CuriousGeorge88 Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Is there any hope for someone who has attended and dropped out of multiple colleges over the past 8 years due to lack of direction and motivation? How much worse would it be if his/her overall gpa is 2.5 and science gpa is 2.0? Long story short, I had no idea what to do with my life and my grades fluctuated dramatically due to lack of motivation at times. I took a year off to figure out what I want in life, improve my study skills, and explore the medical field. Now I know, without doubt, that I want to be a PA, but I'm afraid I've already done too much damage with the constant dropping out and low gpa. Is there any hope? Thanks for your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timon Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 How many units have you taken? (science and non-science) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CuriousGeorge88 Posted July 4, 2014 Author Share Posted July 4, 2014 150-160 overall 44 Science Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timon Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 It 'll take you 80 units at a 4.0 to raise your culmulative GPA to a 3.0 which is the minimum for many programs. It'll take 22 science units at a 4.0 to raise your science GPA to a 3.0. There are other programs that accept lower than 3.0 GPAs but typically the avg student profile is a 3.3 GPA and 1k-4k hours of direct patient care. Browse the forum more and see what others have discussed regarding programs and how to get accepted with a sub 3.0 GPA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CuriousGeorge88 Posted July 4, 2014 Author Share Posted July 4, 2014 2 Years of averaging 12-15cr would be 72-90 units. Assuming I earned 4.0s, would that length of time and average credit amount be enough to convince adcoms I can handle PA school? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timon Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 I believe it will. Not at all schools, but there are schools that primarily focus on your last 2 years or last 60 units of school. Never under estimate the power of a strong positive grade trend. Just do your best and make sure you ace all your classes. Don't forget to get paid direct patient care, community service and PA shadowing hours in there along the way. Adcoms look at everything in your application. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinntsp Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Don't forget to get paid direct patient care, community service and PA shadowing hours in there along the way. Adcoms look at everything in your application. This. It won't be enough for you to just improve your grades. 3.0 GPA with no HCE = app goes in the round file. You really need to look at this as a 5 year plan. Take fewer classes per semester while working in a healthcare field. Alternatively, try to get into an allied health program(also difficult with your GPA) to set yourself up to knock out two birds with one stone. Then you can spend a couple of years making decent money in healthcare while continuing to take more classes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CuriousGeorge88 Posted July 4, 2014 Author Share Posted July 4, 2014 I feel like my ECs are the only decent part of my app. I've worked as an inpatient clerk, a scribe for both a PA and a FM Physician, and as a cna for a nursing home, small community hospital, and major academic hospital. I have public health research experience where I've had to work at clinics and visit homes to teach underserved youth about sexual health. I've held leadership positions in student government and I was the president of a couple of clubs. I've also done a lot of volunteer work. Is this enough? Thanks for all your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db_pavnp Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 As wtchris said, I think you should get yourself into a health profession program that synchs strongly with PA programs and get straight A's in it. You'll come out with a living wage job, earn superior work experience, and get a head start on your GPA boosting needs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CuriousGeorge88 Posted July 4, 2014 Author Share Posted July 4, 2014 I'm confused. Did you not see my response to wutchris or are you saying that my HCE experience is not enough? I completed an allied health program 3-4 years ago and I work full-time in an academic hospital making a living wage. Also, what do you mean by "syncs strongly with PA programs"? Is my CNA and scribe experience not something they would value? Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db_pavnp Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 You have a problem. You have low level HCE, aren't forthcoming with your real job, and need 80 credits at 4.0 - what are you gonna do to amass nearly three years of undergraduate credit? It just makes sense to me that you should strive to obtain credits that serve more than one purpose, because at the end of your five year plan, you may not even want to go to PA school any longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taotaox1 Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 He was saying that getting an advanced level allied health degree like RT or going for your RN would be a good way to up your GPA while making your app a lot stronger and better preparing for PA school. I had 20+ hrs of F on my transcript from my first 3 semester. I got about 140 hrs of almost all 4.0s to get up to 3.4. So you can totally do this, and some school will be impressed by it. Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koppma Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Just note that some schools do not count scribe or cna as HCE. So look at the schools were you want to apply to see what counts as HCE. I know that Loma Linda does not count CNA unless with documented high-quality patient interaction. http://www.llu.edu/allied-health/sahp/pa/prerequisites.page? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CuriousGeorge88 Posted July 4, 2014 Author Share Posted July 4, 2014 Well, I know I'll never get into an advanced allied health program in my state with my gpa. And even if this miracle occurred, I know I'll never be able to find a job considering I live in a high unemployment state. I would move if I could, but it's not feasible at this point. It sounds like it would be almost impossible for me to get into PA school, which is weird considering I've had several DO adcoms tell me that I could get into DO school with my current ECs, a 27+ MCAT score, and only 60 credits of A's in retakes and upper-level biology courses. It seems like getting into medical school is easier than getting into PA school, but I would rather be a PA. It sucks that it took me so long to figure out who I am and what profession would suit me only to still end up with second best (for my personality, of course). I can't believe I screwed myself over so badly. :'( Anywhoo... rant over. Thanks for all your help. I'm gonna go sit in the corner and cry now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiggySRNA Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 You will never know until you apply. If you do not apply consider yourself 100% rejected...if you chance it and apply, who knows, you might end up somewhere. I feel for you,but there is not much me or anyone else here can do for you. Do yourself a favor and just apply to at-least 10 schools. Do not give up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinntsp Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Well, I know I'll never get into an advanced allied health program in my state with my gpa. And even if this miracle occurred, I know I'll never be able to find a job considering I live in a high unemployment state. I would move if I could, but it's not feasible at this point. It sounds like it would be almost impossible for me to get into PA school, which is weird considering I've had several DO adcoms tell me that I could get into DO school with my current ECs, a 27+ MCAT score, and only 60 credits of A's in retakes and upper-level biology courses. It seems like getting into medical school is easier than getting into PA school, but I would rather be a PA. It sucks that it took me so long to figure out who I am and what profession would suit me only to still end up with second best (for my personality, of course). I can't believe I screwed myself over so badly. :'( Anywhoo... rant over. Thanks for all your help. I'm gonna go sit in the corner and cry now. The DO application utilizes grade replacement. CASPA doesn't and that's what the vast majority of PA programs use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taotaox1 Posted July 5, 2014 Share Posted July 5, 2014 Maybe not RN, but I don't think RT or Rad tech school is that competative, but I may be wrong. Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CuriousGeorge88 Posted July 5, 2014 Author Share Posted July 5, 2014 All 3 are extremely competitive in my state. I have family members who tried all 3 of those programs with 3.3+ gpas and they had no luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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