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Is there a chance my brother can get into medical school?
FlyingFeatherz
Registered User Posts: 358 Member
My brother just graduated as a Biology major from University of San Diego (USD) with a 2.9 GPA, which is low for US medical schools. He is planning on taking the MCAT in September, but even if he had a high score, is it possible for him to get into the Caribbean or D.O. schools? Or should he just quit and look for a job with his bio degree? What other alternatives are there now that he graduated from college?
Post edited by FlyingFeatherz on
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Replies to: Is there a chance my brother can get into medical school?
https://www.aamc.org/download/157450/data/table24-mcatgpagridall2008-10.pdf.pdf
What is his science GPA?
Is he an Underrepresented Minority?
Any input would be great! My parents are very worried and I'm trying to help out my brother.. Please help!
hopefully others can post the typical stats needed for acceptance into DO and Caribbean schools. I would think that an Asian male would need more than a GPA 2.9 to get accepted to a DO school, but...maybe not.
I don't think his GPA & projected MCAT would make him a viable candidate for DO schools either. The average GPA for osteopathic schools is only slightly lower than allopathic schools. (Last year it was around 3.45)
Don't know anything about FMPs except the Jaggelonian in Poland where he would not be a viable candidate for that program either.
Why are his grades so low? If that GPA is the result of 4 years of "so so" grades, then the question is....why does he think he "has what it takes" to become a physician?
Something just doesn't seem right with me. It's one thing to take a GPA hit because one year a person had some odd issue...but when someone wants to be a doctor and spends 4 years at a good college and emerges with a 2.9 GPA, then the question a person should be asking himself is....Am I smart enough or dedicated enough for this career choice?
Is his goal to become a doctor something that your family expects of him regardless of his abilities and real desire?
He is not a URM, he is Asian. The rest of his application is not very strong.. maybe average.
My parents are very worried
Yes, we are all disappointed in him. I'm his younger brother (going to UCLA this fall) and I'm wondering why after all of his 4 years, he still thinks he'd have a chance of getting in. According to what I have heard in our family discussions, my brother really wants to become a doctor but he obviously hasn't exerted enough effort.
So if he can't get into SMP, what MCAT score would he need to get to stand a chance at Caribbean and D.O. schools?? Or what exactly should he do as an alternative!?!? My parents are severely depressed from all of this.. We don't want him to be a bum with no job, especially since he's coming from a 4-year private school $.
Here are the stats for the last 3 years for DO schools:
http://www.aacom.org/resources/bookstore/cib/Documents/2012cib/2012cib-p12-13.pdf
Average GPA is 3.47 and average MCAT is 29.
For discussion of Caribbean schools, try SDN or valuemed.com
But you and your parents should know that the odds of him a) graduating from Caribbean med school are low (most have very poor graduation rates); b) of passing his USMLE are low (only about 40% pass the USMLE Step2 clinical); and c) finding a US residency with a Caribbean degree are low (less than 40% of those who do pass the USMLE)
His best option might be to find a job, work for a few years and if he's still interest in medicine to try a "academic record enhancing" master degree program.
-This
-This x1000
Whatever he does, make sure he STAYS AWAY from Caribbean schools. That is the ABSOLUTE LAST option he should take if he plans to practice in the U.S.
Obviously, we don't know your brother, but some people have a "disconnect" between what they want and what they needed to do to get that want. He can "want" to be a doctor till hell freezes over, but if he didn't do what it takes, then his actions have spoken louder than his wants.
Have you ever heard the expression..."He talks the talk, but he can't walk the walk"? It essentially means: talk is cheap.....and it means nothing if you can't follow through with action. Not only has your brother under-performed in college, but he hasn't bothered to do much in the EC or research area.
My parents are severely depressed from all of this..We don't want him to be a bum with no job, especially since he's coming from a 4-year private school $.
Ok...harshness alert....it's not like your brother had great grades and then last year his grades dipped and he ended up with a 2.9. Your parents have had many opportunities to pull the "checkbook penalty flag" on your brother over the last few years. At this point, your parents only have themselves to blame for paying for a pricey private year... after year...knowing his grades...and knowing that the goal was med school. If they're fine with him pursuing some other career, then no problem...if they're laser-beam focused on him becoming a doctor, then...well...they should have stipulated a 3.5 GPA minimum each semester for the checks to keep on coming.
Frankly, I don't think anyone here would want a loved one being doctored by someone who obviously really doesn't have his heart and dedication focused on doing his best and becoming a doctor. He's not going to be able to just "wish" his patients well.
It's very kind of you that you care so much for your brother...but why isn't he on here seeking this info?
I agree 100% with everything you said! We don't know why he ended up this way... He really should be the one looking for this information. Sorry for all the trouble though, my parents asked me to do some researching and CC is where I came to. He's currently still in San Diego and doesn't like answering our phone calls cuz he's ashamed... it's stupid I know. My parents pushed him to do his best and have the mindset of going to med school, but they never set strict standards of keeping a steady GPA i.e. 3.5. That's where they messed up. Maybe he got lazy or partied too much? We thought he studied well.. we're clueless as to what might have been the case. The only extracurriculars he has done is Relay for Life this year and shadowing a physician every summer. I don't think that's enough even for Caribbean and D.O. schools... He has no excuse to why his GPA is so low either.
It really seems like his chances are low from what I've been reading.. anyways, thanks everybody once again. My parents and I REALLLY appreciate the input.
No, they did not mess up, your brother messed up, not your parents. If I were sitting in a coffee shop discussing this with your Mom and she was my friend, I would tell her NOT to fund any part of this, no MCAT, no extra degree, no application fees, no anything. But not to make him feel badly, not out of anger, just out of a reality check.
It's time to grow up, they supported him, I assume, for 4 years of college, HE chose not to research the guidelines for med school. It is time for him to take responsibility for his choices.
They can and should encourage him and emotionally support him, they should not fund him.
The rule of thumb is 30 MCAT and 3.5 GPA MINIMUM, preferable higher on at least one. And that is for an average school, in CA, think 33 & 3.7 to get in. Yes, someone with a lower score and/or a lower GPA might get in somewhere, but it does not sound like your brother has set himself up to be that person. No amazing research, no incredible ECs. I am assuming those are consistent grades, not a bad freshman year, it might be possible for some one with a bad freshman year who shows a strong and consistent recovery to get it somewhere.
He can still work in the medical field, he can pursue nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc.