Nabramson

[Nabramson]

Dear 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.
 

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