Hey everyone,
I hope everyone is doing well. I have been listening the old pre med podcast for a quite a while and this is my first time posting. I hope I can get better advice here than other forums that I participated and see if anyone of you can guide me here.
Short Story
Spend in community college for 5 years with 2.4 cGPA, 2.2 cGPA
Spend in an university for 3 years with 2.8 cGPA, 2.7 sGPA
Overall GPA: 2.5 cGPA, 2.4 sGPA
Unfortunately, I did not do well in my lower division prerequisite class as I got C for all of the course:
Gen Chem I and II: C
Organic Chem I: B
Organic Chem II: B
Physics I, II, III: C
Microbiology: D
Genetics: D
Gen Bio I: C
Gen Bio II: D
Calculus: B
As you can see, all of these courses were taken at community college. When I was at an university as a chemistry major, I did better with upper chemistry class as I got all B’s and C’s for the courses which equivalence to a 2.7 sGPA. However, that is still very short of my expectation in trying to get majority of A’s.
I have taken a break from school for about a year just to get my act together. In mean time, I work as an EMT currently and I would like to continue following my dream in becoming a doctor. I feel lot more refresh and I have thought a lot about my past mistakes and learn how to overcome it.
So now, I am here thinking about doing a post bacc. I am planning to retake all of the prerequisite courses at a UCLA extension for 2 years and then apply for SMP in the following year. Do you think that would be a best idea to approach it? Or should I approach that differently?
Thank you.
Have you worked and gone to work while taking those classes? or were you taking full-time status? Pace yourself and don’t rush the process. The medical school want to see an upward trend… if you have to, take two classes and fit in volunteering. The reason why I say this is because if you just taking full course load and not doing well, maybe you are burning our or you need to work on the way you study.
As for taking two or so classes… crank out those retakes and show you can get all As and Bs but preferably all As? Then take your MCAT and go from there. Don’t feel forced to do an SMP unless you absolutely have to because that would be wasted 2 years if you end up doing fairly well in your courses and MCAT score is decent.
I am also 29/F/non-trad… I am working full time and part time but also studying for MCAT and trying to solidify a shadowing experience with volunteering. I’m pacing myself as my part time job is tutoring (cash) so usually they disappear after Christmas and won’t come back because it’s a case by case basis. I have not been assigned to a patient yet for hospice and the physician who agreed to let me shadow hasn’t emailed me back yet either. So I am trying to assess my routine.
Thank you for answering my question.
I have mostly took those classes as full time status with work. I found myself putting so much things on my plate that in the end of the semester, I usually flame out. I can’t quit my full time job as I am only supporting myself.
I was planning to take two classes at the time with retakes. If I was able to do well, do you think I should apply right after I take my MCAT, if I do well?
Thank you Dr. Ryan Gray for highlighting my question on the podcast.
However, I have some questions regarding the advice you gave me. I have check out bunch of SMPs and they all request at least a 2.8 GPA which I have not yet. You told me that not to retake my prerequisite at UCLA extension, yet I do not know how else I can show the admission of SMPs that I can take care of rigorous courses. What would be my other options to approach it? Thank you.