Dug my own grave...

[princessproblems]

...Maybe that's a little melodramatic.

I transferred to a new college last year. My final semester GPA was a 4.0, and my cumulative was a 3.65. After my first semester at my new college, I had a 2.75. This semester, I'm ending with a 3.1 - so my cumulative is now a 2.98. I'm a rising junior. College has been tough. I have a chronic illness and another condition that have been an obstacle for years. Growing up I was hospitalized every year for the first few years of grade school. In high school I wound up having to home school myself because of it, and I took a gap year before freshman year at a college near my house. During that time I volunteered at a hospital and at a grade school. This is when I really realized that I wanted to be a doctor - ideally a pediatric specialist in the area that has really affected me personally. I also really want to do research.

When I started college I took a few science courses (B in General Chem I & B in Human Bio) with other general eds (mostly As). I felt really healthy during my first two semesters, but then balancing sick days with classes got harder. Still, I got in to every college I applied to as a transfer and chose a top 50 LAC. I was really proud of that. Being in a different state has been a mostly amazing experience and I've had a lot of opportunities such as continuing to be able to work with children and being published (creative and editorial writing, not scientific). I've also been hospitalized this year, and I had to medically withdraw from two classes. It's really discouraging because I really did consider other career options, but this is what I really want.

Taking the MCAT this year isn't realistic since I need three more semesters of chemistry and biology, plus physics. Fitting all of that into three semesters seems difficult since science courses are sequential, but if I could extend my time in undergrad by one more semester then I could take the MCAT during the spring of my senior year. Or I could keep taking classes in my major and continue to raise my GPA and then apply to a post bac like Goucher. I'm just really scared that I'll be hospitalized again before graduating.

Also, since most volunteer positions require a 6-month commitment that's not an option for the summer. I will try to shadow doctors and stay as healthy as possible. I also have an internship with an online magazine. In the fall I will meet with the pre med advisor at my college. Other than that, I'm URM/female but it's really important to me to push through all of the difficult stuff and work to get into med school.

This was really long but thanks for reading. If anyone has any advice or other thing to consider, I'd really appreciate it.

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[LizzyM]

First semester 3.30
Second semester 4.0
First year cum 3.65
Third semester 2.75
Fourth semeseter 3.1
Second year cum 2.98
overall GPA 3.32

Ok so your overall gpa is not great but it is not horrific. Also, if there is one year that tends to be weakest in 95% of applicants it is 2nd year.

This is not a sprint and it does not always make sense to take the MCAT in junior year and apply in the summer before senior year. Take it slow, keep your health and academic achievement in balance, and take time to do what you love (you seem to have a talent for creative writing and communications).

 

[GrapesofRath]

The bigger question is you have to determine if you are capable of going back to school in this current state and doing well; if not you should seriously take a semester off to take care of yourself. I'm guessing that's not something you want to think about having already taken a gap year before college but there are several things at play here. Long story short here, you can't be thinking about and planning to make a significant commitment to turning around your GPA when you are seriously concerned you might end up being hospitalized again. Priorities matter here and your health, not your ambitions towards going to med school take major priority here.

But to even go beyond that, let's say you are cleared from any concerns about being hospitalized. When deciding something like this it's more than just considering will I end up in a hospital again; if you want to repair your GPA it'll take a major effort on your part. Forget about being willing to commit to working far more than you ever have, it's about being in the ideal state mentally and physically to be able to make such a commitment. Given you have been dealing with medical issues recently, I'm not sure that's a commitment you can make at the moment and if not it's probably not a great idea to go back to school when you'll need to pick up your academic performance considerably as you said so yourself. I'm trying not to focus on GPA discussion here but I'll say this. One semester where you have to withdraw from some classes due to medical issues happens. It's outside of factors you can't control. But to go back to school and have to withdraw again if you end up with medical issues is a bigger deal to ADCOMs. Forget about any GPA discussion; it won't even look like you have a good control of your life and that you aren't listening to advice and what's best for yourself if you have to keep having semesters with withdrawals.

Like @LizzyM said your focus shouldn't really be on the MCAT now and trying to apply next cycle. It shouldn't even be about thinking about getting 4.0's next semester. It should be about taking care of yourself and figuring out the best things you can do for yourself to be in good health mentally and physically. Nothing else in life can work without that being taken care of first.

 

[princessproblems]

@LizzyM and @GrapesofRath thank you both for replying! I went back and looked at my grades from my first college, because I feel like in trying to explain everything I omitted some details. I started college during the summer semester of 2012 and didn't take a break. This is my first summer not being enrolled in classes. I used a GPA calculator to double check. 10 of my credits didn't transfer (a college algebra class (final grade = B) and a pre calc class (final grade = C)) but everything else did. I'm classified as a junior (graduating in 2017) now that this semester is over, but credit-wise I'm in between that and the rising seniors. Does that make sense?

Summer 2012
(One of the classes was General Chem and my final grade was a B)
3.0 - 8 credits, 2 classes

Fall 2012
3.25 - 16 credits, 4 classes

Spring 2013
(One of the classes was Human Bio and my final grade was an A)
4.0 - 14 credits, 4 classes

Summer 2013
4.0 - 3 credits, 1 class

Fall 2013
2.0 - 6 credits, 2 classes
* I was really sick this semester.

Spring 2014
4.0 - 14 credits, 5 classes

Summer 2014
4.0 - 6 credits, 2 classes

Edit: I had a sports scholarship for one year and I worked part time and participated in student government and served on a state committee the next year.

Transferred colleges

Fall 2014
This is the semester I was hospitalized.
2.77 - 7 credits, 3 classes
Edit: This is where I had two medical Ws as well, otherwise this semester would have been 15 credits and 5 classes.

