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quote:
Originally posted by xaeunDear AdmissionsConsultants,
I am currently a 3rd year PharmD student in a 6 year program and recently have decided that I would prefer to be a Physician instead of a Pharmacist. As I am standing I have a 2.7 GPA overall due to a death in the family which made me under perform this past semester.
1. Am I better off finishing the PharmD to prove I can handle a heavy workload or switching now?
2. Will I be able to enter into a Post-bacc premed program after I finish my PharmD?
Thank You
Dear Xaeun,
Thanks for your question. Yes, you are much better off completing your PharmD before moving on. And yes, you should be competitive for a premed post-bac at that time. So it sounds feasible.
Good luck,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
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quote:
Originally posted by ilovecblingDear Admissions Consultants,
I’m an undergraduate student at University of South Florida.
I currently have a 3.6 science and overall gpa.
I have done several research projects and volunteer at hospitals
regularly. I work with at camps as a counselor over the summers and
try to fill in the leadership positions in my resume.I hope to attend medical school one day.
The questions I have are:1. Am I at a disadvantage that I did not
attend a prestigious undergraduate university, but rather
a state university which is not well-known?2. Next one semester in the fall, I am taking some
social anthropology courses while studying abroad.
With the exception of that semester, I do not
have a very diverse list of courses I have taken, mainly
sciences and math courses. I do not have a minor or a second
major, does this hurt my chances?and
3. My GPA in High School was a 3.06, rather low.
In my freshman year of undergrad it was a 3.4, but now at
the end of my sophomore year, it is a 3.6. If I continue
to improve it, will medical schools recognize my efforts
and not penalize me for my high school GPA too severely?Thanks.
Dear Ilovecbling,
Thanks for your question. I wouldn’t worry about your current university–I’m sure there are many physicians that graduated there. Your course selection shouldn’t be such a problem. Finally, your HS record will be far less important than your college GPA and MCAT scores. So hang in there.
Good luck,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
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quote:
Originally posted by JkarlI graduated with a business degree in 1997 with a 2.57 GPA. At the age of 34, I now have the desire and discipline to learn. This would have been helpful 16 years ago!
Assuming in a couple years I score well on the MCAT, and since I have not taken any science classes, what is my best strategy to minimize my dismal undergrad GPA?
1.) A post-bac pre-med program where I perform very well.
2.) Transfer the maximum credits that I can to a different instituion and get a second undergraduate degree where I also perform very well.Will the admissions committee still look at my original undergrad GPA. And could that be a good thing considering the improvement would be dramatic.
Also, I am an EMT working on becomming a Paramedic. Will they look at this as favorably as if I volunteered in a hospital?
Thanks.
Hi Jkarl,
Good to hear from you. I would suggest that you take a course or two in basic science, just as a warm up. If you really like it and do well, and you still want to pursue medical school, then you can apply to a premed post bac program.
Good luck,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
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quote:
Originally posted by DollfaceDocHello,
Here’s some information:
I’ve graduated with a BS in Biological Sciences with 3.3 GPA. After graduation I decided to take some time off to better myself as a whole and as a potential competitive applicant. Now, I have gained substantial clinical experience and I’ve been volunteering as a counselor for kids/teens with life-issues. I’ve scored 35 on the MCAT. I also have had my own medical situation where I was VERY sick, therefore I’m not worried about explaining my reasons/motivation for becoming a physician.My Question:
I have been accepted into a MS in Biotechnology program at Johns Hopkins. (I love the field; also got biotech certification while an undergrad). The issue here is that I’d be completing the program online. This is due to mainly the fact that I do not live anywhere near JHU. According to JHU admissions, this program is offered both online and on campus, and material taught/by whom is exactly the same for both paths of learning. Personally I believe an online program is tougher since it requires more self-discipline.I understand that taking prereqs online is not advised, however does this also pertain to MS programs? considering the quality of school? My reasons for applying to the program in the first place were the quality of professors at JHU, lack of Biotech programs in my area, as well as the 1 year old baby in my lap
What do you recommend, enrolling or searching for a totally different program? How would you view an online JHU Masters? Thank you for your help in advance, *dollfaceDOC*
DollfaceDoc,
Thanks for your question. Given that you have completed your premed requirements and scored well on your MCAT exams, I don’t see any downside in you getting an online degree, especially when it’s from JHU. But I would strongly suggest finishing it before you start medical school–don’t be misled into thinking you will complete it while a medical student.
