u/ExtraComparison

Hey friends,

I’m in a slightly unique situation and would love to hear from others who are either going through the same process or have made it to the other side. I graduated in May of 2022 with a degree in Biomedical Sciences from an FL school. My cumulative GPA was a 3.58 and science GPA 3.46. I struggled for the first two years in college due to extenuating circumstances but then made vast improvements in the last two years. My upward trends were as follows: cGPA- 3.56 to 3.33 to 3.67 to 3.89 and sGPA- 3.38 to 2.87 to 3.55 to 3.85.

So I did have the upward trend and ended with a 3.89/3.85.

The dilemma is that.. it’s been four years now. I am not applying this summer as I am starting my MCAT prep. I plan to test around January, fingers crossed. I did forget a ton of content and my diagnostic score was low (CARs score was pretty good). So.. I’ll need a good amount of time to brush up on content, practice questions, and everything else. That’s what I plan to do for the summer and fall. I am also working full-time. I have been since I graduated.

The goal is to apply next summer. With that being said, here is my dilemma:

1. I am mostly interested in MD programs and am aware that there are some (not a majority thankfully) that want to see recent course work and do have “expiration” dates. Even though they’re not super clear on that, I’m not sure what that exactly means and as an anxious person, I do not know how to go about it. Do I do a DIY-post bacc where I maybe take 1-2 upper level science courses that I didn’t already take to show I still “got it”? Do I do a master’s? Obviously, my grades are not perfect but I did show an upward trend. But also many programs don’t have any expiration date so your pre reqs could be from 10+ years ago and they don’t care. So it’s hard for me to gauge because… there’s no one size fits all approach to this.

2. I cannot afford an actual DIY postbacc where I can just take a whole bunch of random science courses and pay out of pocket. I also think it would be detrimental for me to work full-time while studying for the MCAT AND doing coursework. It’s a lot. Plus in all honesty, it does not make sense because I do have a whole BS in Biomed and got A’s in several upper level science coursework in my last two years. I also see people who have been out of school for just as long as me or longer NOT take any recent coursework and get accepted… so then I question if I even need to do any of this. Should I instead just focus on my MCAT?

I have already started reaching out to several medical schools and documenting their responses on a spreadsheet! For some schools you gotta be careful because MSAR shows “N/A” for expiration but they actually do have a time limit (like Rush). Again, thankfully so far most of them have mentioned not having any expiration. At some point I’ll share the spreadsheet so other nontrad premeds can see it too. :)

I want to preface that I’m good on everything else in my application in terms of extracurriculars. I have publications, clinical hours, etc. A strong narrative, etc. I also am studying for my MCAT. It’s just.. I now have this other thing on my plate that I’m kind of freaking out about (but maybe I should not).

I would love to hear from you all and appreciate any and all insight. Thanks!

Hey friends,

I’m in a unique situation and I would love to hear from you all who are either going through the same process or have made it to the other side. I graduated in May of 2022 with a degree in Biomedical Sciences. My cumulative GPA was a 3.58 and science GPA 3.46. I struggled for the first two years in college due to extenuating circumstances but then made vast improvements in the last two years. My upward trends were as follows: cGPA- 3.56 to 3.33 to 3.67 to 3.89 and sGPA- 3.38 to 2.87 to 3.55 to 3.85.

So I did have the upward trend and ended with a 3.89/3.85.

The dilemma is that.. it’s been four years now. I am not applying this summer as I am starting my MCAT prep. I plan to test around January, fingers crossed. I did forget a ton of content and my diagnostic score was low (CARs score was pretty good). So.. I’ll need a good amount of time to brush up on content, practice questions, and everything else. That’s what I plan to do for the summer and fall. I am also working full-time. I have been since I graduated.

The goal is to apply next summer. With that being said, here is my dilemma:

1. I am mostly interested in MD programs and am aware that there is a good number of them that want to see recent course work. Even though they’re not super clear on that, I’m not sure what that exactly means and as an anxious person, I do not know how to go about it. Do I do a post bacc? Do I do a master’s? Obviously, my grades are not perfect but I did show an upward trend.

But also many programs don’t have any expiration date so your pre reqs could be from 10+ years ago and they don’t care. So it’s hard for me to gauge because… there’s no one size fits all approach to this.

