What options are left for me please?

[Shoushu]

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[Catalystik]

I don't know the official answer to your question. I've never known a physician who matched into a US residency after med school in China, but I've met a number of them who've attended a Caribbean med school and matched into the US.

As a better option, have you considered applying to a DO medical school in the US? A few of them will accept a cGPA of 2.5, more a 2.75, and many a 3.0, assuming a decent science GPA and competitive MCAT score. Further, you can more easily raise your cGPA by applying through AACOMAS (the DO application service) as they replace the grade of a retaken course and don't include the original grade when calculating the application GPA (as long as the retake has the same or greater credit hours). A DO physician has the same practice rights as an MD. You could research this option further in the Pre-Med Osteopathic Forum of SDN.

 

[Velocity]

Most of the post-docs in my lab went to medical school in China and now want to practice here. They're stuck waiting for their green cards and studying for the USMLE. Through them I've heard of people in their position who do get into residency programs, but it's tough. You'll need recommendation letters from a very high number of practicing doctors - they quoted it as being six or eight (can't remember) letters of rec. I'm not sure if that's specific to their situation, or if that applies to all foreign medical school grads, though.

Perhaps the biggest issue with doing medical school in China is that everything you learn will be in Chinese (unless they have English programs there, now). You'll essentially have to re-learn the English terms for everything (which is the painful process that my post-doctoral colleagues are going through now).

In terms of debt and all, going the China route seems best. In terms of making things easier on yourself, a Caribbean school sounds better. But certainly don't discount DO programs, as was mentioned above.

 

[Shoushu]

..........

 

[TexasPhysician]

I would do Carib over China. I would also consider doing a post-bacc program to get a better gpa and show you can cut it.....which could help get you a US MD/DO program.

There are lots of different loan repayment options out there. All have different stipulations.

 

[bannie22]

Seppuku

 

[Zorrix]

I would decide keeping in mind that DO>Carib>China

 

[Morsetlis]

My primary care provider graduated from China and now works at Kaiser Permanente.

I wonder how that works out...

 

[Shoushu]

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[apumic]

You may also want to reconsider whether it's worth the long road for a backdoor MD or DO (i.e., going international for one). With your GPA being quite uncompetitive for both DO and US MD, Carib's probably your only hope and most who go to the Carib don't end up graduating (at many schools down there, as many as or over half of students will fail out with tens of thousands of dollars of debt and even after that, the US residency match rates are quite low), much less practicing in the States. If you can't get into a Big 4 Carib, I'd strongly suggest considering another career plan -- perhaps NP or PA, for instance. Best of luck!

 

[PrinceVersed]

If you can't get into a Big 4 Carib, I'd strongly suggest considering another career plan -- perhaps NP or PA, for instance. Best of luck!

With stats like hers I don't think she would even be able to get into a PA program. I am not 100% on this but, I think they are pretty competitive. As for NP, she could get in with those stats but she has to get another bachelors in nursing first. She might as well just do post bac work and raise her GPA if she is willing to waste that much extra time.

 

[TexasPhysician]

Agree about the PA and NP programs being pretty competitive. A 2.65 gpa wouldn't cut it.

Carib>>>Foreign med schools. Program Directors just don't have an understanding of foreign schools where they rarely ever receive applications.....if ever.

 

[bannie22]

Please by no means do not commit seppuku. It was just intended as a joke because the thread title was so desperate.

I suggest going Carribeans if you intend to return to the states.

 

[long]

Think for a second. While you say that you want to get started right away, you are considering the possibility of going to school for 6-7 years in China to become a doctor. If you do a post-bacc now, retake a number of the classes you got your worst grades in, and bump up your GPA to at least lower DO standards, you'd be able to finish your degree 6-7 years from now (or less,) which doesn't put you any farther behind than you already said you were willing to accept. Don't just jump in somewhere cus you want to start medical school now. You could very well be starting school now, but it's possible you'd still have to wait a number of years after you get your degree,doing research or something, before you can successfully match. The way I look at it, you can either do some patient waiting now, or do some patient waiting later, when you have $250K of debt to pay off while you wait. I'd take my licks now to get into a US school, and put it all behind me.

 

[essaywhuman]

Please by no means do not commit seppuku. It was just intended as a joke because the thread title was so desperate.

I suggest going Carribeans if you intend to return to the states.

