academic probation ...

[StudentDoc55]

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I searched and there were no threads in DO only MD, figured the two were different enough I could ask it here. Sorry it's another one of these threads though ;s

A semester ago I was put on academic probation. I did horrible first couple years(this was at a community college). I was diagnosed with crohn's disease at the start of college, and I tried to do both college while fighting crohn's and it failed miserably. I'm left with a ~1.2 gpa and a total of 18 credits and 37 grade points. I will have 7 f's and 2 d's I need to retake with some w's and wp's....

I mean it's always been my dream to be a doctor, and obviously MD is completely out of the question. I feel like I pretty much tore up that dream though trying to go to college while getting my treatment with crohns sorted out.

My gpa would obviously go up extremely fast by replacing those f's with a's and b's, but my transcript will look absolutely disgusting ><.

But with academic probation + such lousy starting grades should I realistically even try? I want nothing more than to be a doctor, but I also don't want to start a road into debt only to come out with nothing to show for it.

Thanks for anyone's time that had a chance to read and respond.

 

[FutureDrB]

It's not as bad as you think. Yes, maybe M.D. is out of the question, but you're fine for D.O. since you can replace the grades.

I assume you're just starting out if you only have 18 credit hours. Just retake the classes and move on. Look around and you'll discover a lot of people were/are in your shoes. Trust me, it's not the end of the world by any means.

As I've stated in other posts, I too was put on Academic Probation before, had 6 F's, 8 D's and a ton of C's I replaced. Granted mine were from 10 years ago, but still, I'm not worried about it at all.

Things happen. Prove you've changed. It's up to you to kill the classes the second time and explain in your P.S. what happened.

 

[StudentDoc55]

It's not as bad as you think. Yes, maybe M.D. is out of the question, but you're fine for D.O. since you can replace the grades.

I assume you're just starting out if you only have 18 credit hours. Just retake the classes and move on. Look around and you'll discover a lot of people were/are in your shoes. Trust me, it's not the end of the world by any means.

As I've stated in other posts, I too was put on Academic Probation before, had 6 F's, 8 D's and a ton of C's I replaced. Granted mine were from 10 years ago, but still, I'm not worried about it at all.

Things happen. Prove you've changed. It's up to you to kill the classes the second time and explain in your P.S. what happened.

Credit wise I would probably be in my 2nd year if I didn't fail everything I touched -_- .

I dunno, I feel so ****ty knowing I've done so bad. It's hard to just "get over it" because I know that's not representable of me at all...It just makes me puke knowing I did so bad, even if I have a "decent?" excuse for it.

Thanks for the response

 

[FutureDrB]

Credit wise I would probably be in my 2nd year if I didn't fail everything I touched -_- .

I dunno, I feel so ****ty knowing I've done so bad. It's hard to just "get over it" because I know that's not representable of me at all...It just makes me puke knowing I did so bad, even if I have a "decent?" excuse for it.

Thanks for the response

Okay, when you're done feeling sorry for yourself, pick up the pieces, then move on. Medicine is a LONG and tough road. There's no room to beat yourself up. We all get down and we all have obstacles to overcome. What sets people apart is that some recognize their mistakes, learn from them and do what's necessary to fix them. Others dwell on their mistakes, use them as crutches and/or succumb to defeat.

Sorry for the therapy speech, but I'm a LPC. You get that session for free.

 

[Iliketoytles]

First, I'm sorry about your situation OP... but futuredrB is right. You're just starting out, so even a few A's/B's can have substantial positive affects on your GPA. And if you retake the classes you failed, then you have nothing to worry about.

I think in your position, you need to worry less about your GPA and more about whether you can manage Crohn's while in medschool. People have dreams of being doctors, astronauts, firemen, etc... but you have to be realistic. Maybe you want to consider another field in healthcare IF you feel like medschool will be too much. And that doesn't only go for you... that's something ALL premeds need to think about.

But if you're worried about your GPA, then stop stressing. It can be fixed.

Hope everything works out for ya man. Stay positive! 🙂

 

[StudentDoc55]

Yep yep sorry you are right, just been stressed out lately. Need a positive attitude ;p

First, I'm sorry about your situation OP... but futuredrB is right. You're just starting out, so even a few A's/B's can have substantial positive affects on your GPA. And if you retake the classes you failed, then you have nothing to worry about.

I think in your position, you need to worry less about your GPA and more about whether you can manage Crohn's while in medschool. People have dreams of being doctors, astronauts, firemen, etc... but you have to be realistic. Maybe you want to consider another field in healthcare IF you feel like medschool will be too much. And that doesn't only go for you... that's something ALL premeds need to think about.

