Where to go from here...

[hopefool]

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Hi All,

I am a 25 yr old post-bac student at Stony Brook University. I started my post-bac last year and am more than halfway through my pre-reqs and have taken an additional 20 or so credits of science courses. By the time the spring semester is over I should have over 60 total credits with at least a 3.5-3.6 cum gpa. My science gpa will be good, basically the same as my post-bac cum, since I am taking all sciences.

My situation is that I graduated from Cornell with a 2.5. I have a lot of volunteer, clinical and research experience and can probably do fairly well on the MCAT. My question is what to do after the spring?

I had planned tentatively on taking a course to work as a certified nurse assistant while studying for the MCAT during the summer. My gpa will only have been brought up to a 2.9-3.0 after the spring semester so I probably wouldnt be able to get into a US MD school. I might be able to get into a DO school, if my MCAT score is very high. I can probably get into a school in the caribbean like Ross, or maybe SGU.

Id love to matriculate into an SMP but Im not sure if I would get accepted. Then theres always the option of taking about 6 courses over, that I got C's or D's in at Cornell, thereby raising my gpa a substantial amount and trying my hand at a DO school the following year. Time is sort of a factor here so Id like to get peoples opinions on what they think would best suit my situation.

 

[PunkmedGirl]

I would suggest retaking some of those courses you didn't do so well in at Cornell so that it will raise your undergrad GPA to at least a 3.0, then you will be in good shape for applying to DO schools. And of course do your best on the MCAT to shoot for the highest possible score you can get, but statistically speaking 27+ should will be fine for DO schools. Good Luck.

 

[DrJosephKim]

Can you elaborate on your bad grades? Any explanation?

 

[Sandey]

Getting in with a 3.0 is not unheard of but it will depend on your other attributes, EC, Volunteering, Clinical experience, MCAT, Other life experiences. If you feel you are strong in some or all of these other areas, go ahead and apply. If not try retaking some classes and improving any other areas you can.🙂

 

[eforest]

I'm also curious as to why you had difficulties during undergraduate. You might have to explain yourself during an interview or otherwise. Also, are there pre-med advisors at Stony Brook? Could they help with your situation?

 

[hopefool]

I'm also curious as to why you had difficulties during undergraduate. You might have to explain yourself during an interview or otherwise. Also, are there pre-med advisors at Stony Brook? Could they help with your situation?

There were a lot of factors that contributed to my poor grades. I didnt do very much work in high school and thought that I wouldnt need to in college. I basically didnt know how to study. I didnt put much time in for academics and didnt think much of it, honestly.

I played baseball which took up a lot of time and my other time I spent involved with artistic ventures. I didnt realize the hole I was digging for myself and always thought that when I figured out what I wanted to do, I would be able to prove myself and go foward from there.

It all boils down to a general disinterest in academics and being oblivious as to the myre I was creating for myself.

I am grateful for the time I devoted to art and studying philosophy etc because I am a better person for it. Now that I am focused I am getting the necessary grades, perhaps not good enough to make up for my prior performance however. Ill have a 3.5 at least, through roughly 60-70 credits, if not higher than that. Obviously a 4.0 is better but hey.

I have been thinking about caribbean schools and know several people who are and have been through schools down there such as Ross and SGU and they are doing fine for themselves.

The thing is, is that I feel I would make a good doctor. I am now motivated, driven, have compiled substantial extra curricular/volunteer/clinical experiences which only make me more adamant about my desire to become a physician. I would go to a caribbean school with no problems because I only wish to be able to practice medicine. I do feel though, that I would like to specialize in something, that has been deemed, "more competitive," in the future and this is why I would still like to pursue admission to a US school.

What do people think about SMP programs and my chances at one?