By NO means DO NOT commit seppuku!?!?!?!? Double negative=commit seppuku!

 

[Shoushu]

............mmmmmmmmmmm

 

[willen101383]

I don't know the official answer to your question. I've never known a physician who matched into a US residency after med school in China, but I've met a number of them who've attended a Caribbean med school and matched into the US.

As a better option, have you considered applying to a DO medical school in the US? A few of them will accept a cGPA of 2.5, more a 2.75, and many a 3.0, assuming a decent science GPA and competitive MCAT score. Further, you can more easily raise your cGPA by applying through AACOMAS (the DO application service) as they replace the grade of a retaken course and don't include the original grade when calculating the application GPA (as long as the retake has the same or greater credit hours). A DO physician has the same practice rights as an MD. You could research this option further in the Pre-Med Osteopathic Forum of SDN.

THis is getting a bit ridiculous. No DO school is going to take you with a 2.5 gpa...or a 2.75 gpa. The only way this is going to happen is if your GPA was super low undergrad...you rocked a masters and still your cGPA is below a 3.0.

 

[willen101383]

Don't worry, haven't committed seppuku yet (obviously). Definitely intend to return to states, since my entire immediate family's here, along with some extended family. I'd like to serve in developing or 3rd world countries for a few years too, but I'd like to have the option of practicing in US in the future.

Thanks for the posts and helping me w/ the reality of things, I decide to do Carib over China. B/c Carib has rolling admissions, I'll apply to the good Carib schools first. I don't know if any Post-Bacc would accept me (2.65 gpa, no MCAT yet). Post-Bacc will only set me back 1 year or 2 year at most, compared to multiple years of Nursing school or PA programs? I prefer to be dr, and feel eventually those two will be degrees I won't use.

I should elaborate on what I just posted above because that was my situation. When I graduated undergrad I had absolutely no intention of going to med school. I had a 2.45 gpa..and a 27 MCAT. I took a year off...worked in my field. Did an accelerated masters degree and retook my mcat...all while working. I was accepted into 3 US DO schools and 1 US MD school. So before you look into carib. or FM schools I would look into doing a masters as well. I graduated with that 2.45...but with something like 70 credits of almost all As I brought that up to just under a 3.0. (this is what i was talking about above)

 

[Shoushu]

I should elaborate on what I just posted above because that was my situation. When I graduated undergrad I had absolutely no intention of going to med school. I had a 2.45 gpa..and a 27 MCAT. I took a year off...worked in my field. Did an accelerated masters degree and retook my mcat...all while working. I was accepted into 3 US DO schools and 1 US MD school. So before you look into carib. or FM schools I would look into doing a masters as well. I graduated with that 2.45...but with something like 70 credits of almost all As I brought that up to just under a 3.0. (this is what i was talking about above)

So at which school did you matriculate, one of the DOs or MD school? How long did the accelerated masters take? You worked full-time and prepared mcat while taking masters (70 credits), so I assume it took at least a year right? If that's possible within ~1 year's time, I'd like to follow your model. I prefer DO over Carribean and foreign med progs not even based on U.S. model, esp if they offer me poor chance of re-entering U.S. medical system

 

[willen101383]

So at which school did you matriculate, one of the DOs or MD school? How long did the accelerated masters take? You worked full-time and prepared mcat while taking masters (70 credits), so I assume it took at least a year right? If that's possible within ~1 year's time, I'd like to follow your model. I prefer DO over Carribean and foreign med progs not even based on U.S. model, esp if they offer me poor chance of re-entering U.S. medical system

The masters took me 16 months. We went nonstop and had no breaks. I am going to a DO school. The MD school is a mid tier school where my father went. You cant get a masters degree really unless its a teachers "masters." I took my MCAT while I was working full time in 2005-2006 after i graduated college.

 

[BBender716]

You're right, 99% of programs there teach in Chinese. There're few English programs (~half a dozen to 10?). The few English-instruction programs have limited seats and are Loooooonnnng progams. One reservation I'd have is that the English programs are probably taught by ethnically-Chinese Profs w/ heavy accents, and juxtatposition of lessons in English and school-operational-language, and how good they are. I mean, PDs probably never heard of them, or the quality of them. I think most PDs know what Carib ones are. In the end, may not worth the potential $100,000-150K of tuition savings. Only cost'd be tuition; my living expense there is neglible.

