- Joined
- Apr 24, 2016
- Messages
- 6
- Reaction score
- 36
I am so full of emotions right now about this abrupt change in policy. Most of us realize that we aren't owed a spot in any program. This is why we have dedicated years of effort in attempting to become competitive applicants. Earlier today, within less than a minute, I realized that I went from being a competitive applicant to having not much chance at all. Even as I write this I am still in shock. I just want to share my story.
I am also a non-traditional applicant like many of you. College began just like high school ended. I was in a very bad spot in life following my parents divorce. I had no life stability, lived on my own and every time I enrolled in school I found myself either having to move or change jobs. With no financial assistance and struggling to find the stability I needed in life I accumulated a total of 18 W's and a 0.85 GPA from 2002-2006. At the time I had no intention of becoming a medical professional. I was simply trying to survive. After 2006 I took a considerable amount of time off attempting to be successful in college. Eventually I found my calling at the time through fitness. I became a personal trainer and was very successful at helping my clients make life changes.
After finding some stability in life I decided to go back to school. I re-took all of the classes I failed and fixed my transcripts. It wasn't perfect, but I got my AA and took all of my Bio pre-requisites. During this time I brought my GPA up to a respectable 3.4, with forgiveness of course. I still didn't think I every had any chance at becoming a physician. All I knew was that I had a gift for helping people. It was evident by the impact I was able to make on the lives of so many of my clients. Life was still challenging though, I went through a marriage and a divorce within one year. In 2012 I was denied admittance by the university I now attend. The Bio adviser told me to my face that she didn't think I was cut out for a degree in Biology.
A year later I finally was given an opportunity at a satellite campus when I was accepted into their Biology program. No longer in financial stress, I finished all my upper levels with a 3.89 GPA and graduated with a BS in Bio and a minor in biophysics. Currently I haven't received anything lower than an A- in any science course since transferring. At this university I had the opportunity to become very involved in extracurricular activities (pre-med club, student government, president of triathlon club, computational biology club). I also trained one of my clients who was a 60 year old woman with Crohn's disease to complete an Ironman triathlon with me. During the training her symptoms went into remission and she has been symptom free for over 2 years. I got a second job as a tutor and ended up tutoring kids at a local children's hospital. When I graduated, my GPA which was once a 0.85 was now a 3.51 cGPA. My sGPA is a 3.49. I knew my application still needed work to overcome the tremendous blemish so I applied and was accepted to a SMP where I am now currently enrolled.
I have a 3.91 in the SMP and am planning to apply this cycle. With everything I have accomplished I felt that I finally had a good chance at being admitted. Many of my friends and peers have been accepted or are currently attending MD and DO programs. Even though I am now 32, they all consider me an equal. It probably doesn't hurt that I am in great physical shape and look like I am 25. I out perform many of them in class. I always knew I would have an uphill battle, but because they don't know the severity of my transcript issues they all assume that I will get accepted somewhere and that I worry too much.
Today my AACOMAS GPA went from a 3.54 cGPA to a 2.44. I'm only mad at myself for allowing myself to be in this position in the first place. I know that I didn't get to this point in life only to allow myself to quit on my dream just because of a policy change. Even though my chances of being accepted to a DO school are now bleak, I will not give up. Hey, my mothers primary went to St. George's and loved it. Wherever I end up I will continue to give it everything I have and more. Life never ends up exactly the way you planned. Obstacles like this will define who you become and only prove how hard you are willing to work. Where there is a will... there is a way.
Just wanted to share and get these feeling off my chest. I wish you all the best of luck in accomplishing your dreams!
I am also a non-traditional applicant like many of you. College began just like high school ended. I was in a very bad spot in life following my parents divorce. I had no life stability, lived on my own and every time I enrolled in school I found myself either having to move or change jobs. With no financial assistance and struggling to find the stability I needed in life I accumulated a total of 18 W's and a 0.85 GPA from 2002-2006. At the time I had no intention of becoming a medical professional. I was simply trying to survive. After 2006 I took a considerable amount of time off attempting to be successful in college. Eventually I found my calling at the time through fitness. I became a personal trainer and was very successful at helping my clients make life changes.
After finding some stability in life I decided to go back to school. I re-took all of the classes I failed and fixed my transcripts. It wasn't perfect, but I got my AA and took all of my Bio pre-requisites. During this time I brought my GPA up to a respectable 3.4, with forgiveness of course. I still didn't think I every had any chance at becoming a physician. All I knew was that I had a gift for helping people. It was evident by the impact I was able to make on the lives of so many of my clients. Life was still challenging though, I went through a marriage and a divorce within one year. In 2012 I was denied admittance by the university I now attend. The Bio adviser told me to my face that she didn't think I was cut out for a degree in Biology.
A year later I finally was given an opportunity at a satellite campus when I was accepted into their Biology program. No longer in financial stress, I finished all my upper levels with a 3.89 GPA and graduated with a BS in Bio and a minor in biophysics. Currently I haven't received anything lower than an A- in any science course since transferring. At this university I had the opportunity to become very involved in extracurricular activities (pre-med club, student government, president of triathlon club, computational biology club). I also trained one of my clients who was a 60 year old woman with Crohn's disease to complete an Ironman triathlon with me. During the training her symptoms went into remission and she has been symptom free for over 2 years. I got a second job as a tutor and ended up tutoring kids at a local children's hospital. When I graduated, my GPA which was once a 0.85 was now a 3.51 cGPA. My sGPA is a 3.49. I knew my application still needed work to overcome the tremendous blemish so I applied and was accepted to a SMP where I am now currently enrolled.
I have a 3.91 in the SMP and am planning to apply this cycle. With everything I have accomplished I felt that I finally had a good chance at being admitted. Many of my friends and peers have been accepted or are currently attending MD and DO programs. Even though I am now 32, they all consider me an equal. It probably doesn't hurt that I am in great physical shape and look like I am 25. I out perform many of them in class. I always knew I would have an uphill battle, but because they don't know the severity of my transcript issues they all assume that I will get accepted somewhere and that I worry too much.
Today my AACOMAS GPA went from a 3.54 cGPA to a 2.44. I'm only mad at myself for allowing myself to be in this position in the first place. I know that I didn't get to this point in life only to allow myself to quit on my dream just because of a policy change. Even though my chances of being accepted to a DO school are now bleak, I will not give up. Hey, my mothers primary went to St. George's and loved it. Wherever I end up I will continue to give it everything I have and more. Life never ends up exactly the way you planned. Obstacles like this will define who you become and only prove how hard you are willing to work. Where there is a will... there is a way.
Just wanted to share and get these feeling off my chest. I wish you all the best of luck in accomplishing your dreams!