Clinical debacle

[Richdog82]

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Hi all...

Can you lend me some advice?

The postives about me:
GPA: 3.63 (That's sort of a positive) possibly with distinction.
A's in all my science and math courses except general chemistry and Calculus (b's and C's there)
MCAT: 33Q
Research experience: Kennedy Space Center, honors research dissertation
Volunteer experience: Too many hours to count

The negatives:
Had to spend 8 years as an undergrad
Got a D+ in a clinical course as an undergrad.
MCAT is expiring (took it in 2006)

Right now I am in my seventh year of undergrad as a student and am hoping to apply this spring. Things happened (program shutdowns, study abroad, major changes), so I think I can explain that okay. Also, I wanted to be a doctor so bad I was willing to spend the extra years in school to go for it. However, after another year of straight A's as a Respiratory Therapy student, I got a D+ on one of my clinical training courses.

It was my first time in the clinic and I struggled with the patient interaction dynamics there. Coincindentally, at the same time, I was also awarded a research scholarship and I did not want to give that up, but inorder to keep that scholarship I had to give up my Respiratory Therapy major and switch to Medical Technology. The requirements given to me to be allowed to retake the Respiratory Therapy course would not leave me enough time to take advantage of my research scholarship.

I am currently enrolled in a phlebotomy course and did well in my clinic there. I am also making an effort to volunteer at my local retirement home entertaining the residents there. Is this enough to offset my blemish or do I have to find some other ways to redeem myself of my clinical debacle? Right now, I am trying to find other clinical experiences but have not had any success yet.

I am just so afraid that all the medical school admission committees will think that I can't cut it in the clinic and am a quiter because I changed my major. However, I felt I had to do what was done. I know it's important to develop good people skills to be a doctor (especially the 3rd and 4th years) and am trying really hard to but I am afraid that "me just saying that" might not be enough and the option to retake that Respiratory Therapy course is out. Please give some insight.

 

[thoffen]

Can you cut it in a clinic environment? You are doing the right thing, looking for more clinical experience so you can learn and offset your previous problems. You can't do much else other than play the strengths of your application and be prepared to answer questions about it should they arise.

 

[Beast11]

Hi all...

Can you lend me some advice?

The postives about me:
GPA: 3.63 (That's sort of a positive) possibly with distinction.
A's in all my science and math courses except general chemistry and Calculus (b's and C's there)
MCAT: 33Q
Research experience: Kennedy Space Center, honors research dissertation
Volunteer experience: Too many hours to count

The volunteering should be long term. Did you have one particular type of volunteer gig that was special to you that you can talk about?

The negatives:
Had to spend 8 years as an undergrad
Got a D+ in a clinical course as an undergrad.
MCAT is expiring (took it in 2006)

Umm-this isn't quite right. MCAT is good for 3 years (2009 according to your timetable)

Also-schools usually want to know if there were unexpected breaks in the education. 8 years more or less fulltime may be OK. But be prepared to discuss if you took some weird time off (fits into your worry about being seen as a quitter).

From what I saw, nothing is a deal breaker (passed most/all of the GPA/MCAT bars) But be prepared to defend yourself!

Good luck!

 

[Richdog82]

Thanks. For the advice Beast 11 and thoffen.

I'll clarify some stuff:

Thoffen:

I think I can cut it in the clinic. Just drew blood from a patient last week without a hitch. However, I still need to work on that "I know what I'm doing even though I really don't" attitude.

Beast:

Volunteering:
100 hours in Respiratory Therapy (Not meaningful, just stocked shelves)
100 hours in Emergency Medicine Research (recruited patients for reseasrch studies [so so meaningful])
100 hours and counting at a Retirement home (This one was meaningful and I am sort of running the show there. eg. running BINGO games, breaking up fights, talking with elderly people about there families, babysitting them, etc.)

and only took two summer quarters off (one to study for the MCAT and the other to recover from the respiratory debacle)

 

[RangerD]

The negatives:
Had to spend 8 years as an undergrad
Got a D+ in a clinical course as an undergrad.
MCAT is expiring (took it in 2006)

I was taking college classes on and off for 14 years before I completed my undergraduate degree...so, 8 years is pretty quick by my count. 🙂

As for the D+...I'm sure you wouldn't be the first person to enter med school with a D on their transcript. It's not that big of a deal. Just be able to explain it.

Good luck!