Breaking Down. Should I withdraw from school and give up?

[Nerdeka]

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Don't mean to double post so recently.

4 years top school, **** GPA.
1 semester postbacc (12 credits), 4.0
Currently 18 credits (withdrew from a 4 credit class)...

This semester I just withdrew from a class and am doing FINE. By fine, I mean on paper I am getting As. But I am struggling so hard.... I am so anxious I can't even do my assignments (usually studying was an issue, not assignments). I'm 4 labs behind and professor is allowing me to turn them all in tomorrow which is good.

I'm just not sure if I can go on and if I should even pursue medical school? Applying this June is out of question and plan on working next year.

 

[efle]

Get your anxiety treated!

 

[Beezlebub]

Don't mean to double post so recently.

4 years top school, **** GPA.
1 semester postbacc (12 credits), 4.0
Currently 18 credits (withdrew from a 4 credit class)...

This semester I just withdrew from a class and am doing FINE. By fine, I mean on paper I am getting As. But I am struggling so hard.... I am so anxious I can't even do my assignments (usually studying was an issue, not assignments). I'm 4 labs behind and professor is allowing me to turn them all in tomorrow which is good.

I'm just not sure if I can go on and if I should even pursue medical school? Applying this June is out of question and plan on working next year.

May I ask why you want to become a physician?

 

[MareNostrummm]

Don't mean to double post so recently.

4 years top school, **** GPA.
1 semester postbacc (12 credits), 4.0
Currently 18 credits (withdrew from a 4 credit class)...

This semester I just withdrew from a class and am doing FINE. By fine, I mean on paper I am getting As. But I am struggling so hard.... I am so anxious I can't even do my assignments (usually studying was an issue, not assignments). I'm 4 labs behind and professor is allowing me to turn them all in tomorrow which is good.

I'm just not sure if I can go on and if I should even pursue medical school? Applying this June is out of question and plan on working next year.

This is your postbacc you are supposed to crush it. If you have even 1 more withdrawal after this its just going to look very bad... Ace the rest of the 14 units. Next semester take 16 and prove that you can handle it and then work your way back up to 18.

 

[Goro]

Anxiety and depression are poorly managed on anonymous internet message board. Get help NOW.

Don't mean to double post so recently.

4 years top school, **** GPA.
1 semester postbacc (12 credits), 4.0
Currently 18 credits (withdrew from a 4 credit class)...

This semester I just withdrew from a class and am doing FINE. By fine, I mean on paper I am getting As. But I am struggling so hard.... I am so anxious I can't even do my assignments (usually studying was an issue, not assignments). I'm 4 labs behind and professor is allowing me to turn them all in tomorrow which is good.

I'm just not sure if I can go on and if I should even pursue medical school? Applying this June is out of question and plan on working next year.

 

[blackroses]

This is your postbacc you are supposed to crush it. If you have even 1 more withdrawal after this its just going to look very bad... Ace the rest of the 14 units. Next semester take 16 and prove that you can handle it and then work your way back up to 18.

This is terrible advice for this situation. This is how you end up having a breakdown that results in withdrawing from all classes or failing all your classes.

Withdraw from some of your classes - if there are any that you feel you're able to keep up in, consider staying in those. Most importantly, go get your anxiety treated. Try your school counseling clinic.

 

[Beezlebub]

Anxiety and depression are poorly managed on anonymous internet message board. Get help NOW.

NO! ITS THE ONLY SOCIAL INTERACTION I GET aside from patient interactions.

 

[MareNostrummm]

This is terrible advice for this situation. This is how you end up having a breakdown that results in withdrawing from all classes or failing all your classes.

Withdraw from some of your classes - if there are any that you feel you're able to keep up in, consider staying in those. Most importantly, go get your anxiety treated. Try your school counseling clinic.

OP is already in a post bacc for GPA repair AFTER years of screwing up their main GPA... IF their anxiety is so bad that they have to withdraw from ALL classes then it is likely so severe that it is not going to improve by next semester (aka they need 6 months + off...maybe even longer or this situation will repeat itself). This compounds into more gap years... more missed cycles, more red flags to explain in your application....

You can't just start a post bacc and give up anytime the situation gets tough, that just ends up looking worse in an already very competitive process.

 

[blackroses]

OP is already in a post bacc for GPA repair AFTER years of screwing up their main GPA... IF their anxiety is so bad that they have to withdraw from ALL classes then it is likely so severe that it is not going to improve by next semester (aka they need 6 months + off...maybe even longer or this situation will repeat itself). This compounds into more gap years... more missed cycles, more red flags to explain in your application....

