long story, but could be entertaining to read

[euphaire]

---

Members don't see this ad.

deleted 10char

 

[demayette]

I've made some wrong choices in life. Now i think back, very wrong. I was a stellar student since highschool (like, top 1%). I enjoyed sciences so i went to UofT life sciences. However, the wrong choices begin right here.
I was rebelling the fact that my parents wanted me to become a doctor so badly. So wrong choice number 1: i switched to engineering and had to start from year 1 again. my parents were very upset...needless to say.

A few years into the engineering program, i started to realize it's not for me. but i already transferred once, i could not dare to do it again. my grades suffered. there were personal and family issues as well...i had to file a restraining order against one of my classmates, for instance. i was so distracted and my average by third year became 78%, which is only a 3.3/3.4 i believe. i had a lot of work experience but none was clinical/science related.

Now going into my final year, i cleared my mind and gave this very, very through thoughts. i wanted to do optometry and I already job shadowed a few optometrists. they all liked me very much. I get along with every patient there, and I enjoyed every aspect of it. I also feel strong compassion for patients who experience difficulty or have a disease which currently has no cure.

These few months of shadowing and more thinking on my part made me realize i'd like to become an ophthalmologist. i know this involves 4 years of medical school and then 4 years of residency, and I don't mind it one bit. I strongly believe this is what i want to do and I can do well. However, the GPA...OMG the GPA really kills me. I can't regret more about making this mistake, about not studying hard when i had the chance and time to make things right. i think i regret this more than anything in my life so far.

So my question is, with my crappy GPA, will I stand a chance at all if I take an extra year to prepare, do very, very well on the MCAT (i'm sure i can do it), and build up more clinical/research experience? If I stand a chance, I will do that and hold off my application for school of optometry. If not, I'll accept reality and try to figure out what other career path I could choose.

I really want to be an ophthalmologist. This is what I want to do. Not because of family influence or this friend told me to do it, but because I discovered the passion myself. I enjoy working with people. I like helping people. Lastly, I know can be very good at academics if I studied, so I know I have the ability to complete medical school. However, my GPA, which is one of the biggest mistake i've made in life, is going to drag me down for sure. Given how competitive med schools are, I doubt if i'd stand a chance even if my MCAT is outstanding or if my EC and LOR are good.

Please, let me know what you think. I need to finally make this decision, but I wont go for it if you think this GPA stands no chance no matter what. I took extra course every term in the past, also had part-time job to help with tuition. I live on my own with no parental support. But I don't think these factors matter as it's very competitive out there.

Thank you for reading this. Any help or advice is welcome. 🙁

Cherry

If your GPA is 3.3/3.4 as you converted it, try to bring it up to 3.5+ ,then score well in the mcat 33+, You will have an excellent chance at MD with average LORs, ECs etc.. If you can't bring it up and it stays at 3.3/3.4, a mcat of 27+ wil give you a decent shot at DO. Then do good in med school and pursue you dream as far as becomig an ophthalmologist. An MD degree might make it easier for you; however, I know many ophthalmologists DO in the medical center that I work now.

 

[Catalystik]

You will likely get a more informed perspective on Canadians getting into med school with a low GPA on the Canadian equivalent of SDN at: http://www.premed101.com/forums

 

[demayette]

You will likely get a more informed perspective on Canadians getting into med school with a low GPA on the Canadian equivalent of SDN at: http://www.premed101.com/forums

My bad...did not notice if OP was Canadian...

 

[nonamesleft]

..i wanted to do optometry and I already job shadowed a few optometrists.

These few months of shadowing and more thinking on my part made me realize i'd like to become an ophthalmologist.

I'm confused...you shadowed optometrists and then decided that you want to do ophthalmology? Those two careers are quite different...

As for chances..UWO takes your GPA based on your two best years with full course load, and Queens takes your last two year GPA if you don't make the 4-year cutoffs. So depending on what your GPA looks like for each year, those schools may be guaranteed interviews for you if you make their MCAT cutoffs.