 

[combatwombat]

Sounds like you and I are more or less in the same situation. Personally, I'm planning on doing an SMP. I feel like even with my recent good grades, my overall GPA would pretty much torpedo my chances, making even DO schools a long shot. I get the sense that people like us (i.e. decent MCAT and evidence for having the potential to succeed academically in medical school) are exactly who SMP's are designed for. I'd rather put in an extra year and definitely get in somewhere (and have a good preview of the coursework to get ahead) than have to struggle to get an interview at one or two schools. Just my $0.02

 

[hopefool]

Sounds like you and I are more or less in the same situation. Personally, I'm planning on doing an SMP. I feel like even with my recent good grades, my overall GPA would pretty much torpedo my chances, making even DO schools a long shot. I get the sense that people like us (i.e. decent MCAT and evidence for having the potential to succeed academically in medical school) are exactly who SMP's are designed for. I'd rather put in an extra year and definitely get in somewhere (and have a good preview of the coursework to get ahead) than have to struggle to get an interview at one or two schools. Just my $0.02

First of all, I like your name.

Secondly, from what I understand an SMP is designed for students like you or I. I feel almost as though a student with a 3.8 and a 30 MCAT would get turned down at most SMP's(if they even decided to apply to them, which Im sure some do). My worry is that Im going to come out of my post-bac experience with around a 3.5 gpa(in all science and math) which is not that magic 4.0 that you hear is necessary if you had a low UG gpa and that my cumulative will only be a 2.9-3.0 roughly. Problem is, I dont know where this would put me in terms of SMP acceptance. How high of an MCAT would I need?

I would love to go to an SMP, for all the reasons you mentioned, getting into a US school being number one. If given the chance I know I could succeed. My postbac experience taught me how to study and compete in these courses and when the material is something that you enjoy, it becomes that much easier.

Out of curiousity, what are your stats? and what is your understanding of SMPs?

 

[dragonfly99]

I understand being in a hurry to get in to med school, but I'd advise against the Caribbean schools for you. The reason is you're only 25 or so, you're male (it sounds like) so that childbearing, etc. isn't an issue. Also, and this is VERY important - it will be quite hard to get in to any competitive specialty (i.e. anything other than internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, family practice, perhaps neurology and path and maybe general surg. if you are lucky) if you go down there. You might have a shot if you go to St George or Ross. st George would be my top pick. I'd at least consider DO schools along with those two, if you decide to apply soon/now.

I'd take the MCAT first and see how you do. If you get >30 some schools may overlook your Cornell GPA. I'd expect that Cornell grades hard as well, which they may cut you a little slack for, but not much. I think you just need to admit in your interviews that you did not focus in undergrad, didn't study enough, and perhaps were immature. Your GPA NOW is good.

I can't really comment on SMP's because I don't know if they are worth the money, honestly.

Can you talk with the health professions advisor at Stony Brook, and/or Cornell, and get some honest advice about how you stack up for getting in somewhere in New York state (either MD or DO), assuming you do well on the MCAT (say 30 or so)?

Make sure you get in some volunteer experience also, if you haven't already, to make sure this is what you really want to do and that you don't just have on rose-colored glasses. Med school is going to kick your a-- academically (unless you are a total genius) and clinicals in 3rd year and your residency is going to physically kick your a-- (in terms of work hours and how people treat you). It's worth it if you'll love being a doc, but not so much if you aren't sure you will.

 

[hopefool]

I understand being in a hurry to get in to med school, but I'd advise against the Caribbean schools for you. The reason is you're only 25 or so, you're male (it sounds like) so that childbearing, etc. isn't an issue. Also, and this is VERY important - it will be quite hard to get in to any competitive specialty (i.e. anything other than internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, family practice, perhaps neurology and path and maybe general surg. if you are lucky) if you go down there. You might have a shot if you go to St George or Ross. st George would be my top pick. I'd at least consider DO schools along with those two, if you decide to apply soon/now.

I'd take the MCAT first and see how you do. If you get >30 some schools may overlook your Cornell GPA. I'd expect that Cornell grades hard as well, which they may cut you a little slack for, but not much. I think you just need to admit in your interviews that you did not focus in undergrad, didn't study enough, and perhaps were immature. Your GPA NOW is good.

