What to do? I only need Orgo 1 & Orgo 2...

[rgerber85]

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Funny... a BS and an MS in Exercise Physiology / Energy Metabolism and I was NEVER required to take Organic Chem i or ii. I was on a PhD track...

Took my MS and left my program to figure things out. I don't consider it a poor move, but having been shadowing and volunteering, among other activities, I'm confident medicine is for me. I know my UGrad GPA isn't strong enough, but my Grad work and EC's are fairly solid (I've worked hard). I'm currently studying for the MCAT, but I have a bit of a problem...

As the title states, no orgo i and orgo ii.

I'm trying to consider my options... take them independently? A nice individual with whom I conversed regularly last night suggested a SMP... but would that really help my ugrad? Or a Post-Bacc program (which, I honestly don't see the difference in weight carried by a post-bacc or SMP considering I already have an MS in a respected field from a well respected research university). Plus, I wouldn't mind a program that can only improve my low (3.1cGPA) GPA from ugrad. A number of instances occurred that didn't help my cause in UGrad, the biggest being my father having a major open heart procedure (not a bypass lol) which resulted in complications that affected him the last 10 years or so; significantly. And now, most recently... another major procedure to correct a past malpractice by an uncaring cardiologist with a Messiah Complex.. he is doing really well and under the care of so many specialists and our PCP who is brilliant in his own respect (and I don't mean that latter point sarcastically). I see a new light and I want this. I'm willing to do anything to get it. Md or DO. I love medicine. I love the science. I enjoy the ability to gap that bridge of theory and data in a clinical setting that requires absolute and comprehensive rational decision making in an intense, pressure filled environment. The most comprehensive, pressure filled environment I know is running over 100 metabolic hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps on my subject study participants in my lab for my study... and my colleagues.

Wow... fail on grammar by me. yay

THANKS!

...I wish I wasn't as naive in ugrad.

mayday? Is my plane going down in flames?

thanks!

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

A SMP is for people who did badly in college and already completed all of their pre-reqs as well as taken the mcat. What you need to do is either a post-bacc or enroll in a local university or C.C and take organic chemistry 1 & 2.

 

[rgerber85]

A SMP is for people who did badly in college and already completed all of their pre-reqs as well as taken the mcat. What you need to do is either a post-bacc or enroll in a local university or C.C and take organic chemistry 1 & 2.

I made a minor edit listing my ugrad GPA. my ugrad cGPA is too low... but my grad cGPA is a 3.6

both affected by family life (father's major open heart procedure/s + complications over the last 10-11 years. I'd like to help my ugrad if possible to improve my chances for md school.

I've been told my EC's are solid...

thanks for replying!

 

[Doctor246853]

A SMP is for people who did badly in college and already completed all of their pre-reqs as well as taken the mcat. What you need to do is either a post-bacc or enroll in a local university or C.C and take organic chemistry 1 & 2.

This. You need to do a post-bacc and really focus on your cgpa. These schools want care if you go A's in Orgo1&2 if your overall is a 3.19 or what ever. What's your science gpa? Is that high or in the same range?

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I made a minor edit listing my ugrad GPA. my ugrad cGPA is too low... but my grad cGPA is a 3.6

both affected by family life (father's major open heart procedure/s + complications over the last 10-11 years. I'd like to help my ugrad if possible to improve my chances for md school.

I've been told my EC's are solid...

thanks for replying!

Oh, well with a 3.1 and a strong graduate gpa you could potentially get into a DO school if you have a good mcat score. But I agree you'll probably need to enroll in a SMP to have any real chance at MD ( Before enrolling you'll also need to prove yourself by getting a high mcat score).

 

[rgerber85]

This. You need to do a post-bacc and really focus on your cgpa. These schools want care if you go A's in Orgo1&2 if your overall is a 3.19 or what ever. What's your science gpa? Is that high or in the same range?

I haven't calculated it, but I'm making an educated guess at it being around a 3.3 or 3.4

I'm trying to decide between brandeis Post-Bacc or Harvard Extension school - but I'd need to gain sponsorship there, which seems like a chore in itself... lol

 

[NightGod]

Another option is to retake your worst classes and take full advantage of DO schools grade replacement policy.

Keep in mind that most schools won't really care about your Master's GPA. It's pretty well known that they tend to be inflated. You really need to either knock out Org and do an SMP or start fixing your uGPA by either doing lots of classes or DO grade replacement.

 

[rgerber85]

Another option is to retake your worst classes and take full advantage of DO schools grade replacement policy.

Keep in mind that most schools won't really care about your Master's GPA. It's pretty well known that they tend to be inflated. You really need to either knock out Org and do an SMP or start fixing your uGPA by either doing lots of classes or DO grade replacement.

