I feel so depressed, please help!

[DEgirl]

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I recently graduated with a bachelors in biology, 3.07 gpa. My plan was to attend medical school but my gpa is too low. So I am looking at becoming a military officer then med school.

But I also am interested in FBI and CIA. Military seems to be the starting point, but I've read it's better to go to med school first and have the military pay for it.

I think I'm leaning towards dental school but my grades are too low/no shadowing. Should I become a dental assistant?

Should I stick with medicine?

I was also looking at I am currently in AmeriCorps, but am going to leave to take a job to help my family pay bills. I'm a 24 year old black woman, and feel so lost.....

I almost feel I wasted my time going to college.

Please pray for me.

 

[Plecopotamus]

I recently graduated with a bachelors in biology, 3.07 gpa. My plan was to attend medical school but my gpa is too low. So I am looking at becoming a military officer then med school.

But I also am interested in FBI and CIA. Military seems to be the starting point, but I've read it's better to go to med school first and have the military pay for it.

I think I'm leaning towards dental school but my grades are too low/no shadowing. Should I become a dental assistant?

Should I stick with medicine?

I was also looking at I am currently in AmeriCorps, but am going to leave to take a job to help my family pay bills. I'm a 24 year old black woman, and feel so lost.....

I almost feel I wasted my time going to college.

Please pray for me.

You're all over the place. Don't make any big decisions (like joining the military) while you're feeling lost and just grabbing at options.

The path for the different options you're looking at is very different. You're going to need to at some point sit down and decide which one is an appropriate fit and then take action to get into that career. If you need a job in the meantime, it's ok to get a job that's not a career move right now while you figure things out. A 3.07 certainly hasn't closed you out for osteopathic medical schools and possibly not allopathic if you plan well from here. What led to the low GPA? Could that change?

Why did you want to do medicine? join the military? join the CIA or FBI (and to do what)? go to dental school? be a dental assistant?
That list has such disparate jobs on it that the same person probably couldn't be satisfied by all of them and wouldn't be competitive for all of them.

 

[DEgirl]

Well I want to be financially stable to be honest. But being a doctor is the only career I could see myself satisfied with. I just researched accelerated bsn programs, but I am missing pre reqs. I don't know what to do because I'm tired of being broke. My bachelors degree in biology was hard to get and seems to mean little.

The only fields hiring right now are finance and business related or engineering. I just love medicine, but every way I turn there is a problem.

That's why today I asked myself what else am I interested in. The law enforcement/government/politics fields are my second choice. But I have realized they want people with military experience.

Also I figured I may have a shot at becoming a doctor If I was a veteran. Idk seems like college was all smoke and mirrors, and if you choose the wrong major (biology) you just have to start over......

 

[Quik]

If you are tired of being broke, the path to medicine very likely isn't for you; it's a marathon living poverty. You won't see financial stability for a decade, while accumulating MASSIVE debt without any assurance that you'll make it. I'm not going to try to talk you out of it, but if your primary motivation to become a physician is a stable paycheck, there are soooo many other easier, quicker, and less painful options that pursuing medical school.

If I were you, I'd look into graduate schools for any discipline/career option. With much less time, energy and money, you can be out and done and making a good living in couple years.

 

[Plecopotamus]

Well I want to be financially stable to be honest. But being a doctor is the only career I could see myself satisfied with. I just researched accelerated bsn programs, but I am missing pre reqs. I don't know what to do because I'm tired of being broke. My bachelors degree in biology was hard to get and seems to mean little.

The only fields hiring right now are finance and business related or engineering. I just love medicine, but every way I turn there is a problem.

That's why today I asked myself what else am I interested in. The law enforcement/government/politics fields are my second choice. But I have realized they want people with military experience.

Also I figured I may have a shot at becoming a doctor If I was a veteran. Idk seems like college was all smoke and mirrors, and if you choose the wrong major (biology) you just have to start over......

Financial stability should only be one of many factors in pursuing any career, and does not serve well as the dominant factor when the career is medicine. There are easier ways to be financially stable, and they will only come to look better to you with every painful moment of med school and residency if you don't go into medicine for the right reasons.

You sound like you're functioning on very limited or skewed information. Being a veteran adds to your sum picture as an applicant, but it is far from making anybody a shoo-in to medical schools and it is not a requirement for all the jobs in all of those fields.

How do you know you love medicine? Did you ever shadow? Do clinical volunteer work? Take the MCAT? Apply to medical school?
How did you get the idea it's off the table? What are these problems you're encountering at every turn?

 

[DEgirl]

Well I have volunteered at a children's hospital for 300 hours and I can't see myself doing anything else. I want to have money to give back to poor communities and take care of my family. My ultimate goal is to open churches and be a philanthropist. I love helping others!

I have read that anything below a 3.7 you are automatically rejected.

I don't want to be in science, so I feel my options are slim.

That's why I concluded the military as a way to start over.......

But my only hope is osteopathic school?

 

[xffan624]

Well I want to be financially stable to be honest. But being a doctor is the only career I could see myself satisfied with. I just researched accelerated bsn programs, but I am missing pre reqs. I don't know what to do because I'm tired of being broke. My bachelors degree in biology was hard to get and seems to mean little.

The only fields hiring right now are finance and business related or engineering. I just love medicine, but every way I turn there is a problem.

That's why today I asked myself what else am I interested in. The law enforcement/government/politics fields are my second choice. But I have realized they want people with military experience.

Also I figured I may have a shot at becoming a doctor If I was a veteran. Idk seems like college was all smoke and mirrors, and if you choose the wrong major (biology) you just have to start over......

First, do you want to actually serve in the military or do you just want the benefits that come with it? If you want to serve primarily, then it's not a bad option. Try to get something medical related if possible so when the time comes you will have some medical experience to draw from and medical military personnel to vouch for you. In the mean time, I would try some GPA repair. Take some night CC classes as time allows. If you serve 3 years (that's usually less than the standard tour of 4 years), then you are eligible for 100% of the post 9/11 GI bill which can pay 100% for your medical school if you go to a state school of which you are resident. It also pays partial costs for private schools.

