Poor academic record....any possibility of Med School?

[Soapdadope]

Though I'm a newbie here, I've spent the past few nights sifting through posts. Suffice it to say, I'm astounded by the wealth of information available here.

So anyhow, I have a dilemma:

As a mediocre student in high school, I carried over my poor study habits (or lack thereof) into my first stint in college. After bombing course after course and languishing in the Electrical Engineering program for a year and a half, I was summarily dismissed from the university.

After spending an entire year bouncing around between menial, minimum-wage jobs I ended up dedicating an entire year to soul-searching. At the behest of my family, I spent a few months in Cambodia exploring my roots. Needless to say, it was an eye-opening experience.

Upon arriving in the states, I changed my ways and enrolled in a community college, received good grades and transferred to my current state college.

I'm currently a biology major and 15 credits shy of graduating. My GPA is 3.6 though I do have one F on my current transcripts for a Shakespeare course I retook and aced. I have yet to take the actual MCAT. However, my bio, PS and verbal scores were 13, 11 and 9 , respectively on the AAMC 7. Taking into consideration my previous academic dismissal, what are my choices of making a US med school if I were to theoretically score a 30+ on my MCAT?

My decision to attend medical school hinges on the possibility of entering a US med school. I've considered admission into a Caribbean or other foreign med school, but I'm intimidated by the process. Any advice?

Thanks in advance.

[wolfvgang22]

If you ace the MCAT with a score of over 30 you may have a shot. However, keep in mind that most U.S. schools will direct any application that shows academic dismissal at any point directly into the circular file.
http://img7.exs.cx/img7/2585/trash6ki.jpg

This is just my opinion, and I would be delighted if you prove me wrong.

Check out http://mdapplicants.com/ for some comparisons to other applicants. Note, however, that this site does not take into account such things as academic probation, dismissal, failed courses, etc.

Don't be intimidated by the process of attending the better caribbean schools, should you not get admitted to a U.S. school.
It's easier to get admitted to caribbean schools, the application process takes much less time, and the interviews are more laid back compared to U.S. med schools. The trade off is that caribbean students have to work harder througout med school to get the choice residencies.
Students who go to caribbean med schools have to be real gung-ho self-starters in med school, moreso than US students, because we weren't in undergrad. It's a "pay me now or pay me later" kind of thing.
Good luck!

[Soapdadope]

Wolfvgang,

Thanks for the quick and honest answer. I had a sneaking suspicion that was true but I needed some confirmation.

I've to the realization that attending a US med school is a closed door, so it looks like I have no alternative but apply to foreign ones. After hearing your testimonial, I'm leaning towards a Caribbean school but what about Asian med schools?

Also, I should've clarified one thing - since there's a dearth of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals, I'd like to return to Cambodia to practice medicine.

[ResearchingGuy]

I would first contact the admissions department of your state medical school. Lay your cards on the table and see how receptive they are to your story. Secondly, you should consider Osteopathic schools. They are opening new schools at record rates and have always been more open to non-traditonal students (and, frankly, students with weaker academic records).

If neither of these pathways seem possible. Look overseas. I found the application process for Caribbean schools to be much easier than the whole AAMCAS thing. The greatest difficulty is finding the right school for you.

I know little about Medical Schools in Asia, except for Phillipine schools. I believe the largest number of Asian grads coming to the US come from certain schools there (Far Eastern University and the University of Santo Tomas are two that come to mind).

If you are eligible to enter Medical School in Cambodia, it might be a very good option. Assuming you would have no problems with the language, it might be a very good choice (and might be a whole lot cheaper too). The key when studying abroad is to focus early on what you need to do to return to practice in the US. Understand the ins and outs of Residency and Licensure in the US and focus on them without fail.

Check with your local school. Then do us all a favor by telling us what you found out.

Best of Luck to You!

[Soapdadope]

Thanks for the quick response, I really appreciate your taking the effort to respond to my post.

I'll contact UMass Medical's admissions office to see what my chances are. From what I hear though, they're only looking for candidates who plan on practicing in the state of Massachusetts.

In the meantime, I need to do some more research on the Asian and Caribbean schools. At this point, a school in Cambodia would be ideal (I speak the language fluently and I have lots of family there who could put me up). The extremely low level of subsistence in Cambodia also looks tempting ($200 could buy you a year's worth of food).

I'll also be looking into the Osteopathic schools.

Anywho, thanks for the info guys. I'll keep you posted!

