Feeling lost and losing hope :(

[poisonouschimp]

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I graduated with a degree in health science back in may 2013. I took all of the pre-req courses for med school and really enjoyed them a lot. I also did voulenteer and shadowing work around 200 hours worth. Problem is that I was first mechanical engineering and was stubborn to switch out so my overall gpa tanked. I graduated with a 2.64 and science combined gpa of 3.2. MCAT was a 24. I really at the end of the day want to become a cardiothoracic surgeon. I have shadowed one and loved it. I recently got my first round of rejection letters and now also looking into 'easier' fields like BSN/PA/LVN programs. I am seeing I don't really even meet a lot of the min overall GPA requirements due to my engineering classes. To top it all off I am currently on disability from my job as a mechanic and 6 months off so far with no hope to return. Went back for 1 day and couldn't even perform certain jobs due to pain. I am struggling to meet rent, no real hope to get into school, and just overall feeling very lost.

Any tips or suggestions?

 

[evooo8]

What is your cGPA and sGPA calculated my AACOMAS? a 24 can still land you a spot somewhere. I got in with a cGPA 3.16 sGPA 3.35 and 25 MCAT and I applied in September.

Try to retake some of your engineering courses to get your cGPA and sGPA over 3.0. I would try at least one more time to get in somewhere. Possibly try to apply to DO and PA programs this cycle, don't apple to DO and PA at the same schools though. Keep your head up, things will work out.

 

[Doctoblast]

A 24 won't kill you if you are willing to relocate and apply broadly enough.
That GPA needs grade replacement if you even want to get past the initial screening. I would retake all F, D, C classes if at all possible and try to bring that cumulative up past a 3.0. Thankfully, any class you did terribly in will completely go away from your aacomas GPA if you retake and get an A/B.

However, we get to the issue that by the time you do all this your mcat may be expired and you may have to take the new one. Don't take it until you have sufficiently studied and are scoring close to the average matriculant scores at your schools of choice on your practice exams. If your mcat is less than 3 years old by the time you do grade replacement and if you don't want to retake I would apply to all the newest schools and your state school if you have one.

Perhaps you could retake some courses at a community college or get financial aid in order to pay tuition and it sounds like you might be eligible for FAP when it comes time to apply.

Don't give up on your dreams! It can be done!

 

[poisonouschimp]

Thanks for the motivation guys! I really can't see my self doing any other job and being happy at this point lol. I have 14 years experience in IT work, but all through word of mouth and Craigslist jobs so no company is willing to hire me and by this point I am just super bored of doing IT work anyway. Working as a mechanic was fun until I herniated my L4-L5 at work and am unable to get back into it. I really want to get into the medical field because it just feels like a good fit for me. I would love to do EMT, but the pay isn't enough to pay my bills. My disability income is nearly what I would make being an EMT which is sad that they get paid so little. LVN seems like a good step in the meantime while I continue to reapply to schools and take courses, but the local ones are around 28k and for a step stone it feels quite heavy financially.

I took my MCAT 2 times. First time I got a 17. Then when I retook it I got a 24 that was just before they changed it to the new 2015 style. So my most recent one was taken 2014, so well within the 3 year window still. The AACOMAS only look at the most recent GPA of courses I know, but some of the classes I took and did bad in are only offered at CSU and up colleges, not at local community colleges. I am not sure if I would even be able to do better in the courses if I tried retaking them since I forgot most of the engineering and advanced mathematics.

 

[Doctoblast]

Thanks for the motivation guys! I really can't see my self doing any other job and being happy at this point lol. I have 14 years experience in IT work, but all through word of mouth and Craigslist jobs so no company is willing to hire me and by this point I am just super bored of doing IT work anyway. Working as a mechanic was fun until I herniated my L4-L5 at work and am unable to get back into it. I really want to get into the medical field because it just feels like a good fit for me. I would love to do EMT, but the pay isn't enough to pay my bills. My disability income is nearly what I would make being an EMT which is sad that they get paid so little. LVN seems like a good step in the meantime while I continue to reapply to schools and take courses, but the local ones are around 28k and for a step stone it feels quite heavy financially.

I took my MCAT 2 times. First time I got a 17. Then when I retook it I got a 24 that was just before they changed it to the new 2015 style. So my most recent one was taken 2014, so well within the 3 year window still. The AACOMAS only look at the most recent GPA of courses I know, but some of the classes I took and did bad in are only offered at CSU and up colleges, not at local community colleges. I am not sure if I would even be able to do better in the courses if I tried retaking them since I forgot most of the engineering and advanced mathematics.

I'm sorry to hear about your injury. I hope you recover!

If you can't retake those engineering courses maybe you could do a postbacc program or something. It's very common that med schools mainly look at how you did in a postbacc. Plus they would be courses that you said you did well on in undergrad. Ace those and get at least a 3.8 and I'm sure that could prove to adcoms that you can handle med school. The 24 is pretty low but plenty of people get into schools every year with that kind of score. Definitely doable in my opinion.

Maybe an adcom could give you some better advice. @Goro ?

Edit: you would probably also want to avoid applying to schools that average MCAT scores

 

[j4pac]

First...attempt to retake the courses you did poorly. Get your cGPA over 3.2. Your science GPA is also on the low end. I would retake the Cs and below in your science classes. Re-take intelligently. If you busting your butt and got Cs in Organic (I'm referring to myself right now)...you may not want to retake Organic. Retake the courses you feel confident in improving your grade. Unless you want to spend the next two years retaking courses...I would find out which courses to retake to give you the best bang for your buck.

I would avoid post-bac...just too much money for the potential gain. I think that you are better off retaking classes.

I would stay put with your current MCAT score. Avoid the programs that average their MCAT scores and apply broadly to the newer schools (including Liberty as long as your are NOT adamantly opposed).

Attempt to improve your ECs, get a strong DO LOR, and PS. Your injury could be a good basis to write your PS.

 

[moonwake]

I agree with j4pac

 

[Goro]

Depression and anxiety are poorly managed on anonymous internet forums. Go get some professional help. We're not going away.

I graduated with a degree in health science back in may 2013. I took all of the pre-req courses for med school and really enjoyed them a lot. I also did voulenteer and shadowing work around 200 hours worth. Problem is that I was first mechanical engineering and was stubborn to switch out so my overall gpa tanked. I graduated with a 2.64 and science combined gpa of 3.2. MCAT was a 24. I really at the end of the day want to become a cardiothoracic surgeon. I have shadowed one and loved it. I recently got my first round of rejection letters and now also looking into 'easier' fields like BSN/PA/LVN programs. I am seeing I don't really even meet a lot of the min overall GPA requirements due to my engineering classes. To top it all off I am currently on disability from my job as a mechanic and 6 months off so far with no hope to return. Went back for 1 day and couldn't even perform certain jobs due to pain. I am struggling to meet rent, no real hope to get into school, and just overall feeling very lost.

Any tips or suggestions?