Before any of this, take a deep breath, do some soul searching and research if you actually want to do the military for the right reasons. If it's not, you will likely be miserable and a bad officer to boot.

 

[DEgirl]

If you are tired of being broke, the path to medicine very likely isn't for you; it's a marathon living poverty. You won't see financial stability for a decade, while accumulating MASSIVE debt without any assurance that you'll make it. I'm not going to try to talk you out of it, but if your primary motivation to become a physician is a stable paycheck, there are soooo many other easier, quicker, and less painful options that pursuing medical school.

If I were you, I'd look into graduate schools for any discipline/career option. With much less time, energy and money, you can be out and done and making a good living in couple years.

But I've heard masters degrees are worthless.....

But I am interested in both business and government.

I guess my hearts a little broken because medicine is all I want.

 

[DEgirl]

First, do you want to actually serve in the military or do you just want the benefits that come with it? If you want to serve primarily, then it's not a bad option. Try to get something medical related if possible so when the time comes you will have some medical experience to draw from and medical military personnel to vouch for you. In the mean time, I would try some GPA repair. Take some night CC classes as time allows. If you serve 3 years (that's usually less than the standard tour of 4 years), then you are eligible for 100% of the post 9/11 GI bill which can pay 100% for your medical school if you go to a state school of which you are resident. It also pays partial costs for private schools.

Before any of this, take a deep breath, do some soul searching and research if you actually want to do the military for the right reasons. If it's not, you will likely be miserable and a bad officer to boot.

Your right my heart is not in the military. It's just I'm sick of struggling. Having a college degree and receiving job offers for $13.46 a hour makes me want to cry. I fell like I should have just became a nurse.....

 

[DEgirl]

Thank you guys I am going to take some cc classes and Work in the meantime. You guys rock!

 

[Quik]

But I've heard masters degrees are worthless.....

But I am interested in both business and government.

I guess my hearts a little broken because medicine is all I want.

Wow, my first advice would be to exclude whoever told you that master's degrees are worthless from your circle of people's opinions you take at all seriously. Just ridiculous. While I don't think it deserves it, I'll touch on it briefly. A master's degree lifts your credentials above the status quo, an M.s., MBA, M.a. etc in any field gains credibility and a huge advantage over just about anyone with a B.s./B.a. Second, the extended skills in comprehension, analysis, writing, etc are amplified well beyond those developed in one's undergrad. For both hire-ability and professional skills, a Masters education helps immensely.

Second, you've just graduated and from what I can only assume, you seriously lack real world experience. This isn't an insult or to say you're ignorant, but just a very likely reality. I would advise you to first travel the world a bit. Go immerse yourself in a culture outside of our own for an extended period and gain some perspective. Maybe go teach ESL in another country. You can do this without a lot of money, you just need to be resourceful and figure out how. When you return, find any professional job; insurance sales, marketing, whatever you can... It doesn't need to be in a field that you love, in fact, experiencing a job you hate is just as good of an experience and motivator as something that is your ideal. Just look to gain experience and perspective that can help guide you into a suitable future, because right now, it seems like you're blindly throwing a dart on a wall and willing to go after whatever it lands on.

 

[Quik]

Wow, my first advice would be to exclude whoever told you that master's degrees are worthless from your circle of people's opinions you take at all seriously. Just ridiculous. While I don't think it deserves it, I'll touch on it briefly. A master's degree lifts your credentials above the status quo, an M.s., MBA, M.a. etc in any field gains credibility and a huge advantage over just about anyone with a B.s./B.a. Second, the extended skills in comprehension, analysis, writing, etc are amplified well beyond those developed in one's undergrad. For both hire-ability and professional skills, a Masters education helps immensely.

Second, you've just graduated and from what I can only assume, you seriously lack real world experience. This isn't an insult or to say you're ignorant, but just a very likely reality. I would advise you to first travel the world a bit. Go immerse yourself in a culture outside of our own for an extended period and gain some perspective. Maybe go teach ESL in another country. You can do this without a lot of money, you just need to be resourceful and figure out how. When you return, find any professional job; insurance sales, marketing, whatever you can... It doesn't need to be in a field that you love, in fact, experiencing a job you hate is just as good of an experience and motivator as something that is your ideal. Just look to gain experience and perspective that can help guide you into a suitable future, because right now, it seems like you're blindly throwing a dart on a wall and willing to go after whatever it lands on.

I'll also add, if you do decide to pursue medicine, you'll need a robust application showing you've obtained some life experience. Volunteering, leadership, community service, professional experience are all things necessary to stand out among a very competitive applicant pool.

Also to add, the military could be an excellent segway into becoming a physician. You will certainly learn a lot, gain some perspective, save money (officer's salaries aren't bad) and have another slight advantage as a med school applicant.

 

[DEgirl]

Wow, my first advice would be to exclude whoever told you that master's degrees are worthless from your circle of people's opinions you take at all seriously. Just ridiculous. While I don't think it deserves it, I'll touch on it briefly. A master's degree lifts your credentials above the status quo, an M.s., MBA, M.a. etc in any field gains credibility and a huge advantage over just about anyone with a B.s./B.a. Second, the extended skills in comprehension, analysis, writing, etc are amplified well beyond those developed in one's undergrad. For both hire-ability and professional skills, a Masters education helps immensely.

