What should my plan of action be when I have such a terrible GPA? (2.86)

[Wolverine93]

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My GPA is horrendous and I know it. It's really ugly and nowhere near what medical schools are looking for, I know that.

I graduated with a 2.86 cumulative GPA and my science GPA is even lower than that.

I'm honestly not a lazy person despite what my transcript might make it seem like. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to become a doctor. I just have a very hard time managing my time well- I get very caught up in one task or class and that keeps me from doing well in the other ones. I'm definitely going to work on my time management skills.

I'm currently enrolled at a local university and I'm taking 12 credits of hardcore sciences that would be helpful for me in med school- like biochem, physiology, and microbiology. The classes are a lot smaller than where I went to undergrad and it is significantly less competitive. I think I have a chance of doing well there. I have taken classes there before and I did well without too much of an effort.

During winter I am also planning to take more classes there- somewhere between 12 and 15 credits.

So my post bacc would be somewhere between 24 and 28 credits in a year, all upper level science classes. I'm trying to prove to admissions panels that I can handle medical school.

My EC's are decent and I am going to work on getting some more clinical experience and shadowing as well. My MCAT isn't good either but I will retake that and do better.

The thing is I don't think one year of classes will be enough for me to make up for my terrible undergrad grades. What would be a good plan of action for me after I complete these classes? Should I take more at the same university or apply for some kind of linkage program after this year?

I just don't think I can be competitive enough after this year to get into any medical school. I know I have more work to do, but I'm not sure where to put my time.

Any advice for me?

 

[ridethecliche]

Aim for DO and take advantage of grade replacement.

You need to get your ducks in a row before you can think of applying. This is probably going to take atleast 2 years (or longer) depending on your other commitments.

 

[Wolverine93]

I know I'm nowhere near ready to apply right now, but I was just wondering how to use my 2 (or potentially more) years to get the best results possible.

Do you feel I'm best off taking science classes for two years and really doing well in them?

I'm more than willing to put in the time and effort, but I just want to see results at some point.

 

[Goro]

Concur 100%. If you're boning for an MD degree, a SMP is strongly encouraged, along with aceing MCAT

Aim for DO and take advantage of grade replacement.

You need to get your ducks in a row before you can think of applying. This is probably going to take atleast 2 years (or longer) depending on your other commitments.

 

[Beargryllz]

You need to retake classes that will make a difference. A C on a 5 credit hour course can become an A on AACOMAS if you retake it. This increases your GPA by a lot. Do this for at least a few classes and dominate the MCAT. But don't even bother applying MD.