Lowest GPA comeback....Need Serious Direction

[MsAirForce]

Well I've spent countless hours reading post on this site and finally decided to put my story out there and seek some direction. There seem to be many wise soul giving advice on this site and I could really use some.

First I wanted to find out what are some of the lowest Cum GPA's people have tried to bring back up to get in to a postbacc or MD program?

Here's my story....🙁

Started out at a nice High School that contracted with the local hospital that allowed me to have a class shadowing in the hospital one day a week for 3 years. I went on to a reputable 4 yr University and didn't do well. Went to a CC and still didn't do well. (5 F's, 7 W's to be exact). Did I mention that was only from one of the school. 😡 Man, don't I wish I could erase history. But I still didn't change much. I went into the military, where I was still determined to as least finish my Bachelor's. So 2 more schools and 9 more F's later, I finally finished. The crazy part is that I finished with a 3.139 GPA (from the school I graduated from). And that was with 63 units. I CLEPped about 30 units and transferred in everything else.

Anyhow....here I am, 10 years after graduating High School and trying to figure out what in the hell happened to me. Okay...I actually know the answer to that....

1) POOR study habits. Better yet...NO study habits
2) DEPRESSION from sexual abuse that went on for 6 years as a child. (Okay that was a little to much info. But I'm being honest with myself now.
3) PRIDE. Definitely too much pride. So much that I couldn't face the fact that I need to make some serious changes if I wanted to be successful in something I love.
4) GUIDANCE or lack there of. I could have definitely used some more guidance early on.
5) I'm sure there are more, but I'll move on for now.

So here I am, starting all over. But the crazy thing is...you can't really start over when you've messed up so bad. I guess I'm really just picking up where I left off, but with a better approach, attitude and game plan. Any help and guidance I could get from so of you guru's will b great!!!

I know I can't get into a Postbacc program just yet, but I know there are other options. I just need some advice on what other options may be best for my situation. One of the best things about this is I haven't taken ANY of my pre-req's yet, so I can't start on a clean slate with that. Your help would be great. Thanks

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[dut99002]

MsAirForce,
First of all, props to you for having so much courage. It sounds like you've definitely passesd through some real challenges, but are moving on, and that's very commendable. So good for you. I wish you the very best. I don't claim to be an expert on post baccalaureate programs myself, I am still in the application stage, but will give you my 2 cents.

I can't speak for every program out there, but I can think of at least one where you could start in theory, even in your situation. The Harvard Extension School's program is open enrollment, so regardless of your record you should be able to enroll. If you want to be sponsored (their committee will write a letter of recommendation in you behalf to the med schools you apply to) you'll have to meet certain standards while enrolled and pay a $500 fee I believe. Here's the link to their site:
http://www.extension.harvard.edu/2006-07/programs/hcp/overview/

I am considering attending there myself because I've read good things about their program and they look like a good deal as well:

-It costs roughly $850 per class during the fall and spring semesters (the program classes run at night so you can work, volunteer and study during the day).
-If you want to you can also enroll in the Harvard Summer School, but classes are over twice as expensive at $2,200 each.
-According to their assistant director, Dr. Owen Peterson, roughly 80-90% of those who are sponsored by the program are accepted to Medical School.
-Also, since you haven't taken any of the normal premed classes (chem, o chem, physics, bio, etc.) you could receive a certificate as well from the school.
-Many, if not all of your teachers, will be Harvard University professors.

So that's one option I can see working for you. Again, I am no expert on the program itself, that's just what I've read and researched myself. There are quite a few current Harvard Extension School Health Program students on the site, and a "Official Harvard 2006" thread as well. They're helpful if you need any info. Also, you can email the school itself through their site (I have a couple of times) and they're very helpful and respond rather quickly. There are probably other programs you could attend as well, but I am not all to familiar with a lot of them. Many a GPA of 3.0 or higher, but that's not to say that there aren't any as strict.

Here are two lists you could go through:

http://hpap.syr.edu/LISTPB.HTM
http://services.aamc.org/postbac/

There are a lot of examples of individuals who've overcome big obstacles and made it into Med school, and many have posted their stories on this very website. Good luck again and I hope that I was of some help.

Oh, here's a link to their page with their standards for sponsorship:
http://www.extension.harvard.edu/2006-07/programs/hcp/sponsor/

 

[Lbgem]

Sounds a little bit like my story. I was also abused (not sexually thankfully) as a child, which gave me a lot of problems as I grew up. I had trouble in college, and ended up with a so so gpa: 2.5 BCPM, ~3.2 overall. I am glad that I took the year off after I graduated to decide what to do with my life. I was depressed, and feeling lost as I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life or how to make it better.

I moved to another state, worked for a really awesome boss in a research lab, and went to therapy. I started volunteering at the local hospital and that is when things started to click for me - in terms of what I wanted to do with my life.

So I started to get my butt back in gear - earned a 29N on the MCAT, applied to three post-bac programs that were geared to academic record enhancers - EVMS, BU's MAMS and Georgetown's SMP. I am now attending BU's MAMS program which I really like, but it's really difficult at the same time. dut99002 gave you a good link for the post bac programs on the aamc website - it's what I used.

So my advice to you - it's doable, but you have to prove that you have the ability and the committment to do well in med school. First, if you still are having problems with your childhood abuse, get help for it. It can only make things better - in terms of emotional health especially (which is essential for getting through the craziness that is med school 😛). Second, look into the post bac programs that are suited for you. You haven't taken any pre-req science classes from what I understand so there are post-bac programs focused towards that. Another option is to start taking classes at a 4 year university (the science pre reqs that is), build up your academic record first and then apply to a post-bac. Who knows you may even be able to apply to med school with that solid record behind you and not need a post-bac - talk to a pre-med advisor for this or even better talk to the med schools you're thinking of applying to to get an idea.

 

[MsAirForce]

Dut and Gem,

Thanks a lot. I went on the HES and it was very informative. I've also been on the AAMC site and it has A LOT of info. One of the things that I've noticed is that most of the good post-bac are on the East Coast. I was trying to stay on the West, but Cali's post-bac and med school are so competitive that I may have to do my own program. I'm using the next couple of weeks to weigh my options. School starts back late January, so I have a little time.