Where should I focus my efforts?

[Slago1205]

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Hello all,

I am about a year away from taking the MCAT and applying.

My first 3 semesters right out of high school were not my finest grades, mostly D's and C's....that was 9 years ago. I was very lazy, only cared about partying, and my grades reflected that. I needed a shake up so I joined the Army, spent 6 years as a medic, deployed to Afghanistan, got out as a sergeant (which is leadership experience), and since going back to school have been getting mostly A's. I currently have 50 hours of volunteer time on top of my work experience with the Army, which includes being an infantry medic and working in an ER.

My cGPA pre-Army was 1.81 and my cGPA post-Army is 3.77, so the split is huge. At what point will a school look past grades that happened so long ago? I know research is less of a focus at DO schools, should I do any, or focus on continuing to get good grades? Should I just try to shadow DOs, or shadow some MDs too?

AMCAS sGPA - 2.89
AMCAS cGPA - 3.22

AACOMAS sGPA - 3.50
AACOMAS cGPA - 3.48

I know the MCAT will determine my actual shot at getting in to MD's, but what are people's thoughts on how I should focus my EC's until application?

 

[DrMidlife]

All grades on all transcripts count and are weighted the same, except for DO grade replacement, and except for the few MD schools that specifically weigh postbac work more highly for residents of the home state.

So you need to know your cumulative GPAs. I'm not opening an attachment to figure out what yours are. If your cumulative numbers are below about 3.4, then you need to do more coursework, and you might want to wait on the MCAT until you're closer to being ready to apply.

Best of luck to you.

 

[mavric1298]

You look like you are doing okay, just keep on that trend. Some schools do value the most recent grades and/or trending, but it's normally something they look at after you've made it thru the initial screening. Your amcas gpa is what it is. As far as EC's, do whatever you are most passionate about. They aren't looking for a checklist, they are looking for things that you have dedicated yourself to. With the exception of HAVING to have shadowing hours, you just need to be able to articulate why you chose the EC you did, and show you had passion for it.