From a 2.6 GPA to Being a Plastic Surgeon: Dr. Richard J. Brown | The Premed Years Ep. 411

[@anna-wt2tz]

probably the biggest juxtaposition is a middle aged white man, inspiring a 27 year black woman from the south side of Chicago. This is my story to the T. except my g.p.a was LESS than yours 🤣, my journey has been a longggg road, but when I decided I wanted to become a dentist I didnt let ANYTHING stop me. What the hell is a LiMiT? my first semester back in school i got all A's i wasnt playing any games, when I finish my bachelors, mark my words, I am Going to dental school, and I am going to be a dentist, and when I graduate I'm certainly going to give back. probable things like setting up temporary centers around the u.s. periodically so I can help those that can't afford dental care. Thank you for the inspiration, and the extra motivation, I love people like you, show people there's always a silver lining, if you don't see it, look a little closer, because its there. 🖤🌻

[@terikathomas2131]

🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️

[@sharimillangue7030]

This is a treat! There's hope for us nontraditionals with lower GPAs.

[@a.n.d.yl.e.e8074]

Yessss, just be you (:

[@romangiacomino771]

This really shows how powerful good communication skills are! ...and good connections!

[@Maddawg31415]

Entering M2 year at Chicago Medical School/RFU, this medical school is special. It is very friendly to non-trads and always looking out for the "steals"- the applicants who might not fit the prototypical accepted student but is still a strong applicant. They have a history of accepting applicants who tend to be overlooked by other schools because of one reason or another. Me personally, I was rejected by 26 schools and only got 3 interviews- only CMS would accept me off the WL. But that's the vibe here. For ~90% of accepted students, CMS is their only allopathic acceptance. And that's great for people like Dr. Brown getting a chance to become a physician.

[@alissandreeugene3321]

I appreciate this video so much Dr. Gray. My story is similar to Dr. Brown. I realized I wanted to be actually wanted to be a physician at the end of my bachelors degree, which my cGPA is 2.58 but I have not done any of the science prerequisites. I am going back to school to work on these prerequisite while also doing a masters program. I know I will be able to demonstrate the upward trend throughout this. I will also try to study for the MCAT without the science background. Thank you so much for this video. This has motivated me even more to push past my poor academic background and to be my own advocate.

[@ConcreteRoseKei]

Hi, I have a bacc as well and is/ was (lol) on my way to getting into premed until I looked at my gpa. Absolutely horrid. I’m like, they’re going to turn me away right at the door. It seems nearly impossible. Especially here in nyc. But hearing his story is like...whatttt 🤯

[@ConcreteRoseKei]

Also, do you mind elaborating on doing the prereqs while doing your masters. Does the masters correlate with your previous degree or with medicine?

[@therealsouthernbelles]

What are you doing your masters in?

[@alissandreeugene3321]

@@ConcreteRoseKei I became interested in Neuroscience and so I am trying to enter a masters program on Biomedical neuroscience.

[@alissandreeugene3321]

@@therealsouthernbelles masters in Medical Science concentrating on Biomedical Neuroscience

[@allthingsamato1776]

This video was so incredibly encouraging! And I don’t believe it was a coincidence that this was uploaded literally 3 days after speaking to you, myself at the UCDPHSA Conference. THANK YOU, Dr. Gray 😊 And thank you Lord for leading me to this vid 🙏🏾

[@DoctorFashion]

I listened to this on the podcast but it's always cool to see a face with the voice.. great interview as usual.

[@solstice3190]

I can’t describe how inspirational and encouraging this video is. I’m 20 and am a first year at a community college (will be transferring to a university after 2 years) and I’ve never been a high achiever although I did still get by with a slightly above average record. I’ve struggled with multiple mental illnesses my entire life and have extreme bouts of depressive episodes and have always had an apathy towards life with a mixture of being passively suicidal. I kind of always wanted to pursue psychology because it fascinates me and is so interesting and I thought ‘well why not go all the way, right’ so I’m aiming for a career in psychiatry. I’m struggling right now with my grades (As and Bs) and am coming out of an episode but I have never wanted something so badly in my life before. I have moments where I think that there’s no point in me trying but I really want to push for it. I would also be a first time graduate from my family who is also lower class.