Second, you've just graduated and from what I can only assume, you seriously lack real world experience. This isn't an insult or to say you're ignorant, but just a very likely reality. I would advise you to first travel the world a bit. Go immerse yourself in a culture outside of our own for an extended period and gain some perspective. Maybe go teach ESL in another country. You can do this without a lot of money, you just need to be resourceful and figure out how. When you return, find any professional job; insurance sales, marketing, whatever you can... It doesn't need to be in a field that you love, in fact, experiencing a job you hate is just as good of an experience and motivator as something that is your ideal. Just look to gain experience and perspective that can help guide you into a suitable future, because right now, it seems like you're blindly throwing a dart on a wall and willing to go after whatever it lands on.

Thank you for your insight. I have thought about my options and I want to boost my gpa through cc classes, then apply to dental school. All while working at a research or finance job. I do have little real world experience. Thank you again for helping me.

What do you think of that?

 

[DEgirl]

I'll also add, if you do decide to pursue medicine, you'll need a robust application showing you've obtained some life experience. Volunteering, leadership, community service, professional experience are all things necessary to stand out among a very competitive applicant pool.

Also to add, the military could be an excellent segway into becoming a physician. You will certainly learn a lot, gain some perspective, save money (officer's salaries aren't bad) and have another slight advantage as a med school applicant.

I agree with everything you said.

 

[Mad Jack]

But I've heard masters degrees are worthless.....

But I am interested in both business and government.

I guess my hearts a little broken because medicine is all I want.

Physician assistants aren't exactly using their degrees as toilet paper. There's a lot of them in my area that make 150k with their master's degree. Then again, being in ain't easy.

 

[Quik]

Thank you for your insight. I have thought about my options and I want to boost my gpa through cc classes, then apply to dental school. All while working at a research or finance job. I do have little real world experience. Thank you again for helping me.

What do you think of that?

I think your plan to work in a research or finance role, while hardly related to another are both good options. I would also re-recommend traveling before you're settled into a serious job. Much can be learned and experience gained, abroad.

As for dental school, why? Maintain goals for your future, but I would hesitate declaring anything until you have enough reasons exactly why you are called to that profession.

Don't be hasty, you have PLENTY of time to learn, experience your young adult life, and grow before you make these major decisions.

 

[DEgirl]

Physician assistants aren't exactly using their degrees as toilet paper. There's a lot of them in my area that make 150k with their master's degree. Then again, being in ain't easy.

Your right, but how do you get the 2000 hours shadowing necessary?

 

[Quik]

Your right, but how do you get the 2000 hours shadowing necessary?

CNA, MA, PTA... get paid for it.

 

[DEgirl]

I think your plan to work in a research or finance role, while hardly related to another are both good options. I would also re-recommend traveling before you're settled into a serious job. Much can be learned and experience gained, abroad.

As for dental school, why? Maintain goals for your future, but I would hesitate declaring anything until you have enough reasons exactly why you are called to that profession.

Don't be hasty, you have PLENTY of time to learn, experience your young adult life, and grow before you make these major decisions.

What do you think I should do in this situation:

I can do a year long volunteer program in Florida at a children's hospital!

Or

I can stay in Delaware, work at a bank or as a lab technician, and take classes at night....


I'm torn because I really want to leave Delaware ( lots of bad memories, traumatic events etc.), but I will only receive $500 a month in Florida and be poor......

 

[Mad Jack]

What do you think I should do in this situation:

I can do a year long volunteer program in Florida at a children's hospital!

Or

I can stay in Delaware, work at a bank or as a lab technician, and take classes at night....


I'm torn because I really want to leave Delaware ( lots of bad memories, traumatic events etc.), but I will only receive $500 a month in Florida and be poor......

Volunteer hours aren't what PA programs are looking for. They want paid healthcare experience, the more intense the better. EMT work is the best bang for the buck so far as short and inexpensive training that looks good on a resume.

 

[wb1]

If you are so poor, why freaking volunteer your time away for a year.

What is your priority? Becoming a medical/dental professional or live a decent living now?

I don't think you can have both unless if you are from the old money. Folks that are from old money, study finance or law to keep the wealth within their clans. The rest of the folks have to fight our way through hell. Every inches count.

You have a few issues at this moment.
Try to tackle what is most important for you.

1) low gpa (take cc classes as other mentioned)
2) mcat/dat exam? (have you study and take the test),
3) ec for chosen field (shadows, leadership, volunteer, interest in medicine??? etc)
4) financial situation: (work enough to fill the belly and put roof over your head)
5) moving out of Delaware. (??)

 

[DEgirl]

Volunteer hours aren't what PA programs are looking for. They want paid healthcare experience, the more intense the better. EMT work is the best bang for the buck so far as short and inexpensive training that looks good on a resume.

I researched EMT but they said to also consider becoming an EMR and CPR. Which will be best for short and cheap training?

 

[DEgirl]

If you are so poor, why freaking volunteer your time away for a year.

What is your priority? Becoming a medical/dental professional or live a decent living now?

I don't think you can have both unless if you are from the old money. Folks that are from old money, study finance or law to keep the wealth within their clans. The rest of the folks have to fight our way through hell. Every inches count.

You have a few issues at this moment.
Try to tackle what is most important for you.

1) low gpa (take cc classes as other mentioned)
2) mcat/dat exam? (have you study and take the test),
3) ec for chosen field (shadows, leadership, volunteer, interest in medicine??? etc)
4) financial situation: (work enough to fill the belly and put roof over your head)
5) moving out of Delaware. (??)

Then it would be best for me to stay in Delaware and work and shadow while boosting my gpa.

Would it be better to work at a bank or in research making $15-$20 an hour and take classes at night.

Or

Train to become a cna, or something similar, then work as a cna while to gain income and experience.


Thanks for breaking it down for me.

 

[Mad Jack]

I researched EMT but they said to also consider becoming an EMR and CPR. Which will be best for short and cheap training?

EMT by far. EMR sounds like a local thing- probably similar to our MRTs. Pretty much impossible to find a job as a MRT. And basically every EMT course will integrate BLS certification since you kind of need it if SHTF during your clinical days.

