The Aftermath of College

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

Scenario:

Shane majored in Psychology and graduated with a GPA of 2.26. It wasn’t until after graduation that Shane then decided that he wanted to pursue Medical School for Forensic Pathology. Sure his lack of dedication during his undergrad years has thrown a monkey wrench into his plan/idea of becoming a Forensic Pathologist, but with an undergraduate GPA of 2.26, what steps should Shane take to make his dream of becoming a Forensic Pathologist a reality? Should he try a post-bacc? What post-back program should he research? or Should classes be taken to apply towards prerequisites?

2

Med school requires a very high GPA. Getting C’s or lower is unacceptable. So, as far as med school goes, that ship has sailed and you weren’t on it. Short of designing a time machine to go back and actually.learn something in college, there isn’t anything that can be done at this point.

3

Post Bac programs usually require a 3.2 or higher GPA for admission so I do not see that this option is possible. I would look into other health care related fields that do not require a competitive GPA for admission.

4

Graduated in a widely-considered easiest major(Psychology) with barely above C grades (2.26 GPA), he should wake up from his med school fantasy … as Gumbymom pointed out, he’s not even qualified to apply to most post-bacc programs in US.

If not, assuming his family is rich then Caribbean med schools are the best way to live in his dream.

5

I disagree that he is hopeless.

After 5 years or more out of college, he will be able to try for med school as a Non-traditional candidate. He needs to go back to college and retake all the med school requirements again, if he gets a HIGH GPA and a HIGH Mcat, in addition to continue medical related jobs/ECs during his post bacc years, he maybe able to be admitted.

My neighbor who was a sales manager for 10 years and got into med school in his mid 30s, he did not start full medical service until his mid 40s.

6

First Shane needs to take enough undergrad science coursework (including retaking any class he earned a C- or lower) to raise his sGPA into 3.2 range. Grade replacement is not allowed and both original & retakes must be included in all GPA calculations.

Then Shane needs to enroll in a grade-enhacing post bacc programs, preferably at a program associated with a medical school. If possible, he should enroll in a Special Master’s Program (SMP) which typically require a GPA and sGPA >3.2 and MCAT score of 500+. These are grad degree programs that mimic the rigor of the first year of med school.

If he finishes a SMP in the top 15-20% of the class and with a GPA >3.7, he has about 50-50 chance of getting admitted to med school, assuming he has checked off all the EC boxes.

If Shane moves to TX and waits 10 years, he can apply for the Academic Fresh Start program and have his undergrad record erased. He will have to start over with a new BA/BS degree and go from there. Medical schools outside of TX do not recognize the Fresh Start program and will include both his current grades and new grades when calculating his GPA.

Overseas med schools may be a possibility, but realize that the odds of Shane flunking out at one are very high (it’s how their business model is structured–accept lots of MS1s, flunk 2/3rds of them over the next 2 years because the schools don’t have enough clinical training slots…) Also the odds of ever gaining any US residency for US IMGs are quite poor. (Less than 50-50.)

Forensic pathology is not a residency level specialty. It’s a fellow level program. Shane would need to first complete a 4 year general pathology residency, then apply for and be accepted into a 1 year fellowship program in forensic pathology.

See: https://residency.wustl.edu/choosing-a-specialty/specialty-descriptions/pathology/

So there are no guarantees he’ll be able to match into forensics, though matching into general pathology is not especially competitive.


Shane needs to look at other career options since his pathway to becoming a pathologist is extremely narrow and highly unlikely.

Medical technologist in a forensics lab. Requires a BS in CLS or forensic science.

Medical examiner assistant/autopsy assistant. Requires BS or MS in biology with coursework in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, pathology, ochem, neuroscience, clinical laboratory sciences. Certification by American Society for Clinical Pathology is required for employment.  There are specific grad programs that prepare students for careers as ME/autopsy assistant.
7

Even if Shane went back and redid every class he took and received a A, his overall GPA, counting original and retakes, would be around 3.1.

While a program like the TX fresh start would give him a chance at his dream, it would be long time coming as this point.

8

A small number of medical schools will only consider or more heavily weight the last 60 or 90 [undergrad] credits that a students earns. (Wayne State, LSU, UWash, Rosalind Franklin…) Plus osteopathic med schools consider grad degree coursework when making interview and admission decision. A rigorous biological or physical science MS (with or without thesis) with a near 4.0 GPA together with a exceptional MCAT score might gain Shane some consideration from DO programs.

9

In the non-traditional med school applicants situation, the original GPA from the UG is forgiven, the newly earned med school requirements will be looked at.

I know of a girl who did not do well in her UG and went back to take the Dental requirements again, was able to get into Dental School with a high DAT score, AFTER 5 years. Med school will do the same thing.

Please go through the threads on SDN to review the process.

10

Might be easier/better to become a Forensic Pathology Assistant or Forensic Autopsy Technician. Would still be heavily involved in forensic pathology.

11

Very hard to make up GPA with a post bacc even to 3.0.

12

MODERATOR’S NOTE:
Unless Shane is your child, he needs to ask his own questions, since “Asking for a Friend” posts are not allowed. Closing thread.