DO Grade replacement? how does that work?

by this point.. I feel a post-bacc is better suited for my career goals. Hopefully I can find a year long program and knock that out... fall, spring, summer... take the MCAT this December.. and apply for the following year.

Is that reasonable?

 

[Doctor246853]

DO Grade replacement? how does that work?

by this point.. I feel a post-bacc is better suited for my career goals. Hopefully I can find a year long program and knock that out... fall, spring, summer... take the MCAT this December.. and apply for the following year.

Is that reasonable?

DO replacement is a powerful and complex force created by god, rejoiced by many premeds worldwide and should be intergrated into the constitution. Ok I got a little carried away with emotions but it basically takes the lowest grade and replaces it with your highest retook grade. This gives you a higher gpa than the MD route. Its a beautiful thing.

 

[rgerber85]

DO replacement is a powerful and complex force created by god, rejoiced by many premeds worldwide and should be intergrated into the constitution. Ok I got a little carried away with emotions but it basically takes the lowest grade and replaces it with your highest retook grade. This gives you a higher gpa than the MD route. Its a beautiful thing.

So theoretically, I could enroll in a post-bacc... retake those classes among orgo I + II.... and I could enroll into DO school and they'll overlook my ugrad gpa?

hmmm

now I just need a 1 year post-bacc

Given my solid EC's and my family situation, medical programs would not overlook my low gpa and commend my ability to continue academia, achieving an MS and years of extensive research (clinical) + 5 publications?

plus, i'm hoping to earn a 34+ on the MCAT (which I'm not taking until January)...

I hope i'm not a lost cause... and thanks for your input!

 

[Doctor246853]

So theoretically, I could enroll in a post-bacc... retake those classes among orgo I + II.... and I could enroll into DO school and they'll overlook my ugrad gpa?

hmmm

now I just need a 1 year post-bacc

Given my solid EC's and my family situation, medical programs would not overlook my low gpa and commend my ability to continue academia, achieving an MS and years of extensive research (clinical) + 5 publications?

plus, i'm hoping to earn a 34+ on the MCAT (which I'm not taking until January)...

I hope i'm not a lost cause... and thanks for your input!

Bingo. Take your lowest grades over and Orgo 1 & 2, MAKE A'S, and you could be looking at a 3.6+ gpa. (easier said then done tho)

 

[rgerber85]

Bingo. Take your lowest grades over and Orgo 1 & 2, MAKE A'S, and you could be looking at a 3.6+ gpa. (easier said then done tho)

I don't believe I'll have trouble getting into a Post-Bacc program.

If I prioritize my time, I'm confident I can take the lowest grades over again, take Orgo I + II... and apply to schools. I can't rule out MD schools though. Sometimes Life situations do not play us all a golden card. I was dealt a tough hand, and I played my cards the best I could... earning me a Masters degree. This must count for something. I'm even willing to do an extra year of schooling to get into Md school.

Is there any way to get that message across? I can get documentation of my father's situation if need be. It was important to me to be with fmaily over schooling.

 

[Doctor246853]

I don't believe I'll have trouble getting into a Post-Bacc program.

If I prioritize my time, I'm confident I can take the lowest grades over again, take Orgo I + II... and apply to schools. I can't rule out MD schools though. Sometimes Life situations do not play us all a golden card. I was dealt a tough hand, and I played my cards the best I could... earning me a Masters degree. This must count for something. I'm even willing to do an extra year of schooling to get into Md school.

Is there any way to get that message across? I can get documentation of my father's situation if need be. It was important to me to be with fmaily over schooling.

You can tell you situation in your PS and at the interview as well. I know the feeling and ended up with a horrible, horrible freshman year.

 

[NightGod]

DO replacement is a powerful and complex force created by god, rejoiced by many premeds worldwide and should be intergrated into the constitution. Ok I got a little carried away with emotions but it basically takes the lowest grade and replaces it with your highest retook grade. This gives you a higher gpa than the MD route. Its a beautiful thing.

Close. DO schools actually replace your grades with the MOST RECENT grade. Yes, this means if you had a C and get an A, your GPA will be averaged with that A. It also means if you have an A and have to retake for a post-bacc program and get a B, you will have your grades averaged with the B. Granted, it very rarely works against someone like this, but it can happen.

 

[Doctor246853]

Close. DO schools actually replace your grades with the MOST RECENT grade. Yes, this means if you had a C and get an A, your GPA will be averaged with that A. It also means if you have an A and have to retake for a post-bacc program and get a B, you will have your grades averaged with the B. Granted, it very rarely works against someone like this, but it can happen.

Yea I know that. I just didnt say that because I figure if someone has an A in a class then they will not retake that class.

 

[NightGod]

Yea I know that. I just didnt say that because I figure if someone has an A in a class then they will not retake that class.

True, but they might retake a B and end up with a B- or C, in which case it's important info to have.