Low grad gpa, withdrew from Ph.D., good sGPA and cGPA from undergrad

[neuropsyance]

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Yes I know I need a good explanation for my grad gpa, and I'm confident in that explanation. I'm really just wondering if there are any success stories for DO schools with a similar background.

cGPA: 3.7
sGPA: 3.4

gGPA: 2.3 (one failed class)

I spent a year in a Ph.D. program for clinical psychology. I was miserable and decided to leave the program. I have not taken the MCAT yet, but got a 27 on a practice test.

Do I have a shot at all?

Please no harrassing.

 

[ksmajmudar]

Yes I know I need a good explanation for my grad gpa, and I'm confident in that explanation. I'm really just wondering if there are any success stories for DO schools with a similar background.

cGPA: 3.7
sGPA: 3.4

gGPA: 2.3 (one failed class)

I spent a year in a Ph.D. program for clinical psychology. I was miserable and decided to leave the program. I have not taken the MCAT yet, but got a 27 on a practice test.

Do I have a shot at all?

Please no harrassing.

I don't know...That 2.3 gGPA is going to be tough to work with. If I were an adcom, one of my first thoughts would be "well, what if he doesn't like one of his med school classes? Will he just fail out?" Also, another thought they might have is that maybe you couldn't handle the material at a grad school level. Both of these concerns are very serious, and that 2.3 gGPA is definitely going to be a red flag on your application.

Can you elaborate on your explanation? Simply saying "I didn't like it" is most likely not going to cut it, unless there were some extenuating circumstances.

Not trying to be mean or anything, I'm just trying to be as realistic as possible.

I think you're going to need the advice of Goro on this matter. Hopefully he'll post his thoughts!

 

[neuropsyance]

Sure I can elaborate. It's not a great reason, but I'm hoping I can still make it work.

I failed a class in psychological assessment. The course involved using test scores to diagnose learning disorders. My problem arose from my final exam, which held heavy weight for the course. Unfortunately, there is nothing below a C, except an F, and the grading scale is already stringent. On this exam, the six students who took it all got different results for the diagnosis. Afterwhich, the professor told us in the real world we would just make a decision. Problem was, these diagnosis were VERY different. In short, I suppose you could say this was the reason I left. I have no interest in a field that makes subjective decisions when it comes to a diagnosis that can forever change someones life. I'd rather my diagnoses be based on empircism, not what I "feel".

I was suffering mentally. I was having performance anxiety and anxiety over being in the wrong field, and was even put on anti-anxiety medication. I was having difficulty functioning at all from day to day.

Of course, I do know that there is never an excuse for failing a class. I should have found a way to work through the difficulties I was having, and I regret letting them get the best of me.


Sorry for the novel. Hopefully this isn't a terrible explanation.

 

[Jeeps]

Don't over analyze. You can say I realized I wasn't interested and my heart was set on medical school after all.

 

[Goro]

PROBABLY not harmful in the end. You're going to need to demonstrate committment, because as the other poster mentioned, we need to know you're not goign to bail on us if you decide that medicine isn't right for you either. Be sure to get that anxiety checked out as well. Medical school itself is VERY stressful!

Shoot for as high as possible on the MCAT. Good luck!

Yes I know I need a good explanation for my grad gpa, and I'm confident in that explanation. I'm really just wondering if there are any success stories for DO schools with a similar background.

cGPA: 3.7
sGPA: 3.4

gGPA: 2.3 (one failed class)

I spent a year in a Ph.D. program for clinical psychology. I was miserable and decided to leave the program. I have not taken the MCAT yet, but got a 27 on a practice test.

Do I have a shot at all?

Please no harrassing.

 

[neuropsyance]

Thanks Goro, and everyone, I really appreciate it.

I have a professor I've been working on a publication with from the Ph.D. program I left. We've kept in contact and I'm confident he could write me a good letter. If he were willing to help me with such a letter so that I could reassure programs of my academic ability and commitment, do you think it would be helpful?

Thanks,
neuro

 

[TriagePreMed]

Honestly, one failed grad class won't keep you out of medical school. However, you are better served addressing why you dropped out completely. I think in the end you'll be fine.

 

[Goro]

That would be a very big help. I've rejected people who have failed out of other professional schools and found it suspicious that they couldn't snag at least one LOR from someone at that school.

I'm not saying that to scare you; I view bailing out of a PhD or similar graduate program differently than someone who actually failed or was kicked out of another medical or professional school.

Good luck!

Thanks Goro, and everyone, I really
appreciate it.

I have a professor I've been working on a publication with from the Ph.D. program I left. We've kept in contact and I'm confident he could write me a good letter. If he were willing to help me with such a letter so that I could reassure programs of my academic ability and commitment, do you think it would be helpful?

Thanks,
neuro

 

[neuropsyance]

That would be a very big help. I've rejected people who have failed out of other professional schools and found it suspicious that they couldn't snag at least one LOR from someone at that school.

I'm not saying that to scare you; I view bailing out of a PhD or similar graduate program differently than someone who actually failed or was kicked out of another medical or professional school.

Good luck!

Thanks again to everyone, it's nice to get such honest feedback. And I'm already a bit scared, but if anything it's been helping me focus on succeeding.

Thanks,
neuro

 

[CopToEM]

Any school who gives you the chance to explain this to them will respect what you did. There's no sense in going in substantial debt to be unhappy with the place you're at. You need to spin this that you realize along the way med school was truly for you - assuming that's honestly the case.

Any school who holds the grad school experience against you... isn't worth going to anyway. Just my 0.02.