[@physicstutor9127]

His story is similar to mines. My MCAT score was 489 and I was invited for an interview by 1 school out of 30 that I applied to and I was accepted.

[@adanescamilla5443]

What school if you don’t mind me asking? Your gpa must’ve been really good though as well, right?

[@physicstutor9127]

@@adanescamilla5443 My GPA was a 3.65. I have a lot of volunteering and work experience as an EMT and medical assistant so that helped.

[@adanescamilla5443]

@@physicstutor9127 congrats! I’m working as an emt right now also and taking a postbacc to up my undergrad gpa. Hoping for the best. DO or MD?

[@physicstutor9127]

@@adanescamilla5443 Thanks, MD.

[@Hi-qt2nj]

That’s crazy that you got accepted with a 489. Congratulations man, I know is not the norm but it brings me hope because I don’t have the best GPA but I plan to do well on the MCAT and I have a tone of clinical experience

[@Sav1010]

Hard work beats talent is my favorite quote!

[@Anniefawesome]

I am not going to lie; I had those misconceptions about plastics. I thought it was nothing but selling boob jobs and wrinkle fillers. Watching botched made me more disheartened by all those doctors who were in it for the $$ and making people into monsters. Yet, watching Dr. Sandra Lee rebuild people's self esteem by removing lymphomas and cysts made me look at derm differently. Then I started looking at reconstructive surgery differently and even podiatry, I saw it made fun of alot until I saw my feet are killing me!

[@kylelogan3923]

The fact that I am a patient transporter too makes me feel warm inside

[@ConcreteRoseKei]

Wow, this video blew my mind. I just checked my gpa from previous bacc and it’s horrid. I would expect an advisor to look at me with confusion. It has kind of discouraged me from looking into premed. Right now I’m at the stage where I am recognizing my failure and deciding where I go from here.

[@brayan9645]

Thank you so much for this. I resonated so much with this story in the sense that I too have had to work ten times sometimes even twenty times as hard as my peers just to get average grades. It gives me some hope to know that hard work and determination are a must in order to succeed in this arduous career path.

[@ladycreedrain726]

Dr. Brown saying he gets messages from high school students reminds me of going to a campus visit day when I was first considering pharmacy school (at age 26) and sitting in a room full of high schoolers and their parents who were taking NOTES and asking very detailed questions about how their kids can use their last year of high school to get into pharmacy school earlier and my thought was...wow just chill and figure out later

[@nicole4779]

I clicked on this so fast. This video blessed me so much!! 🙏🏾🙌🏾 So true, you’re not mature at 19 years old

[@hmrhuang]

Great interview! I appreciate Dr. Brown's candid answers to Dr. Gray's insightful questions!

[@krystallisboa4829]

Wow this was truly incredible, thank you.

[@enterusername2855]

I guessed 43 too before Dr Gray said it!

[@Glodwra]

I have a question. My community college GPA is in the 2s...I was a nursing major but couldn't get into their ADN program. Got my LPN at a tech school with National Technical honors. Med school sounds so incredible to me...but I'm definitely in that "long shot" category. I could get my ADN, pay out of pocket at my community college to finish up my Medical Transfer AA, transfer to UNI and ace the premed classes. My question is...if I do stellar in a university with pre-med classes...will my abysmal community college GPA kill my chances?

[@lizandronunez96]

It will actually help you as I’m in the same boat as you. DO ABSOLUTELY GREAT at the university as it will be more challenging compared to a community college as the classes are short for the majority in universities. This will show an upward trend that is beneficial for your application for med school.

[@phillipsteiner3581]

Smart man! Love his attitude!

[@myadyson3498]

OMG I currently go to UF for undergrad. Go Gators!🐊

[@med9371]

Me too!