 

[DocWinter]

Wow, yes, don't make any sudden moves. You have to take a breath and hold on.

I'm a certified EMT and worked 2 years, another 2 in volunteer at a fire dept. You won't make great money, but you can get flexible shifts, free training and extra courses in ALS, CPR, even paramedic training for free in the right places. Great option for working and going to school. Downtime in the ambulance, you can study also.
Anyway, before you sign onto the military, find your path and see if it gets you there. You sound green and overwhelmed by the glitter of big things such as the FBI, CIA, getting your MD, etc. Figure out what you want, and take a year if you need to. 24 is young, trust me.

 

[DEgirl]

Wow, yes, don't make any sudden moves. You have to take a breath and hold on.

I'm a certified EMT and worked 2 years, another 2 in volunteer at a fire dept. You won't make great money, but you can get flexible shifts, free training and extra courses in BLS, CPR, even paramedic training for free in the right places. Great option for working and going to school. Downtime in the ambulance, you can study also.
Anyway, before you sign onto the military, find your path and see if it gets you there. You sound green and overwhelmed by the glitter of big things such as the FBI, CIA, getting your MD, etc. Figure out what you want, and take a year if you need to. 24 is young, trust me.

Thank you. I really want to become an EMT. Just I might have to quit AmeriCorps, because classes are 8-5 M-F

 

[Goro]

I think you need to figure out what you want to do first. If not, work for a few years, volunteer at a hospital, and find out if you like being around sick people.

I recently graduated with a bachelors in biology, 3.07 gpa. My plan was to attend medical school but my gpa is too low. So I am looking at becoming a military officer then med school.

But I also am interested in FBI and CIA. Military seems to be the starting point, but I've read it's better to go to med school first and have the military pay for it.

I think I'm leaning towards dental school but my grades are too low/no shadowing. Should I become a dental assistant?

Should I stick with medicine?

I was also looking at I am currently in AmeriCorps, but am going to leave to take a job to help my family pay bills. I'm a 24 year old black woman, and feel so lost.....

I almost feel I wasted my time going to college.

Please pray for me.

 

[Quik]

What do you think I should do in this situation:

What should you do; volunteer position or finance role? Whatever calls to you.

Quit Americorps? That won't likely help you in the long run. Value and honor the commitments you make, unless they are a dis-service to you and your future.

Just hang in there... at the moment, it seems as though you'll fly wherever the wind blows you, that is not the make-up of a sensible and stable personality...

Look, here's some vicarious perspective that I can offer you; Personally, I sailed through my undergrad and grad school aiming toward a future only guided by an idealistic sense and an academic perspective; By the age of 23, without any real world experience in the field, I had completed a master's degree and had my choice of great-paying jobs with the federal government. I hated every one of them; I thought I would save the world and the economy, but found myself pushing papers through a massive bureaucracy. The point here is, do not base present actions or future plans on whims of emotion or idealistic dreams without any realistic experience. Realistic experience is gained getting knocked around and surviving well enough to both find what you love "doing" (not think you'll love doing) as well as finding out what you're good at.

I can't stress enough how important equal amounts of leadership, community service, and good job experience can teach one about themselves. Don't be hasty and try to forgo this process. Being poor, being uncomfortable, being miserable while pushing through and persevering all build character.

 

[EMDO2018]

This thread really rubs me the wrong way. Sounds like all you want is money, and quick money at that. Medicine isn't for you. And did you really say you don't want to me in the science, but you want to do medicine? Medicine is a science.

Well I want to be financially stable to be honest. But being a doctor is the only career I could see myself satisfied with. I just researched accelerated bsn programs, but I am missing pre reqs. I don't know what to do because I'm tired of being broke. My bachelors degree in biology was hard to get and seems to mean little.

The only fields hiring right now are finance and business related or engineering. I just love medicine, but every way I turn there is a problem.

That's why today I asked myself what else am I interested in. The law enforcement/government/politics fields are my second choice. But I have realized they want people with military experience.

Also I figured I may have a shot at becoming a doctor If I was a veteran.

Well I have volunteered at a children's hospital for 300 hours and I can't see myself doing anything else. I want to have money to give back to poor communities and take care of my family. My ultimate goal is to open churches and be a philanthropist. I love helping others!

I have read that anything below a 3.7 you are automatically rejected.

I don't want to be in science, so I feel my options are slim.

That's why I concluded the military as a way to start over.......

But my only hope is osteopathic school?

......

Most people who become doctors major in biology

 

[DEgirl]

What should you do; volunteer position or finance role? Whatever calls to you.

Quit Americorps? That won't likely help you in the long run. Value and honor the commitments you make, unless they are a dis-service to you and your future.

Just hang in there... at the moment, it seems as though you'll fly wherever the wind blows you, that is not the make-up of a sensible and stable personality...

Look, here's some vicarious perspective that I can offer you; Personally, I sailed through my undergrad and grad school aiming toward a future only guided by an idealistic sense and an academic perspective; By the age of 23, without any real world experience in the field, I had completed a master's degree and had my choice of great-paying jobs with the federal government. I hated every one of them; I thought I would save the world and the economy, but found myself pushing papers through a massive bureaucracy. The point here is, do not base present actions or future plans on whims of emotion or idealistic dreams without any realistic experience. Realistic experience is gained getting knocked around and surviving well enough to both find what you love "doing" (not think you'll love doing) as well as finding out what you're good at.

I can't stress enough how important equal amounts of leadership, community service, and good job experience can teach one about themselves. Don't be hasty and try to forgo this process. Being poor, being uncomfortable, being miserable while pushing through and persevering all build character.

The problem is my parents are $7000 behind on their mortgage. If I don't work they may very likely lose the home. If you can live on $800 a month not including utilities then bravo, cause I'm spending my savings at this point.....

I have a few companies interested in hiring me full time! I also have my own mounting credit card debt. Let's see wait around until I no longer have a place to return to or do something with my degree.

