From a 2.79 GPA and 506 MCAT to First-Year Med Student | The Premed Years Ep. 388

[@d45c41punk]

Similar journey over here with similar stats. Believe in yourself and work hard. You can do it. MD class of 2024!

[@kumi1081]

Chuc mung!

[@honggao7992]

@@kumi1081 did you do a post bacc?

[@Command0Muffin]

You have no idea how inspiring this is for someone who made mistakes in their undergrad. This is the kind of thing that makes good Doctors, perseverance. Thank you for this!

[@milliemomdaze2922]

Thank you!! I'm a nontraditional student who majored in biochem in undergrad with a 3.3 gpa and completely flopped on the MCAT. I recently applied for a master's program specifically tailored for students wanting to go to med school and was not accepted. I'm now choosing to study for the MCAT on my own. Thank you for sharing your story & for the inspiration.

[@user-zl4ch7ux2n]

I'm not sure if you want this advice, but I just want to share some good resources to help you with your MCAT. The reddit MCAT site has a lot of good information and the Khan Academy Notes for Psych/Soc are really helpful: drive.google.com/drive/folders/1j5dn3BEc8DHFbxowOKSdD_vXK7QCyyL7 .The most important thing is to track your progress and focus on your content weaknesses with a lot of practice questions. I recommend using third party questions and full length exams from Kaplan, NextStep, Uworld, etc. since they're more difficult and will provide more practice. Then, use AAMC question banks, section banks, and full length exams to get a better sense of what it will be like on test day. Try to study in test-like conditions and make sure all your full length practice exams are timed. Also, watching the khan academy videos and making anki cards or your own questions will help you understand the concepts behind the content. I wish you the best and you'll make a great doctor in the future!

[@echoecho7162]

Were you rejected because of the low MCAT? Some Master's programs have an MCAT minimum to get in, so if you do find you need a program like that to give you a boost, you would need to amp up that MCAT either way.

[@milliemomdaze2922]

@Sergei Bouche Thank you! I know it is not necessary, but I wanted to get into the program because it's been 4 years since undergrad & I wanted to get back into school mode but that makes sense

[@milliemomdaze2922]

@@user-zl4ch7ux2n Thank you for this!!

[@milliemomdaze2922]

@@echoecho7162 Yeah, I need to retake it either way but I was told I didn't get in because I needed "more hours than the program can offer to truly make me competitive."

[@jonathonchio4724]

Love the success stories! Don't give up everyone; keep working hard to achieve your dreams!

[@moniqueblackwood2789]

my pre med advisor shot my dreams down he wasn’t really motivating me to try harder but he is not going to take my dreams away from me

[@claireworld_]

Monique Blackwood We’ve all been there! There are just rude sometimes. Maybe there are a lot of students to advise I don’t know

[@canyounot313]

Monique Blackwood He was testing you, if you can’t bounce back then don’t bother.

[@WillvsFear]

Monique Blackwood dont ever rely on premed advisors unless they themselves have an MD/DO or work on the admissions board to your university’s medical school branch. Same assholes told me my 2.9 at the end of sophomore year would never get me into med school when I wanted to apply. Matriculated right after graduation, maybe it was spite that got me here but I’d like to think I’m smart enough but it was mostly spite LOL

[@ddfelder2]

Chaos like a BOSS! 😂😂 congrats!

[@9122mint]

Most advisors will tell students to not apply to med school bc they don’t want to “mess up” the school stats. Don’t listen to them. Let it be your fuel that lights your passion to keep going. One thing I’ve learned is to not listen to the opinions of people who are NOT MD/DO or haven’t had any personal experience with medical school or pre-med period.

[@taylormaddy9647]

I had to fight back tears. His story is so similar to mine and this has boosted my confidence so much. It truly is never out of the question if you have the drive, resilience, and true passion for medicine. My past has been full of mistakes and failures (some due to me some due to my circumstances). This was more inspirational than any advising meeting I've ever had in my ten years of undergrad.

[@theodorakatsaros7847]

This gives me a lot of hope as an undergrad with a not so great gpa, thank you Dr Grey ✨

[@fran0162]

Dr. Gray...you have such a great heart and passion...I love your podcasts

[@alyshajackson7858]

Thank you sooo much for this! You don't know how much I needed this today!

[@DollyDomDom]

So positive seems like a genuinely great person, I’m sure he will make a phenomenal doctor.