You can't just start a post bacc and give up anytime the situation gets tough, that just ends up looking worse in an already very competitive process.

I get that it isn't an ideal situation, but telling someone with severe unmanaged anxiety and/or depression to basically suck it up and power through is almost a surefire way to end up with terrible results.

 

[MareNostrummm]

I get that it isn't an ideal situation, but telling someone with severe unmanaged anxiety and/or depression to basically suck it up and power through is almost a surefire way to end up with terrible results.

Well then they're going to have to accept missing at least 2 application cycles at this rate (or whatever schedule they were on) before their anxiety is controlled... who says they won't just give up the next time it gets tough? If they drop even 1 more class then it just looks really bad at this point.

 

[blackroses]

Well then they're going to have to accept missing at least 2 application cycles at this rate (or whatever schedule they were on) before their anxiety is controlled... who says they won't just give up the next time it gets tough? If they drop even 1 more class then it just looks really bad at this point.

I guess we just disagree about what an applicant can recover from. I believe a couple of withdraws are not fatal, but failing or getting poor grades in several classes just might be. Therefore my advice is to do everything possible to prevent the second from occurring.

Also, this is not just about "giving up when it gets tough".

 

[Lawpy]

Don't mean to double post so recently.

4 years top school, **** GPA.
1 semester postbacc (12 credits), 4.0
Currently 18 credits (withdrew from a 4 credit class)...

This semester I just withdrew from a class and am doing FINE. By fine, I mean on paper I am getting As. But I am struggling so hard.... I am so anxious I can't even do my assignments (usually studying was an issue, not assignments). I'm 4 labs behind and professor is allowing me to turn them all in tomorrow which is good.

I'm just not sure if I can go on and if I should even pursue medical school? Applying this June is out of question and plan on working next year.

1. Get treated for anxiety and stress right now. This should be your top priority.

2. Once you're treated/calm/relaxed, spend some time self-reflecting and assessing why you want to pursue medicine. What makes medicine personally important to you? Find that motivation and seize it. Pursue your career with confidence and positivity.

 

[Goro]

Telling someone to power through when one is not at their best, and in this case, close to their worst, is terrible advice. People who do this simply crash and burn and after that, their judgment gets put into question. Getting help is not a loss of face or a sign of weakness. If the OP had hematuria, would you simply tell them to "power on"?

The solution is simple: Get help. This includes not only fixing problems now, but developing coping skills for the next crunch time.

Mental health issues are the #1 reason my school loses students to dismissal, withdrawal or LOA.

Well then they're going to have to accept missing at least 2 application cycles at this rate (or whatever schedule they were on) before their anxiety is controlled... who says they won't just give up the next time it gets tough? If they drop even 1 more class then it just looks really bad at this point.

 

[dguirg95]

OP is already in a post bacc for GPA repair AFTER years of screwing up their main GPA... IF their anxiety is so bad that they have to withdraw from ALL classes then it is likely so severe that it is not going to improve by next semester (aka they need 6 months + off...maybe even longer or this situation will repeat itself). This compounds into more gap years... more missed cycles, more red flags to explain in your application....

You can't just start a post bacc and give up anytime the situation gets tough, that just ends up looking worse in an already very competitive process.

God Forbid you become a physician who has a patient with severe anxiety. If this is how you handle it, you'll drive them into a pit. Anxiety isnt about giving up. It is not about quitting because it is tough. If you had any empathy, or any knowledge of the disorder, you would know that anxiety is just that A REAL DISORDER. Someone having anxiety attacks or severe anxiety on a regular basis CANNOT power through it. It is not physically possible. This isnt "worrying" the way an average person worries. This is severely debilitating and your advice is ignorant and insensitive.

OP, please take care of yourself. Find someone to talk to, find a way to get treated ASAP and then figure out school later. If you're questioned about it in the future and explain your situation, any doctor on an admissions committee will be fully understanding. Don't make the mistake of "trying to push through it" and making it even worse for yourself. I sincerely hope you get the help you need. <3

 

[MareNostrummm]

God Forbid you become a physician who has a patient with severe anxiety. If this is how you handle it, you'll drive them into a pit. Anxiety isnt about giving up. It is not about quitting because it is tough. If you had any empathy, or any knowledge of the disorder, you would know that anxiety is just that A REAL DISORDER. Someone having anxiety attacks or severe anxiety on a regular basis CANNOT power through it. It is not physically possible. This isnt "worrying" the way an average person worries. This is severely debilitating and your advice is ignorant and insensitive.

