Why do so many people look at my posts but not get back to me?

[Tyrone.]

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I feel like I ask pretty straight-forward questions. I understand some, or maybe most might not have the answer, but it's not like I'm asking from just mentors but peers as well. I appreciate any feedback. So, I will try this again:

I have recently decided to go from my PA track to MD/DO. I have about a 1.5 years left of school. I am a born and raised North Carolinian white male, and I'll be 28 when I gradate in Spring 2019. The best possible GPA I can hope for is a 3.5. I've used my schools GPA calculator. I had a rough couple of semester when my dad unexpectedly passed and I came down with a serious illness, I did get to withdraw from that semester, but I was stubborn and impatient on wanting to get back to school, so instead of holding out another semester while I was still sick, I went back and my grades took a hit. I received an F in calc 3 and engineering physics, but a B in the lab the semester before. I was so out of it from my sickness that I was not in the right state of mind to be there. I was an engineering major, lost my passion for that and all of the calculating, and have since become a bio major. Last semester was my first semester since the bad two semesters. I got two As, one B, and one C. I was also in EMT training so I didn't disperse my time wisely enough. I will attach a spreadsheet I made for my remaining classes needed.

So, here are my questions:

What are your thoughts on the spreadsheet of my class layout?

I will be applying to my state schools like UNC, ECU, Wake, and Campbell (DO), other than that I'm not sure where else I'd be competitive with a 3.5 GPA but I still have the MCAT to take so give me suggestions? I plan to take it the winter between fall '18 and spring '19, so I can study for it without school on my tail, so I guess thoughts on that too, would be helpful.

I just applied for the Chief of Staff position for the AMSA chapter at my university so hopefully that will look good and help show I can multitask and take leadership and responsibility. I have my EMT cert but my local vol. FD makes you take some fire classes to be on the truck so I think that's out of the question for volunteering. But I have done 12 hour shifts on ambulances and literally saved lives (Had a CA pt, did my 200 comps, bagged, held drugs in line for IO placement, defibbed... we do pitstop CPR here and have one of the best ROSC rates and our county is proud of it.)

I have yet to shadow in physicians but shouldn't be difficult.


So, I guess it's partially a WAMC post, but I just want opinions, tips and suggestions, stuff like that. Oh, and I'm wanting to be a PCP. That's my interest. I know there is a push for it, and I figured establishing that in my statement might give me even a better chance?

Thanks for taking a look!

 

[DoctorCakes]

Get an MSAR membership. Look at schools GPA and MCAT medians. You can get into both MD and DO with a 3.5... but remember AMCAS nor AACOMAS doesn't do grade replacement. You need to get all A's from here on out. No more C's or B's. Set aside 3-4 months for MCAT prep. Don't spread yourself out too thin with ECs. Your grades are more important right now get those fixed first.

 

[Tyrone.]

Thank you. I really appreciate the advice. From looking at my spreadsheet, would you say it's... doable? I know some semesters look like torture on there but I figured it'd show I can handle rigor.

 

[OchemOficionado]

The length of your post may have something to do with it.

Also, a tremendous amount of people on this site are "guests", so they can't comment. And, I'd guess that a lot of people are reading posts that resonate with them just to learn from the comments.

Hope that helps!

 

[Tyrone.]

The length of your post may have something to do with it.

Also, a tremendous amount of people on this site are "guests", so they can't comment. And, I'd guess that a lot of people are reading posts that resonate with them just to learn from the comments.

Hope that helps!

I kind of figured that some were reading, in hopes of self-enlightenment on their own circumstances. I guess I didn't really take into account that my post was that long but yea, that makes sense. People want straight to the point, not a life story.

I appreciate it!

 

[DoctorCakes]

It looks very do-able. It is very similar to a traditional post-bacc. However your summer looks a bit worrisome. 15 credits crunched in summer is no joke. Also looks like you only have one month in winter for dedicated MCAT? I would take the MCAT in august after you are done with classes so you have all summer to dedicate because it is not an easy test

 

[DoctorCakes]

ideally you only want to apply one time.. so do it right the first time. Don't rush

 

[Tyrone.]