Good luck,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
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quote:
Originally posted by taylor335Hello,
I want to go to Osteopathic school. I have a 3.6 GPA and a 19M mcat. I have a some research experience. I am in a couple of organizations/clubs and serve as secretary in one of them. I’ve served as a teaching assistant for a year. I’ve also volunteered as a counselor at a church camp, volunteered as a fielding instructor at a baseball camp at my former high school, and i’m volunteering at a prison this summer. I’ve worked in a hospital for a little over a year and shadowed both an M.D. and a D.O. I feel i have pretty good letters of recommendations. I know my mcat is the killer! I am registered to take the MCAT again in July. How will this affect my competitiveness? Should i go ahead and apply to the D.O. schools i’m interested in or should i hold off to see how i did on the mcat? Also, if i decided not to take the mcat again what would this do to my application?
Dear Taylor335,
Thanks for contacting us. My sense is that you need to retake the MCAT. But I would not do so until you are pretty sure you are going to get a better score. That means scoring well into the 20’s on your practice exams. Until you are at that point, I would put everything else on hold.
Good luck,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
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Hi,
This is a repost on an earlier message. I feel the need to rephrase my questions. Becoming a doctor has always been on the back of my mind. I came to the US when I was 17, attended CC majoring in Biology with 4.0 GPA, then attended a state University (Rutgers), took some high level sciences courses (Biochem, Microbio, Genetics, etc) and received As in all of them. 6 months later I changed my major to Finance (for many reasons, a simplified reason would be because I still was not sure about going into medicine and Finance is a practical field). I graduated with 3.98 GPA overall and 3.9 science GPA with various leadership and working experience.I went on to work at an Investment bank. I am very happy there, people are great, pay is great, my boss loves my work, everything is perfect except I can not see myself being in the field in the long run. So I started to inspect myself, I started shadowing an Anesthesiologist, volunteering, doing clinical research (all 9 months) and I decided that medicine is it for me. I’ve been studying for the MCAT but I have not been doing well on the practice exams (about 28 range).
Many med school applicants prepare their applications years in advance. I don’t have that time frame. Everything I’ve done up to this point (since January 2009) feels scrambled, I went through the changes, the studying, preparations in such short period of time and I’m not sure if this is the right way to go. I can do better on the MCAT and I can make a stronger applications had I given more time. It won’t be impossible for me to apply this year and get in (after reading on many threads, I came to this conclusion), but it won’t be with an optimal effort.
I want to be a good, if not great, doctor, that is the destination. Will aiming for a competitive school, postponing my application for another year, getting more exposure to medicine field, makes the difference? Or should I just do it this year and hope for the best?
What do you think I should do? If I don’t break 30 on the MCAT I will be a weak applicant (my exam is in 2 weeks) and I’m not sure if applying with this score is the best course of action. It’s been a long journey to get where I am today and I want to do this the right way but I’m not sure what it is. I would really appreciate your advice.
Thank you!
achi
quote:
Originally posted by kafeen138Hello,
I’m currently a graduate student working on a PhD in astrophysics. I was premed my first semester of college, but then I decided that I found physics and astronomy more interesting. Recently (for reasons I won’t get into), I’ve decided to re-think that and I would like to apply to medical school in 2011 after I finish my PhD. Here are my “stats”.
-My undergrad GPA (major in physics/astronomy, minor in math) was a 3.3 (my science GPA was about the same). I’m in Canada, and will probably apply mostly to Canadian medical schools. A lot of them say they only consider your combined GPA for your best two years, and if that’s the case my GPA is more like a 3.8.
-I have a master’s degree in physics, and I will have a PhD in astrophysics before I apply, and my GPA in grad school has been about a 3.7.
-I have two publications (in astronomy, not anything medicine related, but still science), and I expect to have at least 4 first-author publications before I finish my PhD.
-I worked part time the whole time I’ve been in school (mostly as a TA).
-The summers after my first 2 years of college I worked as basically a nurse’s aid at a home (which was part of a hospital) for adults with severe developmental disabilities.
-I served on the board of a non-profit skin cancer education organization for several years, and co-hosted a radio show about cancer prevention during part of that time.
-I have quite a bit of volunteer experience doing science-related public outreach type things, and quite a few other extra-curricular things.Now, here’s what I think might be a problem. I took basic biology and basic chemistry in college (and obviously quite a bit of physics and math), but I’ve never taken things like organic chemistry or anatomy. I’m studying them on my own to prepare for the MCAT (I’ll probably take it next spring). My top choice school, the University of Calgary, doesn’t have any required premed courses, but it recommends certain courses. I’ve taken all the math, physics, and English that they recommend, but not all of the biology and chemistry. I haven’t even taken an MCAT practice test yet or anything.