OP, please take care of yourself. Find someone to talk to, find a way to get treated ASAP and then figure out school later. If you're questioned about it in the future and explain your situation, any doctor on an admissions committee will be fully understanding. Don't make the mistake of "trying to push through it" and making it even worse for yourself. I sincerely hope you get the help you need. <3

EDIT: went back and actually read OPs other thread. OP even admitted they took too many classes and is citing family issues as a factor as well. I originally misread it as 18 dropping to 14 (which should be manageable)

OP had a 4.0 with 12 units and intentionally decided to up the ante to 22 ... come on now... 22 units?????

Even people that do not suffer from anxiety will have significant difficulty doing this jump. I am not going to pretend like its just OP's anxiety playing a role in this.

We can sugar coat it and label me as the bad guy here but I'm still suspecting an element of OP not even being able to handle their course load as a factor into this exacerbating their anxiety.

They tried to nearly double their units ffs...

 

[freak7]

We don't even know what classes OP was taking (orgo, physics, bio, gen chem all at the same time)?

I don't think you quite understand what a post-bacc is...

 

[MareNostrummm]

I don't think you quite understand what a post-bacc is...

Could be retaking classes.. missing prereqs.. doing all the prereqs.. all upper division classes... DIY formal... ??

 

[efle]

God Forbid you become a physician who has a patient with severe anxiety. If this is how you handle it, you'll drive them into a pit. Anxiety isnt about giving up. It is not about quitting because it is tough. If you had any empathy, or any knowledge of the disorder, you would know that anxiety is just that A REAL DISORDER. Someone having anxiety attacks or severe anxiety on a regular basis CANNOT power through it. It is not physically possible. This isnt "worrying" the way an average person worries. This is severely debilitating and your advice is ignorant and insensitive.

OP, please take care of yourself. Find someone to talk to, find a way to get treated ASAP and then figure out school later. If you're questioned about it in the future and explain your situation, any doctor on an admissions committee will be fully understanding. Don't make the mistake of "trying to push through it" and making it even worse for yourself. I sincerely hope you get the help you need. <3

Only 14 posts to fulfill Burnett's law, wow

 

[gallons]

you are overdoing it. take 2 classes max. Relax.

 

[Turkishking]

Why are you rushing? Taking 22 credits of all science at once is insane. Why don't you take your time with this? Medical schools aren't going anywhere. You need to pace yourself similar to how you pace yourself during a marathon.


Best of luck.

 

[MareNostrummm]

Telling someone to power through when one is not at their best, and in this case, close to their worst, is terrible advice. People who do this simply crash and burn and after that, their judgment gets put into question. Getting help is not a loss of face or a sign of weakness. If the OP had hematuria, would you simply tell them to "power on"?

The solution is simple: Get help. This includes not only fixing problems now, but developing coping skills for the next crunch time.

Mental health issues are the #1 reason my school loses students to dismissal, withdrawal or LOA.

edit: OP appears to have chronic anxiety (stalked the rest of their history), which was compounded by them trying to rush all their classes at once in order to be on time for the next application cycle..

 

[blackroses]

This isn't mental health issues (not at a severe level at least). This is him going from 12 units to 22 units (for god knows why) and paying the price for it. He's 4 labs worth of material behind because he's got way too many classes to manage. If he started with 12-16 units then his "anxiety" may spontaneously cure itself!

If he's doing a post bacc (because he screwed up in undergrad) he should have the foresight by now to not put himself into this position, it demonstrates bad judgement. Hence why I recommended against full withdrawing and playing the mental illness card, which is going to hurt him when he has to explain it down the line...

Calm yourself down a little bit. 22 credits is definitely a huge workload, but it's doable without a breakdown. While a heavy course load may be compounding other issues, there are still other issues present, and those need to be dealt with.

 

[sammiesings]

Well then they're going to have to accept missing at least 2 application cycles at this rate (or whatever schedule they were on) before their anxiety is controlled... who says they won't just give up the next time it gets tough? If they drop even 1 more class then it just looks really bad at this point.

Wtf. That's not even true. Also, judgemental much? "Screwed up in undergrad" "if they drop even one more class" etc etc. Just so you know, bashing others isn't ever going to make you feel better about your life.

OP please don't think a stray couple of Ws will ruin your chances. No matter what, do not let people like this premed student get to you. Follow the tried and true advice of folks like Goro, who is on adcom, or other gpa enhancer candidates who successfully gained admission (me. MD too, hater). Get your anxiety under control and you're likely golden. Obviously given your strong showing your first post bacc semester, you're more than capable. Now you just have to get your anxiety handled (and self confidence?) And then continue on your way.