[@Priyapotato]

is there a way schools can make recess/PE class mandatory for every grade to promote and incorporate a healthy lifestyle (unless the student has a legitimate reason)? Teach students that getting good grades is not enough, you need to be healthy too. Also, why are home ec. class not offered anymore? I would assume they would teach very important skills like knowing how to cook, budget, maintain a healthy work/school and life balance!!

[@breynoso19]

PE is mandatory to graduate high school in NY

[@pennstizzy]

Your story resonates so much with me.. thank you

[@kelsiemcgraw576]

This was amazing and inspiring. Thank you!

[@SunshineKane1]

OMG, I LOVE Dr. Brown!! Best TikTok doc. How did I miss this vlog?🤗

[@Drrichpaula]

This is very close to my own story. I had to finish my prerequisites over 2 years after I graduated.

[@bradymcpherson7720]

Where do we go to sign up for E-Shadowing?

[@neigeepierrot4694]

You can google it but I do virtual shadowing with motivate MD

[@redsoxfan13579]

Any more Application Renovation or Mission Accepted videos coming soon?

[@sirijanthakur]

this is my GPA

[@Sweetlynah]

How is calling the admissions office to tell your story any different than a personal statement?

[@itoothitooth4943]

Funny, I had a similar journey but I lost 40 pounds by the end of my OMFS residency. :)

[@13GreatBeatBox]

You guys can be brothers

[@rezakian9829]

Awesome channel !

[@MaCherieMcAli]

The story of my life.

[@thaythichgiacngo]

how much is considered too low for cGpa and sGpa?

[@sirijanthakur]

bro u think quite a lot like me, Im honestly tired of studying right now haha, but ended up here anyway xD some habit creation probably. Thanks for the vids, good to know there are somewhat similar people like me in this world

[@dianadiana792]

Turn the voices off and ....🙋🏼‍♀️

[@fukusamon4277]

This guy looks like jason staham no wonder he got in

[@met00meno65]

The problem with Americans is that people call themselves Blackman/Whiteman...why? Cant he/she just go ahead and say whatever they want without putting themselves into a certain group.

[@robertjbender]

People in the top 1% getting rejected, and this guy gets in because he flirts with the office staff. What a broken system.

[@tylerstanier9561]

And what a good thing that he did get in considering the positive influence he is having on the aspiring generations.

[@robertjbender]

@@tylerstanier9561 aspiring generations of less qualified applicants taking spots from more deserving applicants. I get the while “follow your dreams” thing, but consider the other side of this. Every spot that goes to a low scoring applicant is a spot they take away from someone who scored higher. Imagine winning the Olympic time trials only to have them give your spot to a slower runner just because he flirted with the office staff. That is a corrupt system. We have more fair, objective ways of selecting applicants.

[@tylerstanier9561]

@@robertjbender ok?

[@ethanpineda210]

Just because you have high stats doesn’t inherently mean you’ll be a good doctor.

[@nicole4779]

I was told by a member of a Med school admissions committee that high stats students can get rejected if they demonstrate that they completely lack empathy in their admissions interviews

[@clarabourcicot5022]

uhhh... what does being a white man have to do with you getting into med school?

[@Kirungi_Birungi]

Less discrimination and possible prejudice. People are less likely to see you in a negative light because most of the people that own the schools are in the same racial identity.

[@mustang8206]

@@Kirungi_Birungi Lmao no. Being white makes it harder to get in. Look up affirmative action

[@mustang8206]

Google Affirmative Action. Many schools discriminate against white people so they can artificially increase diversity numbers

[@clarabourcicot5022]

​@@mustang8206 The majority of medical schools are predominately white. Affirmative action is for students who are actually discriminated againted such as African Americans, Hispanic, and Asian students who by their background would not likely be admitted. If you look at the percentage of students in almost any med school (except HBCU's), the groups above make less than 25% of the population, which is why affirmative action is in place.