[@phillipsteiner3581]

I like this guy, just glad some med school appreciated him.

[@TheEpiphany101]

Really like his personality. Super humble and can tell he's hardworking. He'll make an excellent physician!

[@nikomontgomery6178]

I love your podcast so much & has serve as a big motivation for me in letting me know that anything is possible. No matter what, you are enough to be a doctor as long as you keep working and pushing forward. As an underrepresented student who is seeking to get into medical school and the medical field, I would love if you can have a little more people who looks like me share there story with you. As you know the population of African Americans in the medical field is roughly 4% and in the application cycle of 2018-2019 the medical school enrollment consisted of 7.1 percent black being accepted. It’s not due to the lack of preparation but the lack of access in understanding at an early age before college of what it takes to get in. So if possible, more underrepresented students represented on your podcast and also continue doing what you doing, I strongly believe you have been a light and joy to the entire premed community, you are appreciated very much.

[@RhesusMedicine]

If you're focused and working on the right things then you can certainly achieve your goal, as long as you persevere! Great job Keith! 👍

[@elanawills2364]

I like his story because it’s soooo common

[@richecardealexandre1339]

Thx for the video as a non trad with a non science graduate degree working on diy post bac appreciate it . Hopefully I knock out the mcat and get love all around when it comes time to applying in a year or two.

[@supsma9983]

How did he get in the master's program with a 2.7?

[@hapachew4600]

He seems really nice.

[@tisha4lives]

He is such a sweetie pie. He'll do great.

[@ChantelBMason]

Dr. Gray has been the encouragement I’ve needed to believe that I can still achieve my dream.

[@seunesther]

Glad for him!

[@BrianErwin]

pressing play at 8:15 with my kids in the car was not a good look 😂

[@SherinChibi]

Thank you very much for this Dr. Gray! Could you possibly make a video about a nurse that became an MD? I'm working full time as an RN right now but want to enroll in school part time to finish my premed prereqs

[@NycMiento]

Hi Sarah, as a fellow RN on the same track, you should apply to a Postbac program. Figure out with the advisor what prereqs you need and/or have already completed. I fulfilled psychology, sociology, and statistics during nursing school. Then you can plan your classes accordingly per semester. I do not advise taking on too many classes for the sake of finishing quicker. Each science class and its lab are intense, so respect that it is what it is. Give yourself enough time to learn and to practice the material because everything builds upon itself. With that said, if you are in a position to do a part-time job, you should do it. If not, it is still doable to manage both school and work, however there will be other sacrifices like a very limited social life. You may want to discuss with your manager about having a work schedule that can accommodate your school schedule. If medicine is what you really want, you can certainly buckle down and achieve that goal. I wish I had this kind of advice when I first started, so I hope this help.

[@leodelao9149]

Sarah Chibi hey Sarah, I’m currently an RN right now working full time. I’m currently finishing up my medical prerequisites right now. It’s hard but it’s doable.

[@SherinChibi]

Wow awesome guys!! Thank you for sharing!!! I will look into a post bacc program. I finished physics, ochem 1, statistics in nursing school. What I was thinking was to take 1 science class per semester while working full time. So ochem 2 this fall, then biochem in spring, etc. So I can put in my best effort while still having an income. My manager is pretty flexible with the work schedule. Did you guys do any research?

[@leodelao9149]

Sarah Chibi that sounds like a good plan. I am doing research at the hospital I work for with a few of the doctors. I am doing 2 science classes per semester.

[@ddfelder2]

RN here as well on the same path... doing 1-2 science courses per semester... tough but doable! So happy to hear that there are other RNs on the same path!

[@michaelm3512]

Great story! Was his 2.7 GPA the cGPA listed on his final college transcript or the one AMCAS calculates: sGPA, cGPA since they all vary?

[@amazingme894]

Yeah at a low point, where im floating thru school (3 years now) no ECs, bad gpa, scared to talk to profs because idk what to say and never knew how to talk to ppl of authority, I’m really nervous and I dont know how to change this

[@RichObiQuan]

You need to look down in yourself and find that turnaround. Bcuz no one is going to catalyze it but you at the end of the day. Feel it deeply. Start surrounding yourself with positive people, drop bad influences of friends or friends that don't have the same drive. Etc. A lot of self work needs to be done. Took me a while to understand. It births the ultimate confidence. Good luck

[@AnDo-cb8ol]

Thank you Dr. Gray! This is very inspiring! Love your channel a lot :)

[@rockface112233]

how do I get in contact with medical school headquarters to ask questions about when to apply?

