MD What should I do? Horrible stats so far.

[angie34]

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I'm currently a first semester sophomore with a 2.689 cGPA even though I am considered a lower junior. I used to be a straight A student and graduated high school with a perfect 4.0 but I had family issues and full time jobs to compensate said family issues for the years until now. I took an NC for chem 2 which made my gap for that semester 3.575. My grades are as follows so far:

Chem 1- C
Chem 2- C+
Chem lab 1- B
Bio 1- C+
Bio 2- C+
Orgo 1- C
Orgo lab 1- A-
Calc 1 - D and then D again

They are obviously horrible. However, I received a reality check and let go of my job and will be in full force for the upcoming semester. I am taking molecular biology and genetics along with orgo 2 and orgo 2 lab. Let's assume I have a very strong upward trend (3.8+ in each semester onward) and a high MCAT 515+ what should I do to get into med school. I am not allowed to retake classes I got a C in. I will be retaking the calc class. I have yet to take any other science classes. I recently found out about SMPs. I don't want to go into DO schools, preferably allopathic. I also had AP coursework for BIO and college now classes that weren't factored into my GPA

classes that I took for college now were
psychology- A
genetics - A+
I had to take all my bio classes over again because I am a bio major.

My ECs are as follows:

1 year as tutor for high school and middle school children (it is a volunteer position)
1 year as CNA
I am looking to get into research for the summer and fall semester.

By the time I apply for med schools I will have 3 years of each. I am a first generation applicant. No one from my family has gone into college let alone graduate school. So if you could not be rude but give me a clear answer. I understand that this is a marathon, and I am willing to run in this marathon for as long as possible. Thanks in advance

 

[A_Future_MD]

The best way to help yourself right now would be to make sure you get straight A's this semester. Just focus on that as much as possible and if there is anyway for you to make time to volunteer or shadow even a just couple hours a week in a healthcare setting.

 

[angie34]

The best way to help yourself right now would be to make sure you get straight A's this semester. Just focus on that as much as possible and if there is anyway for you to make time to volunteer or shadow even a just couple hours a week in a healthcare setting.

Won't the CNA count as my clinical hours?

 

[deleted480308]

Other than 3-4 hours of volunteering per week drop all the extra crap until you have all As for a few semesters....

Gpa>everything

 

[angie34]

Other than 3-4 hours of volunteering per week drop all the extra crap until you have all As for a few semesters....

Gpa>everything

Don't ECs and MCAT help a lower GPA?

 

[deleted480308]

Don't ECs and MCAT help a lower GPA?

A higher gpa helps a lower gpa

 

[HomeSkool]

With stats like those, you can't afford to be a DO snob. Assuming you're 3/8 of the way through college right now and manage to change into 4.0 student overnight, you'd graduate with around a 3.5 -- not great for MD schools. The fact that you got a D on your calc retake will hurt you with MD schools, too. So you need to let go of the mindset that allopathic is the only road to the promised land.

@sb247 is right: your GPA will kill you if you don't get it figured out pronto. ECs can come later, even during a gap year if necessary. On the other hand, AMCAS looks at all grades, not just retakes, so you can't afford to get any more low marks, period.

As for the relative weight of things: GPA and MCAT are king. ECs are important, but if your GPA and MCAT are poor, your application will be screened out before anyone even looks at your ECs.

Finally, I think this thread needs a little @Goro.

 

[angie34]

With stats like those, you can't afford to be a DO snob. Assuming you're 3/8 of the way through college right now and manage to change into 4.0 student overnight, you'd graduate with around a 3.5 -- not great for MD schools. The fact that you got a D on your calc retake will hurt you with MD schools, too. So you need to let go of the mindset that allopathic is the only road to the promised land.

@sb247 is right: your GPA will kill you if you don't get it figured out pronto. ECs can come later, even during a gap year if necessary. On the other hand, AMCAS looks at all grades, not just retakes, so you can't afford to get any more low marks, period.