I volunteered/"interned" at 2 Hospitals in Beijing and Shenyang. And bought textbooks. Chinese med schools use the same standardized set of textbooks for the entire People's Republic. Bioscientific terms in Chinese are very diff. (though I read them easily), and there are English comparisons, esp English terms in text and glossary.

If (big if) I graduate from med uni there, then there would be some "re-tooling" even if (Bigger IF) I can get back into US System. No visa-issue for me, but fear of low-chance of accepted as PGY-1.

I'd like to confirm, is it US MD > US DO >>> Big 4>>>Rest of the Carib >> Rest of developing world?

I'd just like to point out how funny it is to see the revised SDN "recommendation" when it comes to types of medical schools:

Old School:
MD>DO>>>>Carribean

New School:
MD>DO>>>>Carribean>>>>>>>>China

 

[Shoushu]

The masters took me 16 months. We went nonstop and had no breaks. I am going to a DO school. The MD school is a mid tier school where my father went. You cant get a masters degree really unless its a teachers "masters." I took my MCAT while I was working full time in 2005-2006 after i graduated college.

What do you mean "You cant get a masters degree really unless its a teachers "masters." , what's teacher's masters? A degree preparing one to do a teaching job at HS or community college? If a masters can increase my chance into US MD/DO school, I'd take it, but still apprehensive about spending ~2 extra years and 10s of 1000s of dollars on a deg. I may never use

 

[TDX]

You're right, 99% of programs there teach in Chinese. There're few English programs (~half a dozen to 10?). The few English-instruction programs have limited seats and are Loooooonnnng progams. One reservation I'd have is that the English programs are probably taught by ethnically-Chinese Profs w/ heavy accents, and juxtatposition of lessons in English and school-operational-language, and how good they are. I mean, PDs probably never heard of them, or the quality of them. I think most PDs know what Carib ones are. In the end, may not worth the potential $100,000-150K of tuition savings. Only cost'd be tuition; my living expense there is neglible.

I volunteered/"interned" at 2 Hospitals in Beijing and Shenyang. And bought textbooks. Chinese med schools use the same standardized set of textbooks for the entire People's Republic. Bioscientific terms in Chinese are very diff. (though I read them easily), and there are English comparisons, esp English terms in text and glossary.

If (big if) I graduate from med uni there, then there would be some "re-tooling" even if (Bigger IF) I can get back into US System. No visa-issue for me, but fear of low-chance of accepted as PGY-1.

I'd like to confirm, is it US MD > US DO >>> Big 4>>>Rest of the Carib >> Rest of developing world?

Have you considered other parts of the developed world?

In Western Europe, your GPA will matter less because the GPA itself is a foreign concept there. Your Chinese experience, meanwhile, is likely to matter more. Combined, those things give you a decent chance of getting in.

Meanwhile, quality is higher than at the Carib schools, and on your resume it looks like you were taking initiative and exploring the world, rather than going with your third or fourth choice.

 

[Shoushu]

Have you considered other parts of the developed world?

In Western Europe, your GPA will matter less because the GPA itself is a foreign concept there. Your Chinese experience, meanwhile, is likely to matter more. Combined, those things give you a decent chance of getting in.

Meanwhile, quality is higher than at the Carib schools, and on your resume it looks like you were taking initiative and exploring the world, rather than going with your third or fourth choice.

No. Thanks for the idea, especially since I only considered Carribean, Post-Baccs, and China/Taiwan/Hong Kong for now. How many med schools in Western Europe follow the U.S. model or are geared for Americans returning to US to do medicine? Any estimate? I know there're upwards of 30 or 40 Carribean med schools, and may be more post-bacc progs.

Do the Western European schools teach in English (besides UK & Ireland)? How's the tuition and length of program, and success of residency in US? Recognized in all 50 states?

If I can actually get in Western Europe or Australia schools, I'd study medicine there over Carib. I have a hunch that PDs don't scrutinize them as much as Carib and Chinese schools.

 

[Shoushu]

My primary care provider graduated from China and now works at Kaiser Permanente.

I wonder how that works out...