[@cloud.07]

Good dude. Good luck

[@iuniao.5350]

Thank you for these videos! Inspiring.

[@matthewn99]

Please do more of these stories with NON-URM students! As an ORM pre-med, it's pretty discouraging when the only low stat success stories that are publicized by pre-health media outlets are URM students.

[@M16xDr0pSh0tz]

Isn't this guy white though?

[@matthewn99]

Bodybuilder X URM = Underrepresented in Medicine (Hispanic, African American, Native American, etc) meanwhile, ORM = Overrepresented in Medicine (White and Asian)

[@echoecho7162]

@@M16xDr0pSh0tz that's exactly what he's saying. These stories are usually URM but this one isn't, which gives ORM students someone to relate to.

[@ahmedelzayat9801]

thats crazy he just like me

[@osnapitzchris]

I had a 3.0 GPA and went back for a masters getting the same gpa.... I don't know what to do next

[@seunesther]

Your MCAT needs to be stellar. Still possible

[@osnapitzchris]

@@seunesther Thanks for your response. I ended up getting a second masters and graduating with a 3.8. I will be retaking the MCAT again if I don’t get in this round with my current score around 70%. Appreciate your help!

[@emmanueladinkrah6406]

Hey, did you get in?

[@freddynajar3334]

Great story! Is there any way of removing bad grades from my transcript to raise my GPA before applying for Med School?

[@Pkedya2boy]

From my understanding, graduate schools give you a new set of GPA to look at

[@NycMiento]

For the AMCAS application, you are required to report every single class you took including withdrawals , incomplete, etc.

[@freddynajar3334]

Thank you. My first year of college I have two non passing grades. I went to that school for one semester only. I am trying to appeal and remove the non passing grades, but the school is giving me a difficult time, stating that they can't remove them.

[@Pkedya2boy]

@@freddynajar3334 I'm afraid you can't really "remove" grades. You can re-take the classes which would replace the grade, but I heard medical schools will want to know the original grades as well.

[@echoecho7162]

Those grades are there to stay. And getting a Master's will give you a separate GPA, it won't help raise your undergrad GPA.

[@ipodmixer22]

Was he screened out by any schools due to a lower cumulative GPA?

[@echoecho7162]

Absolutely. It's going to happen, just have to hope that some schools are more holistic and do get around to opening your app before the cycle ends.

[@xxmeowxx9274]

wow why is he literally me

[@gossippage]

Stupid question: I start college for the first time this fall, I’ll be a bio major with goals of going to med school, is my regular student advisor my “premed” advisor? Or should I be seeking out a separate premed advisor

[@enterusername2855]

Depends on the school but there should be pre-med advisors separate from bio major

[@echoecho7162]

Usually a separate "pre-health" office entirely.

[@MOizSUAVE14]

Lol I like this guy.

[@Andrew-ez9ft]

If his final undergraduate GPA was a 2.7, how was he able to get accepted into a master's program? Aren't they also competitive?

[@freddiewei1554]

Jew IKR that’s my questions too. How was he able to get in?

[@Limitedonathios]

You need to be strategic with where you apply. Emory, Morehouse, and many other med schools/grad schools have masters programs where the minimum sgpa is 2.7 or 2.8. A lot of SMP will also work with you too, especially if you contact them ahead of time to let them know whats up. Someone I know had a s2.5 sgpa at the end of junior year. From that moment he messaged deans and admins of about 5 master's programs letting them know that he was applying. He updated them with gpa each semester and with activities he was doing. He applied to a couple of programs, only got in to the 3 of the 5 schools he had been in contact with. He got rejected from one of them bc they asked for his materials early so that they could decide if they really wanted him or not. He sent it, they said no thank you. But he know this before the application deadline had even approached, so he could focus his energy elsewhere. And they gave him really good feedback that he was able to use for the rest of his apps

[@Andrew-ez9ft]

@@Limitedonathios what is an sGPA? Sorry for the dumb question. What Master's program accepts people with low GPA? How does that even work?

[@Andrew-ez9ft]

@PMR Gaming what masters program accepts people with a cumulative GPA below 3.0?

[@Andrew-ez9ft]

@Keith Bouffard can you please explain more about getting into a master's program with a GPA less than 3.0??

[@troopernate8046]

cool