please help with your expert advice

[excmnd&bdy]

please help with your expert advice

[MYMD]

After reading thread upon thread I have become inspired to ask for help:

Spending more years and money than i should of as an undergraduate I would like to know what advice you all may have for what to do in this current difficult situation.

My cumulative U-grad GPA is a miserable slightly over 2. i graduated in 2005 with 220 hours of coursework in many areas (business finance, pre-med classes, some language courses.

i guess you can say i wasn't fully focused and dedicated to doing as well as i should have been.

i did not decide to pursue medicine until my third year of college

In college i spent lots of time volunteering as a firefighter and as a medical interpreter

I spent all last year volunteering in Israel as a first respoder/emt and lab assistant.

i am now taking gen chem/physics and will take orgo/and some bios at the harvard extension school.

here is the dilemma:
1)do i remain here and continue with my current plan ( finishing pre-med req.'s in spring '08 and taking mcat then. applying to schools both in the US and outside, including the ISrael med school programs, caribbean schools, and others

OR

2)scratch that plan and apply to one of the 6/7 year programs right now that are heavily discussed in the forums. (caribbean or elsewhere?)
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*Although my cumulative GPA is very low, I do believe I can do pretty well on the mCAt and my extensive volunteer experience should help. however, i did receive several Failing grades in the undergrad pre-med's.

I plan on applying to the caribbean schools regardless, after i finish the current courses, in addition to schools in the US, so should i skip this "post bac" stuff and do it now. Or WHAT????



I would really appreciate any advice and comments, please!!!

I do not know if you can get into Post Bac but it's worth a try.

Other than that the only chance you have is Foreign schools.

You will need to be in the 2.7 and above range for good choices.

[atlanticvioxx]

I would apply to some foreign schools and start off with the pre med program. (4 semesters, less than 2 yrs) and then you will be in med school.

[jameslynton]

After reading thread upon thread I have become inspired to ask for help:

Spending more years and....

I would really appreciate any advice and comments, please!!!

Since you asked - have you been evaluated for a learning disability? If not - I would go to your university counseling center and get tested. Find out why your grades are poor - what skills you are missing before you even start an Pre-MD or MD program. This will save you a world of hurt.

I am a dyslexic myself. There are things you can do that will help. If English is not your native language. You may want to take courses to improve your reading speed and comprehension. Before you take any more science courses.
well that's my .02's by the way if you have issues with reading your chances on the times stress reading based MCAT are slim to none. I know of several testers who got 1 & 2's on verbal on the MCAT. They then got into medical school and can understand the reading materials. This is a critical skill that with work before you go can be fixed!!!!!!

[excmnd&bdy]

do you mean the pre-med program i mentioned and am currently in? and apply to foreign schools now or when i finish the program???

thanks

[excmnd&bdy]

thanks for the responses

[DOC.p]

in my opinion, US schools are out of the question with anything lower than a 3.0 (this of course is being very liberal since the majority accepted have a 3.7+). although many say that you should exhaust your efforts by trying to get into the US first, i don't think it would be a good idea. go for the foreign and caribbean schools that interest you after doing research on them.

[AUCMD2006]

for all intents and purposes US MD and DO schools are out of the picture so you should save that application money. that out of the way you have 2 basic options:

1)finish your pre-reqs and apply to caribbean schools you will have a chance at but are relatively good like SMU, AUA, and if those don't work ST James, Spartan. you should probably also try the bigger schools just for the hell of it like ross, auc, and UAG (mexico)..sgu is probably out also as well as ireland, australia and israel.

2)look at the new eastern europe english programs that are 6 years

a gpa less than 3.0 is limiting but one below 2.5 is almost crippling when trying to get in one of the 'better' (better being a relative term) foreign schools

[jameslynton]

about the learning disability:
i am sure that doesn't apply to me, although thanks for the honest concern.

the issues are not worth getting into although it was very personal bad habits. all i know is that i am capable of succeeding in med school but i have reduced my chances of being accepted drastically with my past performance.

what other options do i have. i know if given the opportunity i can become a successful and proficient md.

You know you are capable - however, you have made poor choices by not deal with poor habits fast. That in itself, "is a learning disability". Reason - cold and hard - you did not take care of it upfront and fast. Makes you look not serious.

Would look at second chance programs like St James, AUA and others that have undergrad to grad programs. Your road is going to be bumpy as you have to prove yourself to go to medical school. Would make sure you finish a ** and study hard for the MCAT first and try AUC or Ross. You may get in Ross via the MERP program but you will need a good > 30 MCAT to make up for the goofed grades.

[cabrillo]

Find out why your grades are poor - what skills you are missing before you even start an Pre-MD or MD program. This will save you a world of hurt.

I agree completely with this.