Sadly my friend the luxury to volunteer for an entire year, is not sensible for those with real world struggles. You may have never had a roach or mouse crawl over you but I have. I think it would benefit you, to see how people in the slums truly live. Not assume everyone had a stable upbringing.

Also I'm not flying by the wind?, I have fought every day of my life. Stuff you wouldn't dream of in a nightmare. I want to be a doctor, I may seem flighty on here, but I was just venting, not looking to be criticized. This is the problem with people, we all think we know everything. When in reality we don't know anything. I'm glad I'm wise enough to know I have a lot to learn.

And as to sensible and stable, try commuting an hour 5 days a week for 3 years to college, while being in an abusive relationship. I made it out of all that, and ain't on drugs, so please don't assume you know someone's life, cause you will not only offend them but make yourself look bad.

I appreciate the help but we are all just Internet strangers, and do not know the half of what all the circumstances are. To insult others whether blatantly or subtlety is unbecoming of a future doctor.

 

[DEgirl]

This thread really rubs me the wrong way. Sounds like all you want is money, and quick money at that. Medicine isn't for you. And did you really say you don't want to me in the science, but you want to do medicine? Medicine is a science.




Most people who become doctors major in biology

I did, but after being in a lab for two years I hated the experience.

People major in finance......to make money. People open small businesses to make money. So all of these "it's not about the money" pre-med students are not genuine. If doctors got payed the same as teachers, would there be this much competition?? I just live in reality. I hated my major, but changing to anything else would have been foolish.

Forgive me for being so blunt and it may "rub you the wrong way," but only rich kids can major in anything and have daddy or mommy fund the dream. I lived with roaches, mice, and little food. There is no travel the world and find myself time when people are fighting for their lives!

I have 4 brothers and sisters, 1 sick, and parents who are $7000 behind on a mortgage.

I will not apologize for wanting a better life, whether it's frowned upon or not!

People shouldn't always be so quick to judge.....

 

[DEgirl]

This thread really rubs me the wrong way. Sounds like all you want is money, and quick money at that. Medicine isn't for you. And did you really say you don't want to me in the science, but you want to do medicine? Medicine is a science.




Most people who become doctors major in biology

Accelerated BSN is for people already holding bachelors degrees in unrelated fields, looking to obtain a BSN in 11-18 months..

 

[EMDO2018]

I did, but after being in a lab for two years I hated the experience.

People major in finance......to make money. People open small businesses to make money. So all of these "it's not about the money" pre-med students are not genuine. If doctors got payed the same as teachers, would there be this much competition?? I just live in reality. I hated my major, but changing to anything else would have been foolish.

Forgive me for being so blunt and it may "rub you the wrong way," but only rich kids can major in anything and have daddy or mommy fund the dream. I lived with roaches, mice, and little food. There is no travel the world and find myself time when people are fighting for their lives!

I have 4 brothers and sisters, 1 sick, and parents who are $7000 behind on a mortgage.

I will not apologize for wanting a better life, whether it's frowned upon or not!

People shouldn't always be so quick to judge.....

What im saying is money should not be your MAIN motivation. I'm black too. Grew up in poverty with a single mom who raised 4 kids making 15k a year, went to crappy schools, lived in dangerous housing projects, the whole shabang. So don't think you're all alone in that regard. But if you do medicine for the money, you will probably be very disappointed. I honestly think nursing would be a better path for you. The path is shorter, less science intense, and you make great money.

 

[Plecopotamus]

People major in finance......to make money. People open small businesses to make money. So all of these "it's not about the money" pre-med students are not genuine.

Forgive me for being so blunt and it may "rub you the wrong way," but only rich kids can major in anything and have daddy or mommy fund the dream. I lived with roaches, mice, and little food. There is no travel the world and find myself time when people are fighting for their lives!

I have 4 brothers and sisters, 1 sick, and parents who are $7000 behind on a mortgage.

I will not apologize for wanting a better life, whether it's frowned upon or not!

People shouldn't always be so quick to judge.....

Don't assume that other people here didn't grow up in crappy situations. Don't try and get into a pissing contest over who has had a worse life, b/c there will always be someone here who had it worse and who has overcome it better. Your parents were in the position to get a mortgage -- think about that for a moment. Perhaps you also should tone down the judgment, b/c it's clear you don't understand where everybody here is coming from either.

Plenty of the "it's not about the money" pre-meds are absolutely genuine. As I said in my earlier post, it doesn't mean that financial stability isn't on the list of criteria they're seeking in a job, rather that it's not their number one motivator. Why? If you are bright enough to be a competent physician, there are other career paths you can take that have better quality of life and earning potential earlier in the course of your career. Many of them will never require a 30 hour shift, and many of them will not put you through the torture of repeated career-making-or-breaking exams. These "it's not about the money" pre-meds are people who looked at the options for financial stability and loved medicine (a lot of science, by the way) enough to think the trials of the path there were worthwhile.

The person who suggested you go travel the world was incredibly naïve, but so are you -- you are just naïve to different things. It's understandable due to the disadvantaged background you're coming from, but you appear to be incredibly naïve about basically every career option you posted, how your undergraduate degree is supposed to relate to those, and what doors other people have open to them immediately after finishing college. I graduated with a degree in engineering. I worked for a year in a furniture store before I ever found anything meaningful that would hire me. College degrees aren't magical. The world didn't conspire against you to trick you into getting a worthless degree . . . you feel exactly how a lot of recent college grads feel, but apparently don't have a context to normalize it. What you're going through right now is actually pretty normal.

I want to have money to give back to poor communities and take care of my family. My ultimate goal is to open churches and be a philanthropist. I love helping others!