I can't really comment on SMP's because I don't know if they are worth the money, honestly.

Can you talk with the health professions advisor at Stony Brook, and/or Cornell, and get some honest advice about how you stack up for getting in somewhere in New York state (either MD or DO), assuming you do well on the MCAT (say 30 or so)?

Make sure you get in some volunteer experience also, if you haven't already, to make sure this is what you really want to do and that you don't just have on rose-colored glasses. Med school is going to kick your a-- academically (unless you are a total genius) and clinicals in 3rd year and your residency is going to physically kick your a-- (in terms of work hours and how people treat you). It's worth it if you'll love being a doc, but not so much if you aren't sure you will.

Well, I know for sure that this is what I want to do. Not to get existential or anything but I feel like my personality, abilities and general temperment suits me to become a good doctor. So in terms of motivation, Im only amassing more of it everyday as my coursework becomes more engrossing.

My gpa at Cornell really stunk and my gpa now is not perfect, but it is all science and math. At the very least it would be a 3.4,but probably higher, after all is said and done. Are you saying you think I could just get in somewhere if I got a +30 MCAT score? I love your optimism but this is contradictory to most available information. I know that one day I will become a physician because it is what I truly want to be so I am not so much worried as I am looking to take the most lucrative path.

I will probably wind up taking another years worth of courses after this year. Lab courses, biochemistry, microbiology, genetic, immunology and any others that I have forgotten. I would like to work in a laboratory and feel like lab courses could better prepare me for this.

 

[Bleurberry]

Retake the courses you didn't do well in at Cornell; it'll save you a huge amount of explaining and nail biting. Three courses a semester, for a year, and you'll be able to fit in an extra course each semester that can be science related, or something you're interested in that you won't be able to take for another 15 years.
I don't know your money situation, but if you CAN do it, do it.
That's from the heart. Seeing it as a waste of time isn't productive, and it's inaccurate.

Hi All,

I am a 25 yr old post-bac student at Stony Brook University. I started my post-bac last year and am more than halfway through my pre-reqs and have taken an additional 20 or so credits of science courses. By the time the spring semester is over I should have over 60 total credits with at least a 3.5-3.6 cum gpa. My science gpa will be good, basically the same as my post-bac cum, since I am taking all sciences.

My situation is that I graduated from Cornell with a 2.5. I have a lot of volunteer, clinical and research experience and can probably do fairly well on the MCAT. My question is what to do after the spring?

I had planned tentatively on taking a course to work as a certified nurse assistant while studying for the MCAT during the summer. My gpa will only have been brought up to a 2.9-3.0 after the spring semester so I probably wouldnt be able to get into a US MD school. I might be able to get into a DO school, if my MCAT score is very high. I can probably get into a school in the caribbean like Ross, or maybe SGU.

Id love to matriculate into an SMP but Im not sure if I would get accepted. Then theres always the option of taking about 6 courses over, that I got C's or D's in at Cornell, thereby raising my gpa a substantial amount and trying my hand at a DO school the following year. Time is sort of a factor here so Id like to get peoples opinions on what they think would best suit my situation.

 

[dragonfly99]

Agree with retaking the science courses you did poorly in @Cornell.
I would do that first before you do anything else.

That and the MCAT.

Yes I think you could get in to a DO school with a 30+ MCAT, perhaps without one. Try to get a letter of rec from a DO doctor.

An MD school I doubt would take you with your current GPA...but it would be worthwhile talking to the premed advisor at Stony Brook, to see if he/she has any input. Perhaps NY state med schools might cut you slack if the MCAT score is 30+, given you have about 3.5 science GPA. They probably won't but you could ask. Even better, you could call up the secretary at the admissions office @some of the SUNY schools, just say that you are a premed nontrad student and wanted some input into your future application. See what they say about the bad cumulative GPA but with a good recent GPA.

