I need some perspective, do I have a chance for DO schools?

[Odpb55]

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I have terrible stats, 10 years ago I failed out of college. I was an idiot+lived in an abusive home, and instead of working hard, I acted out and did terrible in school.

Since then, I've had plenty of time to think, work, re-evaluate, read textbbooks, and I decided I don't think I will be happy until I become a doctor. I know..laughable..with my stats.

How do I even begin picking up the pieces with my crap gpa? I am willing to retake classes, go back to school, strengthen my gpa, etc. I did enough research to know that carib schools are out of the question. I have absolutely no chance with allopathic schools. What about osteopathic schools? I read on here that aacomas has a grade replacement policy, so that is either great news for me, or am I getting too excited for something that is out of reach for me?

I can't even rest, this is on my mind a lot. Thanks for your patience.

 

[el_duderino]

Retake courses that you got C/D/F in. Rock the MCAT. Get a bunch of clinical and shadowing experience. Succeed.

BTW... don't rule out allopathic. I failed out of school 13 years ago with two semesters of straight Fs. I start at an MD program in two weeks.

 

[Odpb55]

Wow amazing.

How did you do it?!?!??? Btw, is clinical experience different from shadowing/volunteering?

 

[el_duderino]

I went back to school half-time while working full-time and posted a 3.9 over about 40 credits over the course of 2.5 years by the time I submitted my AMCAS. After submission I enrolled in a public health graduate program (1 year) and posted a 4.0. I got a 35 on the MCAT. Interviewed by two MD programs, accepted to one.

Hospital/clinic volunteering would be considered clinical experience. Scribing is apparently a pretty popular way to get clinical experience. Shadowing is I suppose but it's generally considered separately, as far as I can tell. The idea is that you want to show that you know what it's like to be around and/or serve sick people, and that you know what the day to day activities of an actual physician are like.

If you can get involved in some undergrad research that's a plus as well.

 

[zachdwphoto]

I went back to school half-time while working full-time and posted a 3.9 over about 40 credits over the course of 2.5 years by the time I submitted my AMCAS. After submission I enrolled in a public health graduate program (1 year) and posted a 4.0. I got a 35 on the MCAT. Interviewed by two MD programs, accepted to one.

Hospital/clinic volunteering would be considered clinical experience. Scribing is apparently a pretty popular way to get clinical experience. Shadowing is I suppose but it's generally considered separately, as far as I can tell. The idea is that you want to show that you know what it's like to be around and/or serve sick people, and that you know what the day to day activities of an actual physician are like.

If you can get involved in some undergrad research that's a plus as well.

Its great to here stories like yours! Congratulations on you're success!

 

[Odpb55]

I went back to school half-time while working full-time and posted a 3.9 over about 40 credits over the course of 2.5 years by the time I submitted my AMCAS. After submission I enrolled in a public health graduate program (1 year) and posted a 4.0. I got a 35 on the MCAT. Interviewed by two MD programs, accepted to one.

Hospital/clinic volunteering would be considered clinical experience. Scribing is apparently a pretty popular way to get clinical experience. Shadowing is I suppose but it's generally considered separately, as far as I can tell. The idea is that you want to show that you know what it's like to be around and/or serve sick people, and that you know what the day to day activities of an actual physician are like.

If you can get involved in some undergrad research that's a plus as well.

Thats amazing, congratulations. I'm inspired.

 

[Uafl112]

W/e you do, don't let anyone try to convince you that its simply too late. You have a second chance and you're more than capable of fixing everything

 

[bcurtis]

I too came from an abusive home a long time ago. I love hearing driven stories like yours. The best bet you have is to retake any C or below classes to get that GPA as high as it can go. Succeed in a major that YOU care about and want to do, not just to something that you think will look good to medical schools. Along with your major take the requirements which vary from school to school. Once you get the schooling knocked out its all about MCAT and extracurriculars. Study study study for the MCAT and only take it when you are ready, you shouldn't be in any rush considering you've came from a long time of hardship. Shadowing doctors is a must and if you want to go the DO route, I would suggest shadowing them instead. Get some letters of recommendation from your professors, and some physicians you've shadowed. Try your best to work in a clinical setting and by that I mean have hands on experience with patients. I myself went and got by basic EMT certification, but there are easier cheaper ways to do this as well. Just want to make it clear that shadowing and clinical experience are NOT the same thing. Once go you've done all of this and you feel that you got shot research the schools you want to go and apply!

I sincerely wish you the best of luck and you can do it as long as your mind and your heart is in it. Just take it one semester at a time.

