Feeling Hopeless

[Kochanie]

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I keep debating if I should give up now and enjoy my last 2.5 years of college more.

I did pretty "eh" in my classes freshman year and terrible my first quarter of sophomore year. And I'm debating whether or not kicking ass from now on will improve my chances or if I'm hopeless anyways? I'm confident with my ADD help + just being more disciplined, I can get only B+'s to A's in a deflating grade university.

But should I?

 

[bambam92]

Relax man. You just made a thread yesterday about how you are all upset about how you can only get a B in a bio class even if you ace everything --now today talks of giving up? You need to think long term.

 

[lazyindy]

That all depends on how bad do you want it. Take a look at this video for motivation:

 

[knv2u]

I keep debating if I should give up now and enjoy my last 2.5 years of college more.

I did pretty "eh" in my classes freshman year and terrible my first quarter of sophomore year. And I'm debating whether or not kicking ass from now on will improve my chances or if I'm hopeless anyways? I'm confident with my ADD help + just being more disciplined, I can get only B+'s to A's in a deflating grade university.

But should I?

If you aren't doing that well, you could do something else and then do a post bacc at another institution.

 

[amazing tekkers]

Have you considered transferring if the grade deflating college is holding you back?

 

[LizzyM]

What are your career alternatives? If there is something else that would bring you satisfaction, consider it. There is no shame in deciding that this is not the road for you and that there is a career that is a better fit given the cards you've been dealt. Think about what draws you to medicine and see someone in the career counseling office about other careers that combine what it is that attracts you to medicine.

 

[HarryPlopper]

Alright, so you did bad your first two years. You can help mitigate the problem by having a strong 3rd and 4th year. If you end up not doing medicine, then at least your application will still be strong for other career choices. If you're weak all four years, then getting a job is going to be difficult in this economy.

I say bust your ass now or you might be busting your ass later.

 

[BillyGee]

That all depends on how bad do you want it. Take a look at this video for motivation:

I always underestimate the effect that video has on me. Thanks for the reminder (especially with midterms coming up).

 

[moisne]

If you can think of giving up so easily - you should. :/

Took me 4 years out of my BS to get accepted, never stopped trying. I went to do a MS and taught high schoolers for 3 years - it was a good learning experience.

 

[SunsFun]

You should do your best in school regardless of what you will end up doing with your life. Last time I checked google isn't hiring C-students. Set yourself up for success.

 

[DermViser]

What are your career alternatives? If there is something else that would bring you satisfaction, consider it. There is no shame in deciding that this is not the road for you and that there is a career that is a better fit given the cards you've been dealt. Think about what draws you to medicine and see someone in the career counseling office about other careers that combine what it is that attracts you to medicine.

Ding! Ding! Ding! As always, LizzyM has the sensible and practical solution. There are MANY healthcare fields i.e. Nursing, Nurse Practitioner, PA, etc. that may be just as well if not better than the MD (from a financial and lifestyle standpoint).

 

[CSqueed]

Ding! Ding! Ding! As always, LizzyM has the sensible and practical solution. There are MANY healthcare fields i.e. Nursing, Nurse Practitioner, PA, etc. that may be just as well if not better than the MD (from a financial and lifestyle standpoint).

You forgot the DO degree.

OP, you can get into DO schools and still become a doctor with a 3.3 GPA.

 

[LizzyM]

Ding! Ding! Ding! As always, LizzyM has the sensible and practical solution. There are MANY healthcare fields i.e. Nursing, Nurse Practitioner, PA, etc. that may be just as well if not better than the MD (from a financial and lifestyle standpoint).

There are also non-clinical careers that may be a good fit for OP.

 

[DermViser]

You forgot the DO degree.

OP, you can get into DO schools and still become a doctor with a 3.3 GPA.

D.O. schools while easier to matriculate into, have the same level of difficulty, if not maybe higher, with having to learn OMT, than MD schools.

 

[DermViser]

There are also non-clinical careers that may be a good fit for OP.

I'm assuming that he/she wants to actually do some type of healthcare, not be a health administrator (i.e. MBA, etc.)

 

[CSqueed]

D.O. schools while easier to matriculate into, have the same level of difficulty, if not maybe higher, with having to learn OMT, than MD schools.

I am a DO student, and unless I grew more brains from undergrad, the competition is not as high as the "gunner" MD type.

 

[DermViser]

I am a DO student, and unless I grew more brains from undergrad, the competition is not as high as the "gunner" MD type.

I'm not talking about the competitive environment during MD school. DO schools cover the same material as MD schools.

 

[moisne]

I am a DO student, and unless I grew more brains from undergrad, the competition is not as high as the "gunner" MD type.

You grew more brains haha

 

[boomshaketheroom]

You forgot the DO degree.

OP, you can get into DO schools and still become a doctor with a 3.3 GPA.

You can get into MD schools with a 3.3 GPA...

 

[DermViser]

You can get into MD schools with a 3.3 GPA...

Yeah, if you're a URM.

 

[boomshaketheroom]

Yeah, if you're a URM.

It's more likely as a URM, but I'm not (white male) and I did. I know it's just an anecdote, all I'm saying is it's possible.