How does being a doctor relate to your philanthropic desire to open churches? This feels like 2+2=7. You have a goal, but the careers you're looking at to get there are completely unrelated to it -- the CIA and FBI are certainly not going to help you go open churches. Neither is dentistry or dental assisting. Find someone who is involved in what you want to do and find out how they got there and what they think would be a good way to get there. An MBA or even going straight into a relevant part of the work force might be a more logical pursuit for someone who has this goal.

My plan was to attend medical school

What did you do as part of this plan other than get a bio degree?

You seem to be on here complaining that your degree isn't getting you what you wanted, but thousands of people with bio degrees get into medical school every year, so clearly that's not the issue. There are ways to repair a low GPA, and people who are really taking this seriously usually would be proactive enough to realize that a 3.7 is not a cutoff for admission (let alone for an under-represented minority from a disadvantaged background). Basically your story doesn't add up for someone who is passionate about going to med school. One sure fire way to not get into medical school: don't apply, don't take the MCAT, or don't take the required classes. And as far as I can tell, you've done all 3. If you want to go to medical school, then do those (in reverse order). You can retake your courses with bad grades to pick up your GPA for DO applications. (Is your science GPA very different from your undergraduate GPA? )

 

[Quik]

Sadly my friend the luxury to volunteer for an entire year, is not sensible for those with real world struggles. You may have never had a roach or mouse crawl over you but I have. I think it would benefit you, to see how people in the slums truly live. Not assume everyone had a stable upbringing.

Also I'm not flying by the wind?, I have fought every day of my life. Stuff you wouldn't dream of in a nightmare. I want to be a doctor, I may seem flighty on here, but I was just venting, not looking to be criticized. This is the problem with people, we all think we know everything. When in reality we don't know anything. I'm glad I'm wise enough to know I have a lot to learn.

And as to sensible and stable, try commuting an hour 5 days a week for 3 years to college, while being in an abusive relationship. I made it out of all that, and ain't on drugs, so please don't assume you know someone's life, cause you will not only offend them but make yourself look bad.

I appreciate the help but we are all just Internet strangers, and do not know the half of what all the circumstances are. To insult others whether blatantly or subtlety is unbecoming of a future doctor.

You make some bold assumptions comparing life circumstances; maybe you've had it rough, maybe the ones trying to help you by offering perspective have had it worse, maybe not. It's true, I have no idea how you grew up, nor do you have an idea how did I, but I haven't made any assuming statements about your life's circumstances, only making observations and suggestions on a critically limited amount of information; your venting. There's no merit in making comparisons, you're not the only one who's been rained on. I just decided to make myself an umbrella to get the **** out of the rain.

There was no attempt at insulting you either, blatantly or explicitly. I do see how that was interpreted, though, and I apologize. It was an observation made on your statements that "All I really want is to become a doc... or an FBI/CIA agent, and I should have just become a nurse." You portrayed an idealistic nature that chases what sounds cool and looks good in movies, without any explanation of a reason why, other than $$$. Tracking this thread, you've mentioned no fewer than five careers you think you may go after... It's not an insult to say that you seem to fly where the wind blows, you're a young girl who just graduated and is looking for an option that offers stability, and you were venting. I get that, I was once very much this way. The collective and I here are trying to offer a bit of guidance based on our experiences that could help you steer your ambitions.

The person who suggested you go travel the world was incredibly naïve, but so are you -- you are just naïve to different things. It's understandable due to the disadvantaged background you're coming from, but you appear to be incredibly naïve about basically every career option you posted, how your undergraduate degree is supposed to relate to those, and what doors other people have open to them immediately after finishing college.

I appreciate much of your post, but must ask why is suggesting someone travel the world naive? No, they may not have the resources at hand to go on a world leisure cruise, but there are other ways to travel, as suggested, like teaching english and being paid (more than well enough to subside in a foreign country) and gain some much lacking perspective before naively committing to something she isn't ready for. Maybe familial circumstances can't warrant extended travel, alright, it was one suggestion of many. I can say that traveling though, reveals many hidden secrets about oneself and unknowns about the world outside of their culture and comfort zone. It took me eight years after finishing my undergrad to afford myself a travel experience, and my only regret is not doing it before chasing ignorant ideals.

 

[Plecopotamus]

I appreciate much of your post, but must ask why is suggesting someone travel the world naive? No, they may not have the resources at hand to go on a world leisure cruise, but there are other ways to travel, as suggested, like teaching english and being paid (more than well enough to subside in a foreign country) and gain some much lacking perspective before naively committing to something she isn't ready for. Maybe familial circumstances can't warrant extended travel, alright, it was one suggestion of many. I can say that traveling though, reveals many hidden secrets about oneself and unknowns about the world outside of their culture and comfort zone. It took me eight years after finishing my undergrad to afford myself a travel experience, and my only regret is not doing it before chasing ignorant ideals.

Because from the get go, it's clear she is not coming from a bubble of privilege, and travel takes means and/or family stability. Also, the assumption that she (who has had some reason to not get to finish college until 24) needs to experience the real world was a bit odd. . . it wasn't hard to predict the life she illustrated later, and you don't get much more real than worrying about keeping a roof over your head, having enough food, taking care of a sick sibling, and getting out of an abusive relationship. There's nothing I see in her earlier posts that screams a need to see the "real world" through traveling. I do see someone to whom this world of graduate degrees & education-powered careers is far from home, so much so that she doesn't know where to turn for reliable info of a very basic sort--backpacking Europe isn't going to fix that.

 

[68PGunner]

I was an ESL teacher for a 2 years in Japan. The pay wasn't bad. It's about $25,000 working only 7-8 months in a year. The hourly rate is about $20-30.

Being in that deadbeat job opened my eyes and gave me some perspectives on life.

I second the notion that the OP should travel the world a little bit.

 

[Gauss44]

I recently graduated with a bachelors in biology, 3.07 gpa. My plan was to attend medical school but my gpa is too low. So I am looking at becoming a military officer then med school.

