What should I do to improve my chances?

[cfgreen3095]

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Hello, I'm looking for any advice that anyone who knows more than me might have.

I am graduating Spring 2018 as a dual major (Microbiology and nutrition) from University of Florida. I was doing just okay in my classes until my girlfriend of 3+ years broke up with me out of the blue, that semester(fall 2016) my grades tanked. I had a 1.44 GPA. I was taking all science classes so it really hurt my sGPA. I was planning on using the grade forgiveness policy for that semester but as you all know that policy is no more. I picked up a second major (nutrition). Nutrition is goes towards my sGPA for Osteopathic schools. I plan on applying very broadly to Osteopathic schools. After 3 more semesters of hard work my sGPA is finally back above 3.0(barely). My last two semesters have been my best ever, 13 credits over summer with a 3.5, and 15 credits over fall with a 3.7. I plan on making my last semester even better. I have 2 and a half months set aside this summer to do EMT school and study for the MCAT. I want to apply the 2019-2020 cycle.

These are my stats:

GPA
3.3
sGPA
3.0
ECs
-1500+ hours scribing in the ED
-200+ hours volunteering with children (some disabled, some not)
-50+ patient contact hours as an EMR(emergency medical responder) on my college campus through UPD(university police department)
-2 semesters as a TA for a microbiology lab
-1 semester as a TA for a nutrition discussion group
LORs
-Many from physicians both DO and MD
-One from a science facility member(I am still collecting more)

My question is where do I go from here. I know my GPA hurts me and I need to kill my MCAT. I have a nice upward trend which helps and I have a lot of medical exposure. I have a real passion for emergency medicine and I would love to become a paramedic and work in the field for a year. Paramedic school would help my science GPA but it wont be close to as helpful as a post bacc or medical masters. It will be cheaper, more enjoyable, and give me skills to make money if need be. That is about all I can think to share with you all. If you have any questions please ask. I would love to here feedback. I have my mind set on going to medical school and am willing to do whatever I need to do no matter how long it takes

Thank you

 

[I'mJustCurious]

Well if you continue your upward trend + kill the MCAT then that would help out a lot. ECs looks solid so keep up with the good work.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

I would recommend that you take the MCAT if you're ready. Depending on the score you can evaluate if to apply or put another year into post-bacc. If a year of post-bacc will barely make a dent, you should consider the masters. It really depends on what we're working on here.

 

[cfgreen3095]

I would recommend that you take the MCAT if you're ready. Depending on the score you can evaluate if to apply or put another year into post-bacc. If a year of post-bacc will barely make a dent, you should consider the masters. It really depends on what we're working on here.

I was dual enrollment in high school and have two majors so I have a lot of credits (160ish). I don't think a post bacc would change my cumulative GPA as much as it would show that I am a more improved student now. I also have 2 and a half months this summer where I will not be working or taking class. My time will completely be dedicated towards MCAT preparation. I know I need to have a killer MCAT score so I am not going to take it till I have seriously prepared.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

The paramedic route isn’t a good option as it won’t build your application for medical school. I would prepare to take the MCAT if you think you are ready to start prepping for that, and then I would do a DIY post bac to try and get your gpa above 3.2. If you do that and get a good MCAT score (505+) then you should get a look from most DO programs due to your upward trend.

 

[cfgreen3095]

The paramedic route isn’t a good option as it won’t build your application for medical school. I would prepare to take the MCAT if you think you are ready to start prepping for that, and then I would do a DIY post bac to try and get your gpa above 3.2. If you do that and get a good MCAT score (505+) then you should get a look from most DO programs due to your upward trend.

@AnatomyGrey12 I have an ongoing spread sheet of every cause I've take broken down to gpa by the all others,cumulative, allopathic science, and osteopathic science. I just did the math and if I get a 4.0 my last semester my sGPA will be 3.11. If I do 30 credits the following year of science credits and get a 4.0 or close to it my sGPA will be approximately 3.3. My main question is, should I do a DIY post bacc at a large university or would a community college work just as well? I really like the idea of a DIY post bacc.

Also after a year of DIY post bacc I could still have time for paramedic school while I am applying. My interest in becoming a paramedic before going to medical school is not because I think it will help but because it is something I genuinely have a passion for.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

I was dual enrollment in high school and have two majors so I have a lot of credits (160ish). I don't think a post bacc would change my cumulative GPA as much as it would show that I am a more improved student now. I also have 2 and a half months this summer where I will not be working or taking class. My time will completely be dedicated towards MCAT preparation. I know I need to have a killer MCAT score so I am not going to take it till I have seriously prepared.

I would try one round application with a strong MCAT with backup masters. Otherwise, not putting much dent into the GPA will not yield many benefits. Even though some people may look at your overall transcript and you took an extra year with good grades, it might be possible that someone will rush through and not put 2-and-2 together. I think since masters is a year, you might as well go through a track that may ensure your success of getting in. Some people don't like this route because they figure if you fail or don't do well you won't make it into the medical school, but the truth is that if you can't make it through one of the DO masters, you'd probably fail your way out of medical school be it boards or classes.

 

[Magus5454]

As much as I understand the passion for pre hospital care, why? If you're interested in medical school pursue that...why put in thousands of dollars into a program and never really use it. Applying to medical school in itself is costly