1. I cannot afford a DIY postbacc. I also think it would be detrimental for me to work full-time while studying for the MCAT AND doing coursework. It’s a lot.
2. I also see people who have been out of school for just as long as me or longer NOT take any recent coursework and get accepted… so then I question if I even need to do any of this. Should I instead just focus on my MCAT?

I want to preface that I’m good on everything else in my application in terms of extracurriculars. I have publications, clinical hours, etc. A strong narrative, etc. I also am studying for my MCAT. It’s just.. I now have this other thing on my plate.

I would love to hear from you all. I am a first-gen low-income premed so I truly don’t have people outside Reddit like that. I appreciate any and all insight. Thanks!

Yes, hi, so I commented this on a post somewhere on this sub but wanted to make a post because why not.

I am a gay immigrant from Bangladesh who moved here as a teenager (citizen now). Low-income household. I’m a premed student who graduated a while ago and am taking gap years at the moment.

3.5 GPA because I struggled in the first two years of college but ended with a 3.89 both for my cumulative and science GPAs because I turned it around in the last two years. Otherwise pretty stellar candidate for med school with publications, leadership, and thousands of hours in each category. I “check the boxes” very well. Studying for the MCAT right now.

Yes, I am an ORM but what, are you going to just lump me with your typical rich Bay Area ORMs with physician parents when my household income was under $30k? Are you going to crucify me in the med school admissions process for my 3.5 knowing I had two jobs starting my sophomore year of college because I had to take care of my own housing and food because yeah.. my dad actually had cancer and was living in another country while I was going to school alone here (thank goodness I was at least on a full-ride tuition wise)? Are you going to expect me to have a 3.8 GPA when applying to med school (because that’s what other ORMs have at least at UCLA)? THAT is the problem. It’s not diversity if you only give a shit about race. Having 5 black students in a class that are all Nigerian and from the top 5% of households income wise is not the slay you think it is. Also it’s interesting that some of you automatically correlate “underserved” with “BIPOC.” Yes, because every black and hispanic medical student just has to go on to serve other black and hispanic patients. They have to work in low-income areas while the white students get to be dermatologists and plastic surgeons. God forbid some of us may one day want to live in a penthouse on the UES of NYC because uh, we’ve been in the trenches for all of our lives.

If you want diversity that badly, go recruit med students from the projects. The poor and underserved areas. But oh wait.. those places may also have ORMs. And we’re expected to have a 3.8 520. But don’t you worry. I will crush my MCAT. My parents taught me that the goal is to just make it through the gate first without worrying about the naysayers.

Just know that you do not actually care about diversity as deeply as you may think you do. It’s a long told story that started with white feminism. You care about race but you want rich black minorities only at the table and call that diverse. Lol, if that’s what helps you sleep better.

I’ll get back to my MCAT studying. I will see some of you on the other side one day… as an MD student and physician.

Hey everyone,

I’m an ORM FL resident and am studying for the MCAT right now to test sometime in January hopefully. I graduated four years ago with a 3.58 cGPA and 3.46 sGPA. Yes, I know these are mid GPAs but I did have a very strong upward trend (finished with a 3.89 cGPA and 3.85 sGPA). I’m going all in with my MCAT studying because I’m committed to doing my best on the test.

I’ve been working full-time since I graduated in the clinical field and also doing community work. I have thousands of hours in each category naturally but also a really strong narrative and theme (LGBTQ, oncology, etc) for my application (both research and community service heavy too). I have not done any post-bacc or master’s program as I personally did not think I needed one.. however, I am aware that some schools have “five-year mark” and “preference for recent coursework” for pre-reqs on MSAR and their websites. It is what it is at this point… I mean I’m debating if I DO want to do some courses this fall and spring but keep in mind that I am working full-time (which is not optional since I come from a low SES background, so financial support from family is not an option).

Given my GPAs, is it sort of safe to ask if I should not consider applying to as many FL schools next year since basically every school’s GPA range here is sky high…? Yes, my MCAT is pending but I still am curious. The interesting part about my app is there’s a ton of work with underserved communities but also research as I’ve been heavily involved for years now.

FL also has a low matriculation rate for residents that are from here (I believe I saw that in a post somewhere from the AAMC data).

Basically, should I prepare in a way to leave Florida in two years. Because I don’t mind at all. But I want to mentally prepare in a way. I do want to add that I’m mainly looking into applying to MD schools (please don’t bully me for this lol).