But I also am interested in FBI and CIA. Military seems to be the starting point, but I've read it's better to go to med school first and have the military pay for it.

I think I'm leaning towards dental school but my grades are too low/no shadowing. Should I become a dental assistant?

Should I stick with medicine?

I was also looking at I am currently in AmeriCorps, but am going to leave to take a job to help my family pay bills. I'm a 24 year old black woman, and feel so lost.....

I almost feel I wasted my time going to college.

Please pray for me.

If you don't have too many credits, then work on improving your GPA, or getting an excellent graduate GPA. If possible, take the free online versions of classes before taking the real thing so you will know you will do well. If you can afford tutors, hire them. If not, maybe barter somehow.

Also take the MCAT seriously and make sure your practice tests say >30 consistently before taking the real thing. Some schools multiply GPA by 10 and then add your MCAT score to screen applicants.

Then once your scores are in range, prewrite your entire AMCAS application. If you don't mind Howard and Meharry, apply to them as safety schools and tailor some part of your application/interview answers to their questions to their mission.

All of that combined with your accomplishments and URM status should stand out.

Good Luck OP!

 

[Plecopotamus]

If you don't have too many credits, then work on improving your GPA, or getting an excellent graduate GPA. If possible, take the free online versions of classes before taking the real thing so you will know you will do well. If you can afford tutors, hire them. If not, maybe barter somehow.

Also take the MCAT seriously and make sure your practice tests say >30 consistently before taking the real thing. Some schools multiply GPA by 10 and then add your MCAT score to screen applicants.

Then once your scores are in range, prewrite your entire AMCAS application. If you don't mind Howard and Meharry, apply to them as safety schools and tailor some part of your application/interview answers to their questions to their mission.

All of that combined with your accomplishments and URM status should stand out.

Good Luck OP!

Even with substantial GPA improvement, I don't think it would be appropriate to call Howard or Meharry a "safety"--would you ever tell any other applicant more than a standard deviation below a school's average it was a safety? All of the hbcus have averages floating in the 3.4s, and even they will not accept someone they think cannot succeed.

 

[Gauss44]

Even with substantial GPA improvement, I don't think it would be appropriate to call Howard or Meharry a "safety"--would you ever tell any other applicant more than a standard deviation below a school's average it was a safety? All of the hbcus have averages floating in the 3.4s, and even they will not accept someone they think cannot succeed.

This depends on the amount of improvement.

OP might want to look at this as well if she hasn't already: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...recent-grades-for-a-non-trad-student.1064935/

OP is also URM. If OP is disadvantaged, and I don't know if she is, I think that would be another point (at least). And military (if she goes ahead with it), I strongly suspect, is worth a point. I'm sure there are ADCOM members who pull for the military.

 

[Darth Doc]

That's why I concluded the military as a way to start over.......

But my only hope is osteopathic school?

Your first issue is to figure out what you want to do. If you can't figure it out now, that's ok. You don't have to. I'm 6 kids down the road and just starting med school this fall. What you do between here and there will only enrich you as a person.

The military is an option. You don't have to go active duty. You can go national guard or reserves and get full time pay for several months during officer training. The only medical officer job you could get with a bio degree (at least in the guard) is 70B - hospital administrator. You'll be leading a platoon of medics and others from the paperwork and planning end of things. You would get pay one weekend a month and possibly get a GI Bill, but I'm not 100% sure about what's currently available for officers. Instead of doing hospital administrator you could go enlisted and go through boot camp and become a medic - 68W is the designation. You would definitely get hands on training. 68 is also EMT qualified so you could get a job as an EMT when you get back. It would give you an idea if patient care is right for you. You would get GI bill to pay for future schooling. The training is approximately 5-6 months between boot camp and medic training so you would have a really good income for that time frame and a marketable certification when you got back. If you don't like it, you'll know in 6 months instead of 4 years of med school but will still have the GI bill to pay for whatever other direction you want to go in. (GI bill also pays living expenses and would enable you to take the corrective classes to improve your grades for DO school and still have money to help the family of about $1300 a month.)

There are a lot of other military jobs out there that lead to careers, but you have to know what direction to start in. The thing about the military is that you can get retrained into another job if you don't like the one you're in (it's a hassle but possible).

Another idea would be to work in Ocean City this summer as a waitress and make some serious money. (If you live close enough.) Some of the waitresses make $300+ per night in the right restaurant (ex. Hoopers). That would give you some time to think about what you want to do.

 

[xffan624]

Your first issue is to figure out what you want to do. If you can't figure it out now, that's ok. You don't have to. I'm 6 kids down the road and just starting med school this fall. What you do between here and there will only enrich you as a person.

The military is an option. You don't have to go active duty. You can go national guard or reserves and get full time pay for several months during officer training. The only medical officer job you could get with a bio degree (at least in the guard) is 70B - hospital administrator. You'll be leading a platoon of medics and others from the paperwork and planning end of things. You would get pay one weekend a month and possibly get a GI Bill, but I'm not 100% sure about what's currently available for officers.

GI Bill is fully available for officers the same as enlisted. I'm using mine now for medical school.

 

[Quik]

Because from the get go, it's clear she is not coming from a bubble of privilege, and travel takes means and/or family stability. Also, the assumption that she (who has had some reason to not get to finish college until 24) needs to experience the real world was a bit odd. . . it wasn't hard to predict the life she illustrated later, and you don't get much more real than worrying about keeping a roof over your head, having enough food, taking care of a sick sibling, and getting out of an abusive relationship. There's nothing I see in her earlier posts that screams a need to see the "real world" through traveling. I do see someone to whom this world of graduate degrees & education-powered careers is far from home, so much so that she doesn't know where to turn for reliable info of a very basic sort--backpacking Europe isn't going to fix that.

longwinded rebuttal deleted, summarized to say traveling doesn't require wealth or privilege. As suggested in my original post recommending travel, I made the point that being resourceful and doing something like teaching ESL in a foreign country could provide the means. The real world experience the op has been exposed to so far seems to be ineffective at guiding her ambitions; as you said, she's all over the place. While I can empathize with her circumstances and stepping in to fulfill family needs, I suggested she get some experience outside of that and outside of academia where everything is hypothetical laced with ideology. Experience where she can see what type of career calls to her and help direct her ambitions. Yes, traveling CAN help with that, and provide a mental break from the 'real-world' she has so far been exposed to, fighting her whole life. At some point, we need to see that the grass really can be greener. While she has plenty of real-world circumstances on her plate, those weren't the ones we were addressing here. We're talking about helping guide career choices amongst a smattering of options and interests.

