Becoming a doctor in my future?

[Hopegirl]

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Hi all! 🙂

I graduated with a 2.8 overall GPA and haven't taken the MCAT yet. I am starting to look into medical school, and wish I had been more focused in undergrad.

I've been reading a lot of the posts about postbac programs, and am trying to determine my best course of action.

I'm in San Diego, and haven't found any formal post bac programs here, except at UCSD, which is only for students that have been denied entry to med school, and also I believe, who are minority students. This doesn't apply to me.

SO... given my low GPA, what would you do if you were me? Informal post bac locally? Obviously kick ass on the MCAT. 😉 Please, share your insight and infinite wisdom with me.

 

[MD Rapper]

Hi all! 🙂

I graduated with a 2.8 overall GPA and haven't taken the MCAT yet. I am starting to look into medical school, and wish I had been more focused in undergrad.

I've been reading a lot of the posts about postbac programs, and am trying to determine my best course of action.

I'm in San Diego, and haven't found any formal post bac programs here, except at UCSD, which is only for students that have been denied entry to med school, and also I believe, who are minority students. This doesn't apply to me.

SO... given my low GPA, what would you do if you were me? Informal post bac locally? Obviously kick ass on the MCAT. 😉 Please, share your insight and infinite wisdom with me.

Hi Hopegirl,

Welcome to SDN! You basically have two options:

Regardless of the one you take, you must change your study habits now! Getting into medical school is a pretty serious goal, and you want to demostrate your academic ability as soon as possible.

1) Come back to UCSD as a post-bac informally, meaning you just take upper level, science courses. Basically, you are taking classes electively and there is no formal structure. I'm not sure if you work or not, but whatever the case is, you must take on as rigorous of a curriculum as you can get if you decide to do a DIY (do it yourself) postbac. Your post-bac GPA is very important. With the grades you currently have, you want to shoot for 3.7-4.0 with a year to two years of classes.

2) This is a better option, but it may take some time on your part to figure out what is right for you. Plus, you must be willing to put aside many of your other responsibilities.

Find master's programs with hard-science classes that take 1 to 2 years. Especially helpful are the SMP's (Special Master's Programs). These are one year programs whose purpose is to basically enhance your academic credentials for medical schools. I see that you are from california (like me!). As you already know, getting into medical school from our state is very competitive. Most, if not all, SMPs are out of state (mainly on the east-coast). If you are willing to leave (this is what I'm doing next year), an SMP would be perfect. The only thing that might hold you back is your current transcript. I still think its worth a shot to apply. If they turn you down, there are many master's programs all over the place (esp. 2 year traditional ones w/ a thesis) which will serve the purpose. You can definitely find one of those in Cali, if not at UCSD already.

And finally, yes, it would be better to rock the MCAT. However, if you get in the med school average range (29-33), you'll be okay given you have a strong showing in your post bac curriculum and you have good EC's etc... An even score looks better than a lopsided one, so focus your energies on all sections equally.

Take care and good luck

Feel free to PM if you have any other questions.