My GPA is in the garbage, I took a semester off, transferred schools.. can I have any hopes left?

[the garbageman]

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So my freshman year of university went great. I ended the year with a 3.6 and although I felt I didn't work as hard in the second semester as I could have, I was happy with how I was doing.

My second year was a bit harder. By the end of the first semester, my GPA was at a 3.4. The second semester is where everything fell apart. My mom tried to kill herself over semester break. I became a mess of depression and anxiety. I already suffered from those previously, but had it under control. Watching my mom try to commit suicide took everything out of me. I sought out help and saw a therapist and went on anti-depressants, which worked. My grades were beyond helping by the time I found the right medication though. I ended the semester with 3 D's and a B and my GPA dropped to a 2.9.

I had planned on going back to school in the fall, but life had other plans. Two weeks before school started, my mom decided to check herself into the hospital for having suicidal thoughts. She wasn't really having suicidal thoughts anymore, but she wanted help for her drug addiction. We couldn't afford rehab, but if you admit yourself into the hospital, they rehabilitate you. I have 4 younger siblings all under the age of 18, so I had to be their temporary guardian. There was no way I could return to school (it was 6 hours away), so I had to drop out of the semester. I then tried applying to a school closer to me so that I could commute, but they charged me out of state tuition because I lived in a foreign country for my entire senior year of high school as a foreign exchange student. So by the time that all happened, it was too late to apply to any other schools. Instead, I worked two jobs and supported my younger siblings for the month while my mom was in the hospital. Since then, I've held down two jobs and continued to save money.

I have plans to transfer to a different school next semester. I'm already enrolled in all my classes and everything. My home life is better and I know I can't make the same mistakes I made last year. But is it too late to be considered for medical school? I feel like the awful GPA is strike 1, the fact that I took a semester off is strike 2, and the fact that I didn't do any shadowing or volunteering during my semester off is strike 3 (babysitting my mom and being the only income for a family of 6 was a lot of hard work).

I always planned on applying to osteopathic schools and I know they use grade replacement, but I feel like this semester off is just totally going to drag me down and work against me.

Is it too late to fix everything I've screwed up or do I still have a shot?

 

[GotIronKnee]

You can do it still, but it will be hard. I've seen people overcome hardships and get into medical school. You will have to make absolutely only As and Bs this time (obviously focusing on trying to get As in every class). There can be no slacking off. Don't aim for a specific number like 3.5; aim for the absolutely highest you can push yourself to get. It can be done. Then practice for the MCAT and absolutely ACE it. I can't tell you more unless I know more about your current situation, but feel free to PM me. I know someone on a D.O. adcom, so I could ask for more specifics if you would like.

 

[Dagrimsta1]

The admission staff will likely see your situation through your PS and essays... This will all be taken into account. Work hard and you can fix your situation no doubt. Good luck my man

 

[the garbageman]

The admission staff will likely see your situation through your PS and essays... This will all be taken into account. Work hard and you can fix your situation no doubt. Good luck my man

Do you think that admissions will look down on the fact that I spent a whole semester off with no shadowing or volunteering though?

 

[Dagrimsta1]

Do you think that admissions will look down on the fact that I spent a whole semester off with no shadowing or volunteering though?

Let me ask you, do you think your time would have been better spent shadowing and volunteering? I'm sure your time was spent doing more important things.

 

[Goro]

My sympathies for all your heartaches. We fully understand that life intrudes upon academics. You'll have places in your app to explain all of these woes that affected you.

Do NOT continue you education until you develop better coping skills, and have your family issues settled. Your mom's issues may very well continue when you're a med student, and you can't run home at every crisis.

Yes, you can fully bounce back from this via excellent academic performance.

So my freshman year of university went great. I ended the year with a 3.6 and although I felt I didn't work as hard in the second semester as I could have, I was happy with how I was doing.

My second year was a bit harder. By the end of the first semester, my GPA was at a 3.4. The second semester is where everything fell apart. My mom tried to kill herself over semester break. I became a mess of depression and anxiety. I already suffered from those previously, but had it under control. Watching my mom try to commit suicide took everything out of me. I sought out help and saw a therapist and went on anti-depressants, which worked. My grades were beyond helping by the time I found the right medication though. I ended the semester with 3 D's and a B and my GPA dropped to a 2.9.

I had planned on going back to school in the fall, but life had other plans. Two weeks before school started, my mom decided to check herself into the hospital for having suicidal thoughts. She wasn't really having suicidal thoughts anymore, but she wanted help for her drug addiction. We couldn't afford rehab, but if you admit yourself into the hospital, they rehabilitate you. I have 4 younger siblings all under the age of 18, so I had to be their temporary guardian. There was no way I could return to school (it was 6 hours away), so I had to drop out of the semester. I then tried applying to a school closer to me so that I could commute, but they charged me out of state tuition because I lived in a foreign country for my entire senior year of high school as a foreign exchange student. So by the time that all happened, it was too late to apply to any other schools. Instead, I worked two jobs and supported my younger siblings for the month while my mom was in the hospital. Since then, I've held down two jobs and continued to save money.

