Hi guys,
I’ve lurked here for a while, but this is my first time posting I think.
Anyway, I’m a non-trad applicant wishing to apply for med school soon. My background is very strange, but here goes: Age 35, white male, very humble background.
Presently a critical care Physician Assistant, 8 years experience. Salutatorian of my graduating PA class. I practice with alot of latitude and enjoy medicine greatly. The MD’s I work with have been pushng me to go to med school for a few years. They naturally assume I was a good undergraduate student.
EMT at age 18, Paramedic at age 20, (still a certified paramedic), worked in New York City EMS, Valedictorian of Paramedic Class.
PA school GPA 3.8, Salutatorian, Ace’d almost everything. BS degree. Honestly, just a phenomenal experience in every respect.
Undergraduate grades: horrendous. Ochem D-, Never above a C in chemistry, a few no credits and a few D’s and 2 F’s in science courses. GPA before PA school 2.2 , years of attendance 1994-1999. Took 4 years off to work as a Paramedic, b/c I wasn’t getting anywhere with college.
Last undergraduate courses I took were Microbiology and Physics II at a tough 4 year school just before PA school in 2003 and got a B+ and A- respectively. I needed them for pre-reqs and nothing was going to stop me from getting into PA school.
I know, I know, I begged and pleaded to get into PA school. I had no business getting in, but somehow I did. Somehow I just killed it. It defies all conventional wisdom.
I’ve been very successful as a PA, but I want to make more of an impact, the desire for the DO/MD has never really been extinguished. My area of interest is in critical care. It’s what I know and love.
I’ve been studying for the MCAT and have been scoring 30-31, balanced 10/10/11. Going to try harder to knock at 40’s door over the next month and a half.
What do you guys think, AMCAS will likely science GPA me as 2.3 or so. Overall will be a 3.0-3.1. I say this as my PA stuff will likely not count towards the science GPA. If it did I’d be around a 3.1 science GPA (yes, my grades were so bad, that a nearly 4.0 average after 97 credits wont help!)
I’d appreciate any input, Thanks.
I’ll pass on what my premed advisor told me. BTW Im 40 and just about to finish my prereqs, Ill just have to take Org II and lab in the Fall '13 semester as I could not fit one more course in this semester with full time job and the 8 hrs Im taking this semester.
I had a “D” in biology back from my undergrad in 1991. It’s not that I didnt understand the material I just never studied or went to class, was having too much “fun” doing the fraternity thing and I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life. I was an engineering major at the time… ended up general biz degree.
Advisor told me I needed to retake Bio and then do very well, like “A” grades in all of my prereqs. Which thankfully Ive done with the exception of a “B” in organic I, “A” in the lab. I had right at a 3.00 average when I graduated back in 1996. Advisor told me I had… HAD to get my undergrad GPA up. Im not even sure what my undergrad GPA is right now but Im sure it is over a 3 by now.
I would check with whatever med school(s) you are looking at and get the info straight from the source. Ask them if you need to retake - I know some schools wont accept grades from prereqs that are over 5 years and some cases 3 years old. That way you will know for sure.
Hello medic327. You can get into medical school. It is rarely too late. I have had multiple clients with undergrad GPAs in the 2.0s who were 45 years old and got into top 10 medical schools. It sounds like you have everything in line except for academics, and perhaps research. My best suggestion at this point is to do a post-bac. This way, your grades will be fresh and you can prove to admissions committees that you can handle the academics of medical school. Your goal is at least a 3.7 GPA. This, along with a MCAT in mid-30s will clear the academic path to medical school. Of course, then you have to shore up the research, community service, extracurrics, clinical experience (which you have plenty of), and application skills. But I think you will find those a breeze given your previous experience. It may be a long road, but I think you can get it done and get in.
Just wondering if medic327 is still around, looking for advice. I’m a PA and I’m in finals week of a year-long post-bac program.