Good point. I think the reason I was trying to crunch so much is because of my age. I know I'm not old or anything, I'll be 27 in the fall. I just like the idea of being able to hopefully meet someone and still have a family and all that even though I'll be an older med school student. I'll readjust that so my brain can be ready for the MCAT. Thanks again for the extra advice.

Sidenote, I unintentionally read your messages in Rick's voice and almost say thanks Rick in my messages haha.

 

[Tyrone.]

Updated it. Next semester might be rough but wasn't sure how else to slice it. I figured that's the easiest it's going to get for me? If you see any wiggle room I'm all for it. ha

 

[DoctorCakes]

Seems reasonable if you're not doing research or working! I suggest doing a gap year before applying in June '20. Use gap year to do research or extracurriculars if you haven't already.

 

[bbbcccppp]

I am sorry for your loss. I think 25 or 26 is average age now. Treat a b like the enemy. Straight a should be your goal Should have a very specific idea of your predicted mcat b4 u take the test when the time comes. Pick your classes and profs wisely. You really want to approach that 3.5. Look at the msar. I think 3.5 with +++MCAT would give you crack at MD.


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[Turkishking]

Be careful with the summer class. You should expect 20 chapters in two weeks. You must be ready to study all day. Of course there are times when you can hang out with friends once in a while, but majority of the day, you will be busy studying. And if you aren't studying, you're doing something wrong. But depends what class youre taking.

 

[Tyrone.]

Be careful with the summer class. You should expect 20 chapters in two weeks. You must be ready to study all day. Of course there are times when you can hang out with friends once in a while, but majority of the day, you will be busy studying. And if you aren't studying, you're doing something wrong. But depends what class youre taking.

I really appreciate the advice! I'm all hands on deck! I'll be 29,30 by the time I'm in medical school if I'm accepted for starting in 2020, so I'll just have to deal with that. If I find someone, awesome. If not, I won't regret it because I'm choosing this as my life; to help people and to gain as much medical knowledge as possible. I am thinking since I won't be able to apply until the 2020 cycle, that I might stretch into an extra semester just so I can give some breathing room to do well and time to study and take the MCAT. I really appreciate the support, y'all. And I'm taking the engineering physics instead of the general physics. It's harder because its calc based and not trig based, but I made it to calc 3 for a reason. I'll just spend the rest of summer knocking off the rust. And my university will let me replace the original physics grade, so that should help my GPA quite a bit, so there's another reason for me to re-take that physics. I don't plan on retaking calc 3, though. That was hell and I'll just have to swallow that one. I have revised the spreadsheet and this is my plan! Take a look and feel free give any feedback as before!

 

[bbbcccppp]

As an aside I am not sure how grade replacement works. I read this via a google. Not sure if amcas will eliminate the low grade if it's on the college transcript


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[bbbcccppp]

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[Blanky]

Get after it bud. You can reach for MD and if not DO is certainly available for you which i would be more than happy with vs PA. Make sure that you cna handle the schedule you set for yourself as As need to be priority with minimal Bs from now on.

 

[DoctorCakes]

I really like the updated spreadsheet @stonestang. Goodluck!

 

[Tyrone.]

Well, it seems as if CASPA will factor in both grades for the GPA, and If that means I get an A this time, the F will turn into a C, and I much happily live with that for the first physics grade. Also, schools will see that I retook it and that should show that I'm competent and that it wasn't a fluke that I got a B in my physics lab. I was 2 points from an A so that stung a little. I still think that even though it's the harder of the two choices, I should retake it for redemption and to give myself vindication from the past.

Get after it bud. You can reach for MD and if not DO is certainly available for you which i would be more than happy with vs PA. Make sure that you cna handle the schedule you set for yourself as As need to be priority with minimal Bs from now on.

Thanks for the encouragement! I'm all in and this is my number one priority.

 

[Tyrone.]

I really like the updated spreadsheet @stonestang. Goodluck!

Glad you like it, Rick! haha. I'm gonna try not to get wriggity wrecked haha. Gonna start knocking the dust off of my calc for these upper-level physics, using khan academy and some other resources. Any school resources, pre-med resources or anything in-general are much appreciated! Thanks for all of the support, y'all! Will keep y'all updated! If anyone knows of anyone in the charlotte, nc area that might be able to mentor me some or connect me with physicians to shadow or other opportunities, that'd be awesome too.