I have plans to transfer to a different school next semester. I'm already enrolled in all my classes and everything. My home life is better and I know I can't make the same mistakes I made last year. But is it too late to be considered for medical school? I feel like the awful GPA is strike 1, the fact that I took a semester off is strike 2, and the fact that I didn't do any shadowing or volunteering during my semester off is strike 3 (babysitting my mom and being the only income for a family of 6 was a lot of hard work).

I always planned on applying to osteopathic schools and I know they use grade replacement, but I feel like this semester off is just totally going to drag me down and work against me.

Is it too late to fix everything I've screwed up or do I still have a shot?

 

[Goro]

No!

Do you think that admissions will look down on the fact that I spent a whole semester off with no shadowing or volunteering though?

 

[deleted707454]

I finished my undergrad with a 2.9, and made several Ds and Cs throughout my time - went through a break up and was basically depressed the last two years of school. I spent 2 years overseas doing humanitarian work and teaching, and bounced back from malaise. I returned to the US, took 2 semesters repeating courses I made low grades in (many were online), studied for the MCAT, applied to medical schools, and got accepted. It can be done - feel free to ask me specific questions.

 

[bopper]

1) If you are interested in DO schools, you can retake the "D" classes and they will use the new grades.
2) I dont think medical schools care when you volunteered/shadowed, just that you have so many hours doing it over your college career.
3) Make sure now if you go back to school, you and your circumstances are such that you can continue straight through. You want to show that you helped out in the situation, but are now ready to get back to school.
4) You can use the fact that you supported everyone as an "EC" on your application.

 

[ciestar]

My sympathies for all your heartaches. We fully understand that life intrudes upon academics. You'll have places in your app to explain all of these woes that affected you.

Do NOT continue you education until you develop better coping skills, and have your family issues settled. Your mom's issues may very well continue when you're a med student, and you can't run home at every crisis.

Yes, you can fully bounce back from this via excellent academic performance.

He is not wrong. I had a situation happen with me in September and I DID rush home, and guess what? I couldnt catch up with the material (4+ days behind..impossible) and failed exams.

I agree, though. Don't let your grades suffer for any reason that is preventable. Take care of yourself first. If you have terrible coping skills, you'll be in for a rude awakening in med school. (I also had this happen in undergrad and I also fell into a deep, dark hole of depression...took 3 gap years, there's always problems at home, but you learn how to deal with it overtime.)

 

[rolliespring]

So my freshman year of university went great. I ended the year with a 3.6 and although I felt I didn't work as hard in the second semester as I could have, I was happy with how I was doing.

My second year was a bit harder. By the end of the first semester, my GPA was at a 3.4. The second semester is where everything fell apart. My mom tried to kill herself over semester break. I became a mess of depression and anxiety. I already suffered from those previously, but had it under control. Watching my mom try to commit suicide took everything out of me. I sought out help and saw a therapist and went on anti-depressants, which worked. My grades were beyond helping by the time I found the right medication though. I ended the semester with 3 D's and a B and my GPA dropped to a 2.9.

I had planned on going back to school in the fall, but life had other plans. Two weeks before school started, my mom decided to check herself into the hospital for having suicidal thoughts. She wasn't really having suicidal thoughts anymore, but she wanted help for her drug addiction. We couldn't afford rehab, but if you admit yourself into the hospital, they rehabilitate you. I have 4 younger siblings all under the age of 18, so I had to be their temporary guardian. There was no way I could return to school (it was 6 hours away), so I had to drop out of the semester. I then tried applying to a school closer to me so that I could commute, but they charged me out of state tuition because I lived in a foreign country for my entire senior year of high school as a foreign exchange student. So by the time that all happened, it was too late to apply to any other schools. Instead, I worked two jobs and supported my younger siblings for the month while my mom was in the hospital. Since then, I've held down two jobs and continued to save money.

I have plans to transfer to a different school next semester. I'm already enrolled in all my classes and everything. My home life is better and I know I can't make the same mistakes I made last year. But is it too late to be considered for medical school? I feel like the awful GPA is strike 1, the fact that I took a semester off is strike 2, and the fact that I didn't do any shadowing or volunteering during my semester off is strike 3 (babysitting my mom and being the only income for a family of 6 was a lot of hard work).

I always planned on applying to osteopathic schools and I know they use grade replacement, but I feel like this semester off is just totally going to drag me down and work against me.

Is it too late to fix everything I've screwed up or do I still have a shot?

No and yes.