But if you're worried about your GPA, then stop stressing. It can be fixed.

Hope everything works out for ya man. Stay positive! 🙂

Yeah...crohn's is a handful, but I've started to get more of a grip on it. I switched doctors to one that will give me steroids, not the best long term side effect wise, but I get full relief from the disease while on it, so as long as I stay on it I should be good to go -_-.

 

[Booster]

If you have a 1.2 GPA from 18 total credits you've taken...if you average a 3.7 GPA for the rest of your college career, you will end up with a 3.6+ GPA. That is without retaking the classes...so it is easy to overcome that sort of GPA. I had a 2.1 GPA with 60+ credits before I decided I wanted to go to medical school. I turned it around and ended up with a 3.1 GPA by the time I graduated (nothing to write home about), but I did well on the MCAT and landed an acceptance to med school. So it can be done.

Don't put any additional pressure/stress on yourself...just get out there and do your best. When med schools look at your application in the future, they may ask about your rough start in college...which you have a documented valid excuse as to why you had a rough start. If you show them the next 2-3 years that you can excel in college and that you are a strong medical applicant, you will land an acceptance for sure. Good luck with the rest of undergrad...its just the beginning to a long road, but well worth it in the end.

 

[Goro]

You would not believe how many students of mine have had a similar story and ratty looking transcripts. Now that you're over your worst, it's time to show us your true potential. Maintain a B+/A vg from here on in and you're a lock for any DO school.

i've had several students (now doctors) who've had inflammatory bowel disease too. Ask your doc to forget the steroids and go for the TNF inhibitors like Enbrel.
Good luck!

I searched and there were no threads in DO only MD, figured the two were different enough I could ask it here. Sorry it's another one of these threads though ;s

A semester ago I was put on academic probation. I did horrible first couple years(this was at a community college). I was diagnosed with crohn's disease at the start of college, and I tried to do both college while fighting crohn's and it failed miserably. I'm left with a ~1.2 gpa and a total of 18 credits and 37 grade points. I will have 7 f's and 2 d's I need to retake with some w's and wp's....

I mean it's always been my dream to be a doctor, and obviously MD is completely out of the question. I feel like I pretty much tore up that dream though trying to go to college while getting my treatment with crohns sorted out.

My gpa would obviously go up extremely fast by replacing those f's with a's and b's, but my transcript will look absolutely disgusting ><.

But with academic probation + such lousy starting grades should I realistically even try? I want nothing more than to be a doctor, but I also don't want to start a road into debt only to come out with nothing to show for it.

Thanks for anyone's time that had a chance to read and respond.

 

[NurWollen]

OP, I had a couple of really bad semesters due in part to some health problems. I felt like a piece of crap too, I didn't feel like I could face friends who were doing well, etc. I felt like a sham of a biology major. Anyway, I pulled it together, pulled up my grades, took the MCAT (and did pretty well) and now I am at the top of my game, getting ready to apply to med school. You'd be surprised how quickly you can turn things around. If you want to go into medicine, then do it. Only you can stop you.

 

[StudentDoc55]

Thanks everyone for the responses, I really appreciate it. I'm glad to find out it's not as bad as I think. Time to start acing the classes.

OP, I had a couple of really bad semesters due in part to some health problems. I felt like a piece of crap too, I didn't feel like I could face friends who were doing well, etc. I felt like a sham of a biology major. Anyway, I pulled it together, pulled up my grades, took the MCAT (and did pretty well) and now I am at the top of my game, getting ready to apply to med school. You'd be surprised how quickly you can turn things around. If you want to go into medicine, then do it. Only you can stop you.

Ugh you sound just like I feel atm, feel like a total disgrace -_-. Hard to just pick yourself back up.

Thanks for the encouraging words.

 

[NurWollen]

Thanks everyone for the responses, I really appreciate it. I'm glad to find out it's not as bad as I think. Time to start acing the classes.



Ugh you sound just like I feel atm, feel like a total disgrace -_-. Hard to just pick yourself back up.

Thanks for the encouraging words.

Always happy to help. I figure us premeds get enough people telling us that medicine sucks as a career and that its too much school for too little reward, so I always try to look at the bright side.

 

[StudentDoc55]

Always happy to help. I figure us premeds get enough people telling us that medicine sucks as a career and that its too much school for too little reward, so I always try to look at the bright side.

