losing hope

[Ryomagoku]

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Hey guys,

I hope all is well and hope you are having a great weekend.

I graduated college with 2.8 cGPA and sGPA. Im currently retaking classes at local CC because I just don't have the money to take classes at 4 year university.

As of now, I might not get an A on one of the classes that i am taking. The problem i am seeing is that I want to apply next year after 1 year of retaking classes. My MCAT score is above 30, but I still feel doomed. I don't know if it's after seeing my dad diagnosed with cancer or maybe I am just doomed to go to med school in the states.

I hope to see my gpa to go up near 3.1, at most 3.2. My Ecs are great I think. Got the letters from professors and DO doctor. I do want to go to school in the US and want to apply next year. what do you guys say?

Thank you so much for your time reading this nonsense. and sorry if this sounds annoying or bothering to anyone out there. Have a good one!

 

[oOKawaiiOo]

Not sure if your joking about the diagnosis of cancer.

My 2 cent.....

Get your cGPA/sGPA above 3.25
Get yourself a DO LOR if you can
It's Saturday. Treat yourself to some EtOH.

 

[Ryomagoku]

Not sure if your joking about the diagnosis of cancer.

My 2 cent.....

Get your cGPA/sGPA above 3.25
Get yourself a DO LOR if you can
It's Saturday. Treat yourself to some EtOH.

definitely not joking.

so would you say it's bad to apply with 3.1 or 3.2? not quite at 3.25?

 

[yanks26dmb]

With a >30 MCAT, you'll get some interviews for sure. How high above 30 could mean many more interviews. Def get GPAs above 3.0 and youll be good to go.

Also, I'm sorry about your dad...same happend to me my senior year of college. Hoping for the best for you.

 

[Ryomagoku]

With a >30 MCAT, you'll get some interviews for sure. How high above 30 could mean many more interviews. Def get GPAs above 3.0 and youll be good to go.

Also, I'm sorry about your dad...same happend to me my senior year of college. Hoping for the best for you.

thank you that means a lot to me. I really wish that never happened. But, I'm just hoping for the best now. And, one of that is by getting into med school and make him proud. 🙁

 

[oOKawaiiOo]

definitely not joking. So would you say it's bad to apply with 3.1 or 3.2? not quite at 3.25?

Prestige DO schools like KCUMB will open their door to you with a +3.25 GPA.

Sorry about your dad.

 

[IslandStyle808]

Make your support system strong. Talk with your family or trusted friends about what you are going through. You can check and see if your community college has a psychologist (to find that balance between school and personal life). Don't hold all your problems in.

I had a similar situation with my dad, before he passed away. Having my good friends and close family there as support helped. I wish I knew more about the services in my college, if so I think I would have been a better student. However, I can't change the past.

Sorry to hear about your dad. I hope you are able to reach your dreams.

 

[AlteredScale]

It will take a lot of GPA repair but it's doable. Would def follow the advice given here. Honestly if you repair your GPA well you should also consider some MD schools.

As for KCU, you may receive a secondary with a GPA above 3.25, but our matriculating GPA was about a 3.7 from what I remember. Just do your best to get your GPA as high as as possible while in the time limits of your most recent MCAT score.

I'm sorry about your father btw :/ cancer is absolutely terrible.

 

[premed_mommy]

It will take a lot of GPA repair but it's doable. Would def follow the advice given here. Honestly if you repair your GPA well you should also consider some MD schools.

Unfortunately, MD schools do not use grade replacement, so this is probably out of the question.

 

[AlteredScale]

Unfortunately, MD schools do not use grade replacement, so this is probably out of the question.

Ah that is true. Totally forgot about that!

 

[cliquesh]

What kind of cancer? Some cancers, like some prostate or thyroid, are really no big deal.

 

[hopefulERdoc251]

What kind of cancer? Some cancers, like some prostate or thyroid, are really no big deal.

Did you actually just say this? Like there are stupid statements and then there's what you said...

 

[Seth Joo]

Here is some advice, try to get your GPA above a 3.0 and then do amazing on your MCAT, I understood the scoring system has changed, so aim for something equivalent to above a 31, I believe that would be a 520 on today's scoring scales. There are a lot of new schools opening up, so not all hope is all lost as you may believe.

Given your GPA will be weak, I would heavily invest time in preparing for the MCAT and getting a very good score because that will help you out a lot.

