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- Feb 4, 2011
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Hello everyone,
I'm new to the forums, although I have lurked for some time. I have a couple of questions that I have not been able to resolve through searching the forums and elsewhere on the internet.
To begin, from the age of 18 until the age of 20 I was very imprudent, perhaps even plain stupid. I don't know if I was any more imprudent or stupid than other people my age, however it hardly matters. What does matter is that I regret the indiscretions of my past and I have changed a lot in the last few years. If I could go back in time, I would slap myself in the face. Of course time machines don't exist, so the best I can do is try to do better in the future.
Where to start? I've always struggled in school. I don't have a good reason for why, I simply have always struggled. I was fortunate enough to gain acceptance to a four year university when I graduated high school and I didn't exactly take it as seriously as I should have when I first began. As a result, the first two years of school I had quarterly GPAs in the 2.7 to 2.9 range.
When I was nearly 19 a very close friend of mine was murdered. I had a very hard time dealing with her death and I became very depressed. At the time I wasn't mature enough to get help, and instead I acted out. Her death and my resulting mental health issues excuse nothing, so please do not assume that I am bringing this event up to excuse my actions in any way.
When I was I freshmen I got in trouble for drinking in the dorms and was disciplined by the school. In my early sophomore year my roommate and I got in trouble for a noise violation because we were being too loud, and we were disciplined by the school for having airsoft guns (like a bb gun that shoots lightweight plastic pellets) in our dorm rooms. If that doesn't tell you how immature I was, the only thing that will was what happened next.
Right after I turned 20 I was arrested for three misdemeanors. It was for Minor in Possession, Malicious Mischief (akin to destruction of property) and 4th degree assault (which is a misdemeanor in my state). The prosecutor stayed the proceedings and I signed an agreement with the prosecutor that stipulated that if I counseling for alcohol abuse (binge drinking is abuse) and if I didn't get in any further trouble the charges would be dropped after one year.
Needless to say, getting arrested put a stop to my antics immediately, and I cleaned up my act. I transferred to a community college in my home town, I sought counseling and I did community service. After one year the charges against me were dismissed with prejudice.
I did pretty well in community college. I attended two quarters and decided to transfer to a 4 year University in my city. What I didn't do was deal with my depression. As a result I did very poorly the first quarter I went back to university. After that I started seeing a therapist and began to do better.
In the end I manged to swing 2.94 UGPA, with a 3.14 in my major (history). My grades fluctuated anywhere between a 2.0 to a 3.89 throughout my undergraduate career. However, my GPA would have been very low had I not worked hard the last two years school.
Enough of the background details and on to my questions. I am very serious about entering the medical field, and I would like to do so as a DO. I need advice on the following:
1. My GPA isn't very good and I would like it to improve. Should I consider going back for a second BA in something I know I can do well in to bring it up? Or, should I consider getting a post grad degree in something like Public Health?
2. Will I need to report my arrest to schools that I decide to apply to?
The charges were dismissed, and the AACOMAS only asks if I have ever been convicted of a crime, which I have not. Furthermore, I did not plead guilty or no contest.
3. I know that I will be required to report my University disciplinary record, how will this affect my ability to become a DO?
4. What else should I consider doing, if anything to make myself more competitive?
I am currently planning to shadow a DO, my neighbor and good friend is an RN, and has agreed to help me find someone to shadow.
Any other advice or thoughts are welcome and encouraged. Thank you for reading my lengthy post, and thank you in advance for any help offered.
I'm new to the forums, although I have lurked for some time. I have a couple of questions that I have not been able to resolve through searching the forums and elsewhere on the internet.
To begin, from the age of 18 until the age of 20 I was very imprudent, perhaps even plain stupid. I don't know if I was any more imprudent or stupid than other people my age, however it hardly matters. What does matter is that I regret the indiscretions of my past and I have changed a lot in the last few years. If I could go back in time, I would slap myself in the face. Of course time machines don't exist, so the best I can do is try to do better in the future.
Where to start? I've always struggled in school. I don't have a good reason for why, I simply have always struggled. I was fortunate enough to gain acceptance to a four year university when I graduated high school and I didn't exactly take it as seriously as I should have when I first began. As a result, the first two years of school I had quarterly GPAs in the 2.7 to 2.9 range.
When I was nearly 19 a very close friend of mine was murdered. I had a very hard time dealing with her death and I became very depressed. At the time I wasn't mature enough to get help, and instead I acted out. Her death and my resulting mental health issues excuse nothing, so please do not assume that I am bringing this event up to excuse my actions in any way.
When I was I freshmen I got in trouble for drinking in the dorms and was disciplined by the school. In my early sophomore year my roommate and I got in trouble for a noise violation because we were being too loud, and we were disciplined by the school for having airsoft guns (like a bb gun that shoots lightweight plastic pellets) in our dorm rooms. If that doesn't tell you how immature I was, the only thing that will was what happened next.
Right after I turned 20 I was arrested for three misdemeanors. It was for Minor in Possession, Malicious Mischief (akin to destruction of property) and 4th degree assault (which is a misdemeanor in my state). The prosecutor stayed the proceedings and I signed an agreement with the prosecutor that stipulated that if I counseling for alcohol abuse (binge drinking is abuse) and if I didn't get in any further trouble the charges would be dropped after one year.
Needless to say, getting arrested put a stop to my antics immediately, and I cleaned up my act. I transferred to a community college in my home town, I sought counseling and I did community service. After one year the charges against me were dismissed with prejudice.
I did pretty well in community college. I attended two quarters and decided to transfer to a 4 year University in my city. What I didn't do was deal with my depression. As a result I did very poorly the first quarter I went back to university. After that I started seeing a therapist and began to do better.
In the end I manged to swing 2.94 UGPA, with a 3.14 in my major (history). My grades fluctuated anywhere between a 2.0 to a 3.89 throughout my undergraduate career. However, my GPA would have been very low had I not worked hard the last two years school.
Enough of the background details and on to my questions. I am very serious about entering the medical field, and I would like to do so as a DO. I need advice on the following:
1. My GPA isn't very good and I would like it to improve. Should I consider going back for a second BA in something I know I can do well in to bring it up? Or, should I consider getting a post grad degree in something like Public Health?
2. Will I need to report my arrest to schools that I decide to apply to?
The charges were dismissed, and the AACOMAS only asks if I have ever been convicted of a crime, which I have not. Furthermore, I did not plead guilty or no contest.
3. I know that I will be required to report my University disciplinary record, how will this affect my ability to become a DO?
4. What else should I consider doing, if anything to make myself more competitive?
I am currently planning to shadow a DO, my neighbor and good friend is an RN, and has agreed to help me find someone to shadow.
Any other advice or thoughts are welcome and encouraged. Thank you for reading my lengthy post, and thank you in advance for any help offered.