Is this realistic or not?

[gk3714a]

Hi there,
I've been browsing these forums for awhile and I'm having a hard time determining if my dream of becoming a doctor would be possible. I am 27 years old. Details below:

Highschool:
-Graduated in top 10 of my class

1st undergrad institution (2009):
-I went to a top-tier university right out of high school. Got a 2.0 GPA and dropped out after one semester.
-I grew up in a single parent home with severe child abuse. I've also had Crohn's disease since I was 10. I was unable to handle the psychological stress of college & I had absolutely no lifeskills with which to take care of my Crohn's Disease.

2nd undergrad: Community College 2010-2016
-I struggled for my first few years. Got 4 F's and some W's.
-Got mental health help for trauma & healed significantly. Learned how to take care of my crohn's disease.
-Starting 2013 I had a strong upward grade trend: 70 credits of all A's except one B & one C.
-Got AA with 3.89GPA

Current undergrad:
-At one of the lower-tier UC's.
-First quarter I had one W --> I got a traumatic brain injury a month before matriculating & I was in intensive neurorehab 5 days a week. I still got A's in my other classes and had a 4.0 GPA for the quarter. I just needed to go down to part-time to allow me more time to do adequate rehabiliation.
-With a TBI, I still have a 3.93GPA as a full-time student (brain injury is healed 18 months out). I also work part-time.
-I have a prestigious undergraduate position in my social science department. I have won multiple research grants and fully-funded a summer of research. I am an officer in my undergrad major & I help organize most of the undergraduate programming.
-I have extensive volunteering experience with homeless rights organizations.
-I am going to start volunteering at a local hospital next month.
-My doctors (including psych) have all cleared me to continue on this path. They all say that I have the necessary life skills to manage medical school and chronic medical conditions. They have strongly encouraged me to continue on this path. Since undergoing therapy for trauma, I don't have any lasting psychological conditions. My Crohn's disease is well-managed.

cGPA AMCAS (from all institutions) 3.56;
sGPA: 4.0
At current undergrad UC: 3.93 (very strong upward trend)

The plan is to finish up my social science degree here and then go to a post-bacc pre-med program. I told myself if I ever healed cognitively from my TBI, that I would do exactly what I've always wanted to do with my life - become a doctor. This has been a longstanding dream & I've done extensive research on the difficulties of this life path.

Questions: Do I have a chance at salvaging my academic record? Where should I go from here? Would reinvention be possible?

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[curbsideconsult]

Your sGPA is 4.0 from all institutions? If so, what's there to salvage? What am I missing here?

 

[gk3714a]

Your sGPA is 4.0 from all institutions? If so, what's there to salvage? What am I missing here?

Sorry maybe I didn't annotate it correctly! I meant that my science/math GPA is a 4.0 from all institutions. But I have F's and W's (mostly from years ago) and I'm wondering how that will affect me. My cumulative AMCAS gpa is only a 3.56

 

[star.buck]

Nail the MCAT.

Please, we need physicians like you. Edit (I pressed the "post it button" too soon). You have real world and real life experiences that will enable you to understand and work with patients from backgrounds that many physicians may struggle with. You know what it's like to struggle and over come.In knowing the path that was needed to overcome your many challenges, you are better equipped to potentially assist your patients in that way as well.

Med school awaits you, and your patients need you.

 

[curbsideconsult]

Sorry maybe I didn't annotate it correctly! I meant that my science/math GPA is a 4.0 from all institutions. But I have F's and W's (mostly from years ago) and I'm wondering how that will affect me. My cumulative AMCAS gpa is only a 3.56

Right. So, again, your sGPA is a 4.0 from all institutions. What's there to salvage? Your cGPA is still good too especially considering your strong upward trend. Your F's and W's are from years ago. Like @star.buck said nail the MCAT and forget about wasting your time with a post-bacc unless you still have some prereqs to finish up.

 

[gk3714a]

Right. So, again, your sGPA is a 4.0 from all institutions. What's there to salvage? Your cGPA is still good too especially considering your strong upward trend. Your F's and W's are from years ago. Like @star.buck said nail the MCAT and forget about wasting your time with a post-bacc unless you still have some prereqs to finish up.