I wonder how it worked out too. And if he uses MBBS or M.D. after his name? Allowed to even put M.D. after the name? An uncle of mine is a urologist in China. He's PhD. Probably medical sciences, or nephrology. Considers himself as M.D., PhD equivalent. I know my uncle raduated med school within 5 years, Bachelor of Medicine (Cool deal I'd say, licensed Dr. by age 23 or 24), then he practiced 15 years as urologist. He then spent 2 years getting a masters, and 3 years getting his PhD. Practiced a bit in Japan, went to conferences throughout the world, but now wants to practice medicine for a year in US, "Wants to learn more techniques/procedures." Probably gunning for Fellowship or Post-doc. He's the one who told me about volunteering opportunity/"internship" in China.
I did relatively minimal volunteer work in US hospital, esp since Cornell campus was so rural, did more volunteering at hospital in H.S.

After shadowing and whatnot, I'm interested in both Primary Care and General Surgery. I'll be happy as a PCP in rural U.S., and I know BIG 4 Carib schools can get me good chances of match in that. I'm not interested in the super-competitive residencies anyway, though keeping mind open for Gen Surg, but if I do Carib, will likely end up FP, Ped, or IM. But I also hope for possibility to eventually match into Gen Surg in future, or do a 2nd residency in that. Observing my uncle practicing urology, and after shadowing many surgeons, kinda inspired me in that field.

I'd have studied way harder, and not worked part-time jobs simultaneously etc etc, if I knew my goal is that HARD to reach. I regret many things, but now hope to focus more on the future, and don't want to take wrong turns!

 

[willen101383]

What do you mean "You cant get a masters degree really unless its a teachers "masters." , what's teacher's masters? A degree preparing one to do a teaching job at HS or community college? If a masters can increase my chance into US MD/DO school, I'd take it, but still apprehensive about spending ~2 extra years and 10s of 1000s of dollars on a deg. I may never use

Most masters are traditionally 2 years long. A lot of my teacher friends got a masters in one year....which is ridiculous to me...like half the amt of credits I took. You seem a bit confused which is normal in your situation....as I was back then.

Look into a masters in a science related field. Mine is in forensics. Yeah I may never be a forensic professional...but the masters got me into medical school. Almost every class I took was clinically relevant in some way..since I did the clinical forensic medicine track. I learned a hell of a lot from people who do REAL forensics work here in the Killadelphia. Dont do a masters degree unless its something geared toward people getting into medical school after completing it...or science related in some way. I know plenty of people like these SMPs...which are fine...but you probobly wont get in with your GPA. Also my beef with SMPs are you are putting a lot on the line: get into med school or end up with a worthless MS that wont get you anywhere. Thats where the forensics was nice...if I didnt get into med school I had a perfectly cool well paying backup plan.

 

[willen101383]

I wonder how it worked out too. And if he uses MBBS or M.D. after his name? Allowed to even put M.D. after the name? An uncle of mine is a urologist in China. He's PhD. Probably medical sciences, or nephrology. Considers himself as M.D., PhD equivalent. I know my uncle raduated med school within 5 years, Bachelor of Medicine (Cool deal I'd say, licensed Dr. by age 23 or 24), then he practiced 15 years as urologist. He then spent 2 years getting a masters, and 3 years getting his PhD. Practiced a bit in Japan, went to conferences throughout the world, but now wants to practice medicine for a year in US, "Wants to learn more techniques/procedures." Probably gunning for Fellowship or Post-doc. He's the one who told me about volunteering opportunity/"internship" in China.
I did relatively minimal volunteer work in US hospital, esp since Cornell campus was so rural, did more volunteering at hospital in H.S.

After shadowing and whatnot, I'm interested in both Primary Care and General Surgery. I'll be happy as a PCP in rural U.S., and I know BIG 4 Carib schools can get me good chances of match in that. I'm not interested in the super-competitive residencies anyway, though keeping mind open for Gen Surg, but if I do Carib, will likely end up FP, Ped, or IM. But I also hope for possibility to eventually match into Gen Surg in future, or do a 2nd residency in that. Observing my uncle practicing urology, and after shadowing many surgeons, kinda inspired me in that field.

I'd have studied way harder, and not worked part-time jobs simultaneously etc etc, if I knew my goal is that HARD to reach. I regret many things, but now hope to focus more on the future, and don't want to take wrong turns!

