Where do I go from here?

[cuDR88]

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Hi all,

I'm a recent Ivy grad who wants to go to medical school. Right now I'm not optimistic about my chances, but I hope with a revamped MCAT score and some improved classes that my outlook will improve.

UGPA: 3.17 Cumulative (Engineering)
AMCAS GPA: ~2.9
MCAT: 29

My extracurriculars include:
1 Year Co-Coordinator for a Youth Mentoring Program
1 Year Volunteering at a Hospital Research Program
3 Years Office Assistant Work (this was my Work-Study Job)
1 Year Research in an Bioengineering Lab

Currently I'm working at a university in a Budget Office, and am taking classes alongside work. My first class was Biochemistry, and I had a lot of trouble adjusting and performed poorly (C-). Currently I'm retaking Organic Chemistry II and have been doing better.

I plan on retaking the MCATs in late August/early September, so I have a good amount of time left to study, but haven't gotten into the rhythm of rigorous preparation yet. In speaking with my advisor, she suggested a number of SMPs that I could apply to (Georgetown, Drexel, UMDNJ, etc.), or trying to go the route of creating my own Ad-Hoc program from courses in a City College, but said that my best route would be to go the SMP route.

Thanks for any input you can offer, I really appreciate it. I'm wondering if a stellar MCAT score will be enough to apply to a MD program, or if a SMP program is very necessary for me to be able to get into an MD program.

 

[cuDR88]

Hi all,

I'm a recent Ivy grad who wants to go to medical school. Right now I'm not optimistic about my chances, but I hope with a revamped MCAT score and some improved classes that my outlook will improve.

UGPA: 3.17 Cumulative (Engineering)
AMCAS GPA: ~2.9
MCAT: 29

My extracurriculars include:
1 Year Co-Coordinator for a Youth Mentoring Program
1 Year Volunteering at a Hospital Research Program
3 Years Office Assistant Work (this was my Work-Study Job)
1 Year Research in an Bioengineering Lab

Currently I'm working at a university in a Budget Office, and am taking classes alongside work. My first class was Biochemistry, and I had a lot of trouble adjusting and performed poorly (C-). Currently I'm retaking Organic Chemistry II and have been doing better.

I plan on retaking the MCATs in late August/early September, so I have a good amount of time left to study, but haven't gotten into the rhythm of rigorous preparation yet. In speaking with my advisor, she suggested a number of SMPs that I could apply to (Georgetown, Drexel, UMDNJ, etc.), or trying to go the route of creating my own Ad-Hoc program from courses in a City College, but said that my best route would be to go the SMP route.

Thanks for any input you can offer, I really appreciate it. I'm wondering if a stellar MCAT score will be enough to apply to a MD program, or if a SMP program is very necessary for me to be able to get into an MD program.

 

[ridethecliche]

Your gpa isn't high enough and your MCAT doesn't compensate for the GPA.

You need to boost your gpa and score higher. I think your GPA needs to come up if you want a shot at a DO school as well.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

AMCAS GPA: ~2.9
MCAT: 29

With a 2.9/29, your chances at an MD program are exceedingly poor. What are you going to do different this time in your MCAT preparation? What leads you to believe that you will do significantly better?

 

[aSagacious]

Out of curiosity, what is your opposition to the SMP programs? Are you simply looking for a less-expensive alternative?

 

[cuDR88]

With a 2.9/29, your chances at an MD program are exceedingly poor. What are you going to do different this time in your MCAT preparation? What leads you to believe that you will do significantly better?

The last time I took the exam, I didn't give myself enough time to prepare, and I didn't set down as rigorous of a study schedule which would've been necessary for better performance. I know that with 5-6 months of rigorous prep I have a higher ceiling than a 29.

I was considering applying to the Drexel Pathway to Medical School program, but was wondering if I should retake my MCATs first and then reapply to SMP programs for admission Fall 2012.

 

[h9i9j9]

have you considered DO?

 

[cuDR88]

Out of curiosity, what is your opposition to the SMP programs? Are you simply looking for a less-expensive alternative?

I'm not opposed to it, as I know they're fantastic programs, but yes, they can be rather costly. I understand that Georgetown's SMP program is probably the best out there, and it would be my target SMP of choice with an improve MCAT score.

Right now, I am between applying to Drexel's SMP, or waiting to retake the MCATs first and look into more programs.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

have you considered DO?

I'm a recent Ivy grad...

I would assume not.

 

[cuDR88]

I would assume not.

It is a consideration, but I really want to focus my sights on MD programs. However, in the course of applying to schools, I will also likely be applying to DO programs.

 

[aSagacious]

Ok, well if you have are planning on taking a year before beginning any future programs (SMP, MD, or DO), then you might as well do the following:

- Take more undergraduate upper-level science courses
- Dedicate your summer to studying for the MCAT, aiming for an end-of-summer date
- Work on some ECs. You seem to have plenty of research already, try some clinical, shadowing, and non-medical volunteering

 

[cuDR88]

Ok, well if you have are planning on taking a year before beginning any future programs (SMP, MD, or DO), then you might as well do the following:

- Take more undergraduate upper-level science courses
- Dedicate your summer to studying for the MCAT, aiming for an end-of-summer date
- Work on some ECs. You seem to have plenty of research already, try some clinical, shadowing, and non-medical volunteering

The 1 year of Hospital Research was more of a clinical experience than a research one. It's the Academic Associates program at St Lukes/Roosevelt Hospital Emergency Departments in NYC.

