<p>Hello everyone, first post on CC so nice to meet you all. So here is my story and is like to hear some of the thoughts and advise of other people. So I'm finishing my junior year with a 3.8 gpa in biology, minor in english. 33 on mcat and various lab experience. I have also been an STNA working with dementia and alzheimers patience for 3 and a half years. The last part is actually why I wanted to go to medical school. I was trying to figure out what to do with my life when I became a stna and then I realized I wanted to help people. Ok so that's the normal part. Also note I'm not picky about the med school I go to I'm applying everywhere. So about 4 n a half years ago I went to community college for 2 semesters. During this timeframe I had my child, and also devolped a gambling problem (haven't gambled in 2 years.) During this timeframe I got 5 ws 1 c and 1 f. Equalling a disaster. Well I took a year off and when I decided what I wanted to do I went back to school at the ohio state university and the rest is history. My questions are this; is my community college experience so minor that I should just leave those transcripts out when applying, should I include the transcripts and explain about my struggle with gambling or be mute on that part and just mention my child, should I retake the mcats, also since my credit is still shot from my gambling addiction (I had racked up 10k in debt I'm still in debt about 5 plus still paying on my car.) Any suggestions for secureing extra loans that the goverment and scholarships do not cover. I was considering the health corps. Any feedback will be awesome. Alright fingers are tired now since I typed this on my phone lol. Thank you for reading.</p>
<p>You don’t have a choice. You have to report the CC experience. Don’t even consider not reportiing it. It will not end well. </p>
<p>That being said, by applying broadly and reasonably, writing a compelling PS that mentions your growth and maturity (I’d mention the kid, not the gambling), and then moves quickly on to the high points (GPA at your 4 year, clinical experience) you stand a reasonable chance for a US allopathic medical school and a great chance for a DO program (grade replacement). As presented, I’m pretty optimistic somebody from your “well-crafted” list will take you.</p>
<p>You are smart to consider your credit rating as your viability for non-government loans (those through the school or directed by the school or from private banks depends on your credit-worthiness. A few schools state (paraphrased) …“No credit. Don’t come here”. There are legitmate credit repair methods you can employ. Research. Do not pay anyone to help you. Chances are that it is a scam. Start now. It won’t take perfect credit, but do what you can starting now.</p>
<p>My home state is ohio, which why I ended up at OSU. I started off at one of the regional campus which is how I got in with such horrible CC transcripts then transferred to columbus after I proved myself. Its all OSU though can’t tell I went to regional campus on transcripts. My number one choice would be ohio states medical school second being marshal in wv since I was born in their hospital. As for the loans I was seriously considerinh health corps scholarship program. I don’t mind volunteering time in exchange for school. I’m already 26 though so I don’t want to take time off for peace corps. That being said id go to a school in the carib if I had to lol.</p>
<p>I might also note that my overall scienca gpa is 4.0 luckily I didn’t attempt any science class in CC, I did however attempt a math in cc and got an f. Maybe I should retake that basic algerbra class online, I’m pretty sure you can.</p>
<p>err, science gpa includes math, so your science gpa is not a 4.0 but much lower</p>
<p>Going to med school in the caribbean is a terrible idea. Their graduation rates are poor and the difficulty of finding a residency placement coming from an non-US school is high. (Fewer than 40% of IMG pass all the USMLE exams and even if you pass finding a residency placement is still difficult.)</p>
<p>The Health Corp is a possibility. D1 looked into it when she was applying. </p>
<p>Federal program here: [National</a> Health Service Corps - HRSA](<a href=“http://nhsc.bhpr.hrsa.gov/]National”>http://nhsc.bhpr.hrsa.gov/)</p>
<p>Admission is competitive and occurs after you’ve passed your licensing exams. Must be a primary care doc or psychiatrist.</p>
<p>Ohio also has a loan repayment program.</p>
<p>Details here: [Loan</a> Repayment/Forgiveness and Scholarship Programs](<a href=“http://services.aamc.org/fed_loan_pub/index.cfm?fuseaction=public.program&program_id=61]Loan”>http://services.aamc.org/fed_loan_pub/index.cfm?fuseaction=public.program&program_id=61)</p>
<p>Again it’s for primary care docs. You cannot apply until AFTER you’ve obtained your OH licensure.</p>
<p>One other option D1 looked into was going to Uniformed Services Medical School and applying to work for Public Health Service ([Public</a> Health, Commissioned Corps](<a href=“http://www.usphs.gov/]Public”>http://www.usphs.gov/)) instead of one of the military services. 7 year commitment but your medical education is paid for AND you receive a commission and a salary while attending med school.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t bother with redoing the algebra class assuming you’ve passed calc. For MD programs that F is still going to be calculated into your sGPA/GPA no matter what. MD programs do not allow grade replacement.</p>
<p>If you’re going to apply to DO programs–which do allow grade replacement, then retake the class.</p>
<p>A note of hope–D1 was accepted into our state med school with an F on her transcript (though with lots and lots of other science classes to dilute its impact). If you can make a good case for why you have the F and why it will never happen again, schools will often give you a break.</p>
<p>:( maybe I should retake that course for sure then. Ill have to figure that out then I still have mostly all As in OSU so factor in that f wonder what it’ll come out too 3.5 or something probably :(</p>
<p>Danny–</p>
<p>Here’s the link to how to calculate your GPA for AMCAS:</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.aamc.org/students/download/125250/data/2011conversionguide.pdf.pdf[/url]”>https://www.aamc.org/students/download/125250/data/2011conversionguide.pdf.pdf</a></p>
<p>Ah thank you for saving me the time on redoing that course. As long as my application doesn’t get automatically denied via some computer by the low CC grades I’m confident I can get an interview. Didn’t really want to go to the carib just my way of saying ill do anything to become a doctor. As for paying for it… I figure worst case scenario I sleep in my car and pay all my income into a payment plan lol. Where there is a will there is a way and hopefully one day ill publish a book called My Horrible Amazing Journey to Become a Doctor. What do you think of the title lol</p>
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<p>Find a better reason for wanting to be a doctor. Everybody wants to help people - plumbers help people, taxi drivers help people, teachers help people, addiction counselors help people. What medical schools will want to know is why you want to help people by being a doctor instead of taking up another profession.</p>
<p>In particular I want to help people with dementia/alzheimers. I am extremely intrigued by the brain and nervous system. Although it is my dream to one day find a cure or a prevention method for alzheimers I would also love to specialize in paralysis and other nervous functions. Being a STNA is what introduced me into the curious world of the mind and that’s why I wanted to become a doctor. Its not just a job where I have the oppurtunity to help a person as if I was doing their taxs, being a doctor is a job that can help mankind.</p>
<p>check out the Berkeley-UCSF program which is extremely friendly to non-traditionals. Other med schools might be friendly towards non-traditionals as well. </p>
<p>[JMP</a> - Main Home Page](<a href=“http://jmp.berkeley.edu/]JMP”>http://jmp.berkeley.edu/)</p>
<p>Danny,Mayo loves non traditional students and you stand a good chance at Mayo if you can write a compelling story. I know some one got in to Mayo with similar stats and story</p>
<p>Dannyboy123,
I do not think that you would need to go to Carrib. Apply to all OH schools first. You are lucky, there are 7 Med. Schools in OH (Cleveland Clinique is free, but it is impossible to get in, they accept 32). Do not worry about loans now, Med. School will provide you with the list after acceptance.</p>