Advice on fixing past if possible

[kast]

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I have read many of the posts here and have gotten a better idea of what to do in my situation. However, I'd like to know if anyone has any advice tailored more to my current situation.

I attended UTSA for a year right after high school and had a 1.5 gpa...I just didn't really care about school at the time.

I left there after being rejected for any more financial aid and decided to "grow up" by joining the military. There I was trained to be a medical lab technician.
I then left the Army and attended a community college (didn't take any of my science courses here) and got a 3.34 GPA. Much better than UTSA but still not the best I could've done.

I am majoring in computer science and felt confident in that until only about two months ago when a friend/coworker planted the "what about being a doctor" seed in my head. Ever since then I can't stop looking things up about medical school and thinking of how to get in. Honestly, I've never felt this way about computer science. Comp sci always felt like something I liked and I knew I could do well without too much effort. Now that I've decided that being a doctor is my ultimate goal, I am more scared than ever.

My cumulative GPA is a 2.8 and I need only about 13 hours of 4.0 grades to get it to a 3.0. From there, I will need to work hard to get it to around a 3.1-3.4. I am very confident in my ability to do this but am worried that it won't be enough.

Have I basically ruined my chances by deciding too late and after too many mistakes in school?

Truthfully, I'm even afraid to see my advisor which I'll be meeting next week at UTSA where I'm returning. I'm scared he or she will laugh at me and make me feel like reaching my goal is simply out of the question. I've talked to the chief pathologist at my lab whom I explained this too. She gave me a boost in thinking "you can still do it if you put your mind to it". however, the more I think of the road ahead the more I worry that I've just made too many mistakes.

I'm planning on still majoring in computer science and getting a bachelor's degree in that field while taking all my premed courses. My question is, will my drive, hunger, and new obsession for this completely different career goal be enough to get me in or am I too late?

 

[Sooz]

Your situation actually sounds somewhat similar to a person I met at school. When she went to college right out of High School she bombed it. She went a few semesters and ended up with some "W's" , a D, a few C's, and a B-craptacular huh. 😉 That was all about 20 years (give or take a few years) ago, since she has been back to school she says her overall GPA is about a 3.1 (not averaging those old grades--which of course they will be averaged in for application purposes). She is getting close to finishing up her undergrad and does not want to mess around any longer, she is really hoping to get into a medical school without having to do any post bac stuff.

She told me (and I honestly believe her) that she has been in contact with some of the DO schools and got the impression that her GPA shouldn't pose much of a problem. Of course MCAT, EC's, blah blah blah....will all play a big role. But if you are interested in the DO philosophy, I don't think your GPA will keep you out on it's own. Best of luck! 🙂

 

[ShyRem]

Sounds JUST LIKE ME. 20 years ago I went to school and failed my second sophomore semester. Every class. My GPA from there is about a 1.72. I withdrew. Fast forward 20 years. I'm a mom, have been a paramedic for 15 years, a firefighter in the past for 5. I went back to school and graduated with honors doing a dual chem/math degree in 3 years, and have a 29 MCAT. But my total GPA is still a 3.23 according to amcas, and a 2.93 according to aacomas (aacomas assigned credits to courses listed without credit hours on my transcripts). I got interviews at UNECOM, MSUCOM, DMUCOM, and VCU. Interestingly, KCOM sent me a letter rejecting me but inviting me to apply for their masters of sciences program to 'strengthen my application'. I thought it was funny that UNE, DMU, MSU, and VCU could all look past the grades from 20 years ago, but KCOM couldn't. But a school can't interview every single applicant. By the way, I'm accepted at UNECOM, and I'm in the potential acceptance pool at VCU (as in not rejected after the interview).

Bottom line, you are in almost the same position I'm in. It can be done... you need a decent MCAT to help you along and a really good PS. Good luck to you, work hard, and don't take no for an answer.

 

[kast]

well thanks for those words. Hearing about others that have done something similar helps make it seem very possible.

thanks for the similar story. Your history sounds so much like mine, and it's exactly what I needed to hear.


thanks again...i'll keep reading any more replies and make sure I become more active on posting. especially as I make my progress.

😉

 

[nontrad314]

Hey Kast,

There's not much I can add to what's already here.

One thing: You sound as if you plan to continue pursuing Comp Sci while completing BCPM. Why not try to leverage the Comp Sci towards your future in medicine. Bio Informatics (genomics / proteomics) or Medical Informatics (http://www.amia.org/ http://www.imia.org/); and various related research are 2 routes. There's some very interesting work to be done in MI in relation to distribution in rural areas consistent with various executive orders (I can't remember the link right now; but I'll post it if I can find it).