I spent most of my time speaking to patients and enrolling them in observational studies, as well as several sessions spent shadowing ED Doctors. I got to observe a lot in the Trauma room, as well as occassionally helping Drs with minor odds and ends (fetching charts, getting water/blankets for patients, helping hold down a patient for a procedure, etc.)

 

[CATmeowMD61]

.

 

[BigEast55]

I think your best bet would to look for SMPs particularly with linkage programs. Also, don't get any more C- grades in your post-undergrad classes. I can't imagine that that looks good.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Please don't cross-post multiple forums.

 

[Kaustikos]

Hi all,

I'm a recent Ivy grad who wants to go to medical school. Right now I'm not optimistic about my chances, but I hope with a revamped MCAT score and some improved classes that my outlook will improve.

Not going to influence your chances, so it doesn't matter imo.

My extracurriculars include:
1 Year Co-Coordinator for a Youth Mentoring Program
1 Year Volunteering at a Hospital Research Program
3 Years Office Assistant Work (this was my Work-Study Job)
1 Year Research in an Bioengineering Lab

Extracurriculars are fine if you keep your job and at least one of your volunteering gigs for the meanwhile.

Currently I'm working at a university in a Budget Office, and am taking classes alongside work. My first class was Biochemistry, and I had a lot of trouble adjusting and performed poorly (C-). Currently I'm retaking Organic Chemistry II and have been doing better.

You need to sit down and think this through -Are you devoting too much time to EC's/work? At this point; you might want to consider whether or not you should be doing all this work and taking classes when you need to focus on your grades.

I plan on retaking the MCATs in late August/early September, so I have a good amount of time left to study, but haven't gotten into the rhythm of rigorous preparation yet.

Find a routine that works for you and stick with it. When I worked full time, I basically did 8-12 work with review/studying for lunch and then worked till 5 or 6pm. After that, I grabbed a quick bite to eat and studied from 6 or 7pm until 11pm. It was brutal, but realizing it was only for 2-3 months helped a lot. My Saturday was devoted solely to taking practice exams and I'd score the exam. Review questions Sunday. You just need to get the ball rolling because it's March and you want to take the MCAT before the next step -

In speaking with my advisor, she suggested a number of SMPs that I could apply to (Georgetown, Drexel, UMDNJ, etc.), or trying to go the route of creating my own Ad-Hoc program from courses in a City College, but said that my best route would be to go the SMP route.

The good thing is that your MCAT is competitive enough to get into an SMP. But you need (NEED) to strongly consider the SMP over an Ad-Hoc program because SMPs are more universally recognized by Medical Schools.

Thanks for any input you can offer, I really appreciate it. I'm wondering if a stellar MCAT score will be enough to apply to a MD program, or if a SMP program is very necessary for me to be able to get into an MD program.

First - don't take that chance. Strategize and figure out what the best plan of action is - SMP I'd strongly recommend (even over your MCAT) at this point. And I would also strongly consider applying to DO schools.

 

[Astarael]

You're in a tough, but not unrecoverable position. The way I see it, you have two choices. You can either do the SMP and hope that you do well enough to make up for your GPA, or you can do a post-bacc to retake some of the classes you did poorly in. If you retook those classes and did better, you could apply to DO schools (where better grades replace the old ones, rather than averaging in). No amount of credits in a post-bacc would make you really competitive at an MD school, so if that's your goal, you'd have to do the SMP. Just be careful going that route, because poor performance in an SMP would keep you from going to either school (MD or DO).

 

[JJMrK]

Merging threads. Please don't post the same thread is multiple places.

 

[cuDR88]

Not going to influence your chances, so it doesn't matter imo.




Extracurriculars are fine if you keep your job and at least one of your volunteering gigs for the meanwhile.



You need to sit down and think this through -Are you devoting too much time to EC's/work? At this point; you might want to consider whether or not you should be doing all this work and taking classes when you need to focus on your grades.


Find a routine that works for you and stick with it. When I worked full time, I basically did 8-12 work with review/studying for lunch and then worked till 5 or 6pm. After that, I grabbed a quick bite to eat and studied from 6 or 7pm until 11pm. It was brutal, but realizing it was only for 2-3 months helped a lot. My Saturday was devoted solely to taking practice exams and I'd score the exam. Review questions Sunday. You just need to get the ball rolling because it's March and you want to take the MCAT before the next step -


The good thing is that your MCAT is competitive enough to get into an SMP. But you need (NEED) to strongly consider the SMP over an Ad-Hoc program because SMPs are more universally recognized by Medical Schools.



First - don't take that chance. Strategize and figure out what the best plan of action is - SMP I'd strongly recommend (even over your MCAT) at this point. And I would also strongly consider applying to DO schools.

Right now I have a full-time 9-5 job, and I am allowed to take a class at the university free of charge. I've scheduled my MCAT for September 10th, in order to have as much time to prepare as possible because I want to be able to know the material inside and out. Right now I'm trying to formulate a study schedule to best get that done.

My only current EC is being an academic tutor for a few hours a week, though I could re-enroll in the Academic Associates (http://www.columbia.edu/cu/aap/program) for the summer semester (8 Hours/week).

DO schools I will definitely be looking into. My advisor said the same exact thing you said about the value of SMPs vs. an Ad-Hoc program, which is why I was leaning more on the SMP side of things.

(And apologies for the double post.)

Thanks for the advice all, appreciate any more input if you can offer it.