I would love any insight from anyone possibly with similar GPAs that goes to school in FL or got accepted here! It just makes me nervous going on MSAR and seeing a 3.9 average GPA for every school in this state.. lol.

Also I want to add that I went to UCF med’s insta live and the director of admissions said that they don’t usually interview many people who don’t have at least a 3.5 cGPA or sGPA. That alone told me this is not the school for me lol. Like come on. Even Stanford and UCLA interview people with lower GPAs lol.

Hey everyone,

I’m an ORM FL resident and am studying for the MCAT right now to test sometime in January hopefully. I graduated four years ago with a 3.58 cGPA and 3.46 sGPA. Yes, I know these are mid GPAs but I did have a very strong upward trend (finished with a 3.89 cGPA and 3.85 sGPA). I’m going all in with my MCAT studying because I’m committed to doing my best on the test.

I’ve been working full-time since I graduated in the clinical field and also doing community work. I have thousands of hours in each category naturally but also a really strong narrative and theme (LGBTQ, oncology, etc) for my application (both research and community service heavy too). I have not done any post-bacc or master’s program as I personally did not think I needed one.. however, I am aware that some schools have “five-year mark” and “preference for recent coursework” for pre-reqs on MSAR and their websites. It is what it is at this point… I mean I’m debating if I DO want to do some courses this fall and spring but keep in mind that I am working full-time (which is not optional since I come from a low SES background, so financial support from family is not an option).

Given my GPAs, is it sort of safe to ask if I should not consider applying to as many FL schools next year since basically every school’s GPA range here is sky high…? Yes, my MCAT is pending but I still am curious. The interesting part about my app is there’s a ton of work with underserved communities but also research as I’ve been heavily involved for years now.

FL also has a low matriculation rate for residents that are from here (I believe I saw that in a post somewhere from the AAMC data).

Basically, should I prepare in a way to leave Florida in two years. Because I don’t mind at all. But I want to mentally prepare in a way. I do want to add that I’m mainly looking into applying to MD schools (please don’t bully me for this lol).

I would love any insight from anyone possibly with similar GPAs that goes to school in FL or got accepted here! It just makes me nervous going on MSAR and seeing a 3.9 average GPA for every school in this state.. lol.

Also I want to add that I went to UCF med’s insta live and the director of admissions said that they don’t usually interview many people who don’t have at least a 3.5 cGPA or sGPA. That alone told me this is not the school for me lol. Like come on. Even Stanford and UCLA interview people with lower GPAs lol.

If any of you reading this actually live at Avalon at the moment: how are y’all actually feeling about everything happening? I’m asking because I personally would feel absolutely TERRIFIED living there, especially if you’re on the fifth floor… maybe it’s a spiritual thing for me, but with everything that happened, I feel as as if Avalon is going to be either haunted or absolutely spooky now.

If you live in a different building (I believe they have more than one), then I get it. But I cannot imaging living on the same floor anymore. Also.. imagine the third roommate. I’d ask to break that lease ASAP because my soul just could not be in that space even for a second longer.

This isn’t supposed to be an Avalon hate post, but more so how I’d literally feel terrified to be around that complex now. Plus the fact it’s also partly on 46th street and that area is SCARY at night.

The more I’ve been reading, I’ve been trying to put some pieces together. These are some questions/thoughts I have:

-

1. Is anyone else also thinking about how Hisham was able to murder TWO STUDENTS without anyone in Avalon knowing? You’re telling me he did all of this in their apartment and nobody from the nearby units heard a peep?

No screams, no smells, nothing?

1. That’s strange to me

especially when two people were attacked.

-

1. Not trying to start anything at all, but I’m also curious about how much of a coincidence it is that the third roommate just disappears when all of this happens and then comes back a day or two later..

-

1. I’m still trying to understand the sequence of the events. Does it seem like he may have attacked both Zamil and Nahida at the same time? Or did he attack one before the other?

There’s just a lot that’s not adding up, but the big one is how Hisham did all of this in Avalon and NOBODY saw anything. What about when he was carrying the trash bags? You’re telling me the whole community was just on pause when he did all that?

Yeah.. lots to unpack.

Hey everyone,

I am writing this post to share some of my experiences as a first-gen low-income ORM premed taking gap years and working full-time while studying for the MCAT. My hope is that there are people who can resonate with at least some of what I am sharing and maybe there are folks who have had similar experiences as well.

