What should I do?

[Goatsie]

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1st edit:Oops wrong section;
2nd edit:got a response on this first so I'll repost my thread...

Alas, another "what-are-my-chances thread". PLEASE PLEASE give me some advice, I'm quit panicked...

Situation: I'm about to graduate from a public university (BA-biochemistry); low gpa (2.75); volunteering in hospital (oncology/post-op); have research experience; getting old (early 20s); haven't taken the MCAT, yet; a non-traditional student (in the sense that I'm a first generation college graduate)

Question: What should I do to get into med school? How do post bac programs help me get into m-school? What's the difference between DO and allo? What are my chances (I don't know if I can take an answer of "none")?

I've read that many people have a low gpa situation such as myself and it would be a tremendous help if someone could answer some of my questions and perhaps give some advice and give some encouraging statements.

Thank you in advance, I appreciate ALL constructive comments.

 

[LikeClockWork]

I think what you need to consider is that med schools are looking for students who have the maturity as well as the intellect to complete their programs and take on the responsibilities of being a doctor. Keeping that in mind, post-bacc programs give you a chance to prove that's who you are. Is your 2.75 a result of slacking off the first few years of school then showing a turn around your senior year? If so, you can use a good GPA in a master's program to show admissions committees that you've grown up since those younger undergrad years and are now ready for their programs. If the 2.75 is from generally poorer grades throughout college, then a better GPA and MCAT in post-bacc would probably be needed to convince the ad coms of the same thing.
Also, "getting old (early 20s)"? You are NOT getting old at that stage. I think the average age of incoming med students is 24 which means there are younger, but more importantly, there are older. Reading these forums, there are people taking up medicine as a second career in their 30s who already have a wife and kids. Don't count yourself out if you have to do some years of post-bacc work to get into med school. My undergrad medical professions adviser always told me "Ad coms can't keep you out of medical school. They can only delay you one year at a time if you keep working."

In short: You still have some serious work ahead of you, but if you're serious about medicine, you can eventually get in and do well.

 

[RxnMan]

...getting old (early 20s);...a non-traditional student (in the sense that I'm a first generation college graduate)...

Early 20s is not old. The average age of my class is 25-26, and there's a classmates who is 39. Non-traditional applicants are those who did not go from college directly to med school. By the general definition, you'd be a traditional applicant.

...What's the difference between DO and allo?...

I am an allopathic medical student. From my knowledge, the differences are some components of the curriculum and the shift between focusing on the disease process (allopathy) to a holistic, patient-centered approach (osteopathy). In residency, the DOs have a separate Match that they can participate in, but MDs cannot. DOs can participate in the MD match. In practice, you may need to spend an extra year to get your license as a DO, but that changes from state-to-state. More than likely, your patients will not know the difference. You should corroborate everything I've written by taking a look at the DO forums.

...Question: What should I do to get into med school? How do post bac programs help me get into m-school?...Situation: I'm about to graduate from a public university (BA-biochemistry); low gpa (2.75); volunteering in hospital (oncology/post-op); have research experience;...

The GPA is the thing to fix. Look through the post-bacc forums and you can get an idea of the options out there. You may want to do a Special Masters Program. Those are competitive. You may also want to do your own, informal post bacc. The thing to do is to re-calculate your GPA, weighted for class hours, and see how many hours of 3.5, 3.74, etc. classes you need to break 3.0. Once you break 3.0, most admissions committees will start to look at the other aspects of your application and see your volunteering and research experience.

While you're doing that, you want to prepare for the MCAT. Most applicants have around a 30. You'll want to dedicate time to preparing, and there's lots of help available in the MCAT forum.

 

[DrBubbles]

Hi, there. You can get in. But not yet. Just to reiterate, you are actually young: the average age of my class is 26 (but we're a little older than most). That means that for every 22-year-old college graduate there is a 30-year-old in my class. And people in their forties. Here's my two cents for what it's worth:

1) I would advise not doing an SMP: schools do consider both your undergraduate and graduate GPAs, both together and separately. But undergraduate is more important sometimes, because I think those are the statistics they report to U.S. News. I suggest you do some post-bac coursework, but at the undergraduate level. If you can find a formal program, great. If not, just take some more upper level biology-based courses, at any undergraduate four-year institution. The master's programs definitely help, but they're more helpful for people with above a 3.0 to start.

2) That's great that you haven't taken the MCAT yet! Wait on it. I didn't get accepted the first time around, and my scores were no good at almost all the schools I was applying to after three years, so I had to retake it. That bites. Wait till you're closer to applying.

3) The applicants who tend to get accepted to allopathic med schools with low GPAs tend to be older anyway. (At least mid-late twenties, more beyond.) This is because they have more life experience. So, if your'e just getting out of college, I would seriously consider taking some time off school first. Work in a clinical (or research) setting, or go abroad if you haven't already and you can find the finances, and do some international or public health work in Central or South America, Africa, East Asia, South Asia, Russia.... Join the working world, do 9-5, or 6-3, or 12-12, whatever, and come home with nothing to study. Volunteer. Take up a hobby. I was so happy I spent a year-and-a-half doing these things. Then, think about a 3-year plan.

If you decide to apply to osteopathic schools, you have less coursework to do. If you want to go allopathic, it's going to take you a little longer to get your GPA up a little higher. When you do decide to take the MCAT, rock it. That can only help.

You can get in, but your focus should be GPA, and taking a break was exactly what helped me get my GPA up later.

Best of luck!

 

[Goatsie]

I am much obliged to your taking time to respond to my state of concern (read: panic). Your encouragement and positive comments, in my brittle and nervous state, has eased me a bit. Please continue to give suggestions!!

As for now, DrBubbles, I think your suggestion are most feasible and realistic option I have. I believe I do need some time off (perhaps move somewhere that I'll be in a more content state). I would like to go the allopathic route; I will continue to be around the forums reading up on discussions and such.

 

[senseiturtle]

I am much obliged to your taking time to respond to my state of concern (read: panic). Your encouragement and positive comments, in my brittle and nervous state, has eased me a bit. Please continue to give suggestions!!

The good:
Experience, both research and volunteering. Age factor when eventually makes a serious application.

The bad:
GPA is an absolute no-go.
No MCAT score to judge raw ability

The ugly:
You WILL have to boost that GPA dramatically to get in, at minimum 3.2 or so cumulative to have a remote shot.

You WILL have to take the MCAT, and score above 30.

You WILL have to come up with a good story about how you weren't sure you wanted to go into medicine, and then got your act together when you realized the level of competition for admission.

Best case scenario, you'll get admitted in 2-3 years, based on level of improvement.

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Other advice- Speak to the dean of a particular school you have in mind. He might have some alternate suggestions.



Now that you know what the problem is, you're going to have to evaluate how much of your efforts are you prepared to dedicate to fixing it.

Are you willing to take out more loans to go to school full-time in upper-level biologies? Are you willing to enter an intensive SMP program or the likes to prove you're into this?

Take one thing at a time, and realize that you've got a long road ahead. If you truly want this, you'll do what it takes. If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM me, as I took 3 tries to get in.

 

[Goatsie]

2) That's great that you haven't taken the MCAT yet! Wait on it. I didn't get accepted the first time around, and my scores were no good at almost all the schools I was applying to after three years, so I had to retake it. That bites. Wait till you're closer to applying.

I hear they're averaging MCAT scores from now on instead of taking the highest, 😡