<p>Hello. I am currently doing a pre-med track with a major in public relations. I have a question concerning admission for medical school. </p>
<p>I have been doing the pre-requisites for medical school and I have performed somewhat average at a majority of them, though my major courses have prevented my GPA from tanking altogether. I haven't outright flunked any of the science courses, but I don't think passing the class is satisfactory enough for medical school. Looking at my coming years (I'm going to be a junior in college), I am going to take Biology (I took Biology at another school for the summer and chose not to transfer the grade to my main college) and then take Chem during that coming summer. During senior year, I was either planning on re-taking O-Chem or do some other science classes (i.e. Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, Environmental Science, etc.) to give my science GPA some much-needed boost and then maybe take Physics again during the summer. After that, I'll spend the following year studying for the MCAT and then apply if I get a satisfactory MCAT score. </p>
<p>To all the doctors and now medical students of the forum, do you guys think this is an effective strategy?</p>
<p>EDIT: The school I'm thinking of applying to is Loma Linda University. I am Seventh-day Adventist and I'm currently attending Pacific Union College - an Adventist institution. I am also doing an internship with a group called Clinica Verde (<a href="http://clinicaverde.org/">http://clinicaverde.org/</a>) as a public relations person - something I may continue up to senior year. However, I was thinking that this could be applied as a medical recommendation due to the fact that the organization is medical in nature. </p>
<p>EDIT: Sorry about this, but this strategy is a bit out of date. With my advisors, I drafted a new strategy. This is the short hand version of it:</p>
<p>-Junior: Biology</p>
<p>-Summer Junior/Senior: O-Chem</p>
<p>-Senior: 1st Quarter biochemistry / Other Science Courses (i.e. Ecology, Genetics, etc.)</p>
<p>-Senior Summer: Physics</p>
<p>-5th Year: Chemistry / Other Science Courses (if possible)</p>
<p>5th Year Summer: MCAT </p>
<p>Since I know that the medical school might be suspicious concerning a fifth year of undergraduate studies in regards to admissions, I am planning on shadowing a doctor at the nearby hospital, continue my internship with Clinica Verde, and perhaps work as a science TA during that year. </p>
<p>Medical schools will look closely at your sGPA (bio, chem, physics, math) as well as your overall GPA.</p>
<p>What is your current sGPA? (If you’re willing to share.) Knowing this will get your more targeted advice.</p>
<p>AMCAS does not permit grade replacement. Your GPA/sGPA will include both the original grade and the retaken grade.</p>
<p>Also even though you did not transfer your summer school grade to your home college, you are still obligated by AMCAS and AACOMAS rules to report it on your medical school application (and send a official transcript from that school).</p>
<p>Are you open to attending an osteopathic medical school? DO schools do permit the use of grade replacement. (IOW, only your most recent grade will be included in calculating your GPA/sGPA. You still have to report all classes, but not all classes will be considered when computing your GPA…)</p>
<p>In addition to your shadowing and volunteer PR position at Clinica Verde, you will also need clinical volunteering experience that brings you into direct contact with actual patients. Merely shadowing physicians is not enough.</p>
<p>First of all, it is highly unlikely that you could apply to one particular medical school, and get accepted to that one medical school. The acceptance rate for Loma Linda medical school is 3.2%, you need to apply to other schools as well.</p>
<p>Also, definitely need to work on shadowing and volunteer opportunities with direct patient contact. Usually a PR position doesn’t involve this, just the same way that a receptionist at a neurosurgical clinic is not really interacting with the patients directly. </p>
<p>Do not take pre-reqs in a summer even at your college.<br>
“my GPA from tanking altogether. I haven’t outright flunked any of the science courses” - is not sufficient information for this discussion. You have to clearly state your overall GPA and science GPA to anybody who you expect getting any answers from. Ohterwise, it is a futile waste of everybody’s (but mostly YOURS) time. If you do not want to disclose any solid info, then here is what you are looking for as somewhat min. stats: Overall GPA = 3.6+ / MCAT=31+ (old MCAT, I have no idea about format and scoring scale of the new MCAT). The rest is normal regular Medical ECs like everybody else.</p>
<p>My dad is a physician, so I can probably get some volunteer experience with direct patient contact. Furthermore, I was planning to apply Early Decision at Loma Linda University since my dad is alumni from the institution.</p>
<p>My overall GPA is below 3.0 and my science GPA is around the upper 2.0s and I haven’t taken the MCAT yet. I was thinking about taking additional science courses to add more courses into my science GPA while also redoing my core science classes to something a little more acceptable for medical school. </p>
<p>Didn’t you read what WOWM said? You cannot replace a low science score by retaking the class. They will AVERAGE your two takes. </p>
<p>If your dad’s name is on one of the buildings at LL, I think you might have a chance, but your stats are too low even for LL. Try to apply mostly DO schools.</p>
<p>I am aware that the grade will be averaged in regards to the core science classes. However, I have also heard that the science GPA could also consist of other science classes (i.e. microbiology, genetics, etc.). I was going to do two things: Bring the science GPA up to an acceptable level (with an awareness that it will be averaged) as well as add more science classes to the science GPA to bring some more fresh classes into that area of GPA. </p>
<p>Even if you get all As in the science classes from now on, would your sGPA over 3.5? That is probably the range LL will accept regardless if you are a legacy or not.</p>
<p>You have to analyze why you have a low sGPA before you retake it and ask yourself, if a higher level class or retake of those failed classes are feasible. If you can not see yourself get all As from now on, you mind as well spend time on other subject matters that is more employable.</p>
<p>Random thoughts:</p>
<p>First, in your first two years, only you know the obstacles/issues you faced and why you received the GPAs you mentioned above. Only you can answer if you now believe you can overcome the same or potentially as yet new/unknown obstacles/issues and hopefully succeed with your new strategy.</p>
<p>Secondly, according to Loma Linda’s website, the science GPA for the class entering 2013 was 3.72 and the cumulative GPA 3.76. So google search “amcas calculator,” enter your previously earned courses/credits/grades, then enter your strategy. Also include the other science/nonscience courses needed to fill out a full time schedule for each quarter during the next 3 years and see for yourself if your strategy works or if it needs tweaking to be competitive gpa wise…</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>were you serious when you said: “My overall GPA is below 3.0 and my science GPA is around the upper 2.0s”?
Is it some kind of joke? This is not doable, period. I do not know if you physician parent can help, I doubt.<br>
You are wasting your time and others, why don’t you just Google the stats of accepted studets and stop this non-sense.</p>