Is Medical School Worth it for me or should I just forget about it once and for all? Lawyer and mom of 3 with horrible science GPA but real passion

[vkhazhi1]

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I kind of have a sad pre-med story. I was an international student. My step-father, a surgeon in his country, saw a future doctor in me. I resisted it and took on a bunch of humanities and social studies ( triple majored with a minor). Midway through college I changed my mind and realised that helping and healing people is my passion and took on a bunch of pre-med classes. Long story short I have a high functioning ADHD that went undiagnosed in college. I earned 235 credits ( 75 from various prestigious schools across the world-study abroad at London School of Economics, Boston University, Harvard , Bosphorus University etc) and a GPA of 3.008 ( 3.460 for transfer credits). My science GPA is very very sad and, honestly, is not reflective of my knowledge or abilities. I remember I used to tutor others in organic chemistry in study groups. The guy I explained the material to got a B and I got an a C. I was just really horrible at test taking plus some bad ADHD study habits I was unanaware of back then. So I took MCAT test prep course and then got pregnant, it was unplanned, had a complicated relationship and immigration status and that resulted in me ditching the whole med school idea and I have never even ended up attempting MCAT, although I am sure I would not have done well bach then, too much was going on. Plus for most med schools I needed a green card.

So, I went to law school with an 8 month old intead, even got a merit-based scholarship, lived below-poverty line at some point with the father of my kids stuck abroad. Graduated from law school with a GPA of 3.239 with 2 kids, essencially as a single mom, tackled anxiety and depression but made it. I passed the bar with no issues immediately upon graduation even though due to circumstances I started 1 month later than everyone else ( for 1.5 month rather than 2.5) and with no childcare for my 3 month old. That period in law school was not easy, I had to be focused to make sure I can have a career that would let me provide for my kids even if I end up being alone. I had no accommodations since these are only for those who had them throughout the life. And honestly the bar exam was quite easy for me. I tackled my Adhd, No, it is not perfect but my realizing I have it really changed my approach to studying. The issue with studying I also end up grasping material fairly easily and memorize it for life. I also have pretty good memory and speed reading skills that helped me all my life. Even back in college in organic chemistry, most classmates would forget the material the minute they aced the test, I am not like that but what is the use if I can't ace the damn test?! Anyhow, most of my pre-med classmates with even worse understanding of science are now doctors, nurses, physical assistants and I feel I like I was an idiot not to persevere. I now have a law office. It worked out with my husband and I . We have 3 kids and we ended up obtaining legal immigration status and we are soon to become citizens. I work with a lot of undeprivileged populations. My clients love me, at least for the most part. I making some money. But I still feel I am missing something. I feel that my passion is to heal people, to relieve the physical and emotional pain. I am doing the next best thing, fixing people' s problems but it is not the same. My mind keeps wondering what if.

But for me to go to med school or even just to be a physician assistant is it even realistic. Half of my courses are now old, I think. For instance, I have taken bio at Harvard back in 2006, that is almost 15 years ago, organic chemistry and physics in 2012. The programs that are designed to fix gpa are crazily expensive and also another year or two to keep me away from medicine, and also how can I even fix mine I have taken so many courses that it would take a lot of courses for me to change my gpa. Should I just try and ace MCAT but with my super low science GPA is there even a point? Should I retake some pre-med courses? All of them or which ones should I retake? I just want to be a doctor. Should I take anatomy and microbio instead and focus on becoming a PA? I feel that if I had a chance I would "A"ce or at least " B"ase med school and I would make a pretty descent doctor who cares about her patients. i am not the same person I was back in 2010-2012 when I got Cs in most of these pre-med courses. What do you think? Crazy? Should I just forget about it?

Summer 2008: Harvard

Bio 1 and Bio 2- “ C+”



Fall 2007

• Chemistry 1- “B”

Winter 2008

EMT course ( no grade but got 4 credits and registration)



Fall 2009

Calculus 1 – chose P or F and got “ Pass”



Summer 2010

• Chemistry 2 – “C-“
• General Psych – “B-“

Fall 2011

• Org. Chemistry 1- “C”
• Physics 1 – “C”

Spring 2011

• Statistics - chose P or F and got “ Pass”

Spring 2012

• Org. Chemistry 2 - “C+”
• Org. Chemistry Lab – “B+”
• Calculus 1 – “B” but did not count since I have taken it before for “Pass”
• Calculus 2 – “C-“
• Physics 2- “C+”

Fall 2012

• Developmental Bio- “C”
• Genetics- “B”
• Intermediate Inorganic Chem. – “C-“

Medical Experience:

• About 8-20 hours of shadowing a primary care doctor
• About 40-80 ( may be more, I don’t honestly remember since it was 8-10 years ago ) of volunteering in a hospital
• I don’t remember how many hours of clinical EMT training in trauma

 

[GreenDuck12]

Welcome to the forum!

questions from above:
Should I just try and ace MCAT but with my super low science GPA is there even a point?
Acing the MCAT likely won’t be sufficient. Your track record of performing well in science classes is nonexistent. This makes admitting you a risky proposition for any program. Having a few years of academic excellence in a science heavy curriculum along with a strong mcat score will help alleviate those concerns.