As for the relative weight of things: GPA and MCAT are king. ECs are important, but if your GPA and MCAT are poor, your application will be screened out before anyone even looks at your ECs.

Finally, I think this thread needs a little @Goro.

I don't mean to be a snob but its a pressure from my parents. Also what if I did an SMP linked to a med school?

 

[HomeSkool]

I don't mean to be a snob but its a pressure from my parents.

Respectfully tell your parents to butt the hell out. Is it your life or is it theirs? Some of the very best doctors I know are DOs, including my best friend and my brother-in-law. By 2020, all allopathic and osteopathic residencies will be overseen by the ACGME, which should help with any remaining disparate standards. And post-residency, there's no functional difference in the way MDs and DOs practice except for some extreme outliers.

Also what if I did an SMP linked to a med school?

It could help, but again, you need a strong upward trend from this point forward. One step at a time: focus on this semester.

 

[angie34]

Respectfully tell your parents to butt the hell out. Is it your life or is it theirs? Some of the very best doctors I know are DOs, including my best friend and my brother-in-law. By 2020, all allopathic and osteopathic residencies will be overseen by the ACGME, which should help with any remaining disparate standards. And post-residency, there's no functional difference in the way MDs and DOs practice except for some extreme outliers.


It could help, but again, you need a strong upward trend from this point forward. One step at a time: focus on this semester.

thank you

 

[HomeSkool]

thank you

Key word: respectfully. 🙂 But you need to make your own career choices for you, not for them. A huge part of your happiness over the next forty years will be tied to the choices you make in the next few semesters. That makes those choices too important to hand over to anyone else.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using SDN mobile

 

[angie34]

Key word: respectfully. 🙂 But you need to make your own career choices for you, not for them. A huge part of your happiness over the next forty years will be tied to the choices you make in the next few semesters. That makes those choices too important to hand over to anyone else.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using

I know but they are just orthodox Indian parents who don't understand the concept of DO vs MD. I definitely want to be a doctor and don't worry I'm not spending all this time in school to achieve a goal for someone else's happiness. I will definitely start to focus on each class and semester. When I said thank you I meant it.

 

[Goro]

I know but they are just orthodox Indian parents who don't understand the concept of DO vs MD. I definitely want to be a doctor and don't worry I'm not spending all this time in school to achieve a goal for someone else's happiness. I will definitely start to focus on each class and semester. When I said thank you I meant it.

You're old enough to vote, drink, drive, smoke, work, pay taxes, run for office and fight and die for your country. Thus, you're old enough to grow a spine and tell your parents that it's you life and you'll make your own career decisions, thank you.

Beggars can't be choosy, hence DO schools will need to be on whatever school list you make up after reinvention, because while there are MD schools that reward reinvention, all DO schools. Especially since you don't have an MCAT and it is hubris to think that you might get a 515. The avg test taker's score is 500.

In the mean time, read this:
Goro’s advice for pre-meds who need reinvention

 

[treatem-and-streetem]

I agree “assuming” you can get a 515+ Is a little arrogant. GPA shows schools you can do well in class over a prolonged period. One score from the MCAT or some ECs won’t save your GPA. Also get that stigma against DO out of your mind. Focus on one thing at a time (straight As)

 

[extremelyrealname]

I'm not sure what about your academic experience thus far makes you think you're capable of getting a 515 MCAT

 

[GypsyHummus]

With your pre rec GPAs, how do you think that you will manage a 515+ MCAT score? What happens if you study for 3 months and end up with a 496?

There is a reason MD schools have averages in the 3.8 and DO schools have averages in the 3.5. Its not because high numbers look nice, it is because Medical school is hard. It is roughly 3X the amount of material per class you need to know and unless you are a genius, you will likely study 8+ hours/day just to pass/keep up. Even 3.8 GPA people fail out of MD school.

Id look at other careers. Look into Podiatry.