I really want to be a doctor, but...help!

[Story8]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Ok I'm trying to be as realistic as I can. My concentration in school is getting worse. I'm 25 years old now. I used to have a 3.6 GPA, but now I'm bordering 3.0 science GPA, and I have to retake the MCAT. I've completed 99% of pre-med requirements, but I'll be taking biochemistry and other helpful science courses to not only improve my gpa, but to give me better preparation for med school.

People are always telling me, why not go with dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, or physician's assistant, as if to say that I can't be an MD. I'd love to do pediatrics and/or gastroenterology. It's discouraging, yet it doesn't take away my passion of becoming a doctor. However, I am stressed out and my biggest fear is to get to med school and be completely blown out of the water with material I cannot handle. I feel like the capacity I have of retaining information is diminishing.

I get extremely depressed, and dealing with chronic pain and obesity is not helping. I could use some words of encouragement. I know I can do this somehow, I'd just like to know what I can truly do to improve my concentration and to be better prepared for all the things med school has to offer.

 

[deleted357625]

I would apply to M.D. and D.O. med schools. D.O. tend to be a less competitive than M.D. schools and you might have a chance.

But obviously scores is not everything for an acceptance.
You need:
Great LOR's
Clinical exposure such as volunteering and shadowing
Maybe some research
Community service or anything non-related to medicine.

It's not all about scores, it's about diversity, you need to be well-rounded. The scores are just a portion and based off your scores you are able to determine whether you should apply more broadly to M.D schools or D.O schools or even a mixture.

there are individuals that have gotten into med schools with 2.75+ gpa
Also, you are 25 years old and ADCOMs might favor that because the fact you are older than most applicants. You need to show your passion for med school. Scores don't show it all.

you are fine, just get involved with EC's if you haven't already, There are people that have done worse.
Just relax and concentrate.

 

[willen101383]

^^ OP I for one got into med school with a 2.45 undergrad GPA which I pulled up to about a 2.9 with 70+ credits of almost straight As in grad school. So dont sell yourself short. Give it a shot. If you have more success with DO schools than go for it...there is nothing wrong with with most DO programs and the education is comparable to most MD programs despite what the pre allos like to claim. Good luck!

 

[Barcu]

Ok I'm trying to be as realistic as I can. My concentration in school is getting worse. I'm 25 years old now. I used to have a 3.6 GPA, but now I'm bordering 3.0 science GPA, and I have to retake the MCAT. I've completed 99% of pre-med requirements, but I'll be taking biochemistry and other helpful science courses to not only improve my gpa, but to give me better preparation for med school.

People are always telling me, why not go with dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, or physician's assistant, as if to say that I can't be an MD. I'd love to do pediatrics and/or gastroenterology. It's discouraging, yet it doesn't take away my passion of becoming a doctor. However, I am stressed out and my biggest fear is to get to med school and be completely blown out of the water with material I cannot handle. I feel like the capacity I have of retaining information is diminishing.

I get extremely depressed, and dealing with chronic pain and obesity is not helping. I could use some words of encouragement. I know I can do this somehow, I'd just like to know what I can truly do to improve my concentration and to be better prepared for all the things med school has to offer.

I don't want to discourage you any further, but you have a tough road ahead.

Applying with a downward grade-trend will kill your application. Sure, people get in with lower gpas, but that's because they start low and end strong.

The first thing you need to figure out is why your gpa is going down. You need to turn your downward trend around or else you will not make it.

You probably have a couple years of gpa repair ahead of you. While doing that, improve other parts of your app like getting good LORs, volunteer, and crush the MCAT.

You should post this in the Non-Trad forum because there are many people there who may be able to give you better advice (aka people who are or who have been in your position). Non-trads are in this forum too, but many of us are in college or just out.

I wish you the best of luck. Don't give up. You still have time to become a doctor.