Need a little advice after taking a leave of absence

[tulpisoreos]

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Sorry if this is the wrong thread, I'm new here.

I started off with a cumulative GPA of 3.6 with a 3.8 in my sGPA. I am a senior and as of right now, my cumulative GPA stands at a 3.34. This will probably dip due to my poor performance this semester as well.
I had to withdraw from my Spring 17 classes due to some severe mental health issues including episodes of severe depression and psychosis and ever since then my grades and GPA have been plummeting. I've socially withdrawn myself completely and have been told that I've changed a lot since taking the leave of absence but I am trying to bounce back and recover.

I will be taking a 5th year finish my degree in Biology and hopefully I can boost my GPA during that time. I am also taking the MCAT soon and hopefully will score high but as of right now, with my practice MCATs being in the 498-502 range, I'm looking at a possible retake.

My ECs are OK but definitely not great, I have paid clinical experience for a year, volunteer hours in religious community, and I'm looking to get a medical scribe position to boost the ECs/shadowing experience.

What can I improve on to apply next cycle for either MD or DO? Has anyone been in a similar position? Any help is definitely appreciated!

 

[candbgirl]

Do not take the MCAT until you are consistently scoring at or above your target goal on FL practice tests. Don’t worry about applying until you are well and have returned to good health. As @Goro always says “ med schools” aren’t going anywhere” so take care of yourself first.

 

[deleted480308]

Stay mentally healthy
Get good grades

Nothing else that interferes with the first two, including your goal timeline matters

 

[tulpisoreos]

Do not take the MCAT until you are consistently scoring at or above your target goal on FL practice tests. Don’t worry about applying until you are well and have returned to good health. As @Goro always says “ med schools” aren’t going anywhere” so take care of yourself first.

Yes I will probably delay the MCAT until I am scoring above a 506 consistently. I think I'm in much better health than I was in the Spring of 2017, I'm just worried about how medical schools will view my progressive decline in GPA. If I do well in my 5th year and get a decent MCAT score, will I be looked upon favorably as having overcome a bump in the road? Or will my low GPA and a semester of withdrawls/ low grades after the withdrawls outweigh any positives going forward?