Late Bloomer

[Salient]

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I was way (way) ahead of my peer group when I first started school, so very early on I developed a hatred of all things scholastic. It was boring and tedious and allowed me no room for creativity. I never did homework, wasted time drawing pictures on my assignments when I was at school, and generally became very lazy.

My parents never corrected this, and I managed to skate my way through high school until college slapped me in the face and I decided that I didn't have the direction or discipline to keep going to college for a major I didn't enjoy while getting abysmal grades.

I've been hanging around with a lot of doctors/dentists/med students in the last few years, and I feel like medicine (or medical science) is where I want to be. I've taken several night classes (4.0 so far), and am REALLY enjoying the sciences. It takes me back to kindergarten when I actually enjoyed learning.

It'll take me three years to finish my degree, but if I take 18-20 units a quarter and get a 4.0 I'll still graduate with a 3.6. Since that probably won't happen, I can only count on a 3.4 to 3.5. If I have particularly bad professors for some of the more difficult classes I may end up with even less. Will Adcomms be able to see past the mistakes of my youth or will they haunt me forever? I'm majoring in Biochemistry, and looking at combined MD/PhD programs.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[nontrdgsbuiucmd]

You should be fine for most schools for grades, I'd get as close as possible to that 3.6, however. Average GPA/MCAT are available at aamc.org, click on mcat, examinee data. Current MSAR book lists 10-90% for students, but those numbers are less helpful because they show ACCEPTED students, rather than matriculating students, and the "3.7" listed on MSAR may really be 3.656. Only by checking with each school can you get true numbers.

lots of work to do, including clinical experiences which will be key.

A concern from your post is related to readiness to commit to a structured path. I didn't really enjoy school until undergrad when I had more freedom to select classes that I enjoyed. But in starting the pre-med field, much of the work (I'm referring to volunteer work) was very, very entry level. It was difficult in many ways being talked down to by a clerk who was slow to grasp things, and realizing that if I corrected her or went to her manager, I'd learn less as the new kid, and might gain a reputation for being "difficult".

My sense of medicine (taken from my hundreds of hours in clinical settings) is that it is very structured, and that mostly senior people will be giving direction that must be followed. Are you ready for this and can you accept being told exactly what & how to do things medical? I'd suggest getting in a medical environment to see, its far different than a classroom.

that said, best of luck! It's fun but stressful getting on the premed path.

 

[Salient]

I'm a Marine, so I actually have extensive experience at being talked down to by people who are slow to grasp things. It bothers me, but I've figured out how to deal with it. I think it helps to keep reminding myself of my goals. I've realized that people don't get what they want in life handed to them on a silver platter, and if I want to have a career that I can respect I'll need to work hard for it. I'll be living close to a large teaching hospital, so hopefully I'll have plenty of opportunities to associate myself with the place.

 

[thoffen]

Salient, many people get accepted with GPAs in that range. However, the rest of your application needs to be strong. You seem to have the background. I suggest worrying about the things you can control (current classes, volunteering, MCAT) instead of coming up with excuses for your poor performance in the past. If asked about it, matter of factly state that you have changed your ways and point them to your recent academic performance. They will understand that, if you have moved on from the mentality that held you back in the classroom, it will not have any bearing on the future.