Thread: Which Schools have clinicals in Miami

Hi, I got my ** in Electrical Engineering in Dec 2005 (with a not so good GPA of 3.0) took the MCAT (three times) with crappy scores of 16, 20 and 20, as it is obvious from the scores I did not study for any of them (well I did for like a week). The thing with me is that I lost all my study habits when I got to college (I became the worse procastinator); I used to be a good student at High School, but that was back then. My dilemma is this; I have always wanted to be a doctor, but with those sores it is not surprising that I got rejected by all the schools I applied to (I was dumb enough to only apply to US schools). In a way that served its purpose, because I would have hated getting into any med. school with my study habits as they were. Now I am back doing a Masters in Biomedical Eng. and I am getting my study habits back (I'm 70% to being my old self) but the thing is that in the Masters they expect me to know material from all of this classes (half of which I didn't take) so it is getting a little overwhelming, and I am doubting whether I should work this hard to get an MS in Biomedical Eng. when I know I really want to be a doctor (in other words I wouldn't mind working hard in med. school, I even think that I will enjoy it most of the time).
So, before I digress any further, here is my question (basically questions)
1. With those scores should I even apply to St. George (Iwas looking at the averages and they are much higher); in other words where do I have the greater chance of getting in with those scores?
2. The only constraint I have with going away to a caribbean school is the following.
1) I would prefer a school with clinical rorations in Florida (especially Miami).
Oh, I forgot to mentioned why I went back to get an MS. in Biomedical Eng.
1) I wanted to get a better GPA
2) I wanted to get good study habits
3) I was planning on actually studying for the MCAT
My main goal of course was to stay in the US (actually florida), but I'll prefer to be out of school before I turn 30 (I am turning 24 next month). I understand that as a doctor I'll have to study for the rest of my life (I don't mind that), but I at some point in time I have to grow up and get a real job.
So, excuse me if I sound annoying, or if this post is too long; but let me recap my main concerns so that people will not need to read my whole post.
Which school in the Caribbean will I have a chance of getting in with (20 MCAT, 3.0 GPA), and of those which offer clinical rotations in Miami.
Thanks for putting up with this.

SGU does not have rotations in Fl except for Peds at the Miami Children's Hospital (not sure if that's even on the table still) and that's only 1 6-week rotation.

I believe that Ross does though.

***

Now I don't know you, your study habits, personality, motivation, etc. but if you had a tough time studying in college and a tough time studying doing your masters are you really sure you're going to study in medical school even when "I really know I want to be a doctor"? It's no walk in the park and the fact that you didn't put much effort into the MCAT after doing poorly on it the first two times isn't a very good indication of it to me. Doesn't seem like much discpline and desire to me (particularly the MCAT thing) and comparing highschool with professional school is a whole different world. I aced highschool with literally zero effort. Those poor study habits bit me in the butt in undergrad and while I ended up doing okay, my GPA wasn't all that hot at 3.1. I put a lot more effort into my MCAT and got a 31P and while I still don't have very good study habits despite nearly being done with the basic sciences, if I didn't put in a whole lot more effort than I did in undergrad and highschool, I'd have failed out a long time ago despite also really wanting to be a doctor. The amount of material to be covered is unbelieveable at times.

Those are just my thoughts based on what you wrote. But if you really want to do it and KNOW you will put in the work, then go ahead and apply. Most students are here because they didn't put in the work in undergrad either or had bad MCATs too. Now that they are on the path to realizing their dream/goal, they put in the work and do very well. Not everyone though and people do fail out or even quit on their own.

PS In my opinion, if you REALLY want to be a doctor, you won't limit yourself by what schools have rotations in Fl. You'll go where you get in and suck it up. You can practice there later on if it means that much to you to be there.

I think you're right, but what I meant to say was that I didn't study as an undergrad, but I am studying hard for the Masters (I'm in my first semester); the only thing is that I will prefer to study as hard (or even harder) if I was in med. school, because right now I am not seeing the point of working hard in grad school (even tough I'm doing it) only to delay getting into med. school for two more years.

IMO, i think if you really want to b a doctor , focus on getting into a med schook first and worry about the rotation thing later. there will not be a perfect school that u can do your rotations in miami unless you got into a med school in FL, but that is obviously out of the question. like saora said, suck itup,and youcan always pratice in FL lter if you want. get that MD first or actually get accepted into a school first.

that being said, the mcat score is a bit onthe low side for sgu, but you can also try ross,auc and other schools

Originally Posted by misaeldv

right now I am not seeing the point of working hard in grad school (even tough I'm doing it) only to delay getting into med. school for two more years.

I can understand that. But if sticking with the grad program will help your application later on, then I guess it is worth it even if it's not what you want to do.