You might even be able to pocket some $$ as an RA for such efforts. Just a thought.
Anyway,

Good luck and work hard like ShyRem says!!!!

-------------------
EDIT: Here's that link to MI in relation to distribution in rural areas (TeleHealth etc):

http://www.os.dhhs.gov/healthit/goals.html

 

[MSgtLou]

It isn't over..... When I exited college after my first year, I left with a .97 GPA. I then got a job working at a lumber yard, then went to school at a JC and got an AA degree in Math with a 3.5 GPA. After 20 years in the Marines, I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Physics, minor Biology. My lifetime GPA is now a 3.56, because the CASPA process doesn't count the first grade from a failed class. Even then, my GPA would be a 3.4 or something because after taking 67 classes, all of those "A's" start to add up.

I am applying to a PA school, and was given advanced placement consideration. Having looked at the two processes, I have concluded that probability wise, it is harder to become a PA.

Obviously, the people on the acceptance committees expect people to make mistakes, and I addressed this in my narrative, being in a rock& roll band touring instead of studying!

My advice is to do well in science classes, my GPA there is 3.8 since they told me this is where they placed their focus of effort. My advice is also to take every class seriously, as well as volunteer effort, I believe this is what got me this far. Hope that helps you.

 

[kast]

As for experience in the med field, will a few years as a laboratory tech help me or should I look for more opportunities? I imagine it would be pretty easy to ask our pathologist for hints at where to find more experience or volunteer work.

thanks again for the continued responses!

As for the strong PS, if that means the personal statement, I think I'll do well on that. I've always felt strong in english and literature courses. How much is that PS really weighed? two friends from work asked me to look over their papers. One of them was very open to suggestions, and I was able to work with him to make it flow and sound pretty good. The other friend (this one applying for PA school) had a very poor paper but didn't seem to take constructive criticism well. She's sent out some bad papers so far and seems too proud to ask for real help. It seems she just wanted someone to say how good it was as oppose to offer help on it. She didn't seem worried as if it's not that important...what do you all know about the importance of this statement?

 

[1Path]

What's with the applying to med school afer 20 years stuff!! I'm in that boat!

Yes, I was in that <2.0 GPA club too and managed to overcome it. It can be done.


PS- Getting into PA school IS harder than med school.

 

[MSgtLou]

A vision is a vision, and a vision doesn't ask to see your drivers license. 20 years is a man-made concept created by people who want to rationalize the unfullfillment of dreams and visions.

I realize that there are some schools that won't take older students, but remember, this is against the law and there are enough that will, especially DO schools.

I went the PA track because no sense in going to med school/residency for 7 years when I am merely going to work in primary care anyway.

And in comment to a personal statement, it is the one thing that you submit that reflects you, and you alone. Think about it... a bad paper submitted on behalf of a student will tell the board a LOT! Don't you think they know that she consulted a professional writer and asked for suggestions and the paper is still bad? That tells them that she isn't open to criticism! And if she didn't consult a professional writer, then she isn't as serious as she needs to be, considering that the other 3,000 applicants did... either way, unsuitable for acceptance.

 

[kast]

again thanks for everyone for keeping this thread alive and most importantly my ideal and hope alive.

I've talked to my advisor at UTSA and told him what the plan was. He didn't laugh like I thought 😉

He simply stated that the computer science degree there will not really accept pre med courses with the degree so I'll just have to take those hours as extra hours. This works for me since I need all the credits possible to raise that GPA. If I'm not mistaken, he said something about minoring in bio or something with my comp sci degree. I'm excited. He said there is a plan called "strategies for raising GPA" and that he'd like to talk to me about my options.

lastly, he stated what you all have emphasized so much, "It is never too late to dream and never too late to fix old mistakes."

I'll be meeting with him next week. As for my stubborn friend's paper, I stayed up late and finished revamping it anyway. I figure at least it won't be her paper that keeps her from an interview. If she gets the interview, then she's on her own, of course, and they can make a judgement on her at that point. For the record, I didn't change any facts on her paper or add any junk.

Good luck to all of you and I hope that I will be able to provide someone with some hope like you all have done for me. Everyone needs a little motivation every now and then I guess

 

[Raven Feather]

During my freshman year of getting my associate's degree I did incredibly horrible with a GPA of like 1. something and was placed on academic probation. I went back to pursue a bachelors and have maintained a 4.0, and also retook some of those entry level courses that I blew my first year (such as sociology and computer literacy). My GPA is now 3.77. It can be done, a lot of work though!