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Originally posted by gschillingDr. Shelton,
I am a university graduate and current Peace Corps Volunteer. I want to start Medical School (most likely osteopathic) in 2013, but I’m not clear on my timeline. Currently my plan is:
-November 2012: Finish my Peace Cops Service
-January-Feb 2013: Take college science courses to improve my GPA, Shadow a D.O. and get a letter from a D.O., take the MCAT.
March-July 2013: Work on essays, Apply for Osteopathic Med Schools in the US and allopathic schools in the Caribbean and Europe.
August-October 2013: Interviews, Secondary Essays, Get Accepted
November 2013-Aug 2014: Work?
Sept. 2014: Start schoolDoes this timeline seem accurate? Are there ways to improve this timeline, or my chance of acceptance into medical school with this timeline? Do European/Caribbean school have a different schedule I should consider?
Thank you very much for your help, and I look forward to your response!
“Peace requires the simple but powerful recognition that what we have in common as human beings is more important and crucial than what divides us”. Sergent Shriver, Peace Corps Founder
Dear Gschilling,
Thanks for your inquiry. Based on what I am hearing from you, my sense is that you may be a bit too ambitious in trying to pack in all the objectives you list this year and next, and then expect to start medical school next year. My general advice is to slow down and make sure you are on solid ground at each step you take. Give yourself time to get your GPA up to where it needs to be and plenty of time to properly prepare for the MCAT.If you would like a more detailed look at your situation you may want to consider a one hour consultation from one of our experienced consultants. Just contact our office to learn more.
Best wishes,
Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
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Originally posted by walshbsHi Dr. Shelton,
I am currently a Biomedical Engineer major but with a 2.3 overall GPA. I just finished my sophomore year of college, and I understand that my GPA is very low for admittance to medical school. I always wanted to go to medical school, and when I first entered college, I thought that Biomedical Engineering would look great on my application. However I did not understand how difficult that path would be. If I brought my GPA up to around a 3.0, and scored pretty well on the MCAT, do you think I would have a shot at admittance to a medical school? Thanks.
-Brian
Hi Brian,
Thanks for your inquiry. The fact that you are in a very challenging major will be taken in to consideration. For now just keep working to get your GPA up by your 4th year and also to be involved in activities related to medicine. If you make good progress it is possible that you could be a viable medical school applicant in a few years. For now my advice is to stay focused on the present.
Best wishes,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
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Originally posted by cpittmanHi Dr. Sheldon,
I majored in Archaeology, Technology, Historical Structures in undergrad. I graduated in May 2011, and unfortunately was not accepted into medical school. Therefore I enrolled in a Masters of Public Health program that concentrates on biomedical sciences. I am looking to apply to medical school again during the 2012-2013 application cycle for admission in the Fall 2013 school year. I am wondering when I should apply to medical schools and what you are looking for in a nontraditional candidate who has lower grades due to health problems?
As an undergraduate I unfortunately experienced medical problems. With doctors questioning the overall cause of these health issues they went undiagnosed from 2008-May 2012. This experience taught me the patient perspective and would allow me to be a sympathetic physician focused on patient/family oriented care. These medical problems caused major academic problems. As an undergraduate I graduated with a cumulative GPA of a 2.99. During my first year in Graduate School I was able to achieve a 3.17 cumulative GPA. My graduate program focused classes around PhD core curriculums forcing master students and PhD students to compete.
Is there even a chance of getting into medical schools?
Dear Cpittman,
Thanks for your inquiry. Based on the information you provide, I have to be candid: no, I don’t think you will be competitive for medical school admission. Your MPH is a great accomplishment but is not really so relevant to showing you are ready to do medical school level work. My advice is to check out the post bac programs and see if you can find one that meets your needs. Best wishes moving forward.
Sincerely,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
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Originally posted by altrDr. Shelton,
I graduated last year with a cumulative gpa of 3.49 and science gpa of 3.38. I got a 24P on my mcat. I am interested in applying to DO schools. I plan on taking the mcat again but was wondering if applying to some schools early in the cycle and just informing them of my retake would be a good idea. I know several people who have gotten into school with a lower mcat but wasnt sure if its a good idea for me to bank on that. I have some descent extra curriculars with lots of shadowing and working experience. Do you think its wise for me to apply to DO schools without a retake
Thanks
Hi Altr,
Thanks for your inquiry. I do most of my consulting for M.D. programs. But it is my understanding that some D.O. schools take applicants in your MCAT range. Usually, I think the average GPA is higher than yours. You want to make sure you are ready to do medical school level work and do well on the national boards. One option would be to take some time, do more advanced level course work if you think you need it, and retake the MCAT exam when you confident you will raise your score considerably.
