Whats my next step towards med school?

[DontAskMeWhy]

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Hey,
So this is my first post and I'm looking for some advice on what my next step should be. I'm am a well below average candidate willing to take just about any path toward achieving my goal of medical school (either DO or MD)

My GPA is definitely not my strong point. I have a mix of one community college and two 4-year universities with the university I'm receiving my degree from being a well-respected school that is notoriously hard, especially in the sciences.

• My cumulative gpa across all three is a disappointing 2.98 with a slight upward trend.
• I have not taken the MCAT yet but plan to this coming spring.
• I have spent a lot of time shadowing physicians (who will write me some shining rec letters).
• I have nearly 2 years of research in a lab with authorship on a paper (It's in an ecological genomics lab)
• I have various and diverse (aka non-science) leadership experiences including some really interesting humanitarian and leadership trips I have been a part of.
• Various volunteering experiences
• Active members of various EC's both science and non-science
• Dual citizen (Italy and the US)

For the next year (until spring) while I study for the MCAT I will be working as either a Medical Scribe or in another clinical based job,

Beyond that what should my next step be? Are SMP's the way to go in my situation (I know many schools have a minimum 3.0 GPA which I am just under).

Like many of you, med school has always been my dream and I'm not about to let that go. I won't sit here and make excuses for my academic failings but I am prepared at this point to do what it takes to get there and I hope this community can help one another achieve what we all set out to achieve.

 

[deleted862527]

Ditto what @gonnif stated. Work on improving your GPA first, along with becoming involved in extracurricular, volunteering, or laboratory/clinical research opportunities. It will be difficult to overcome due to the low GPA; however, if this is truly what you want, it can certainly be done as there have been many practicing Physician's today who were admitted after a strong upward trend.

 

[gyngyn]

Shadowing letters are not powerful additions to an application.

 

[deleted804295]

Great extracurricular =/= Good GPA.

For most underclassmen I recommend taking a year of only 1-2 ECs and GPA repair but your scenario is a bit more sticky because you're now a fourth year.

Since you're far along your university career I would recommend dropping 1 of your ECs, and getting an A in all of your classes next year- this is not an unrealistic goal. This will bring you up to around a 3.2 GPA and from there we can decide if you'll take a post bacc or take your MCAT.

If you fail to get all As next year you most definitely will have to take a post-bacc.

 

[DontAskMeWhy]

I think I may not have added the appropriate detail in my post, my apologies. I am currently finishing my senior year as we speak. I am painfully aware that good ECs dont make up for a poor GPA. I have taken a non standard path through undergrad which forced me to not finish my pre-reqs until the end of my senior year so I was in no position to take the MCAT. That is all in the past now. I am at the stage where I am finishing my degree at the end of the summer and I will be left with time. The question is what do I do with this time? I am aware that my GPA is poor but seeing that im am 2 months from receiving my undergrad degree I cant really recover that much. I will end with a 2.98. If an SMP is the way to go I am fairly certain I need to take the MCAT to apply. If thats the case is this the right path. I feel like a post-bac is an option im just unsure how to go about that. Im just unsure what the best option is. Im well aware that medical school is not an option for me right now. But thats not the point of this post. The question is what can I do in the next 4 years to get myself there.

 

[gyngyn]

A sustained period of academic excellence is where you need to start.
Getting your science and overall gpa above 3.0 by taking undergrad courses will get you past electronic (and human) screens. Master's grades have no effect on this.
After that, an SMP would be a consideration, but continuing with a DIY or pre-packaged post-bac is also acceptable.

A single strong MCAT (along with sustained academic success) is more important in your situation than getting into an SMP.

 

[Blanky]

You need to take every science class you can find at a four year especially focused on upper bachelors level biology courses with a decent load size and show you can earn the grades.

 

[Goro]

Hey,
So this is my first post and I'm looking for some advice on what my next step should be. I'm am a well below average candidate willing to take just about any path toward achieving my goal of medical school (either DO or MD)

My GPA is definitely not my strong point. I have a mix of one community college and two 4-year universities with the university I'm receiving my degree from being a well-respected school that is notoriously hard, especially in the sciences.

• My cumulative gpa across all three is a disappointing 2.98 with a slight upward trend.
• I have not taken the MCAT yet but plan to this coming spring.
• I have spent a lot of time shadowing physicians (who will write me some shining rec letters).
• I have nearly 2 years of research in a lab with authorship on a paper (It's in an ecological genomics lab)
• I have various and diverse (aka non-science) leadership experiences including some really interesting humanitarian and leadership trips I have been a part of.
• Various volunteering experiences
• Active members of various EC's both science and non-science
• Dual citizen (Italy and the US)

For the next year (until spring) while I study for the MCAT I will be working as either a Medical Scribe or in another clinical based job,

Beyond that what should my next step be? Are SMP's the way to go in my situation (I know many schools have a minimum 3.0 GPA which I am just under).

Like many of you, med school has always been my dream and I'm not about to let that go. I won't sit here and make excuses for my academic failings but I am prepared at this point to do what it takes to get there and I hope this community can help one another achieve what we all set out to achieve.