I don't see how people can say that. Everything about medicine is so interesting. I honestly can't wait to start learning the material (we'll see how much longer I'll be saying that...).

 

[thepoopologist]

I searched and there were no threads in DO only MD, figured the two were different enough I could ask it here. Sorry it's another one of these threads though ;s

A semester ago I was put on academic probation. I did horrible first couple years(this was at a community college). I was diagnosed with crohn's disease at the start of college, and I tried to do both college while fighting crohn's and it failed miserably. I'm left with a ~1.2 gpa and a total of 18 credits and 37 grade points. I will have 7 f's and 2 d's I need to retake with some w's and wp's....

I mean it's always been my dream to be a doctor, and obviously MD is completely out of the question. I feel like I pretty much tore up that dream though trying to go to college while getting my treatment with crohns sorted out.

My gpa would obviously go up extremely fast by replacing those f's with a's and b's, but my transcript will look absolutely disgusting ><.

But with academic probation + such lousy starting grades should I realistically even try? I want nothing more than to be a doctor, but I also don't want to start a road into debt only to come out with nothing to show for it.

Thanks for anyone's time that had a chance to read and respond.

18 credits is easily recoverable, I wouldn't beat yourself up over it.


My advice is to start slow your next semester. Take the minimum full time credits and gradually increase it.


MD schools may very well be within your reach depending on your performance from here on out. I wouldn't give up so readily after 18 units.

 

[StudentDoc55]

18 credits is easily recoverable, I wouldn't beat yourself up over it.


My advice is to start slow your next semester. Take the minimum full time credits and gradually increase it.


MD schools may very well be within your reach depending on your performance from here on out. I wouldn't give up so readily after 18 units.

Hmm, it's not the 18 credits + the bad grades . Not just 18 credits?

I see the MD applications, people with perfect track records, 3.7 gpa with ~3.2 mcat, and get no interviews. Even if I ace every semester from here on out it seems out of reach.

 

[DrWily]

Hmm, it's not the 18 credits + the bad grades . Not just 18 credits?

I see the MD applications, people with perfect track records, 3.7 gpa with ~3.2 mcat, and get no interviews. Even if I ace every semester from here on out it seems out of reach.

Those people are either:

1) Too lazy to update MD Apps page
2) Applied to like 3 schools
3) Might have a Red Flag or two not related to academics

18 credits is nothing. Seriously, nothing. I think when I graduated, I had like near 200 credits (quarter system, I dunno)

Stop crying and man up. Get started and do it right from now on. YOU WILL BE A DOCTOR IF YOU WANT TO BE ONE. All it takes is time and effort.

 

[NurWollen]

Hmm, it's not the 18 credits + the bad grades . Not just 18 credits?

I see the MD applications, people with perfect track records, 3.7 gpa with ~3.2 mcat, and get no interviews. Even if I ace every semester from here on out it seems out of reach.

Those people are either:

1) Too lazy to update MD Apps page
2) Applied to like 3 schools
3) Might have a Red Flag or two not related to academics

18 credits is nothing. Seriously, nothing. I think when I graduated, I had like near 200 credits (quarter system, I dunno)

Stop crying and man up. Get started and do it right from now on. YOU WILL BE A DOCTOR IF YOU WANT TO BE ONE. All it takes is time and effort.

Wily's right, OP... applying smart is just as important as being smart in school. I had a lab partner in physics who said his cousin applied to med school. Had a 3.8 GPA and a 28 MCAT... decided to apply to University of Utah and Cornell. That's it. He wasn't even a Utah resident. He probably could have gotten in to any DO school in the country, and into a good chunk of the MD schools as well, but he didn't bother doing any research to figure out what he was doing, what individual schools were looking for, or that your chances are basically nil at U of U if you're not a Utah or Idaho resident, or that a 28 will probably preclude you from Cornell. It's like he applied to the 1st two schools he'd heard of, and that was it.

That's where SDN comes in... you learn how to play the game from others who are in the game... then you jump in and get into med school.

 

[CopToEM]

As my grandfather would say, it's time to pull yourself up by your bootstraps and get on it. It's the minority who do not face adversity in pursuit of their education. I don't have Crohns but I have worked 40+ hour weeks my entire college career (yes, even through Organic, Physics, Genetics, etc.).

If you replace those grades and excel at a high level from here on out you will not only have self respect but you will have tremendous respect from your family, peers, and medical admissions committees. Now or never! 👍

 

[GlimmerGlass]

Don't forget to also start working on your EC's because those are important too 😉