While my details aren't pertinent, I too have fought out of poverty, was abused by my father, and have zero familial structure/support around me. No need to compare, just make aware to those that may think my perspective is one based on a life of privilege, that it is not.

 

[TXKnight]

Is this thread real or classA trolling?

 

[ketosisevangelist]

If you are tired of being broke, the path to medicine very likely isn't for you; it's a marathon living poverty. You won't see financial stability for a decade, while accumulating MASSIVE debt without any assurance that you'll make it. I'm not going to try to talk you out of it, but if your primary motivation to become a physician is a stable paycheck, there are soooo many other easier, quicker, and less painful options that pursuing medical school.

If I were you, I'd look into graduate schools for any discipline/career option. With much less time, energy and money, you can be out and done and making a good living in couple years.

IRS ENROLLED AGENTS and FUNERAL HOME DIRECTORS.

Yes. Death and Taxes.

 

[LupaCupcake]

I am a little bias towards the military being that I am a Vet. It will help pay for schooling, looks great on a resume, teaches you discipline and work ethic along with altruism etc etc.......

That being said, make sure you understand what it takes to be in the military. For one, your commitment in terms of how many years. If you are close to family, can you handle only seeing them once a year? If you get sent to the sandbox, can you handle that? Officers are supposed to be strong leaders, you will be responsible for the lives of many people. Yes, people do like vets and it gives us an advantage in certain situations, but plenty of people will say "thank you for your service" then pick the person next to you. It will not guarantee you anything. You will have a good paycheck, you won't pay rent, you won't pay utilities (unless you live off post), you will have the best damn health insurance ever (100% coverage on EVERYTHING). It has many advantages, but it is not for everyone. Think carefully, write it all down, think logically.

 

[AdamAustin]

Well my friend i would request you to pursue your career in slow & steady manner, instead of hurrying in to each of the issues. As you have already confessed that you have scored low, for which direct entry into the medicine can never bear any positive outcome, for which it is not at all bad to try for military recruitment option. As it will only give you a strong base to work out but will also enhance you to rise & shine.

 

[somersetsays]

Is this thread real or classA trolling?

Even if it really is a genuine cry for help, there is a lot of defensiveness and strawman used which would closely resemble trolling. Also, I occasionally read of this steampaw user who enjoys pot stirring.

Op's perspective is all over the place and frankly there are some serious issues she will need to prioritize. Unfortunately you are only one woman with only two arms and 24 hours in a day, so it looks like you want to

a) help your family
b) make more money immediately
c) attend medical school
d) heal from an abusive relationship
e) find a career that makes money
f) get your pre-reqs for medical/dental school
g) move out of Deleware
h) pay for your parent's mortgage
i) be a philanthropist
j) build churches
k) join the military
l) recovering from depression (if you are experiencing severe depression, please please please seek help!)

all at once.

It might help you to really create a list yourself of what you want to do and prioritize it with the knowledge that it's impossible to do all that you want at once. Maybe include a rough timeline with what goals you want to accomplish and by when. We are all working with limited resources and medical school is exactly a balance of limited money/time/brain power that every student struggles with. Now would be a good time to develop that skill set. You have around +6 years to get to the MD degree you desire (post bacc + med school) and also delay any sort of significant income for +8 years (residency). Can you keep your eyes on the prize for that long?

Also, I never had to volunteer to fulfill my ECs to apply to medical school. All my clinical hours were paid working ones which ended up being more valued by interviewers because as one commented, I actually had to touch patients. All good deeds I've done were not affiliated with any organization and mostly consisted of being the gofer/errand bitch/translator for a dozen seniors at my church which I didn't list on my AMCAS application. Don't do it if you can't afford to because there are ways of getting exposure to the field of medicine where you are compensated for your time.

longwinded rebuttal deleted, summarized to say traveling doesn't require wealth or privilege. As suggested in my original post recommending travel, I made the point that being resourceful and doing something like teaching ESL in a foreign country could provide the means. The real world experience the op has been exposed to so far seems to be ineffective at guiding her ambitions; as you said, she's all over the place. While I can empathize with her circumstances and stepping in to fulfill family needs, I suggested she get some experience outside of that and outside of academia where everything is hypothetical laced with ideology. Experience where she can see what type of career calls to her and help direct her ambitions. Yes, traveling CAN help with that, and provide a mental break from the 'real-world' she has so far been exposed to, fighting her whole life. At some point, we need to see that the grass really can be greener. While she has plenty of real-world circumstances on her plate, those weren't the ones we were addressing here. We're talking about helping guide career choices amongst a smattering of options and interests.

While my details aren't pertinent, I too have fought out of poverty, was abused by my father, and have zero familial structure/support around me. No need to compare, just make aware to those that may think my perspective is one based on a life of privilege, that it is not.

I would still say traveling is a privilege not afforded to all if there are serious obligations tying you down. Some people never got to explore in the fullest sense and go from dependent/caretaker to full on provider. I was financially supporting my family during school/working and caring for an ill parent so I'm very happy to hear you had a period of time that wasn't tied down like that even if you needed to pay your own way. Your suggestion is spot on in where traveling is a excellent method of creating perspective. It's something I will definitely want to provide for my kids.