So I’m just wondering how competitive you think I am (I really don’t care about getting into a top-tier school, I’ll take whatever I can get) and if you think my lack of biology and chemistry background is really going to hurt my chances. Would it help if I went back and took some more classes?
Thanks!
-Kathleen
Dear Kathleen,
Thanks for your inquiry. You seem to have a very interesting background that certainly reflects the potential for medical school. My sense is that you would be well served to go back and take the Organic Chemistry courses. Of course you could see how much you could teach yourself, but most of us would find that difficult. I certainly would not suggest that you take the MCAT until you have a lot of practice exams under your belt and you are pretty sure you are ready.
So give yourself some time and you should do well.
Good luck,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
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quote:
Originally posted by achillinaHi,
This is a repost on an earlier message. I feel the need to rephrase my questions. Becoming a doctor has always been on the back of my mind. I came to the US when I was 17, attended CC majoring in Biology with 4.0 GPA, then attended a state University (Rutgers), took some high level sciences courses (Biochem, Microbio, Genetics, etc) and received As in all of them. 6 months later I changed my major to Finance (for many reasons, a simplified reason would be because I still was not sure about going into medicine and Finance is a practical field). I graduated with 3.98 GPA overall and 3.9 science GPA with various leadership and working experience.I went on to work at an Investment bank. I am very happy there, people are great, pay is great, my boss loves my work, everything is perfect except I can not see myself being in the field in the long run. So I started to inspect myself, I started shadowing an Anesthesiologist, volunteering, doing clinical research (all 9 months) and I decided that medicine is it for me. I’ve been studying for the MCAT but I have not been doing well on the practice exams (about 28 range).
Many med school applicants prepare their applications years in advance. I don’t have that time frame. Everything I’ve done up to this point (since January 2009) feels scrambled, I went through the changes, the studying, preparations in such short period of time and I’m not sure if this is the right way to go. I can do better on the MCAT and I can make a stronger applications had I given more time. It won’t be impossible for me to apply this year and get in (after reading on many threads, I came to this conclusion), but it won’t be with an optimal effort.
I want to be a good, if not great, doctor, that is the destination. Will aiming for a competitive school, postponing my application for another year, getting more exposure to medicine field, makes the difference? Or should I just do it this year and hope for the best?
What do you think I should do? If I don’t break 30 on the MCAT I will be a weak applicant (my exam is in 2 weeks) and I’m not sure if applying with this score is the best course of action. It’s been a long journey to get where I am today and I want to do this the right way but I’m not sure what it is. I would really appreciate your advice.
Thank you!
achi
Dear Achi,
Thanks for contacting us. You are asking a difficult question which would require more information for a precise answer. I suggest that you contact our office and arrange for a one-hour consultation so your situation can be reviewed thoroughly.
Good luck,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885Join us on Facebook to receive a 5% discount on all services!
quote:
Originally posted by DoctOrLawyerI am not sure whether or not I want to be a lawyer or a doctor. I have a 3.4 GPA and got a 30 on my MCAT and a 160 on my LSAT. I am applying to my home state school where I am graduating with a major in Biology and minors in Political Science and two other subjects. I have great extracurricular activities including University President, homecoming queen, worked for Barack Obama, medical shadowing and voluteering and lots of community service. I really want to be a doctor but am so afraid that I won’t get in. What do you think? Thanks so much!!!
Laura
Dear Laura,
Thanks for your question. Have you ever considered doing both degrees? I know several people with MD/JD degrees and this combination is becoming more common in recent years. It all depends on what kind of career you want to have in the health care field. If you would like more detailed advice and discussion, please contact our office and request a consultation.
Best wishes,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
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quote:
Originally posted by Mcs0503Hi everyone. I have been trying to learn about the admissions process for medical schools. First I would like to say that I graduated with a B.S. in Biology(2.87GPA) and and M.S. in Cell and molecular BIO(GPA 3.27) point blank what are my chances to getting in med school. I was a graduate assistant and taught Biology labs for 2 yrs and now I teach anatomy and physiology at a community college as well. I also have some(not alot) of research experience and I am currently looking for employment in that field. What will I have to do to become a stronger candidate? I was hesitant about asking this but I want to know now any help would be appreciated.
Thanks!!!
Dear Mcs0503,
Thanks for contacting us. There’s no clear-cut answer to your question. It seems evident your graduate work would be viewed as helpful in demonstrating that you can do medical school level work. Also, you will need to get some volunteer and/or work experience related to health care. I hope this is helpful information, but if you need more detailed analysis contact our office.
Best,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
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