[LUGANSK_STATE_MEDICAL_UNI]

Hi,

I am interested to know that if you do have a poor academic record, do you think you are capeable of practicing medicine.?

People go to E europe/europe as they have low funds, but i fear that you leaving for cambodia, where $200 will buy a years worth of food, you have to look, and think is this a realistic thing for me to do?
Imagine how much you would be sacrificing in education if you were to go, a cheap university is always going to have a downside, where would you want to practice after gaining your MD? as you would definatly not be cut out for medicine in the US, or UK with a degree from cambodia, you would have to sit many tests, and its a possibility that doctors/healthcare professionals would look down on you, as you would effectivly have a 3rd world degree.
Also, if you did want to practice in the US/UK you would have a very bad clinical education level, as in cambodia, a scalpel and torch are as much as they get :)

[wolfvgang22]

Hi,

I am interested to know that if you do have a poor academic record, do you think you are capeable of practicing medicine.?

People go to E europe/europe as they have low funds, but i fear that you leaving for cambodia, where $200 will buy a years worth of food, you have to look, and think is this a realistic thing for me to do?
Imagine how much you would be sacrificing in education if you were to go, a cheap university is always going to have a downside, where would you want to practice after gaining your MD? as you would definatly not be cut out for medicine in the US, or UK with a degree from cambodia, you would have to sit many tests, and its a possibility that doctors/healthcare professionals would look down on you, as you would effectivly have a 3rd world degree.
Also, if you did want to practice in the US/UK you would have a very bad clinical education level, as in cambodia, a scalpel and torch are as much as they get :)
True, but also quite entertaining, considering the source. Is Lugansk that much better than Cambodia? Maybe, maybe not.
Give yourself a chance: attend a school with a long track record of graduating students who then obtain licensure in all 50 states in the U.S.
In the case of Eastern European schools, go to those who's English language program is recognized by the state of CA for licensure of their graduates. That would be playing it safe. If you have a taste for a high risk lifestyle, ignore my advice.

[LUGANSK_STATE_MEDICAL_UNI]

Please wolf, a little maturity.
The ukraine is an up and coming well established country, with a proven better economy than russia.

As to the 1st post, i truely believe that you would be making a huge mistake going in with both feet to cambodia.

[babytuck]

Guys, what exactly's this Mcat? What good does it do? I'm an iuhs medical residing in india... how's it going to help me?

[Tyson]

Guys, what exactly's this Mcat? What good does it do? I'm an iuhs medical residing in india... how's it going to help me?

If you are already in medical school in india you don't need to know anything about the MCAT. It is only for students trying to get into US medical schools and a few foreign medical schools.

It stands for Medical College Admission Test. To most of us who are trying to get into medical school we just call it painful.

[OLDPRO]

Though I'm a newbie here, I've spent the past few nights sifting through posts. Suffice it to say, I'm astounded by the wealth of information available here.

So anyhow, I have a dilemma:

As a mediocre student in high school, I carried over my poor study habits (or lack thereof) into my first stint in college. After bombing course after course and languishing in the Electrical Engineering program for a year and a half, I was summarily dismissed from the university.

After spending an entire year bouncing around between menial, minimum-wage jobs I ended up dedicating an entire year to soul-searching. At the behest of my family, I spent a few months in Cambodia exploring my roots. Needless to say, it was an eye-opening experience.

Upon arriving in the states, I changed my ways and enrolled in a community college, received good grades and transferred to my current state college.

I'm currently a biology major and 15 credits shy of graduating. My GPA is 3.6 though I do have one F on my current transcripts for a Shakespeare course I retook and aced. I have yet to take the actual MCAT. However, my bio, PS and verbal scores were 13, 11 and 9 , respectively on the AAMC 7. Taking into consideration my previous academic dismissal, what are my choices of making a US med school if I were to theoretically score a 30+ on my MCAT?

My decision to attend medical school hinges on the possibility of entering a US med school. I've considered admission into a Caribbean or other foreign med school, but I'm intimidated by the process. Any advice?

Thanks in advance.
Yea a dissmissal is a negative, but I like your story and ADCOMS do like people who prove with good grades that they have turned around.

I would try to get a good MCAT
Continue to get very good grades
Start a personal statement draft that explains how you were not motivated at first then lived and learned and now have turned your academic life around.

If US proves to not let you in you can apply and I think you would be able to go to one of the BIG 4 in the Caribbean the path you are on now. The Carribbean big 4 are almost just as good as going to a US medical school, yea many US students say they are not but they have proven to be almost as good. It's really up to you.

Good Luck.