Spring 2015
3.12 - 16 credits, 5 classes


So, when I transferred my cumulative was actually a 3.49 (I think my first college rounded up to a 3.5 on my transcript, sorry for that mistake earlier.) Factoring all of these classes from both colleges, my cumulative is currently a 3.4. GPAs don't transfer so that cumulative is a 2.99 based on the two semesters I've taken at this new college - but I realize any form of grad school will look at all of my grades so that's somewhat reassuring/motivating. I know that my 3.4 is still not great for MD schools and probably not stellar for DO either, but I'm not sure if that changes anything. Considering everything I am really proud of myself because the decision to not take a break until now hasn't been easy.

When I was researching post bacs, I found out that programs like Goucher aren't for grade replacements so they don't accept applicants that have most of the pre reqs. So I guess my biggest question is if I should try to apply during my senior year and try to take the remaining classes I'd need now, or if there are other options that I should consider.

LizzyM I really appreciate your reply, and I do love writing. (There's only one thing that I love more, and that's dancing. While I was home schooled I also danced 30+ hours per week pre professionally, and I was in a youth professional company before that.) Unfortunately the lowest grades I've received at my new college are for dance classes because being sick has made them really hard, since attendance and participation are big parts of the syllabi. All of my academic courses at my new college have been As and Bs, and one Pass for a P/F course.) Anyway, writing is something I want to do for the rest of my life. I will be published a few more times this summer because I have this other ongoing position as a contributor for a national organization. My love for writing is also the primary reason I eventually hope to lead my own research because I think I would enjoy being published in that manner as well.

GrapesofRath I was doing work even while I was in the hospital. Without giving too much away (as if I haven't already bogged you both down with half of my life's memoir) one of the illnesses I'm dealing with happens to be something that my parents don't acknowledge, so being at home is actually more detrimental to my health. Also I have one really sick parent which has been stressful and upsetting.Because of that and financial aid, time off isn't an option unless I'm hospitalized again. It feels like I'm between a rock and a hard place a lot of the time, but I totally understand what you're saying.

 

[Simpson]

What was your science GPA?

 

[Goro]

I can't recommend even trying for med school until your illness is resolved.

...Maybe that's a little melodramatic.

I transferred to a new college last year. My final semester GPA was a 4.0, and my cumulative was a 3.65. After my first semester at my new college, I had a 2.75. This semester, I'm ending with a 3.1 - so my cumulative is now a 2.98. I'm a rising junior. College has been tough. I have a chronic illness and another condition that have been an obstacle for years. Growing up I was hospitalized every year for the first few years of grade school. In high school I wound up having to home school myself because of it, and I took a gap year before freshman year at a college near my house. During that time I volunteered at a hospital and at a grade school. This is when I really realized that I wanted to be a doctor - ideally a pediatric specialist in the area that has really affected me personally. I also really want to do research.

When I started college I took a few science courses (B in General Chem I & B in Human Bio) with other general eds (mostly As). I felt really healthy during my first two semesters, but then balancing sick days with classes got harder. Still, I got in to every college I applied to as a transfer and chose a top 50 LAC. I was really proud of that. Being in a different state has been a mostly amazing experience and I've had a lot of opportunities such as continuing to be able to work with children and being published (creative and editorial writing, not scientific). I've also been hospitalized this year, and I had to medically withdraw from two classes. It's really discouraging because I really did consider other career options, but this is what I really want.

Taking the MCAT this year isn't realistic since I need three more semesters of chemistry and biology, plus physics. Fitting all of that into three semesters seems difficult since science courses are sequential, but if I could extend my time in undergrad by one more semester then I could take the MCAT during the spring of my senior year. Or I could keep taking classes in my major and continue to raise my GPA and then apply to a post bac like Goucher. I'm just really scared that I'll be hospitalized again before graduating.

Also, since most volunteer positions require a 6-month commitment that's not an option for the summer. I will try to shadow doctors and stay as healthy as possible. I also have an internship with an online magazine. In the fall I will meet with the pre med advisor at my college. Other than that, I'm URM/female but it's really important to me to push through all of the difficult stuff and work to get into med school.

This was really long but thanks for reading. If anyone has any advice or other thing to consider, I'd really appreciate it.

 

[princessproblems]

Simpson - My science GPA is a 3.5

@Goro That makes sense, thank you. I just want to figure out the most strategic way to do everything I can now to help when I finally can apply. There is a lot of information out there about people that follow the typical pre med path, and I've read a lot about people that choose to take a gap year before applying. The differences in post bac programs is the most confusing aspect right now because I am unsure if I should take more science classes or just wait. I definitely do not plan to try anything crazy such as taking the MCAT until I'm sure I am healthy enough to handle this. Thanks again!

 

[Oh_Gee]

Ok so your overall gpa is not great but it is not horrific. Also, if there is one year that tends to be weakest in 95% of applicants it is 2nd year.

wow how do you know this
This is so true for me. My gpa for my second year is slightly below 3.o but every year besides that is above 3.0

 

[LizzyM]

wow how do you know this
This is so true for me. My gpa for my second year is slightly below 3.o but every year besides that is above 3.0

I've been reading applications since most of you were reading Dr. Seuss (15 years)

 

[Oh_Gee]

I've been reading applications since most of you were reading Dr. Seuss (15 years)

makes me feel good that i'm not alone

 

[efle]

makes me feel good that i'm not alone

Probably not a coincidence that Sophomore for most people involves Ochem I&II, Bio II, and the first upper-levels instead of the freshman gen chem and low-levels