What should I do?

[global_Premed3]

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So, I have been a lurker for years and have learned so much from SDN. i have never posted anything because I have had quite a few medical students tell me to stir clear of SDN. However, now I am in a position where I have so many questions and I am not sure what I should do to give myself the best chance at getting into medical school. Let me start with my story/background.

When I started college, I was not exactly ready. I did well in all my courses except science/math/psychology. My major was Biology. I thought what worked in high school would work for me in college- well I got a rude awakening when I got my first D and F in Biology courses. It killed my confidence as a student. Things really did not get better until my junior/senior years of college. (By the way, it took me 5 years to finish because I transferred from an out of state school to an in-state school.)

I did well in upper level science coursework-

Immunology B
Molecular Genetics A
Botany B
Microbiology A-
Anatomy and Physiology 2 A-
Anatomy and Physiology 1 C

But my basic sciences courses not so good-
Biology 1 D (after a retake during college B)
Biology 2 D (after a retake during college C)
Biology 3 C
Biology 4 C+
Physics 1 W (first time taken ) C-(second time)
Physics 2 D+
General Chemistry 1 WF first time taken (retaken during college B-)
General Chemistry 2 B
Organic Chemistry 1 C
Organic Chemistry 2 D

I should probably mention that during my sophomore year of college my father became very ill, he has had diabetes since I was a kid and he became blind and began going through renal failure all in one year. I got two jobs at one point to take care of myself and pay for school since my parents could not afford to do so after my father could not work anymore and my mom took disability to help care for him.Once mom went back to work I would travel back and forth to help care for him- it was a huge adjustment. So, 2-4 years of undergrad was a real struggle with my family life. I took time off after i finished my degree to re-center myself both professionally and academically and I feel like that time off really helped me.

I did take some courses post bacc and so far I am doing well:

Physics 1 - A
Psychology - A (original grade was D+)
Organic Chemistry 1 (currently taking this and doing well)
Organic Chemistry 2 (taking next semester)
Physics 2 (would like to take this in the fall)
Anatomy and Physiology 1 (retaking this in the summer)

Post bacc GPA is currently a 4.0

I am also in grad school earning credits toward a masters in public health at a top 30 university.
GPA is 3.9.

I graduated 3-4 years ago- had no idea what I was going to do with my life if medical school was not going to happen so I worked in a lab for about 1.5 years at a medical reach institute culturing cells. Realized I did not want to work in a lab for the rest my life-I made the move to Clinical research and have made (what I would like to call) a career for myself. I am currently working full-time at a large global pharmaceutical company helping to support and manage clinical trials. The work is rewarding but I do not see myself doing this forever either, which is why I went back to school to try and do some GPA repair.

I keep a tracker for my grades and I definitely have my heart set on osteopathic medicine, more specifically PCOM (I have visited the school before and loved it). My cGPA after retakes is 3.1 and sGPA is 2.95. But I'm not sure if osteopathic medical schools consider the Grad GPA separate from the undergrad GPA, if so, my cGPA is a 3.13 (not much higher). So far I feel I have a strong upward trend.

I have not taken the MCAT yet because I do not feel I am at the point of doing that yet. I am still hopeful. As far as EC's I do not have much besides research (1000+ hours/1.5-2 years) and few hours of volunteer work (about 50) and shadowing (about 20). I know I need work in this area and I plan on working on EC's in the next year.


So i guess my question is how bad is my situation? I am debating on if I should apply to SMP's but when I think about the cost i cringe but if I have to do it, I will.

Thank you in advance!

 

[NecrotizingFasciitis]

Firstly, on your AACOMAS application, your grad gpa will be separate from your undergrad gpa. This can both play to your advantage and disadvantage because if you have changed as a student (which it seems you have) they will see that 4.0 (or whatever it is) next to/around your undergrad gpa (which clearly demonstrates change as a student.) It plays to your disadvantage in the sense that, it won't contribute to the gpa that schools screen with (at least from what I have read, that being your undergrad gpa.)

Secondly, I think you definitely have a shot at DO schools, here's why:
1.) You have a good explanation as to why you had a poor performance initially (ignorant youngin' trying to continue to study like a high school student), and you had the medically-related events going on with your father (sorry to hear that by the way.) These are good reasons.
2.) You seem to have tons of research experience... DO schools don't typically care as much about research, BUT it shows you have been up to some cool stuff since graduating.
3.) You have a strong upward trend that says you have re-invented yourself as a student, and DO schools seem to love reinvention stories.