-Brett

I have terrible stats, 10 years ago I failed out of college. I was an idiot+lived in an abusive home, and instead of working hard, I acted out and did terrible in school.

Since then, I've had plenty of time to think, work, re-evaluate, read textbbooks, and I decided I don't think I will be happy until I become a doctor. I know..laughable..with my stats.

How do I even begin picking up the pieces with my crap gpa? I am willing to retake classes, go back to school, strengthen my gpa, etc. I did enough research to know that carib schools are out of the question. I have absolutely no chance with allopathic schools. What about osteopathic schools? I read on here that aacomas has a grade replacement policy, so that is either great news for me, or am I getting too excited for something that is out of reach for me?

I can't even rest, this is on my mind a lot. Thanks for your patience.

 

[LChristmas]

You can succeed in this. Take the advice listed above and get to work!

 

[Odpb55]

W/e you do, don't let anyone try to convince you that its simply too late. You have a second chance and you're more than capable of fixing everything

Thanks.

 

[Odpb55]

I too came from an abusive home a long time ago. I love hearing driven stories like yours. The best bet you have is to retake any C or below classes to get that GPA as high as it can go. Succeed in a major that YOU care about and want to do, not just to something that you think will look good to medical schools. Along with your major take the requirements which vary from school to school. Once you get the schooling knocked out its all about MCAT and extracurriculars. Study study study for the MCAT and only take it when you are ready, you shouldn't be in any rush considering you've came from a long time of hardship. Shadowing doctors is a must and if you want to go the DO route, I would suggest shadowing them instead. Get some letters of recommendation from your professors, and some physicians you've shadowed. Try your best to work in a clinical setting and by that I mean have hands on experience with patients. I myself went and got by basic EMT certification, but there are easier cheaper ways to do this as well. Just want to make it clear that shadowing and clinical experience are NOT the same thing. Once go you've done all of this and you feel that you got shot research the schools you want to go and apply!

I sincerely wish you the best of luck and you can do it as long as your mind and your heart is in it. Just take it one semester at a time.

-Brett

Thanks for the support. I have some questions though, what do you mean by extracurriculars? Clinical work means actual hands on work that you get paid to do? (Unlike volunteering/shadowing).

 

[Odpb55]

You can succeed in this. Take the advice listed above and get to work!

I'm starting my road to gpa repair this fall. I feel as excited like its my first day of school.

 

[Fedxup]

Thanks for the support. I have some questions though, what do you mean by extracurriculars? Clinical work means actual hands on work that you get paid to do? (Unlike volunteering/shadowing).

Clinical can be paid or volunteering. Like volunteering in the ER where you can have patient contact. Volunteer EMT-B or paid. There are many other ways.

 

[WalSlave]

If you don't mind me asking, have you ever taken science classes or do you work in a health care field?

Regardless, it has been 10 years since you were in a classroom. Get your feet wet with 1 or 2 science classes this fall, then if you pull off awesome grades, start adding in volunteering hours and put out some feelers for shadowing opportunities. Pace yourself so you get everything right the first time.

I think you will find that medical schools are very forgiving when it comes to mistakes you made 10+ years ago.

 

[yanks26dmb]

I'll (hopefully) be starting when I'm 31..sometimes I feel this is too old, since I'll be 38ish by the time I'm an attending...I guess in the grand scheme of things though, I work for 25ish years, I'll still have had a healthy career as a physician..I dont think it's too late for you!

 

[bball4]

Retake courses that you got C/D/F in. Rock the MCAT. Get a bunch of clinical and shadowing experience. Succeed.

BTW... don't rule out allopathic. I failed out of school 13 years ago with two semesters of straight Fs. I start at an MD program in two weeks.

Hey @jonnythan did you address your previous academic shortcomings in your personal statement? I assume that if you failed out of school that you received an IA on your transcript, so did you just discuss it in the IA section?

 

[el_duderino]

Turns out that getting dismissed from school is an IA, yes. I addressed the situation briefly on my PS as part of the narrative on how I've gotten to this point. On the IA section I simply said what the IA was for, and when. I didn't go into any of the personal reasons for it.

 

[bball4]

Turns out that getting dismissed from school is an IA, yes. I addressed the situation briefly on my PS as part of the narrative on how I've gotten to this point. On the IA section I simply said what the IA was for, and when. I didn't go into any of the personal reasons for it.