I think you could get in to a Carib school right now, but I personally wouldn't be in a rush to go there. That would be my final option.

 

[omelette1230]

i have the same situation except that I graduated with a 3.0. but ive taken 42 hours of sciences and have a 3.9. I got an email from SUNY upstate saying that they put my application on hold after the first review. what does this mean? i think they said they would look at it again in the next round but i dont know. at least i didnt get rejected. i also have co-authored 13 papers.

 

[combatwombat]

Out of curiousity, what are your stats? and what is your understanding of SMPs?

Graduated in 2k5 with 2.77, by the end of this spring I will have taken classes part time for 6 semesters. By then my GPA should be between 3.0-3.1. Got 27 on practice MCAT that I just walked into (though I'm hesitant to speculate as to how that will translate to my actual performance when I take it in April).

I feel like the whole point of an SMP is to give people whose stats don't match up to the "ideal" candidate a chance to prove that they can still hack it. Most SMPs rank you against a medical school class, with a B meaning you scored around the top 20% of the medical student class. In other words, you have to do better than most med students to prove that you have the potential to be one.

Ultimately, it seems like by taking the SMP route you will have to work harder overall. But hey, if we wanted classes to be easy we would have went to business school right 🙂

 

[hopefool]

Agree with retaking the science courses you did poorly in @Cornell.
I would do that first before you do anything else.

That and the MCAT.

Yes I think you could get in to a DO school with a 30+ MCAT, perhaps without one. Try to get a letter of rec from a DO doctor.

An MD school I doubt would take you with your current GPA...but it would be worthwhile talking to the premed advisor at Stony Brook, to see if he/she has any input. Perhaps NY state med schools might cut you slack if the MCAT score is 30+, given you have about 3.5 science GPA. They probably won't but you could ask. Even better, you could call up the secretary at the admissions office @some of the SUNY schools, just say that you are a premed nontrad student and wanted some input into your future application. See what they say about the bad cumulative GPA but with a good recent GPA.

I think you could get in to a Carib school right now, but I personally wouldn't be in a rush to go there. That would be my final option.

I agree on the Caribbean being the last option. I actually didnt take any science courses at Cornell, except for Bio so my science gpa is good. Basically after next year Ill have taken close to a completely second bachelors degree, almost 100 credits. You would think that could get me outta the dog house to a certain extent. I would like to go to a US MD school if at all possible but if not I just dont want to waste time and money. Im starting to read things that tell me that even if I got into an SMP and did very well, that I may still not qualify for a US MD school and that would have been at least partially, a fairly nice waste of money for me. Id be perfectly happy going DO, but if I can kill the MCAT then I should be well, perhaps not in the drivers seat but in a reasonably good position.

What kind of a score will suffice in my situation? does anyone have any input on that? I think I could score a 34+ with proper preparation.

 

[flip26]

I agree on the Caribbean being the last option. I actually didnt take any science courses at Cornell, except for Bio so my science gpa is good. Basically after next year Ill have taken close to a completely second bachelors degree, almost 100 credits. You would think that could get me outta the dog house to a certain extent. I would like to go to a US MD school if at all possible but if not I just dont want to waste time and money. Im starting to read things that tell me that even if I got into an SMP and did very well, that I may still not qualify for a US MD school and that would have been at least partially, a fairly nice waste of money for me. Id be perfectly happy going DO, but if I can kill the MCAT then I should be well, perhaps not in the drivers seat but in a reasonably good position.

What kind of a score will suffice in my situation? does anyone have any input on that? I think I could score a 34+ with proper preparation.

Why are you not making straight As in this post bacc given the predicament you are in? In your first post you say your post bacc GPA is 3.5...well, you really needed it to be as close to 4.0 as possible...

If you could magically throw out your grades from Cornell and present the grades you have now, you STILL would be on the low side for GPA with a 3.5...

Start making straight As for all remaining classes.