At least shadow other professions. You might find out you really want to be a physical or occupational therapist. How do you even know you want to be a doctor?

I couldn’t make the soccer team in high school. Fine. After I was denied, I tried a bunch of other different sports and guess what, turns out I was pretty good at anouther sport and lettered in it. If I had been fixated on trying to make the soccer team and kept trying for four years, I would have never tried out other sports and eventually found one that I could have success in. Could I have buckled down, bought new soccer shoes, worked on my conditioning, paid for private lessons, improve my eye hand coordination, and eventually make it? Maybe, or maybe not. The maybe Not would have left me broke and broken. Come to find out from a friend who did manage to do well in soccer, the players are all high strung, competitive, and generally unpleasant to be around anyway!

I appreciate the analogy and understand where you're coming from but I have many clinical ECs and shadowing to know I want to be an ER doc.

I'll retake the MCAT and do a Masters if need be to get in. I'm young and I've always been tenacious and I don't think a few missteps should cause me to reconsider so quickly.

I'm going to start studying for a retake on the MCAT today and look into Masters programs.

Thanks everyone.