Chances of getting in after this semester?

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minimia

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Ok so I'll spare you my whiny bull****. Its been a very hard first year for me. I had so many things go completely wrong and as we speak they're still going completely wrong, but I just wanted to get some honest opinions and possible advice without (if possible) any severe chastising that is sure to follow this post; believe me I've done enough of it to myself.
I still have high hopes of getting into Medical School and I doubt that regardless of this situation that it will change, but anyway, I started off strong in the beginning of this freshman year and now it's all just crumbled. I dealt with a death, a severe car accident in which I was involved, struggling to pay rent, utilities and food, abuse mentally and physically from my former significant other, severe clinical depression, working a full time job all while a full-time student with 16 credits a downgrade from my 20 credit start in my first semester. Now, I'm afraid all of this has taken its toll and well I had to drop two of the courses which gave me two "Ws" and now I'll have 3 Fs. I'm calm actually, I've done my crying and what not and I know I'm not a dumb person, its just this semester has been the worse. I have the option to retake all three courses which I will do in the upcoming summer semester and probably submit an appeal. I also plan to in the coming semesters take 19 credits at minimum to hopefully offset this semester. So far I have 500 hours of community service logged (I plan to pace it to 500 or more a semester), started a club at my University, been involved in 3 extracurriculars, shadowed a physician and this summer plan to take courses, volunteer, shadow more and participate as a research volunteer assistant. If my GPA is still very low I'll do a post-undergrad degree (from what I hear it helps) Please stop me if you feel as though I'm kidding myself. Does anyone here even remotely think that I have a chance at redemption once the time comes for me to apply to medical school or should I forget about it and pursue another career?
 
What is your current gpa and mcat score?
 
What is your current gpa and mcat score?

No MCAT score, it's OP's first year.

In any case, yes, you can certainly bounce back. The first thing to do is get your life together first. If you're going to do this repair work, you need a clear mind to do it. If you're open to DO, then take advantage of grade replacement. If not, do your best to ace the following years and possibly do an SMP if your GPA is still not optimal. Of course, take the MCAT and do well. Sprinkle some ECs throughout, and you definitely have a fighting chance.
 
No MCAT score, it's OP's first year.

That's what I thought at first, I got confused with the title saying "after this semester" thinking it would be once this "spring" semester ended. Sorry OP.

Do pretty much exactly what Doctor Strange said.
 
Although I see no issue with the W's, F's are a big red flag, no less, 3 of them. From my understanding, AMCAS averages all course retakes in GPA calculations. If you can really strap down and show that you can succeed in those courses, the blow from the F's can be softened (As can doing the same for all your classes from now to your graduation).

Do I think you even remotely have a chance at redemption? Without a doubt. Your ECs look spectacular. Although your GPA probably took an early hit, you can always raise it. GPA isn't the end-all-be-all in med admissions, and like you said, you can always do a post-bacc program to both make your GPA more competitive and prove to med schools you can succeed.

Ask yourself how bad to you want it? Do you think that adcoms are going to shed tears for your struggles and accept you on pity? No way in hell. Do what you need to raise your GPA, beast your MCAT, and keep doing what you're doing for your ECs.
 
OP, you're not the first one to go through this and won't be the last. I struggled immensely my freshman year and had no self-discipline to study. I was in a situation very similar to you at the end of my freshman year. But I bounced back and re-took every class the following year at a community college (the big state school was just not the place for me), then transferred to a University that fit me. This year I received multiple acceptances. You just need to bounce back and do well from here on. Figure out the issues in your life. If you're at the wrong school, transfer. Don't like your roommate, find a new one. Family issues, fix them. Whatever's going on, you need to figure it out so it doesn't affect your studies.
Good luck and keep your chin up. :luck:

PS- taking "19 credits at minimum" per semester is just stupid. If it takes you an extra semester or year to graduate that's fine. Took me an extra year and I am SO thankful now. So many people are on the 5-year plan for undergrad. It does not matter in the grand scheme of things. ENJOY college, don't take 19 creds every semester. Really dumb.
 
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