 

[cliquesh]

Did you actually just say this

Yes. Look at the survival data for low grade (Gleason 3+3 = 6) prostate cancer or papillary thyroid cancer or chronic lymphocytic leukemia or basal cell carcinoma of the skin. Not all malignancies will kill you any time soon, if at all. Additionally, a lot of patients think they have cancer, but in fact have a premalignant condition, like ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast.

 

[mathnerd88]

Here is some advice, try to get your GPA above a 3.0 and then do amazing on your MCAT, I understood the scoring system has changed, so aim for something equivalent to above a 31, I believe that would be a 520 on today's scoring scales. There are a lot of new schools opening up, so not all hope is all lost as you may believe.

Given your GPA will be weak, I would heavily invest time in preparing for the MCAT and getting a very good score because that will help you out a lot.

520 is like a godly score on MCAT...A 31 is more like 508-509.

 

[hopefulERdoc251]

Yes. Look at the survival data for low grade (Gleason 3+3 = 6) prostate cancer or papillary thyroid cancer or chronic lymphocytic leukemia or basal cell carcinoma of the skin. Not all malignancies will kill you any time soon, if at all. Additionally, a lot of patients think they have cancer, but in fact have a premalignant condition, like ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast.

LOL throw away the medicine. Cancer is still cancer. It's still emotional, it's still draining mentally. It's still a distraction even if it is curable with chemo/radiation.

 

[cliquesh]

LOL throw away the medicine. Cancer is still cancer. It's still emotional, it's still draining mentally. It's still a distraction even if it is curable with chemo/radiation.

Yes, I understand that a cancer diagnosis is emotional, but understanding the disease and the prognosis of the disease can alleviate some anxieties. Not all cancers are the same, and there is no reason to be fret about a low grade/stage cancer that has little impact on overall survival.

 

[NonTrad16]

Yes, I understand that a cancer diagnosis is emotional, but understanding the disease and the prognosis of the disease can alleviate some anxieties. Not all cancers are the same, and there is no reason to be fret about a low grade cancer that has zero impact on overall survival.

I don't think this is the right time or place to be addressing this point of the OP situation. Also, survival is not the same as quality of life. For example, I believe MS does not decrease life expectancy in most patients, but can have a big (negative) impact on ones quality of life even still. Just saying.

 

[cliquesh]

I don't think this is the right time or place to be addressing this point of the OP situation. Also, survival is not the same as quality of life. For example, I believe MS does not decrease life expectancy in most patients, but can have a big (negative) impact on ones quality of life even still. Just saying.

I asked about the OP's father's diagnosis because it seems to be causing the OP some distress. If the OP's father has a "good" cancer then perhaps the OP can feel more comfortable with his diagnosis and focus on other things, like school.

 

[Dustbowl12]

1. Spend 1 year retaking courses to build overall and science GPA to 3.3 (This Spring and Summer take 8-10 courses and 3-4 in Fall 2016)
2. Apply First day next cycle and broadly
3. Be strong for your father, and maintain strong/healthy social networks, ensure your father has a strong social/family network

You will rise up and so will he. Don't lose hope

 

[Ryomagoku]

Yes, I understand that a cancer diagnosis is emotional, but understanding the disease and the prognosis of the disease can alleviate some anxieties. Not all cancers are the same, and there is no reason to be fret about a low grade/stage cancer that has little impact on overall survival.

I don't think this is the right time or place to be addressing this point of the OP situation. Also, survival is not the same as quality of life. For example, I believe MS does not decrease life expectancy in most patients, but can have a big (negative) impact on ones quality of life even still. Just saying.

When I read your first message, I was very disappointed in how cruel this place can get. But then, I read your later message and why you wrote that it is understandable.
If you must know, my dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer early stage. He did go through Whipple's procedure. And now he's going through chemo. It's been over a month since he got the surgery but it seems he's doing well so far. Why am I so depressed? Because my Dad lives in my home country alone. Do I want to go visit him and help him? Yes. My grandpa passed away last year. It took five months for me to get over and smile again. I am in no position to lose my strongest support yet.

As mentioned above, I'm going to try everything I can to get into med school by next cycle. I am retaking and will be retaking the classes that I got Cs in. But some classes aren't offered at CCs and I am not in the situation to take classes at 4 year universities. Should I go retaking the ones I got B- in?


I really appreciate all your inputs. I tried to find scribe job but money is the problem here. So I decided to look into better paying part time job to support my family a bit.

Thank you for reading this