What can I do from here?

[Chromatic543]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So I have spent countless years wrecking my GPA and making it more difficult for myself. When I finally woke up and was able to repair my GPA from 3.0 cGPA/3.1 sGPA to 3.48 cGPA/3.32 sGPA, I was informed that the grade replacement policy would be changed. What rotten luck! I was about to blindly apply last cycle without an MCAT, and because I did not take the risk, I may have screwed myself.

I am about to graduate with a degree in Biochemistry and was planning on taking a few summer classes to update my application. However, now I'm not even sure if I should apply anymore. A part of me just wants to quit because I feel like no matter what I do, it just gets more difficult. These past few days have been devastating. Besides learning of the new policy, I got mugged, I lost my grandmother, and I am losing it!

Another part of me does not want to give up. However, I'm lost and don't know where to go at this point. Should I continue taking Summer classes at a community college this summer and then take more community college classes during the year and apply next cycle? Or should I apply for an SMP or post-bacc (don't know if it's too late or not)? Or should I just apply broadly like before the change and take summer classes to update my transcript as planned before?

CHOICES

1. Original Plan (graduate, apply, take summer classes, update)
2. CC Plan (community college summer, all of next year, then apply)
3. SMP Plan (not sure how to start that at this point)
4. Post-Bacc Plan (not sure how to start that at this point)
5. DIY-Post Bacc Plan (same as numbers 3 and 4 above)

STATS

cGPA (grade replacement): 3.48
sGPA (grade replacement): 3.32
cGPA (no replacement): 3.03
sGPA (no replacement): 3.25
MCAT: 126-124-126-126 = 502 (500-504 confidence band)
Volunteering: 700 Total Hours (400 Hospital, 300 Patient Home)
Other Volunteering: Orphanage Volunteering in Ghana
Shadowing: MD Internal Medicine and DO Internal Medicine
LORs: 2 Science Professors, 1 MD Physician, 1 DO Physician
ECs: Academic Senate, Chess Club, Psychology Club.
Other ECs: Global Medical Brigades participant.

 

[SurgeDO]

You're clearly dedicated to becoming a physician. Contact some medical school administrators and explain to them your situation; I'm sure they'd be willing to make sure your application gets pass the GPA screen.

 

[Chromatic543]

Will my stats help me pass screens right now?

 

[Cardboard101]

KCUMB screens for 3.25 and I think one other school has a 3.2gpa screen.

The rest are at 3.0

 

[MountainClimber94]

Are those screens set for uGPA or a cumulative GPA of undergrad and grad?

 

[brew]

KCUMB screens for 3.25 and I think one other school has a 3.2gpa screen.

The rest are at 3.0

I know Campbell does 3.2 and maybe Marion too

Are those screens set for uGPA or a cumulative GPA of undergrad and grad?

Overall GPA of Grad+Ugrad I believe

 

[Chromatic543]

Even if I was to pass the screens, would I even have a chance? I would have had a 3.48 cGPA/3.32 sGPA if I applied last Summer 🙁

I am aiming for the newest DO schools, and looking at BCOM.

 

[luckyely91]

Most, if not all, DO schools do a holistic approach, from my understanding. If you have strong extracurriculars (which it looks like you do) and a good interview, I think you have a decent shot.

 

[Espressso]

First off.. many apologies about your grandmother :/

As for the main parts of this post. I think your best bet would be to look into special master programs that have direct linkages to their medical school. Start with your home state, then check out other states near by. There are a few that have direct linkages and almost all SMPs have a 3.0 gpa cut off and a 500 mcat cut off. Get accepted and do well in that, you can basically reserve a seat in their medical school. But those SMPs are a lot of work, from what I've heard.

Also, even without grade replacement, your app isn't necessarily dead. I was recently accepted with an mcat score lower than yours and a gpa not much higher (sub 3.5). The trick is to apply to the right schools, and broadly. And you have to tailor your app for mission-based, rural/underserved schools too.

 

[Cardboard101]

I would highly recommend NOT doing a SMP with a 3.0 unless you want MD as the goal.
A post bacc (DIY/Linkage or otherwise) would be a much better option.

 

[Chromatic543]

Do you think I should apply broadly with my stats targeting new schools? Is it possible to get in?

Also how do I start a DIY? Is it too late or do I literally just sign up for classes at a CC?

 

[Chromatic543]

I just re-calculated my cGPA and found out that I made a miscalculation error! My cGPA does not drop all the way to 3.03, but 3.24 instead!

Motivation to push strong in the last two quarters has severely kicked in!!! 😀 😀 😀 😀

 

[dwgrubbs1s]

Either way apply broadly and keep working hard You should be fine.