Read this:
Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention

 

[DontAskMeWhy]

A sustained period of academic excellence is where you need to start.
Getting your science and overall gpa above 3.0 by taking undergrad courses will get you past electronic (and human) screens. Master's grades have no effect on this.
After that, an SMP would be a consideration, but continuing with a DIY or pre-packaged post-bac is also acceptable.

A single strong MCAT (along with sustained academic success) is more important in your situation than getting into an SMP.

Thank you this is definitely more on the lines of the advice Im looking for. Would you mind telling me if this seems like a reasonable plan?

After graduation (this coming September) taking the next semester of two at my states schools flagship campus (not the school I received my degree at) to raise both my undergraduate GPA and science GPA. Then take the MCAT. At that point decide whether an SMP is right?

 

[DontAskMeWhy]

Read this:
Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention

Thank you, Im in the middle of what Im sure many of us have experienced, a flow blown crisis. To have some quality information like this to put my mind back on track is essentially invaluable.

 

[gyngyn]

After graduation (this coming September) taking the next semester of two at my states schools flagship campus (not the school I received my degree at) to raise both my undergraduate GPA and science GPA. Then take the MCAT. At that point decide whether an SMP is right?

The MCAT is taken when you have verifiable evidence that a score consistent with success will be achieved.

 

[DontAskMeWhy]

The MCAT is taken when you have verifiable evidence that a score consistent with success will be achieved.

So I'm assuming tons of test prep (probably Kaplan as I can get a discount on it) and then practice tests to no end. When I said "then take the MCAT" Im just saying it as a general step wise path. If it takes me two years of test prep to crush the MCAT then so be it.

 

[Blanky]

Even if you score 515+ MCAT, your GPA is a mess and while you try to fix that time will be passing or expiring on your MCAT...

 

[DontAskMeWhy]

Even if you score 515+ MCAT, your GPA is a mess and while you try to fix that time will be passing or expiring on your MCAT...

A score is valid for 3 years... In that time I could earn a whole other degree... Not to mention Im suggesting that I take the MCAT after I raise my GPA so Im not sure Im really understanding your point. Please clarify

 

[gyngyn]

A score is valid for 3 years... In that time I could earn a whole other degree... Not to mention Im suggesting that I take the MCAT after I raise my GPA so Im not sure Im really understanding your point. Please clarify

Its usefulness does expire in 2 years at many places...but I do hear that you understand the importance of trend in undergrad courses taken after your graduation!

 

[candbgirl]

Do you want advice or not? You have a few ADCOMS advising you and several who have been through this process. So pay attention to the excellent advice you have Forget the MCAT. You aren’t ready to take it. How many hours do you plan to take in the next two semesters? It is very doubtful
that you will have time to study for the MCAT and get all As and you have to get As. @gonnif explicity said you’d need 30-45 credits of As to prove to ADCOMS that you can be successful in med school. Oh and we all know the MCAT score is good for three years. As @Goro always says “med schools aren’t going anywhere.” Slow down , take your time and do it right once.

 

[smukke]

Thank you this is definitely more on the lines of the advice Im looking for. Would you mind telling me if this seems like a reasonable plan?

After graduation (this coming September) taking the next semester of two at my states schools flagship campus (not the school I received my degree at) to raise both my undergraduate GPA and science GPA. Then take the MCAT. At that point decide whether an SMP is right?

You may want to spend more than a year on a postbacc unless you have a significant upward trend in your GPA and SMPs are a huge gamble, you basically need to be in the top of the class (whereas for a current med student good enough to pass is good enough to graduate). You didn't get a 2.98 overnight, it's going to take time to bring it up and time to convince adcoms that those old grades aren't a reflection of your current abilities. Getting over the cutoff just ensures that you aren't automatically rejected by a computer filter.

What I would do/did in your situation (I graduated with a significantly lower GPA and had to work on it for years):
1) 1.5-2 years full time postbacc of science (or 2.5+ years if halftime and working). Keep doing some volunteering for long term commitment in the mean time, may be some limited shadowing/clinical experiences but your academics are your focus.
2) Take MCAT in spring and apply instate/lower tier MD + DO
2a) Start researching and putting together application for SMP
3) SMP if not successful, then reapply after SMP unless they have linkage

 

[Blanky]

You should take the MCAT planning for the possibility of being a reapplicant EVEN WITH an undamaged GPA. It happens often that some people get waitlisted even with good stats and have to try again next year.
You mention you plan to study the MCAT fort he year while woeking on ECs. This is the normal plan for someone taking a gap year. You need to improve that GPA and then take the gap year to study the MCAT and boost ECs.
You can still become a doctor but its going to be a long road.

Year 1. Take an entire year of classes 30-35 credits or so and aim for 3.8+
Year 2. Reasses GPA take 0.5-1 years soursework again (now maybe a 3.3ish)
Year 3. Study for 6+ months for MCAT while tightening any shadow/volunteer/ clinical you need.