DO I EVEN HAVE A CHANCE?

[anotherlostsoul]

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Hi,

This is my first post and I'm not sure if I'm doing it right but here it goes. I am a sophomore in college. I have one more week to finish my fall semester. I started off heavy with too many classes and I kind of burnt out. I got good grades in high school and underestimated college. I started “working hard” and studying “harder” when I was 16 because that’s when I decided I was going to do premed. Between those summers I was constantly doing work and never had a “resting time”. Around that same time, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Lately I’ve been switching medicines and came to the conclusion with my doctor and advisor I need a gap semester to figure out my fatigue and medication. I’m seeing a psychologist during this time because my rheumatologist suspects I may have ADD and that she can help me with my lack of focusing. I definitely struggle with procrastination and I’ve realized lately that my issue isn’t understanding the material, it’s that I don’t study enough before hand for it. I get way too tired very quickly and that is one of the symptoms of my arthritis and the medication I take. I also realize that I handle stress really badly and avoid the issue and/or studying and then just give up too easily. The issue is I know that I have these issues, but I don’t know how I can face them which is why I’m going to be seeing a psychologist. I went into University with a major in biochemistry and a minor in English and then switched it to a major in English and a minor in chemistry. I don’t know exactly what fits me and what I want to do, all I know is that I really want to be a doctor and I’m not sure if I have any more chances. During the gap semester I plan on volunteering at a hospital and doing research.

Fall 2018 Semester:

• English; Credits: 3.0, Grade: A
• Algebra; Credits:2.0, Grade: D+
• Bio (pre req); Credits: 3.0, Grade: C+
• Psych w/lab; Credits:4.0, Grade: A-
• FYS (First year seminar); Credits: 1, Grade: A
• I also took a class at a community college. Our university allows us to take classes at the community college that I haven’t transferred over yet, so the overall GPA does not include the GPAs for the community college; Sociology; Credits: 4.0, Grade: A

Winter 2019 Semester:

• Algebra; Credits: 2, Grade: B
• Bio 1 w/lab; Credits: 4.0, Grade: C
• Chm (pre req); Credits: 4.0, Grade: C-
• Communication; Credits: 3.0, Grade: B+
• I took another class at the community college; not included in overall GPA, Political Science; Credits: 4.00; Grade: A-

Summer 2019 Semester:

• Bio 1 w/lab (I RETOOK IT AND GOT THE SAME GRADE); Credits: 4.0, Grade: C
• Chem 1; Credits: 4.0, Grade: F
• Chem 1 lab; Credits: 1.0, Grade: B-
• Pre-Calc; Credits: 4.0, Grade: D+

Fall 2019 Semester:

• Creative Writing; Credits: 3.0, Grade Prediction: A- or B+
• Chem 1 (RETAKE); Credits: 4.0, Grade Prediction: F or D
• Pre-Calc (RETAKE); Credits: 4.0, Grade Prediction: C

Overall GPA without counting Fall semester 2019 and community college classes: 2.31

Do I still have a chance or is it too late?

 

[Goro]

You need to start aceing things from now on.

Go to your school's learning or education center for help.

 

[Metamorphosis.DO]

From all I have seen, you're not in good shape. It seems that not much has changed. If an upwards trend is visible, a lower GPA is excusable in some cases. I would suggest a very focused postbac getting all As and VERY FEW Bs-- if any. You need to nail the MCAT. With major changes, I would suggest looking into DPM schools. It is a great alternative for students who have struggled.

 

[Dr panda]

It seems that you can’t handle science coursework. Algebra is not calc, how did you get less than A even after your 2nd attempt? I would seriously reconsider your medical school plans. You fail retakes of freshmen intro classes even being almost a junior. I don’t believe that a miracle could happen and you will suddenly start getting all As since now. But I hope I am wrong.

 

[Seihai]

You need to step back and take a deeply critical look at your performance, perhaps with help from educational/learning specialists at your school.

Frankly, your course record does not inspire any kind of confidence that you would be able to do well in medical school, much less pass. Before you even consider becoming a doctor, you need to realize there's a real chance you won't graduate college at this rate. Your priority should not be on being premed, but on getting through college and acing things from here out.

 

[oncostudent]

You have just started. I think you need to take a deep breath and look at how you're scheduling your classes. 3 classes during your summer semester is way too hard. That time period is much shorter than a regular semester so the classes are accelerated. I think you should sit with a pre-health advisor and ask them in what sequence they think you should be taking classes.

For example, when I went to them they took at look at my transcript and saw that I had taken Calc, Physics B, and OChem in the SAME SEMESTER, on orders from my advisor for my major. They sat down with and told me they would never advise that. It's too hard for anyone. It's a lot to handle, so you have to smart about how you're approaching this.

I think you also need to take a long look at how you study. You need to find out what is working for you and what isn't because you have time to fix this but you need to fix it now. Don't wait. Find a tutor.

Also really take this gap semester to figure out why you want really want to be a doctor and use that to power your future. Who knows it could make a fantastic admissions essay.