What I would recommend:
1.) Continue to kill it in your classes (A's for days & also before bae's... your life motto until you get your first acceptance letter)
2.) Get some patient contact (very important, gotta show med schools you know what you're getting into.)
3.) Take the MCAT (shoot for 505+; only take it when you feel ready.)
4.) Tailor your personal statement to fit your story (IMO your personal statement and secondary essays are hugely underrated in the DO application process; so important!)
5.) Try to get your cGPA and sGPA both above 3.25 if you can before you apply.. rumor has it some schools screen people out below that. >3.3 for both would be best!
6.) Don't apply to SMP if you are going the DO route! You will save so much money, and it is too high a risk.. If you don't perform well in an SMP you are dead in the water for all medical schools. You're better off taking advantage of DO grade replacement like you are doing now.

You Got This: Seriously, if you truly want to be a doctor, you can do it. It seems like you have got things under control. Whenever you have questions, search around the threads here or ask people that have already gone through the process; there is always someone out there that has been through what you are going through. I had a 2.2 gpa after my sophomore year of college, and graduated in a total of 5 years with a 3.33. I've had a great application cycle this year because I was honest with schools and just told them my story and I think if you do the same you'll have similar success.

PS: I don't know too much about PCOM, I'm sure someone else can chime in with specifics.

 

[Goro]

I'd be happy to help advise, but can you ask your questions without the Stephen King length novella?

So, I have been a lurker for years and have learned so much from SDN. i have never posted anything because I have had quite a few medical students tell me to stir clear of SDN. However, now I am in a position where I have so many questions and I am not sure what I should do to give myself the best chance at getting into medical school. Let me start with my story/background.

When I started college, I was not exactly ready. I did well in all my courses except science/math/psychology. My major was Biology. I thought what worked in high school would work for me in college- well I got a rude awakening when I got my first D and F in Biology courses. It killed my confidence as a student. Things really did not get better until my junior/senior years of college. (By the way, it took me 5 years to finish because I transferred from an out of state school to an in-state school.)

I did well in upper level science coursework-

Immunology B
Molecular Genetics A
Botany B
Microbiology A-
Anatomy and Physiology 2 A-
Anatomy and Physiology 1 C

But my basic sciences courses not so good-
Biology 1 D (after a retake during college B)
Biology 2 D (after a retake during college C)
Biology 3 C
Biology 4 C+
Physics 1 W (first time taken ) C-(second time)
Physics 2 D+
General Chemistry 1 WF first time taken (retaken during college B-)
General Chemistry 2 B
Organic Chemistry 1 C
Organic Chemistry 2 D

I should probably mention that during my sophomore year of college my father became very ill, he has had diabetes since I was a kid and he became blind and began going through renal failure all in one year. I got two jobs at one point to take care of myself and pay for school since my parents could not afford to do so after my father could not work anymore and my mom took disability to help care for him.Once mom went back to work I would travel back and forth to help care for him- it was a huge adjustment. So, 2-4 years of undergrad was a real struggle with my family life. I took time off after i finished my degree to re-center myself both professionally and academically and I feel like that time off really helped me.

I did take some courses post bacc and so far I am doing well:

Physics 1 - A
Psychology - A (original grade was D+)
Organic Chemistry 1 (currently taking this and doing well)
Organic Chemistry 2 (taking next semester)
Physics 2 (would like to take this in the fall)
Anatomy and Physiology 1 (retaking this in the summer)

Post bacc GPA is currently a 4.0

I am also in grad school earning credits toward a masters in public health at a top 30 university.
GPA is 3.9.

I graduated 3-4 years ago- had no idea what I was going to do with my life if medical school was not going to happen so I worked in a lab for about 1.5 years at a medical reach institute culturing cells. Realized I did not want to work in a lab for the rest my life-I made the move to Clinical research and have made (what I would like to call) a career for myself. I am currently working full-time at a large global pharmaceutical company helping to support and manage clinical trials. The work is rewarding but I do not see myself doing this forever either, which is why I went back to school to try and do some GPA repair.

I keep a tracker for my grades and I definitely have my heart set on osteopathic medicine, more specifically PCOM (I have visited the school before and loved it). My cGPA after retakes is 3.1 and sGPA is 2.95. But I'm not sure if osteopathic medical schools consider the Grad GPA separate from the undergrad GPA, if so, my cGPA is a 3.13 (not much higher). So far I feel I have a strong upward trend.

I have not taken the MCAT yet because I do not feel I am at the point of doing that yet. I am still hopeful. As far as EC's I do not have much besides research (1000+ hours/1.5-2 years) and few hours of volunteer work (about 50) and shadowing (about 20). I know I need work in this area and I plan on working on EC's in the next year.