Should I retake some pre-med courses? All of them or which ones should I retake? I just want to be a doctor.
Prereqs should be completed at a C+ level or above. Given the age of your courses and the varied performance, I would plan on retaking most if not all prereqs as well as some advanced courses.

Should I take anatomy and microbio instead and focus on becoming a PA?
This would not be sufficient for PA school as PA school is incredibly competitive.

i am not the same person I was back in 2010-2012 when I got Cs in most of these pre-med courses. What do you think? Crazy? Should I just forget about it?
No, not crazy but before jumping in you should know what you’re getting into. Likely a minimum 2-3 years to rehab your application and apply to medical school, 4 years of medical school, and 2+ years of residency. Medical admissions itself is incredibly competitive with 3/5 applicants in a given year not receiving a single acceptance (DO admissions are a bit different). You just have to know this is what you want to do and decide whether it is worth the trade offs and the sacrifices.

Best of luck to you.

 

[8YearsLate]

No one here is going to tell you "you can't do it" because no one really knows. People overcome crazy circumstances all the time. But you have a LOT to overcome. Your science history makes it doubtful that you would be able to pull the post-bacc straight A's you would need to get your sGPA above the 3.2 mark, and even then and even WITH a great MCAT score it would be a bit of an uphill battle depending on what school path you're looking at. All this + $250k in debt + lost time with family all to come out the other end making roughly the same as you make now, I would assume. It's less about whether or not you CAN do it and more about whether you SHOULD do it. All that being said, of course, if your heart is on it, you can find a way.

Another thought (and I don't know how this works so bear with me): What about practicing medical malpractice law? You would absolutely still be helping people without the next 8 years of your life being back in the learner's/debtor's seat. Yesterday my friend who works in ICU told me of a young patient who was turned down twice for an emergency appendectomy because of a positive (asymptomatic) COVID test. His appendix ruptured, he became septic and went downhill, and he is now intubated with brain damage. His family is suing the hospital (rightfully so). This type of thing unfortunately happens daily and patients and families need someone to advocate for them who has the passion and expertise you have. Something to think about. Whatever you decide, good luck!

 

[lumya]

You'll probably have to retake your classes and it will be a couple years before you can apply to medical school. Only you know if it will be worth it.

Check out Goro's guide for reinvention regarding your low science GPA.

 

[CricB4Tube]

Like others have said, you'll need a few years to repair your academic history to even get yourself looked at. Also, your clinical experience is weak/nonexistent since it's so old. You're not even starting over from scratch, you're starting over at a disadvantage because of your academic history.
Your story on how you ended up here won't help a whole lot either. You'll be competing against literally thousands of disadvantaged premeds who had similar or worse circumstances than yours and still managed to maintain a competitive academic record.
You likely can still become a doctor, but you'll have to seriously commit like 3+ years just to creating an application that may not even get you an acceptance. Is it worth it? That's your call.
On a side note, you can still help a lot of people and do plenty good in the world as an attorney.

 

[deleted367183]

I started med school at 37 after a prior career in social services. I have no kids, never wanted them, but I do have a long-term boyfriend (it's like having a kid 🙂). Now, as a resident at 43, I'm "pretty sure" I would do it over again, but honestly, I can't give an unequivocal yes. If I had had an intellectually challenging career beforehand, plus kids, I'm really not sure what I would have done. One thing's for sure--medicine threw/is throwing my personal life into total chaos. Really think it over.

 

[Osminog]

If you’re passionate about switching to a healthcare career, consider nursing (with the eventual possibility of becoming an NP). At this point in your life, it probably wouldn’t be worth it to become a pre-med.

 

[Dral]

Those science grades aren't up to par honestly. If you had a majority of As with a few Bs and maybe a C or two thrown in, then sure; but not even one A in a science course is just not up to the level required for the the rigors of medical training.

I'm assuming your role in tutoring was unofficial.

While a strong MCAT score might show you actually do have a mastery of the material, a medical school is likely to accept the many others who have proven so by both strong MCAT and strong grades.

As you have alluded to, it is going to take a lot to get your GPA up. You could maybe prove yourself through a good post bac or SMP, but I think it would still be tough.

 

[deleted1085158]

Dreaming and doing are two different things.

Right now you are dreaming. If you want to make this happen, retake bio 1 and 2 and get the highest grades in the class, then evaluate this decision at that point.

Also, I question your "passion."

 

[Nontrad_FL_LGBT]

If you're incredibly serious and really think you can pull off full time undergrad for 3 years while pulling a 3.7+, check out: Academic Fresh Start

You'd have to move to Texas and possibly wait another couple years for everything to fall off your record, but a program like this with your history is probably your best shot imo. Absolutely massive investment in a dream, but probably a lot less depressing than winding up 500k in debt in the Caribbean and unable to match.

 

[deleted1085158]

If you're incredibly serious and really think you can pull off full time undergrad for 3 years while pulling a 3.7+, check out: Academic Fresh Start

You'd have to move to Texas and possibly wait another couple years for everything to fall off your record, but a program like this with your history is probably your best shot imo. Absolutely massive investment in a dream, but probably a lot less depressing than winding up 500k in debt in the Caribbean and unable to match.

LOL, do people actually do this?

 

[Nontrad_FL_LGBT]

They must, but damn that's a hard road.

 

[emergencydancing]

I fear this is another in a long list of one and done posts.