Ithaca isnt rural! I love ithaca! Its gorges! not funny i know

I grew up in upstate ny and went to SUNY Cortland up 81 from you. (now you know what I had a 2.43) gpa!!! Taughgannock (sp?) falls park is one of my favorite hikes!

 

[TDX]

No. Thanks for the idea, especially since I only considered Carribean, Post-Baccs, and China/Taiwan/Hong Kong for now. How many med schools in Western Europe follow the U.S. model or are geared for Americans returning to US to do medicine? Any estimate? I know there're upwards of 30 or 40 Carribean med schools, and may be more post-bacc progs.

Do the Western European schools teach in English (besides UK & Ireland)? How's the tuition and length of program, and success of residency in US? Recognized in all 50 states?

If I can actually get in Western Europe or Australia schools, I'd study medicine there over Carib. I have a hunch that PDs don't scrutinize them as much as Carib and Chinese schools.

If you went for Western Europe, the answers to most of your questions would depend on the country you chose to study in.

I know there are a bunch of programs in English, but they don't follow the US model. Instead, they follow the (longer) country-specific EU models - probably 6 years, in your case.

Prices vary wildly, ranging from <$1000 to $35000 per year. Since you're not a EU citizen, you'd probably be looking at the upper end of that, especially for programs in English.

Doing your residency in the US should be possible, but it would be easier to do your residency in the country where you study - especially because in many, med school simply includes the first few years of what would be residency in the US.

So that all sounds pretty bad, right?

There is one major benefit, however: if you choose the right program, education, research and clinical opportunities are all vastly superior to what you'll encounter in the Caribbean schools.

With a good Western-European school it's the way it is with a good MD school: you're right in the middle of health care. There's a large academic hospital right next door, your profs are actively involved in lots of research and have probably authored some of your textbooks, you can get involved in actual research simply by asking around a bit, etc. Not to mention the fact that there's no shortage of actual patients around.

With the Caribbean schools, it comes down to this: you're paying a company for training. That's not necessarily a bad thing if job training is all you want, but if you're truly passionate about the health care field it might not be the best option.

 

[Shoushu]

Look into a masters in a science related field. Mine is in forensics. Yeah I may never be a forensic professional...but the masters got me into medical school . . .Dont do a masters degree unless its something geared toward people getting into medical school after completing it...or science related in some way. I know plenty of people like these SMPs...which are fine...but you probobly wont get in with your GPA. Also my beef with SMPs are you are putting a lot on the line: get into med school or end up with a worthless MS that wont get you anywhere. Thats where the forensics was nice...if I didnt get into med school I had a perfectly cool well paying backup plan.

You did yours in 16 months, no break, and that's a fairly accelerated program, while working and studying MCAT, congratulations for getting everything done! For comparison, I think Ross (1 of the Big 4) requires one to spend 16 month on the island of Dominica, then do 2 years of clerkship stateside. That's one reason Carib attracts me a bit, concentrated and fast, sounds like can have MD in 3.5 years.

I don't mind hard work either, as I worked hard for most of my nearly 23 years. Thanks, I'll look into science-related masters, if I can find a suitable one. I guess they'd require GRE or some other way for me to prove myself too, since my GPA is low, and my Diploma'll say B.A. in Asian Studies. I took 35-40 credits in Bio-related courses though, so a "concentration" (what cornell univ calls a "minor") of biology. I assume you had to take GRE and etc too, since your undergrad GPA was about a couple pts lower than mine. I don't don't want to waste time preparing for a bunch of exams, but I'll do it if have to, and I'm a good test-taker, scoring high in SATI, SATIIs,APs/IBs, etc. GRE would be no prob, at least it can't be harder than MCAT and USMLEs.

I think many masters programs have 1 or 2 matriculating classes a year too, ~January and Aug, but all Carib schools have Jan, May and Sep entering days. If I don't get in top Carib MD or Foreign program, I'll apply to the masters (A state U won't cost as much $$$), which is infinitely easier to get in than US MD/DO school.

 

[willen101383]

You did yours in 16 months, no break, and that's a fairly accelerated program, while working and studying MCAT, congratulations for getting everything done! For comparison, I think Ross (1 of the Big 4) requires one to spend 16 month on the island of Dominica, then do 2 years of clerkship stateside. That's one reason Carib attracts me a bit, concentrated and fast, sounds like can have MD in 3.5 years.