So i guess my question is how bad is my situation? I am debating on if I should apply to SMP's but when I think about the cost i cringe but if I have to do it, I will.

Thank you in advance!

 

[global_Premed3]

Firstly, on your AACOMAS application, your grad gpa will be separate from your undergrad gpa. This can both play to your advantage and disadvantage because if you have changed as a student (which it seems you have) they will see that 4.0 (or whatever it is) next to/around your undergrad gpa (which clearly demonstrates change as a student.) It plays to your disadvantage in the sense that, it won't contribute to the gpa that schools screen with (at least from what I have read, that being your undergrad gpa.)

Secondly, I think you definitely have a shot at DO schools, here's why:
1.) You have a good explanation as to why you had a poor performance initially (ignorant youngin' trying to continue to study like a high school student), and you had the medically-related events going on with your father (sorry to hear that by the way.) These are good reasons.
2.) You seem to have tons of research experience... DO schools don't typically care as much about research, BUT it shows you have been up to some cool stuff since graduating.
3.) You have a strong upward trend that says you have re-invented yourself as a student, and DO schools seem to love reinvention stories.

What I would recommend:
1.) Continue to kill it in your classes (A's for days & also before bae's... your life motto until you get your first acceptance letter)
2.) Get some patient contact (very important, gotta show med schools you know what you're getting into.)
3.) Take the MCAT (shoot for 505+; only take it when you feel ready.)
4.) Tailor your personal statement to fit your story (IMO your personal statement and secondary essays are hugely underrated in the DO application process; so important!)
5.) Try to get your cGPA and sGPA both above 3.25 if you can before you apply.. rumor has it some schools screen people out below that. >3.3 for both would be best!
6.) Don't apply to SMP if you are going the DO route! You will save so much money, and it is too high a risk.. If you don't perform well in an SMP you are dead in the water for all medical schools. You're better off taking advantage of DO grade replacement like you are doing now.

You Got This: Seriously, if you truly want to be a doctor, you can do it. It seems like you have got things under control. Whenever you have questions, search around the threads here or ask people that have already gone through the process; there is always someone out there that has been through what you are going through. I had a 2.2 gpa after my sophomore year of college, and graduated in a total of 5 years with a 3.33. I've had a great application cycle this year because I was honest with schools and just told them my story and I think if you do the same you'll have similar success.

PS: I don't know too much about PCOM, I'm sure someone else can chime in with specifics.

Thank you so much. I really appreciate your advise and I am considering just retaking another class or two to pull my GPA up to a 3.3 GPA. I, too, felt it might be a waste of money doing SMP when I am already retaking classes. It's good to hear for an outsider that my situation may not be as bad as I think. 🙂

 

[global_Premed3]

I'd be happy to help advise, but can you ask your questions without the Stephen King length novella?

Sorry for the long explanation- was just trying to get all the info out I could about my situation My questions are if I should do an SMP after retaking classes and how bad is my situation (meaning my bad grades and GPA)? My cGPA is 3.1 and my sGPA is 2.9 after retakes. I still have a few more classes to take to get my GPA up to a 3.3.

 

[Goro]

There are med schools that reward reinvention, so yes, do the SMP after the retakes. And good luck!

Sorry for the long explanation- was just trying to get all the info out I could about my situation My questions are if I should do an SMP after retaking classes and how bad is my situation (meaning my bad grades and GPA)? My cGPA is 3.1 and my sGPA is 2.9 after retakes. I still have a few more classes to take to get my GPA up to a 3.3.

 

[psu228]

I agree with the other comments. You definitely have a shot at DO schools with your advanced degree and experience in research.

You do need more clinical hours but those are easy to obtain. Just volunteer at any hospital near you or maybe even get a part time job as a pca and in a couple of months you will have an acceptable number of patient care hours.

I wouldn't do an SMP if I were you. You have an advanced degree that would serve you well as a physician already. If I were you, I would just retake some of those poor grades at a community college and get A's. You'd be surprised how quickly that will totally change your gpa given DO grade replacement.

Pcom is one of the best DO schools and most difficult to get into. For good reason, too it really provides a lot of the same opportunities as MD programs for your career. Their 2012 stats were 28 MCAT 3.37 science gpa and 3.4 overall gpa. I would certainly get my science gpa over 3.0 before applying if I were you, but if you do this I think you have a good shot.

In terms of other DO programs, it seems like 3.2 is kind of the cut off to be seriously considered. I would aim for this number. With a couple of As replacing those bad grades you could probably be there quickly.

Good luck!