Hello all. I am 34 years old, currently an Active Duty Army Officer. Undergraduate GPA 2.75, Under Grad Science is close to that as well, Major Biology. worked for 7 years as an Analytical Chemist in both Environmental and Pharmaceutical laboratories prior to joining the military. I have 2 years of volunteer experience in an Emergency Room of a smaller Hospital. 1 Year of volunteering with Americorps. I have one year left in the Army before I can get 100% of all the post 9/11 GI bill benefits. I am a URM.
I plan on applying to a post-bac program over the course of this year. My primary concern is how low my GPA is and how long I have been out of school (1998) since any real science courses. My top choice school right now is USUHS, as I would like to remain in the military. Any advice anyone can offer would be great. Thanks in advance!
chemtw,
Welcome to OPM! No worries, there are people from this forum with past low GPAs who are already practicing physicians, and they have gone through the same anxiety over their backgrounds before taking action to correct what needed to be corrected.
It seems that your background has all the ingredients present in almost everyone’s background in this forum. Yours exhibit some points, which if worked properly, and in addition to an upward trend in grades during your post-bacc and an stellar MCAT, will make you an attractive candidate to any medical school.
Registering in a post-bacc program (either structured or DIY)is essential, mainly because you want to bring that GPA up, and at the same time, get ready for the MCAT. Since you are already making plans to do so, you are on the right track.
I hope that some of the people with military background in this forum will fill you in regards to your other questions about staying in the military and probably being accepted to the armed forces med school.
Good luck in your endeavors! And please keep us posted of any progress, albeit small.