I graduated in 2022 from undergrad and decided to take two gap years working full-time in clinical research while studying for the MCAT. Life happened, so those two years are going to turn to five, and I am now planning to apply next summer. Currently, I am studying for the MCAT but due to some large content gaps, my test date may not be until January. Doing well is extremely important to me, so I have committed myself to putting in whatever amount of work is needed.

Let’s just say.. it has not been easy navigating all of this alone even though I’ve succeeded so far. I moved here to the US right before starting high school with my sibling and navigated that along with college admissions all on my own. I did well in college and built a strong record of ECs/awards/research/community work. Making the decision to take gap years was anything but easy because I personally did not feel the most confident with my decision at the time AND it did not help that my very traditional, South Asian family still to this day has no idea about gap years.

Of course, it’s been some time since I have been out of college, so by now they have grown used to the idea by fault. What has been causing me stress and anxiety at the moment is that I’ve been doing all of this by myself for too long and I anticipate it being that way for the near future as well. I don’t doubt that I can do it, but the thought of having it do it alone for the next several years scares me. The fact when I am in medical school, I cannot expect even a dollar from them scares me because the parental contribution is going to be $0 (not just because they don’t want to; they don’t have anything to give me).

I’ve had a complex relationship with my family due to also being gay. That was the first “ammunition” they had against me. Then it became the gap years. In all honesty, as I got further out from college, I found my confidence growing. I genuinely see myself as a resilient, brilliant, competent, and strong individual who has built a very impressive CV despite all the odds. I struggled for the first two years in college due to starting two jobs but then overcame my lower than average grades with a very strong upward trend.

Throughout my gap years, I have continued pushing myself to grow professionally by getting published, getting clinical experiences both in the workplace and outside at a hospice house, even volunteering with an LGBTQ health organization, etc. I am an advocate at heart, so anyone that takes a look at my work can hopefully see how deeply I care about anything I have done so far.

The issue is when I am constantly made to feel as if I am NOT doing anything. As if my life is on hold. As if because I am not in medical school yet, I am not doing anything. So what about the last four years of full-time employment? The relationships I built, the experiences I gained, the thousands of hours, etc? The common advice on TikTok and Instagram is not to let them have power over your mind, but believe me it is easier said than done.

Not once has anyone from my family ever said the words “Good job, I am so proud of you.” Not once has someone acknowledged that from the day I started high school until today, I did it all on my own. Not once has someone acknowledged that despite having zero connections, I have landed SO many opportunities for myself because I am not scared to reach for the stars and moon. Failure has never been an option for me. Not once has someone acknowledged that resilience in me.

Right now, I am actually in a transition phase because the job I had ended due to funding issues. I am incredibly stressed because I’m not sure what my next opportunity may be in this economy. Please know that as a premed taking gap years, it is no joke to find a legitimate full-time that pays you enough to cover your rent, expenses, and bills. I cannot afford to work as a scribe and make minimum wage because living with family is not an option. I cannot afford to also NOT WORK because I need a roof over my head and food to eat. You have to be mindful to also not share that you indeed do plan to go to medical school because even at my last workplace (an actual academic center), they would not hire premeds. Unfortunately, you do have to be discreet about that, especially if you want a decent paying full-time job.

And you know what? I am okay with all of this. That is my reality and I am okay doing that while studying. Despite what the internet will tell you, it is very much possible and many people have done that. I know many of you reading have done it too.

But on God, this is depressing. I’ve actually even been suicidal a few times in the last few years because I genuinely have been going through it. Yes, I have a therapist but I don’t have a community. It’s ironic because I’m all about community and building it for others but I don’t have one myself. I keep pushing on because I have a dream of becoming a physician and I am not giving up no matter what. I cry every other night but I still get up and do my daily CARs passage because my mood will not dictate my emotions.

So I guess my question is… can I keep doing this alone? Can I actually even get through medical school the way I have gotten through undergrad and gap years? I know the answer is yes.. but I want to hear more. I think I’m just very hurt and lonely by a lot of things. I am not blaming anyone specific, so I don’t want to be seen as “playing the victim.” But I genuinely do want to keep moving forward in this journey with the MCAT, med school app process, etc in a somewhat healthy spirit.

Thanks for reading if you made it so far.