please help! any advice!

[ironpalm83]

I am writing this, because i am not sure what my options are at this point.

I will have BA in economics from a Canadian university by June.

After wasting first 2 years of university (avg. 50s and Fs), I was required to withdraw from the school for one academic year.

Once I came back to school in spring of 2005, the grades have somewhat improved; 65s and 70s and then 75s and eventaully last semster finished 80, 89, 85, 73 (3.55/4) and this semester i am looking to finish around the similar marks.

I am willing to take spring and summer session to bring up avg to 70-73?
(about 2.7 ?)

I realize with these marks getting into any established medical school in the caribbean is near impossible ....

I have taken biology and physics in the first year but only got 57 aqnd 50... I am taking gen. chem right now i am hoping to finish around 85..
Organic Chem...... i am willing to take it during this spring.....at my home university or ... Athabasca? anyone heard this? long distance university??
I am planning on taking mcat this summer.

What should I do? Should I apply to premed at sgu?(don't even know if i can get in) or MUA nevis premed? (not sure either) ...... should i try community college down in the states?

I also have a year of lab research assistant experience at department of physiology and several volunteer exp.

any advice would be great.

please help

[RussianJoo]

I would say study your butt off and do really well on the mcats like 27 and higher and that might prove to the school that you can actually do well in school you were just young and stupid, but now have gotten your act together. I don't know what the average grades for SGU premed are but I know many people going the premed route straight out of high school so you'll be at an advantage there. If SGU is where you want to go call the school and ask them what their requirements are for pre-med admission. You can also try getting a masters i.e. going to grad school for a year to raise your gpa, but i am not sure if you can get accepted into grad school. Lastly a place like MUA should accept you straight into their med program with a 2.7 GPA as long as you score above a 25 on the MCAT, you might also try looking into AUA it's new but it seems to be well established and is owned by the same guy who owned Ross. Lastly you can take more science classes and possibly go for a double major in order to raise your gpa. But definitely try to get above a 25 on your mcat that should open some doors for you.

[ironpalm83]

Thanks you for your advice.

OK so for now degree: BA in economics

pre-reqs:
1 year of biology with lab: 57(2002)
1 year of physics with lab: 50(2002)
1 year of chemistry with lab: 82(2006)

need: 1 year of organic chemistry with lab: this spring session (done by mid June)

now for the marks in bio and physics.... I am thinking whether i should retake those classes....? I have taken anatomy and biochemistry this year and have finished with 85 and 90 so far.

Should i retake those(bio, phys) courses to prove that i can handle science????

should i head down to US ( i am from Canada) and take those courses at a community college? like doing the courses during summer session??

cus i am an international student here in Canada and it cost 15000 dollars per one academic year; tution... that's about 30 credits and i looked into some community college in the US and so far it costs around 5000-6000 for 30 credits..

I really want to start SGU premed 3 or.. MUA premed by 2008 January at the latest...

and from the school website it says i need to have completed all those science requirements ready in order to be placed in year 3 of premed.

seriously i don't think i stand much chance to get into md program direclty.. I am shooting for either MPH route or premed 3 route......

[RussianJoo]

or you can go straight into medical school AUA's has a thread asking what the people's gpa's were that got accepted most of the people had a gpa between 2.5 and 3.0. so take the mcats do reasonably well, for AUA probably a 24 or higher well be an excellent score and go there. don't waste any more of your time improving your application when there's no need for that. AUA is young but it will become a good school in due time.

[ironpalm83]

okay. I thought about retaking first year physics and biology but that's gonna take another year and and who knows if i can be offered for MD program at SGU directly. I will just focus on MCAT this summer and take orgranic chemisry this spring/summer session and hope for the best.

[ironpalm83]

just finished taking 2 of my last finals back to back.
last night at 7-10 and then this morning 9-11
i don't think i did well
i guess there goes my chance at SGU
ARGH

[ScubaVa]

just finished taking 2 of my last finals back to back.
last night at 7-10 and then this morning 9-11
i don't think i did well
i guess there goes my chance at SGU
ARGH

Hi Ironpalm,

I'm not someone who likes to kick a person when they're down, but as someone probably a little older than you I'd like to give you some advice. It looks like academics aren't your strong point. Medical school classes are probably much more intense than anything you've ever taken in undergrad, and require a serious serious commitment. Doesn't sound like you've really made that commitment to your studies yet. Now don't get me wrong, none of us who are applying/attending SGU were straight A students in undergrad, but we all managed to get through with decent grades (SGU reports a 3.4 average GPA). Maybe you should just focus on graduating and taking some time off to refocus and plan what you want in life. There's no point in jumping into a long term and expensive academic experience if you don't have the chops to see it all the way through... and that's my 2 cents.

[Artie]

Your MCAT score may tell you a lot, in fact I wouldn't worry about things like MPH or alternative programs until you have it, and your final GPA. Then you can figure out what options are available.

As mentioned, your GPA is low which will probably require that you take some sort of alternate track at SGU, such as MPH, or that you look to other schools which are less competitive. A stellar MCAT can help your case, but you still have to live with your grades. I wouldn't retake classes unless there's a reason why you did poorly in them in the past. That can only help you so much, as I believe the grades are averaged.

So it'll probably end up being a school in the Caribbean, at least one extra year of tuition and housing, a high GPA maintenance, an exceptional performance on the MCAT, etc. If you don't mind, then you have the commitment to go to med school, now you just need to find a way in. I think something will work out for you. Good luck!

[ironpalm83]

thanks all!

[platinumxx80]

with grades like that...i dont see med school in your future...at least a decent one in the caribbean..if u want to stay in the medical field...the salaries of PA's and radiology techs are going up...if ur lucky u can get into one of those programs...if not then...go marry rich....good luck

[envivany1]

if you really wanna go to med school, i would suggest applying for sgu premed program.

[jameslynton]

thanks all!Someone gave me some very good advice - go to the best school you can get into. This holds here as well. Do what it takes to get to the best school you can go to...