GPA decline due to serious illness

[KCl]

---

Members do not see this ad.

First post here on SDN, looking for advice and feedback. Here it goes:

I started college in 2013 and did so-so first semester. Second semester I had a plan to improve in place and intended to stick to it, but had several health issues conflicting with this. First of which was my heart: Congenital Heart Disorders were worsening in this time causing me to miss class to make hospital visits/monitor my status by telephone, and return home for monitoring of my pacemaker. Secondly, issues with seizures caused several inhibitions. Worsening depression, chronic fatigue, and undernourishment also played a role. All in all, I should've taken a medical leave of absence but mistakenly assumed I could handle it. Between Winter 2014 and Fall 2014 my GPA dropped significantly. In the Winter of 2015 I decided to attend part time and focus on my well being, and got As in both courses.

After two semesters of declining health, I am back on track and ready to attend full time again and dive in. My only issue is GPA recovery. My cumulative is insanely low right now, about a 1.58. I'm currently a sophomore in terms of credits completed because of a D, D- and 6 F's accumulated over this course. I have retaken one of my failed courses and will be retaking two more this Fall.

Even if I was to work hard to get my GPA to about a 3.0-3.1 over the course of the rest of my career, it will not be competitive for MD. I've looked into post Baccs and SMPs as well. I have been involved in some ECs I'm passionate about, have done some volunteering and shadowing (before I became sick), and plan to pursue research when the time allows.

 

[usc_92]

Go DO if you want to be a physician. Little chance at MD except maybe your state school if you get As throughout the rest of undergrad. You can probably swing a compelling story if you turn around and don't make yourself a victim.

 

[KCl]

Go DO if you want to be a physician. Little chance at MD except maybe your state school if you get As throughout the rest of undergrad. You can probably swing a compelling story if you turn around and don't make yourself a victim.

Thanks for the quick reply! I'll start looking into DO alternatively. Luckily there are many state schools where I live and they're good to IS applicants (though their stats blow mine away :/) I was really planning to turn around (timing now) and post my best work the rest of college. Rather than play victim I'd say how the experiences exposed me/shaped my interest in clinical science and medicine as a whole!

 

[deleted480308]

you haven't posted even 1 high gpa semester....you need to assume DO is your shot but you'll still need to get your junk together. Drop the number of credits, get some academic counseling, do whatever to start getting As

 

[candbgirl]

Can you go back and get retroactive withdrawal for the semesters you were very sick? Frankly MD would be near impossible to achieve and unless you get all As from now on DO will be a stretch. But your health is the most important thing. Have you talked to your docs about the feasibility of you being able to keep up with the physical, emotional and academic rigors of med school?

 

[KCl]

Can you go back and get retroactive withdrawal for the semesters you were very sick? Frankly MD would be near impossible to achieve and unless you get all As from now on DO will be a stretch. But your health is the most important thing. Have you talked to your docs about the feasibility of you being able to keep up with the physical, emotional and academic rigors of med school?

I tried to withdrawal them medically and it wasn't successful (although documentation, contact information, etc. was given) But I'm going to work to repeal that decision this semester. I'm planning to get all As from here out, I'm confident I can succeed in pre-reqs as I know what it takes for me to do well. I've talked to my docs (most of whom I've known all my life) and they said the gpa dip will set me back, but the best I can do is focus on upward trend in GPA/posting excellent marks in upper level sciences, focus on my unique aspects. They think I am capable of handling it provided I take all necessary steps. As well as returning to the activities I began before I became sick. As all my health conditions are stabilized now and are well maintained and followed up on I'm hoping for the best!

 

[Goro]

Very sorry to hear of your woes. This is a big concern right here: Adcoms are wary of students who make poor choices. However, while you're in a hole, you're not dead yet (literally and figuratively).

All in all, I should've taken a medical leave of absence but mistakenly assumed I could handle it. .

There are MD schools that reward reinvention. You're going to need to ace everything from now on. Rising grade trends are appreciated and a number of schools look at them more than the first year or so. But if needed, for an MD, you may need to ace a post-bac or SMP. You'll also need to ace the MCAT as well (> 513).

the fastest path is to retake all F/D/C science coursework and apply to DO schools.

Even if I was to work hard to get my GPA to about a 3.0-3.1 over the course of the rest of my career, it will not be competitive for MD. I've looked into post Baccs and SMPs as well. I have been involved in some ECs I'm passionate about, have done some volunteering and shadowing (before I became sick), and plan to pursue research when the time allows.

 

[KCl]

Very sorry to hear of your woes. This is a big concern right here: Adcoms are wary of students who make poor choices. However, while you're in a hole, you're not dead yet (literally and figuratively).

All in all, I should've taken a medical leave of absence but mistakenly assumed I could handle it. .

There are MD schools that reward reinvention. You're going to need to ace everything from now on. Rising grade trends are appreciated and a number of schools look at them more than the first year or so. But if needed, for an MD, you may need to ace a post-bac or SMP. You'll also need to ace the MCAT as well (> 513).

the fastest path is to retake all F/D/C science coursework and apply to DO schools.

Even if I was to work hard to get my GPA to about a 3.0-3.1 over the course of the rest of my career, it will not be competitive for MD. I've looked into post Baccs and SMPs as well. I have been involved in some ECs I'm passionate about, have done some volunteering and shadowing (before I became sick), and plan to pursue research when the time allows.

It was absolutely a poor choice on my behalf I've learned and grown from it/since. This is really what I'll be working on is the best trend I can, which began well last semester. With summer courses/retakes/upper level science I hope it shows some dedication. SMP/MCAT are on the radar but right now for this semester it's mainly GPA recovery and diving back with a science retake in the Winter semester as well

 

[Goro]

Sounds like a plan! Keep us up to date on your progress, and good luck!

It was absolutely a poor choice on my behalf I've learned and grown from it/since. This is really what I'll be working on is the best trend I can, which began well last semester. With summer courses/retakes/upper level science I hope it shows some dedication. SMP/MCAT are on the radar but right now for this semester it's mainly GPA recovery and diving back with a science retake in the Winter semester as well

 

[Gandyy]

I can definitely relate to you op. I had a chronic illness too for awhile. I made a mistake because of it as well. I have learned much from it and I'm assuming you did too.