Originally Posted by misaeldv

Hi, I got my ** in Electrical Engineering in Dec 2005 (with a not so good GPA of 3.0) took the MCAT (three times) with crappy scores of 16, 20 and 20, as it is obvious from the scores I did not study for any of them (well I did for like a week). The thing with me is that I lost all my study habits when I got to college (I became the worse procastinator); I used to be a good student at High School, but that was back then. My dilemma is this; I have always wanted to be a doctor, but with those sores it is not surprising that I got rejected by all the schools I applied to (I was dumb enough to only apply to US schools). In a way that served its purpose, because I would have hated getting into any med. school with my study habits as they were. Now I am back doing a Masters in Biomedical Eng. and I am getting my study habits back (I'm 70% to being my old self) but the thing is that in the Masters they expect me to know material from all of this classes (half of which I didn't take) so it is getting a little overwhelming, and I am doubting whether I should work this hard to get an MS in Biomedical Eng. when I know I really want to be a doctor (in other words I wouldn't mind working hard in med. school, I even think that I will enjoy it most of the time).
So, before I digress any further, here is my question (basically questions)
1. With those scores should I even apply to St. George (Iwas looking at the averages and they are much higher); in other words where do I have the greater chance of getting in with those scores?
2. The only constraint I have with going away to a caribbean school is the following.
1) I would prefer a school with clinical rorations in Florida (especially Miami).
Oh, I forgot to mentioned why I went back to get an MS. in Biomedical Eng.
1) I wanted to get a better GPA
2) I wanted to get good study habits
3) I was planning on actually studying for the MCAT
My main goal of course was to stay in the US (actually florida), but I'll prefer to be out of school before I turn 30 (I am turning 24 next month). I understand that as a doctor I'll have to study for the rest of my life (I don't mind that), but I at some point in time I have to grow up and get a real job.
So, excuse me if I sound annoying, or if this post is too long; but let me recap my main concerns so that people will not need to read my whole post.
Which school in the Caribbean will I have a chance of getting in with (20 MCAT, 3.0 GPA), and of those which offer clinical rotations in Miami.
Thanks for putting up with this.

If you think it's all about procrastination, then I would suggest trying a book called "The Now Habit" (by Neil Fiore) on amazon.com (edit- he actually has a website -->http://www.neilfiore.com/nowhabit.html). I normally am not a fan of self-help, but what can I say, it worked for me. Also, there are also some web forums that illustrate what happens to long-term procrastinators. I was much like you, but first term in med school made me realize that cramming the night before (!) is not the best way. I got through, but I realized that I could not continue putting my body through such insane amounts of stress. Slowly, as you learn to do things ahead of time, you will look back at those old habits and cringe. I certainly do. It's really a nice feeling when you can watch a movie the night before an exam and not feel stressed.

Hope this may be of use to you.

i was getting ready to post, but then read saora's 1st post - and he said exactly what i wanted to, so...ditto to what he said.

That saying, the reason for you to study hard and finish the masters and do well, is that is shows your ability to learn. If you weren't interested in Engineering, why did you decide to do a masters? And if your track record is poor in UG, poor on the MCATs and poor in grad school - what makes you think someone is going to think you are not going to do poorly in med school? I learned the hard way that your past record stays with you...have TWO masters degrees and I STILL got asked about my crappy grades in UG.

And while i understand maybe not studying the 1st time for the MCATs, why on earth would you take it a 2nd and then a 3rd time without studying??? You do know that the MCATs are one of the most important things that adcoms look at? And that if you take it more than 3 times, you have to submit proof to the AAMC of seriously considering med school to take it a 4th time?

and really, is it such a huge requirement that you know material comprehensively for your masters? Have you taken your comprehensive exams yet? Those were by far the most anixiety producing exams I have EVER taken!! And, guess what? you have to be comprehensive in med school- you just can't learn anatomy for 1 term and then forget it- it is important in evey year of school, nevermind the steps.

the harsh truth is that you have put yourself in a position that you don't have many choices and cannot be selective- IF you really want to be a doctor, then you will have to take what is given you - if you get accepted to a school that doesn't do rotations in Fla, so be it- you won't be in fla.

BTW, saora Miami is still available for peds/peds electives, and from what i hear its pretty good.

Originally Posted by misaeldv

I think you're right, but what I meant to say was that I didn't study as an undergrad, but I am studying hard for the Masters (I'm in my first semester); the only thing is that I will prefer to study as hard (or even harder) if I was in med. school, because right now I am not seeing the point of working hard in grad school (even tough I'm doing it) only to delay getting into med. school for two more years.

But I think you missed the whole reasoning on why you are doing the Masters in the first place -- to help yourself get into med school...

If you truly believe this then you need to focus and work equally as hard as you would in getting your masters, as you would your MD.

Remember your goals... and when you study to gain a degree such as your Masters do it with pride and 110% effort. Be proud of what your doing and show your full potential for ALL the work you do.

Although it might sound cliched, but aim for the stars. If you aim for the top of the mountain you may miss and end up rolling to the bottom. But if you aim for the stars you know you'll make to at least make it to the top of the mountain.

My 2 cents. Good Luck!