I don't mind hard work either, as I worked hard for most of my nearly 23 years. Thanks, I'll look into science-related masters, if I can find a suitable one. I guess they'd require GRE or some other way for me to prove myself too, since my GPA is low, and my Diploma'll say B.A. in Asian Studies. I took 35-40 credits in Bio-related courses though, so a "concentration" (what cornell univ calls a "minor") of biology. I assume you had to take GRE and etc too, since your undergrad GPA was about a couple pts lower than mine. I don't don't want to waste time preparing for a bunch of exams, but I'll do it if have to, and I'm a good test-taker, scoring high in SATI, SATIIs,APs/IBs, etc. GRE would be no prob, at least it can't be harder than MCAT and USMLEs.

I think many masters programs have 1 or 2 matriculating classes a year too, ~January and Aug, but all Carib schools have Jan, May and Sep entering days. If I don't get in top Carib MD or Foreign program, I'll apply to the masters (A state U won't cost as much $$$), which is infinitely easier to get in than US MD/DO school.

Just so you know pretty much ALL SMPs and many masters programs require the MCAT for admission. Some will take the GRE. I took my MCAT BEFORE my masters...so I was at least on halfway decent footing before I started

 

[Morsetlis]

I wonder how it worked out too. And if he uses MBBS or M.D. after his name? Allowed to even put M.D.

She has an M.D.

 

[Shoushu]

She has an M.D.

Ok so it's possible to go through Chinese edu system and end up changing Post-name initials to MD? cool. I knew a program at NY state that lets you do that for a fee, considered as MD from SUNY. I thought Chinese grads can only gave MBBS, Masters in Medicine, or PhD in Medical Sciences, stuck forever

 

[GH253]

just take another year of classes and get your grades up... turn that bio minor into a major

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Ok so it's possible to go through Chinese edu system and end up changing Post-name initials to MD? cool. I knew a program at NY state that lets you do that for a fee, considered as MD from SUNY. I thought Chinese grads can only gave Bachelor of Med, Masters in Medicine, or PhD in Medical Sciences, stuck forever

I'm preferring in the order US DO, US Science-related Masters, a SMP, Carribean, Nursing/P.A., med degree from China.

Cost-wise (only cost considerations, from greatest cost to least), I think it's US School > Carribean > SMP > Masters at a state U. >>>>> China

I think you should retake a bunch of your classes. Study hard for the Mcat, if you score well you could land into a SMP. From there aim for a good MD school or skip the SMP and apply broadly to DO.
But yah.. you could always just get a Science related masters and live with that.. Or if your major interests you, you could get a masters in that.

realistically your kinda screwed. But at least your in almost no debt at all, so you can easy go into a masters program and then make a decent living without a medical degree. But if you really want the MD/DO then you should start working very very very very hard.

 

[willen101383]

I think you should retake a bunch of your classes. Study hard for the Mcat, if you score well you could land into a SMP. From there aim for a good MD school or skip the SMP and apply broadly to DO.
But yah.. you could always just get a Science related masters and live with that.. Or if your major interests you, you could get a masters in that.

realistically your kinda screwed. But at least your in almost no debt at all, so you can easy go into a masters program and then make a decent living without a medical degree. But if you really want the MD/DO then you should start working very very very very hard.

I highly doubt he/she will get into a DO with such a low GPA without remediating that. But I have posted above what sort of situation I was in 4 years ago when I graduated college...and got into US schools. So dont post discouraging comments for people when they most definitely ARE NOT screwed.

 

[Van Chowder]

Damn bro.. No offence, but you were an asian studies major and got a 2.65?? Do you think you can handle the rigors of medical school?


If all goes bad, become a rapper! They make a ton of $$$😎

RE: the dude above me.

Dude, do NOT get a masters in a science related field. Its a hugeeeeeee waste of time, what the hell could you do with a Masters in Medical studies, or a Masters in Biology? Become another fish in an already over-qualified field full of Ph.D's?

If I were you I would instead take a year to take some classes that may help towards an MBA and go that route..

