I'm a male URM (African-American) currently about to finish a DIY post-bacc in Texas this coming Spring. I'm going to be using Texas's Academic Fresh Start (AFS) to increase my GPA before applying for all Texas MD medical schools.
I've been doing this DIY program for exactly 2 years now and will finish after my Spring 2019 semester courses. Within these two years, I've taken mainly upper level biology courses (ex: cancer biology, human physiology, immunology, and so on) along with some lower level sciences courses in biology, chemistry, and physics to freshen up on material I received low grades on. For these past 2 years I've received nothing but A's. So I'm quite confident that I have nearly perfected my studying skills and time managing skills to receive all A's one last time this coming Spring semester.
Plan A. I did not do well my first time at a university due to very personal issues, thus, my GPA suffered (cGPA of 2.50). If I invoke academic fresh start (AFS) by this Spring of 2019, even with the 2 years of post-bacc with a 4.0 GPA, I'll have cGPA of 3.43 and a sGPA of 3.48. MCAT score is 519. This would be with a solid extracurriculars including multiple research (2 at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston).
Plan B. If I wait till Fall of 2020 to invoke AFS instead and with the 2 years of post-bacc 4.0 GPA, I'll have a cGPA of 3.58 and a sGPA of 3.61 (more bad grades from my pasts will not be included in my GPA calculation, hence, the higher GPA) and same MCAT score of 519. Again this will be with a solid extracurriculars that I've been told is more than adequate.
Question: Should I go with Plan A and try my chances at applying in 2019 with the GPA stats given? I showed a tremendous upward trend and hope having a URM status would be slightly beneficial. Or should I not take that risk and wait another year and apply in 2020 instead with the much higher GPA? My gut is saying just wait, as much as I don't want to wait another year (currently 32 years old).
Thanks!
I've been doing this DIY program for exactly 2 years now and will finish after my Spring 2019 semester courses. Within these two years, I've taken mainly upper level biology courses (ex: cancer biology, human physiology, immunology, and so on) along with some lower level sciences courses in biology, chemistry, and physics to freshen up on material I received low grades on. For these past 2 years I've received nothing but A's. So I'm quite confident that I have nearly perfected my studying skills and time managing skills to receive all A's one last time this coming Spring semester.
Plan A. I did not do well my first time at a university due to very personal issues, thus, my GPA suffered (cGPA of 2.50). If I invoke academic fresh start (AFS) by this Spring of 2019, even with the 2 years of post-bacc with a 4.0 GPA, I'll have cGPA of 3.43 and a sGPA of 3.48. MCAT score is 519. This would be with a solid extracurriculars including multiple research (2 at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston).
Plan B. If I wait till Fall of 2020 to invoke AFS instead and with the 2 years of post-bacc 4.0 GPA, I'll have a cGPA of 3.58 and a sGPA of 3.61 (more bad grades from my pasts will not be included in my GPA calculation, hence, the higher GPA) and same MCAT score of 519. Again this will be with a solid extracurriculars that I've been told is more than adequate.
Question: Should I go with Plan A and try my chances at applying in 2019 with the GPA stats given? I showed a tremendous upward trend and hope having a URM status would be slightly beneficial. Or should I not take that risk and wait another year and apply in 2020 instead with the much higher GPA? My gut is saying just wait, as much as I don't want to wait another year (currently 32 years old).
Thanks!