Very cool. I, too, flunked out around 10 years back but have recently returned to school to earn a 3.9 over my last 50+ credits which largely consisted of pre-req science retakes and upper level science. Your story is definitely encouraging. Any recommendation on which schools tend to be more forgiving of past missteps and place greater emphasis on recent success/improvement?

 

[el_duderino]

Very cool. I, too, flunked out around 10 years back but have recently returned to school to earn a 3.9 over my last 50+ credits which largely consisted of pre-req science retakes and upper level science. Your story is definitely encouraging. Any recommendation on which schools tend to be more forgiving of past missteps and place greater emphasis on recent success/improvement?

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...or-grades-in-undergrad.1082138/#post-15403573

 

[bball4]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...or-grades-in-undergrad.1082138/#post-15403573

You da man! One last thing, how early in the cycle was your app complete?

 

[el_duderino]

My committee letter didn't come out til late July I think. I got the secondary submitted late August. Both of my IIs were in March of this year.

 

[bcurtis]

Correct, extracurriculars are a broad set of things that are done outside of the classroom. The most important things that you can do (that's are ECs) are clinical work, shadowing, volunteer, and even research. Just to note that research is not a must for DO schools. Shadowing has really become a requirement, but I still consider it a EC.

As you can see ECs consist of many many things that are all important in their own way to an acceptance.

Edit: clinical work can be paid or in paid, but most unpaid work had little opportunity for real hands on work. The exception f course is like volunteering as a EMT or a tech, things like that.

Thanks for the support. I have some questions though, what do you mean by extracurriculars? Clinical work means actual hands on work that you get paid to do? (Unlike volunteering/shadowing).

 

[Goro]

All DO schools believe in reinvention. Follow Jonny's sage advice.

I have terrible stats, 10 years ago I failed out of college. I was an idiot+lived in an abusive home, and instead of working hard, I acted out and did terrible in school.

Since then, I've had plenty of time to think, work, re-evaluate, read textbbooks, and I decided I don't think I will be happy until I become a doctor. I know..laughable..with my stats.

How do I even begin picking up the pieces with my crap gpa? I am willing to retake classes, go back to school, strengthen my gpa, etc. I did enough research to know that carib schools are out of the question. I have absolutely no chance with allopathic schools. What about osteopathic schools? I read on here that aacomas has a grade replacement policy, so that is either great news for me, or am I getting too excited for something that is out of reach for me?

I can't even rest, this is on my mind a lot. Thanks for your patience.

 

[Odpb55]

If you don't mind me asking, have you ever taken science classes or do you work in a health care field?

Regardless, it has been 10 years since you were in a classroom. Get your feet wet with 1 or 2 science classes this fall, then if you pull off awesome grades, start adding in volunteering hours and put out some feelers for shadowing opportunities. Pace yourself so you get everything right the first time.

I think you will find that medical schools are very forgiving when it comes to mistakes you made 10+ years ago.

Yeah I took science classes before, they were fun, especially microbiology. One of the classes I didn't fail haha.

 

[Odpb55]

I'll (hopefully) be starting when I'm 31..sometimes I feel this is too old, since I'll be 38ish by the time I'm an attending...I guess in the grand scheme of things though, I work for 25ish years, I'll still have had a healthy career as a physician..I dont think it's too late for you!

I'm 28 now, we might be in the same boat.

 

[Odpb55]

Turns out that getting dismissed from school is an IA, yes. I addressed the situation briefly on my PS as part of the narrative on how I've gotten to this point. On the IA section I simply said what the IA was for, and when. I didn't go into any of the personal reasons for it.

What is an IA?

 

[Escape_Goat]

Don't rule out your chances at an acceptance to MD schools, despite your IA and currently poor GPA. There have been many before you who have successfully gone down that path, johnnythan included. If you're initiated, I posted a bit about my academic history--which was not dissimilar to yours--if you care to search for them. Repairing your GPA and becoming a competitive applicant will not be a quick or easy process, but if you are dedicated and persistent, you'll get there eventually.

I'll (hopefully) be starting when I'm 31..sometimes I feel this is too old, since I'll be 38ish by the time I'm an attending...I guess in the grand scheme of things though, I work for 25ish years, I'll still have had a healthy career as a physician..I dont think it's too late for you!

It's never too late. I just turned 34 and start school in three weeks.

What is an IA?

Institutional Action

 

[Odpb55]

Do you all have any tips for calculating my gpa for amcas and aacomas as I retake my courses? How are withdrawals calculated? Im assuming amcas averages everything, and aacomas replaces as long as the course is exactly the same.

 

[el_duderino]

Use the AMCAS manual.