OR!! You can be the next Jay Z

 

[MedStudentWanna]

I should elaborate on what I just posted above because that was my situation. When I graduated undergrad I had absolutely no intention of going to med school. I had a 2.45 gpa..and a 27 MCAT. I took a year off...worked in my field. Did an accelerated masters degree and retook my mcat...all while working. I was accepted into 3 US DO schools and 1 US MD school. So before you look into carib. or FM schools I would look into doing a masters as well. I graduated with that 2.45...but with something like 70 credits of almost all As I brought that up to just under a 3.0. (this is what i was talking about above)

What are you talking about? A Master's does not bring up your undergrad GPA. It's tabulated separately. If you want to bring up your undergrad GPA, you have to do a post-bacc.

OP, all a post-bacc officially means is classes taking after graduating college. You can do this informally most place. Just sign up as a non-degree seeking student and retake a bunch of your science classes. DO schools will count only the last grade in your GPA (though the first grade will be on your application). This is the easiest way to bring up your GPA. I would do this to get into DO schools or take a bunch of upper-level courses and try for MD and DO.

I agree that you won't get into DO with a 2.5 GPA. Whoever said that on this thread doesn't know what he/she's talking about.

Finally, do NOT sit for the MCAT if your practice scores are 25. Most people score the same or lower than their practice test scores and the last thing you need is a score less than 25 (or even a 25) wit your GPA. Hold off on the MCAT, do an informal post-bacc, bring your GPA up, learn a lot, and take the MCAT when your practice scores have hit 30.

 

[willen101383]

What are you talking about? A Master's does not bring up your undergrad GPA. It's tabulated separately. If you want to bring up your undergrad GPA, you have to do a post-bacc.

OP, all a post-bacc officially means is classes taking after graduating college. You can do this informally most place. Just sign up as a non-degree seeking student and retake a bunch of your science classes. DO schools will count only the last grade in your GPA (though the first grade will be on your application). This is the easiest way to bring up your GPA. I would do this to get into DO schools or take a bunch of upper-level courses and try for MD and DO.

I agree that you won't get into DO with a 2.5 GPA. Whoever said that on this thread doesn't know what he/she's talking about.

Finally, do NOT sit for the MCAT if your practice scores are 25. Most people score the same or lower than their practice test scores and the last thing you need is a score less than 25 (or even a 25) wit your GPA. Hold off on the MCAT, do an informal post-bacc, bring your GPA up, learn a lot, and take the MCAT when your practice scores have hit 30.

I should clarify: cumulative GPA was brought up by doing a masters. And I agree about the MCAT. You can drop a lot from practice tests. People like to refer people to DO schools thinking anyone can get into one...but its not the case. You still need to be competitive.

 

[willen101383]

Damn bro.. No offence, but you were an asian studies major and got a 2.65?? Do you think you can handle the rigors of medical school?


If all goes bad, become a rapper! They make a ton of $$$😎

RE: the dude above me.

Dude, do NOT get a masters in a science related field. Its a hugeeeeeee waste of time, what the hell could you do with a Masters in Medical studies, or a Masters in Biology? Become another fish in an already over-qualified field full of Ph.D's?

If I were you I would instead take a year to take some classes that may help towards an MBA and go that route..

OR!! You can be the next Jay Z

So you are going to insult the OP, belittle their degree and then make me out to be an idiot. Good call man. Did I get a masters in a science related field. Yes. Forensics. It worked out just as planned for me and several of my classmates. Between being accepted to medical school, or pursuing careers in forensics most of us are quite successfully moving along in our fields.

Despite your insults I will agree with you on getting a GENERAL science masters. I spoke about this in another post. This is why I chose to go with forensics instead of some traditional SMP or bio related masters program. Because if it didnt workout for me I could pursue forensics instead. This wasnt the case for me however. In fact, aside from having a masters, I found that my interviewers were super interested in my masters, classes I took during it, and field experiences I had with law enforcement and the MEs office. This is exactly the type of masters I am advocating: something practical.

 

[MedStudentWanna]

I should clarify: cumulative GPA was brought up by doing a masters. And I agree about the MCAT. You can drop a lot from practice tests. People like to refer people to DO schools thinking anyone can get into one...but its not the case. You still need to be competitive.

There is no GPA that combines Masters and undergrad courses. Cumulative GPA refers only to undergrad. Masters GPA is calculated separately.

 

[willen101383]

There is no GPA that combines Masters and undergrad courses. Cumulative GPA refers only to undergrad. Masters GPA is calculated separately.

I am referring to AACOMAS.