 

[DermViser]

It's more likely as a URM, but I'm not (white male) and I did. I know it's just an anecdote, all I'm saying is it's possible.

Yes, it's possible. But I wouldn't exactly use that "possibility" as a way to guide one's career choices and spend even more money on.

 

[boomshaketheroom]

Yes, it's possible. But I wouldn't exactly use that "possibility" as a way to guide one's career choices and spend even more money on.

That certainly is one way of thinking. Luckily the OP is not you or me and can decide based on his or her own priorities.

 

[LizzyM]

I'm assuming that he/she wants to actually do some type of healthcare, not be a health administrator (i.e. MBA, etc.)

I'm not assuming anything.... the OP should explore all sorts of possible careers... sophomore year of college is a great time to feel out the opportunities in a number of areas and not just things related to "health" or clinical care or hospitals or even public health. That's the point... why do you like medicine? what other careers provide similar opportunities?

 

[Kochanie]

I honestly couldn't see myself doing anything else, I'm just wondering if a strong 2.5 years + summer(s) can "make up" for some bad Gen Chem/Orgo (1 quarter) grades.

 

[ChemNerd07]

It's more likely as a URM, but I'm not (white male) and I did. I know it's just an anecdote, all I'm saying is it's possible.

A friend of mine just got in with a similar GPA, MD school. You either have to kill your MCAT or do a post bac to boost your GPA/show you can do well in higher level classes.

**edit: he's also a white male took him 2 tries though.

 

[boomshaketheroom]

I honestly couldn't see myself doing anything else, I'm just wondering if a strong 2.5 years + summer(s) can "make up" for some bad Gen Chem/Orgo (1 quarter) grades.

Yes, although I don't know what you mean by "bad." People on here have different definitions of that than most people. But work hard and do really really well/ build good relationships with letter writers/ get plenty of very solid ECs and rock the MCAT (or at least most of those things) and it is certainly possible. It may take a few tries, though, so make sure you have plans for if you need to re-apply and for if you decide it isnt worth it to keep applying if things dont work out.

 

[Espadaleader]

You really have to want it too. This lifestyle is not a joke. Everyone that makes it is doing what that guy in that video is doing or more. They may play it off and say its "easy" but you don't go into medicine (1000s of hours of studying and stress) and stay in medicine (100,000s of dollars in debt, loss of personal time etc.) if you don't have that mindset.

There is a girl I know that took the MCAT three times and applied 5 years after graduation and got a full ride to her state school. I know another girl who finished undergrad and did a 40,000 dollar postbac with no guarantee she would get in. 40,000 dollar bet. Winner takes all. These are the people that are in these fields.

If you want it. Go get it. It's yours.

 

[Kochanie]

You really have to want it too. This lifestyle is not a joke. Everyone that makes it is doing what that guy in that video is doing or more. They may play it off and say its "easy" but you don't go into medicine (1000s of hours of studying and stress) and stay in medicine (100,000s of dollars in debt, loss of personal time etc.) if you don't have that mindset.

There is a girl I know that took the MCAT three times and applied 5 years after graduation and got a full ride to her state school. I know another girl who finished undergrad and did a 40,000 dollar postbac with no guarantee she would get in. 40,000 dollar bet. Winner takes all. These are the people that are in these fields.

If you want it. Go get it. It's yours.

I will do whatever it takes, even if it means years in between undergrad and medical school. My brother's friend went to another county for Medical School, dropped out, came back and did research, and finally got in at 26 years of age. If that's what it takes, I'll do it. I just feel hopeless right now. I'd prefer, of course, to go right into Medical School.

 

[Shjanzey]

If you want to have fun, go have fun. Change your major to business, take it easy and get a 4.0. Live life, and if you are ever ready come back to it. You won't do well in Med school if you are constantly worried about having fun. You will have very little time, compared to now, to have fun.

 

[Espadaleader]

I will do whatever it takes, even if it means years in between undergrad and medical school. My brother's friend went to another county for Medical School, dropped out, came back and did research, and finally got in at 26 years of age. If that's what it takes, I'll do it. I just feel hopeless right now. I'd prefer, of course, to go right into Medical School.

You know what it takes then. You got it!

 

[Being]

I will do whatever it takes, even if it means years in between undergrad and medical school. My brother's friend went to another county for Medical School, dropped out, came back and did research, and finally got in at 26 years of age. If that's what it takes, I'll do it. I just feel hopeless right now. I'd prefer, of course, to go right into Medical School.

Consider that you may not be ready yet. You still have a lot of growing to do: recent studies show that the brain keeps developing well into a person's 20's. I know I certainly could not have succeeded in these courses when I was an undergrad. Coming back at age 26 after gaining some life experience and figuring some things out, I'm in a much better position to do well. Stinks to have "lost" 5 years or so, but it is what it is and I don't regret the path I've taken.

If you keep banging your head against the wall saying "I'll do whatever it takes", you might end up digging yourself into a hole you can't get out of. You really don't want to be one of the people on the non-trad forum with 200 credits and a 2.8 GPA.


Enjoy your last 2.5 years of college, and explore as many different areas as you can. Medical schools look for people with diverse interests and experiences anyways.