Best wishes,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
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Originally posted by JasonBHi Dr. Shelton,
Thanks a million for providing this service.
I have a slightly different question that I hope you can help me with. I recently decided to make a career change and go back to school to become an M.D., but I discovered that neither my college nor my high school was regionally accredited. So I have to start over.
I got my GED, and am about to enroll in a college, but want to make sure I don’t have similar problems in the future. The college I would like to attend (as it would accept a few of my credits and shorten the total time I would need to spend in school) is Touro College. It is properly accredited – regionally accredited – but Touro has branches all over the world, and this particular branch (the one in my local area) was only established 6 years ago. Touro’s central institution has sent students to Harvard medical school, etc. but this branch hasn’t had a premed student yet, although they offer all the proper classes.
My question is: Assuming my grades are up to par, will coming out of this branch of the school, one that has never sent anyone to Medical School before, negatively affect my chances at getting accepted to the top Med Schools?
Hi JasonB,
Thanks for your inquiry. It’s hard to give a precise answer to your question. In general I would encourage you to attend an accredited school with a track record of sending students to medical school, even if it takes you longer to complete your education. That way, you will remove all doubt about your qualifications and readiness to start medical school. Hope this helps.
Best,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
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Originally posted by NabramsonDear Dr. Shelton,
After 4 years of college and 1 year of a specialized master’s program in Finance, I have (a bit late) realized that I really want to go to medical school and become a doctor. A couple of problems, though: 1- my GPA is pretty low, and 2- I haven’t taken all the required classes. I will be starting work in a month, and intend to take courses at the local university to fulfill my prereqs. I would appreciate any advice about my chances of getting into med school, and what I can do to improve my odds.
First off, my GPA. I graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a 3.29 and majors in Economics and Chinese. My science GPA (eek) was 3.15. Honestly, after freshman year everyone I knew told me I would have to be an idiot to keep up premed and I believed them. I truly think that if I had persisted my grades would have improved. After graduating, I spent a year in a Masters of Finance program at WashU (which was pretty tough) and graduated with a 3.61.
Here are my science grades:
Gen Chem I: B; Gen Chem II: B-; Chem Lab I: B+; Chem Lab II: B; Biology I: C+; Physics I: A; Physics II: A-; Calculus II: B+; Calculus III: B-; Mind-Brain-Behavior (Neuroscience): B+As far as extracurriculars went, I didn’t do much volunteering, but in the summer of my freshman year I interned at a center for children and adults with mental disorders. I spent one summer studying language abroad, one working at a travel company in China (and speaking only Chinese), and one working at a start-up company in St. Louis.
This fall, I plan to take Organic Chemistry and OChem Lab at the local university (U of Minnesota). I know it is a long shot, but I want to go to medical school more than anything, and I will do whatever it takes to achieve that goal. What are my chances of getting there, and how can I improve those chances?
Thank you so much for any input.
Dear Nabramson,
Thanks for contacting us. Based on the information you provide, you have your work cut out for you. Almost certainly, after completing your premed requirements, you will have to do a post bac program in medical sciences to give yourself the opportunity to show you are able to medical school-level work. And you will need to take and do well on the MCAT, and get some useful volunteer and/or work experience related to patient care. It’s a long journey, but but if you want to do it, start today. Take each day, one at a time and make sure you are working at your highest possible level.
Best wishes,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
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Originally posted by jdtheissHi, I just got my scores back. I got a 31 on the MCAT, I currently have a 3.63 overall with all A’s in pre-req’s except 2 B+’s in bio. I’m a youth lacrosse coach, play lacrosse at my university, have volunteered (for an extended period) at an ER and free clinic, I’m working on publishing a paper, and about to start volunteering for a neurologist.
Here’s a list of schools that I’m hoping to apply to (in no particular order):
Ohio State
Oregon
George Washington
SUNY Upstate and Down
NYMC
Wake Forest
Univ. Cincinnati
Univ. of Washington
Boston Univ.
Univ. of Illinois
GeorgetownI’m wondering if I should try to take the MCAT again. Should I be more realistic in the schools I’m looking at?
Dear Jdtheiss,
Thanks for your inquiry. At this late date in the application process I would recommend that you not retake the MCAT exam. Your 31 MCAT and your GPA are competitive at a number of schools. I would move ahead with application very soon and also include some other schools. For a full review of your situation and some precise advice, and help with the whole application process, I suggest you consider a one hour consultation with one of our expert consultatants.
Best wishes,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
1.800.809.0800Keep up with us on:
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