I have pre-reqs to finish up so I might see about a post-bacc and thank you for the advice! I have been following these forums and I just got really worried about investing some much time and money into a path that could be unrealistic. I've seen a lot of posts from people with better stats than me who apparently ended up with no interviews. It is terrifying to put so much into something and leave with no results, but there is also nothing else I can imagine doing with my life.

 

[gk3714a]

Nail the MCAT.

Please, we need physicians like you. Edit (I pressed the "post it button" too soon). You have real world and real life experiences that will enable you to understand and work with patients from backgrounds that many physicians may struggle with. You know what it's like to struggle and over come.In knowing the path that was needed to overcome your many challenges, you are better equipped to potentially assist your patients in that way as well.

Med school awaits you, and your patients need you.

Thank you so much for your encouragement! I hope some med school will see it that way too!

 

[DSM_302.0]

I have pre-reqs to finish up so I might see about a post-bacc and thank you for the advice! I have been following these forums and I just got really worried about investing some much time and money into a path that could be unrealistic. I've seen a lot of posts from people with better stats than me who apparently ended up with no interviews. It is terrifying to put so much into something and leave with no results, but there is also nothing else I can imagine doing with my life.

I wouldn't do a full-time postbac. Those are too expensive. If you only have a few classes, take those at a University Extension or similar program geared towards working professionals.

Your GPA is great. Tell your story humbly and self-reflectively. Get lots of trusted folks to read your personal statement to make it stronger. It's your opportunity to explain away your bad grades (tho if you cumulative GPA is 3.5, even when including the F's (remember, you can't replace or remove grades from GPA calculations), then your grades aren't that bad at all), and to set yourself apart as a truly unique, resilient, strong applicant.

Good luck!

 

[Bobsaget121]

You have been through a lot and I commend you for working really hard to get to where you are now. I agree with DSM 302.0, you shouldn't apply to an formal postbac if you have a couple of prerequisite because here at the state schools in California, such as CSUEB, the cost per unit is $304 bucks for 5 units so that is $1520 dollars for one class ( also the unit cost might go up because of the semester quarter conversion at CSUEB). The University Extension classes are much more cheaper and are more doable if you put in the effort. If not extension you can also do some of the prerequisite, if they are into classes, at a CC. If you need to do any upper division classes go for University Extensions. Also kill that MCAT and you will do well! Good luck Mate!

Hi there,
I've been browsing these forums for awhile and I'm having a hard time determining if my dream of becoming a doctor would be possible. I am 27 years old. Details below:

Highschool:
-Graduated in top 10 of my class

1st undergrad institution (2009):
-I went to a top-tier university right out of high school. Got a 2.0 GPA and dropped out after one semester.
-I grew up in a single parent home with severe child abuse. I've also had Crohn's disease since I was 10. I was unable to handle the psychological stress of college & I had absolutely no lifeskills with which to take care of my Crohn's Disease.

2nd undergrad: Community College 2010-2016
-I struggled for my first few years. Got 4 F's and some W's.
-Got mental health help for trauma & healed significantly. Learned how to take care of my crohn's disease.
-Starting 2013 I had a strong upward grade trend: 70 credits of all A's except one B & one C.
-Got AA with 3.89GPA

Current undergrad:
-At one of the lower-tier UC's.
-First quarter I had one W --> I got a traumatic brain injury a month before matriculating & I was in intensive neurorehab 5 days a week. I still got A's in my other classes and had a 4.0 GPA for the quarter. I just needed to go down to part-time to allow me more time to do adequate rehabiliation.
-With a TBI, I still have a 3.93GPA as a full-time student (brain injury is healed 18 months out). I also work part-time.
-I have a prestigious undergraduate position in my social science department. I have won multiple research grants and fully-funded a summer of research. I am an officer in my undergrad major & I help organize most of the undergraduate programming.
-I have extensive volunteering experience with homeless rights organizations.
-I am going to start volunteering at a local hospital next month.
-My doctors (including psych) have all cleared me to continue on this path. They all say that I have the necessary life skills to manage medical school and chronic medical conditions. They have strongly encouraged me to continue on this path. Since undergoing therapy for trauma, I don't have any lasting psychological conditions. My Crohn's disease is well-managed.

cGPA AMCAS (from all institutions) 3.56;
sGPA: 4.0
At current undergrad UC: 3.93 (very strong upward trend)

The plan is to finish up my social science degree here and then go to a post-bacc pre-med program. I told myself if I ever healed cognitively from my TBI, that I would do exactly what I've always wanted to do with my life - become a doctor. This has been a longstanding dream & I've done extensive research on the difficulties of this life path.