 

[sassilysweet]

Ok so it's possible to go through Chinese edu system and end up changing Post-name initials to MD? cool. I knew a program at NY state that lets you do that for a fee, considered as MD from SUNY. I thought Chinese grads can only gave Bachelor of Med, Masters in Medicine, or PhD in Medical Sciences, stuck forever

I'm preferring in the order US DO, US Science-related Masters, a SMP, Carribean, Nursing/P.A., med degree from China.

Cost-wise (only cost considerations, from greatest cost to least), I think it's US School > Carribean > SMP > Masters at a state U. >>>>> China

Kind of a random comment, but I knew a person who went to medical school in China and then she and her husband moved to the US for his research career. In order to practice in the US she would have had to complete a residency here. She chose not to as her English was poor at the time and now she works in an immunoflow lab and has never practiced as a doctor in the US.
I don't know much more detail than that, but if you chose to go to school in China it would not be an automatic MD-ability in the US.

 

[Shoushu]

Kind of a random comment, but I knew a person who went to medical school in China and then she and her husband moved to the US for his research career. In order to practice in the US she would have had to complete a residency here. She chose not to as her English was poor at the time and now she works in an immunoflow lab and has never practiced as a doctor in the US.
I don't know much more detail than that, but if you chose to go to school in China it would not be an automatic MD-ability in the US.

I researched more into the topic. I've given up med-school-in-China-and-returning-to-US as the route. It's mostly because 1. It takes too long and not the same as American-model (though they practice same type of modern/Western medicine) and more importantly 2. the PDs and my future employers don't know the situation and schools there.

There are 2,000 medical schools in the world; I bet the PDs really only heard of around 200 (Canada+US+Carib+a few others)

I'm doing almost nothing except to study the MCAT for next 2 months. I think I can score high enough for Carib, applying to top 5 or 6 of the Carib ones. If I don't get in this round, then Post-Bacc and masters to prepare for US DO/MD.

It may sound crazy, but I know I can handle the rigors of med school. I took ~ equal # of humanities and science course at cornell, and got average GPA of ~3.0 for most of those semesters, except a bad year when lots of bad things happened to me and I got a couple semester of bad grades, in the worst semester I failed two classes. I regreted countless times, killed my chance and screwed. But I also got 4.0 during last semester. I know I can handle med school, and medicine is my #1 profession. I feel like no other career can fulfill me as much professionally. So I'm still after the dream. There has to be a way. If not, I'll look into alternative jobs, PA, nursing, or some science-related work. I agree too, that a practical science-degree can work for some other careers too, or as stepstone to US MD/DO. I know getting my deg in a somewhat uselss major at undergrad level limits my ops. That's why I want MD or other advanced degrees, but no sense getting over-degreed if my goal is clear. Some jobs may not even hire too over-qualified people. But if the MATCH doesn't work out 1st time around, I assume I can use M.D. for teaching or research jobs? I hope to be a clinician, but there'll be many doors opened for me to take a job if I wait for the match a 2nd or 3rd try. If I end up at Big 4 level school, then I can work my ass off and have chance to pre-match or match into some residency. In that good scenario I hope for, I'd save lots of time and money.

My blemished undergrad record'll haunt me forever! BUT will PDs even ask to see my undergrad transcript if I do well in Big-4-type school and ace USMLEs? Is it usual protocol for them to ask for official undergrad transcript, undergrad GPA and what major/minor/degree I got? Even if I ace med school and tests and become MD? I don't mind any stigma, as long as I ease suffering in my fulfilling career.

 

[Morsetlis]

But if the MATCH doesn't work out 1st time around, I assume I can use MD for teaching or research jobs?

It'll be just like pre-med!

 

[MedStudentWanna]

I am referring to AACOMAS.

So am I. Master's GPA is NOT counted as part of your cumulative undergrad GPA. They're separate. Please don't give people false information.

 

[MedStudentWanna]

I'm doing almost nothing except to study the MCAT for next 2 months. I think I can score high enough for Carib, applying to top 5 or 6 of the Carib ones. If I don't get in this round, then Post-Bacc and masters to prepare for US DO/MD.

You've got this backwards. You're supposed to exhaust all your options in the U.S. FIRST, then if you don't get in, consider Carib schools.

 

[Lizzie Bartlet]

Don't even think about going to the Caribbean without trying to bring up that GPA and applying to US schools first.