Hello to all SDN users,
I am looking for advice on where I should steer my medical career. I am a 24 year old man enrolled at a local university’s post bacc program currently. Here’s a little background on my story.
From 2017 to 2024, I spent six years at my state university and local university after, during of which I earned a 1.135 science gpa first year, 1.00 science gpa second year, 3.0 science gpa third year, 3.6 science gpa fourth year, 3.6 science gpa fifth year, 3.4 science gpa sixth year and finally a 3.31 science gpa seventh year(should I get all As during the summer). I have taken General Biology I twice in 2017, earning a D and a C, then General Chemistry I twice in 2018, earning a F and then a C, General Chemistry II twice, a W in 2021 and a B+ Fall 2023, Organic Chemistry I once in Spring 2024, earning a C and General Physics I once in Fall 2023, earning a B and General Physics II once in Spring 2024, earning a C.
I tried my absolute hardest in Spring 2024 while taking Organic Chemistry I, General Physics II, Anatomy and Physiology II and Genetics at the same time. I put in over 280 hours but unfortunately the reality is earning C’s in Orgo I and Physics II is an incredibly bad look, especially given that I am trying to contrast it with a reinvention story.
In Jan of 2022, I was diagnosed with ADHD and have started taking medication as appropriate. Ever since then, I went from a Cs and Ds student to a B+/A student. With the exception of a few Bs, two C’s and a C+, the last two years my grades have always been B+/A on average. In fact, these were 25 stem/upper level classes that I performed in. With Summer of 2024 approaching, I will be tackling Orgo II, Biochemistry I and Microbiology. I have two months before the classes begin and I plan on working even harder to make sure I secure the As and come back to the upward trend narrative.
I need advice on how I should explain this to admissions. My plan is to be transparent and disclose my ADHD diagnosis. Including use of medication. I know ADHD is dramatically over diagnosed but in my situation, going from an average of Ds and Fs in stem to As/B+s is a story worth explaining in my personal narrative.
I know my chances are once again not looking too good with my recent performance in Orgo I and Physics II but genuinely in my heart, I have put in more hours than the next guy. I studied every single day for hours and it was one of those situations where I could not control the situation. How can I explain this to admissions and make sure that they don’t see it as my slipping to old habits, other than acing the summer 2024 courses?
I initially sought to take a gap year, study for the MCAT, hopefully do well and then apply. However, with this new situation, I suspect I might need more reinvention. At this stage in my career, I am financially left dry so I am thinking of pursuing a ABSN second degree program back at my state university near home for commute, work for three years and try to accumulate as much clinical experience, study for the MCAT and then apply to DO medical schools only.
My chances at MD schools are slim to none, but I have heard DO medical schools reword reinvention and as a matter of fact, AACOMAS factors in nursing courses part of their science gpa, as they are more lenient. Correct if I am wrong please.
I have all the necessary extracurriculars, which include being a firefighter for 13 months, three research publications and more incoming, leadership positions in clubs and more. Keep in mind this only happened after the diagnosis of my ADHD. With three additional years as a nurse, I believe I should have all the necessary clinical experience as well, as I am severely lacking in that department. Please let me know if I am heading the right direction, I am genuinely lost and all my advisors have told me to give up and pack it home. I do not know who else to turn to at this point.
I am looking for advice on where I should steer my medical career. I am a 24 year old man enrolled at a local university’s post bacc program currently. Here’s a little background on my story.
From 2017 to 2024, I spent six years at my state university and local university after, during of which I earned a 1.135 science gpa first year, 1.00 science gpa second year, 3.0 science gpa third year, 3.6 science gpa fourth year, 3.6 science gpa fifth year, 3.4 science gpa sixth year and finally a 3.31 science gpa seventh year(should I get all As during the summer). I have taken General Biology I twice in 2017, earning a D and a C, then General Chemistry I twice in 2018, earning a F and then a C, General Chemistry II twice, a W in 2021 and a B+ Fall 2023, Organic Chemistry I once in Spring 2024, earning a C and General Physics I once in Fall 2023, earning a B and General Physics II once in Spring 2024, earning a C.
I tried my absolute hardest in Spring 2024 while taking Organic Chemistry I, General Physics II, Anatomy and Physiology II and Genetics at the same time. I put in over 280 hours but unfortunately the reality is earning C’s in Orgo I and Physics II is an incredibly bad look, especially given that I am trying to contrast it with a reinvention story.
In Jan of 2022, I was diagnosed with ADHD and have started taking medication as appropriate. Ever since then, I went from a Cs and Ds student to a B+/A student. With the exception of a few Bs, two C’s and a C+, the last two years my grades have always been B+/A on average. In fact, these were 25 stem/upper level classes that I performed in. With Summer of 2024 approaching, I will be tackling Orgo II, Biochemistry I and Microbiology. I have two months before the classes begin and I plan on working even harder to make sure I secure the As and come back to the upward trend narrative.
I need advice on how I should explain this to admissions. My plan is to be transparent and disclose my ADHD diagnosis. Including use of medication. I know ADHD is dramatically over diagnosed but in my situation, going from an average of Ds and Fs in stem to As/B+s is a story worth explaining in my personal narrative.
I know my chances are once again not looking too good with my recent performance in Orgo I and Physics II but genuinely in my heart, I have put in more hours than the next guy. I studied every single day for hours and it was one of those situations where I could not control the situation. How can I explain this to admissions and make sure that they don’t see it as my slipping to old habits, other than acing the summer 2024 courses?
I initially sought to take a gap year, study for the MCAT, hopefully do well and then apply. However, with this new situation, I suspect I might need more reinvention. At this stage in my career, I am financially left dry so I am thinking of pursuing a ABSN second degree program back at my state university near home for commute, work for three years and try to accumulate as much clinical experience, study for the MCAT and then apply to DO medical schools only.
My chances at MD schools are slim to none, but I have heard DO medical schools reword reinvention and as a matter of fact, AACOMAS factors in nursing courses part of their science gpa, as they are more lenient. Correct if I am wrong please.
I have all the necessary extracurriculars, which include being a firefighter for 13 months, three research publications and more incoming, leadership positions in clubs and more. Keep in mind this only happened after the diagnosis of my ADHD. With three additional years as a nurse, I believe I should have all the necessary clinical experience as well, as I am severely lacking in that department. Please let me know if I am heading the right direction, I am genuinely lost and all my advisors have told me to give up and pack it home. I do not know who else to turn to at this point.
