Will I be accepted?

[slick2014]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I am a nontraditonal student that is currently completing my undergraduate courses and need help with answers to a few questions. Earlier on in my undergraduate studies I had to retake 8 courses and dropped a class, but made better in those classes and want to know what the admissions committee will think about that? I wasn't under the impression that the AMCA's compiled all of the good and the bad grades together to get a gpa, but they do so that would put my gpa around a 3.0 when I go to apply. I have 50+ hours of shadowing experience, worked a fulltime job 40-55hrs a week at AT&T througout most of my undergraduate, was married with bills to pay and a house to keep up and I am currently undergoing research at school. My plans are to join some organizations this semester since I really couldn't while I was working fulltime and use those organizations to gain leadership experience and community service. I'm hoping to make between a 32-36 on my MCAT and then apply in the summer of 2013. With all of this accomplished what hope do I have of getting into a medical school?

 

[CurlsandPearls]

Get your GPA up.
Take an extra years worth of classes if you have to. Make sure you take time to study and prepare for the MCAT. Don't try to rush the whole process. Also, have you thought about DO schools? You might have a better chance since they include retakes in the GPA so it would help!

 

[DrMidlife]

IMHO if your last couple years are 3.7+, and if you can get an above average MCAT (31+ is average), and if you can take the MCAT before May so that your app is early, and if you're not in CA or NY, then applying in 2013 isn't insane.

Nobody gets an actual answer to "will I get accepted". There's no guarantee, ever.

Best of luck to you.

 

[slick2014]

Get your GPA up.
Take an extra years worth of classes if you have to. Make sure you take time to study and prepare for the MCAT. Don't try to rush the whole process. Also, have you thought about DO schools? You might have a better chance since they include retakes in the GPA so it would help!

I thought about DO school, but the one where I live will be almost brand new and I would also have a harder time getting into a surgical residency right?

 

[EETTOMD]

I thought about DO school, but the one where I live will be almost brand new and I would also have a harder time getting into a surgical residency right?

I'm not in medical school but I think DrMidlife will agree with me on the following. I think you should focus on improving your GPA and getting ready for the MCAT. Once you are in medical school, you may end up liking another specialty. Education is what you make of it. You might get into top-tier allopathic school(s) and not make it into surgery. Every path has it's challenges and you shouldn't be restricting yourself now.
Just my .02.

 

[DrMidlife]

I thought about DO school, but the one where I live will be almost brand new and I would also have a harder time getting into a surgical residency right?

Not really. General surgery isn't all that competitive. Ob/Gyns do surgery, and that's primary care, not competitive. As a DO you can choose to go after both DO-specific and non-DO-specific surgical residencies.

Regardless, from a lower GPA, you should do boatloads of research into SMPs and the details of the DO track, and read read read read read the posts from those who have come before in exactly your same shoes.

Best of luck to you.