Questions: Do I have a chance at salvaging my academic record? Where should I go from here? Would reinvention be possible?

I wouldn't do a full-time postbac. Those are too expensive. If you only have a few classes, take those at a University Extension or similar program geared towards working professionals.

Your GPA is great. Tell your story humbly and self-reflectively. Get lots of trusted folks to read your personal statement to make it stronger. It's your opportunity to explain away your bad grades (tho if you cumulative GPA is 3.5, even when including the F's (remember, you can't replace or remove grades from GPA calculations), then your grades aren't that bad at all), and to set yourself apart as a truly unique, resilient, strong applicant.

Good luck!

 

[Skiiiiiing]

Sorry maybe I didn't annotate it correctly! I meant that my science/math GPA is a 4.0 from all institutions. But I have F's and W's (mostly from years ago) and I'm wondering how that will affect me. My cumulative AMCAS gpa is only a 3.56

3.56 with F's years ago and a straight 4 since and a narrative hunts. Especially with a 4 in science.

I would aim for 512 for MD, you are fine for better DO. If you're under 25 don't apply new DO.

 

[gk3714a]

You have been through a lot and I commend you for working really hard to get to where you are now. I agree with DSM 302.0, you shouldn't apply to an formal postbac if you have a couple of prerequisite because here at the state schools in California, such as CSUEB, the cost per unit is $304 bucks for 5 units so that is $1520 dollars for one class ( also the unit cost might go up because of the semester quarter conversion at CSUEB). The University Extension classes are much more cheaper and are more doable if you put in the effort. If not extension you can also do some of the prerequisite, if they are into classes, at a CC. If you need to do any upper division classes go for University Extensions. Also kill that MCAT and you will do well! Good luck Mate!

I have taken science classes, but none of them count as med school pre-reqs. I've taken classes like physiology, evolution, human variation, etc. In that circumstance, would you still recommend an extension program over a formal post-bacc?

 

[073116]

You forgot to post about daycare - did you do well in there, maybe top 10% in group?
Joking aside, I'm not sure if you are lying or not, since lot of things don't add up in your story. You said you had chron's disease since 10yo and abusive childhood - yet you were top 10 in hig hschool, BUT for some reason were unable to handle college?! And of course, no doubt it's due to your abuse in childhood - am I right? There are couple other things that scream you are just covering up your bad grades with some BS. The thing is it doesn't matter.
It's really simple: take prereqs, pass MCAT, apply early and broadly, GET you story straight whatever you decide to stick to, and I'm sure you'll get accepted with no issues.

 

[gk3714a]

You forgot to post about daycare - did you do well in there, maybe top 10% in group?
Joking aside, I'm not sure if you are lying or not, since lot of things don't add up in your story. You said you had chron's disease since 10yo and abusive childhood - yet you were top 10 in hig hschool, BUT for some reason were unable to handle college?! And of course, no doubt it's due to your abuse in childhood - am I right? There are couple other things that scream you are just covering up your bad grades with some BS. The thing is it doesn't matter.
It's really simple: take prereqs, pass MCAT, apply early and broadly, GET you story straight whatever you decide to stick to, and I'm sure you'll get accepted with no issues.

I hear what you're saying and I'm not lying, but your comment is definitely on point. I need to think about how to relay my story to med schools.

After leaving home, I had major feelings of victimhood, entitlement, and learned helplessness that took years to undo. As a kid, I was motivated to do well in school primarily out of fear and because school just came easily to me. When I went to college, I had no idea how to motivate myself except out of fear (and after moving out I had no reason to be afraid) and I had absolutely no work ethic to speak of. My CD also tanked after a decade of poor medical management and for years I had long hospitalizations every few months.

But my CD is well-managed now & my IBD specialist has given me a good prognosis. I also no longer feel like a victim and I no longer feel helpless and I hope my current record will be enough to show med schools that I am capable and I am motivated.