Need some advice

[Propofol482]

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I am currently wondering if I should give up on going to Med-School. I started school at a junior college 2 years ago while I was a pro bmx racer. My school grades were not so hot due to the fact I was focused more on racing than on school. I was working at a hospital as a pharmacy tech. and found that I wanted to go to Med-School because I could not see myself doing anything else for the rest of my life. I quit racing and starting making good grades for a semester and the summer, then I got into a bind this semester and I am having to drop every class because of issues at home. I am wondering if I have demolished my chance of getting into Med-School because of the horrible transcript I have so far, or if I make awesome grades when I go to a university that it will make up for the mishaps I have had. I want to go to Med-School more than anything else and I am not giving up, but I just wonder sometimes if I should plan on getting an MBA instead. If anyone has stories of how they had a rough start in college and still made it to be a doctor, I would appreciate if you could share them with me for encouragement.

Thanks

 

[Fermata]

How many hours do you have and with what GPA?

 

[CalH22a]

I think you definately still have a shot. Just maintain really good grades at a university and do well on the MCATs. Pulling up your GPA and maintaining excellent grades during your time at a 4-year university will show the adcoms that you can handle rigorous school work. It'll also look like you had a rough start but got things straight later, which you should explain to the adcoms in your personal statement. Since you were a pro bmx racer you have some pretty interesting life experiences which might help out. Just get good grades, do well on MCAT, and get in some good ECs.

 

[Propofol482]

Thanks for the reply's. I currently have 31 hours with a 3.3 GPA. I still have a lot of science and math courses left, but I also have the highest grades in those classes as well. I am getting an undergraduate in biology with a minor in molecular biology. I love biology and it comes very easy for me. I just worry that since I have a lot of W's on my transcript in the beginning that it may hurt me. I'll see eventually though.

 

[Fermata]

Thanks for the reply's. I currently have 31 hours with a 3.3 GPA. I still have a lot of science and math courses left, but I also have the highest grades in those classes as well. I am getting an undergraduate in biology with a minor in molecular biology. I love biology and it comes very easy for me. I just worry that since I have a lot of W's on my transcript in the beginning that it may hurt me. I'll see eventually though.

Ahhh, a 3.3 with 31 hours?

That's not bad at all. 🙂

As long as you have a good overall GPA with an upward trend, then thsoe W's should be easy to explain since you have a legitimate reason and circumstance.

You're still quite in the running.

Good luck to you.

 

[VickFan]

3.3 gpa after pretty much 1 year of school work is PLENTY OF TIME to boost it up.

in fact, i had a 3.25 at about 15 credits. the next 15-20 credits, i had a 3.8 gpa. so now its around 3.60. and thats where i am now... plan to keep doin well and raising it up even more!

 

[UCBShocker]

I think you are a farcry from a point where you should even consider giving up. You are doing fine, just keep up the good work and bring the grades up. It sounds like you will have a lot of 'life' material to write your essays... use that to explain the negatives of your application.

But ya, in my opinion, you should not give up, not by a long shot. Best of luck to you.

 

[Propofol482]

Thanks a lot for your posts, I feel a lot better about things now.

 

[CoverMe]

or... stay doing the BMX thing!!! I only mention this, because I was working in the Trauma ctr a few mos ago, when a guy is brought in with an injured shoulder. The nurse starts asking him about what he does (races motocross), then she goes into her standard "this isn't the kind of job that's going to last forever, maybe you should think about going back to school..." bla bla bla.

"So, seriously," she asks, "Is this really a career? How much did you make last year?" Motocross guy looks kind of uncomfortable... "Well, my parents handle most of that... probably like 20?"

"Thousand?" the nurse asks.

"No, million," he replies.

The nurse just turns around and walks away, I'm cracking up... it was hysterical!!! The nurse saw me laughing and started to laugh too, and then told the other nurses... they all decided to screw nursing, they're going to race motorcycles!!!

apparently this is some really famous guy and was totally legit about making millions.

 

[Pir8DeacDoc]

I could imagine the same thing happening at the trauma center here where I'm in school.

Two of the best BMX guys in the country live here in Greenville. Dave Mirra and Ryan Nyquist. There are a lot of other riders here too, but I can never remember their names. Used to hang out with them a little bit before med school but free time isn't what it used to be 😀

 

[Fermata]

I could imagine the same thing happening at the trauma center here where I'm in school.

Two of the best BMX guys in the country live here in Greenville. Dave Mirra and Ryan Nyquist. There are a lot of other riders here too, but I can never remember their names. Used to hang out with them a little bit before med school but free time isn't what it used to be 😀

I knew that Mirra was out of Pitt County.....didn't know about Nyquist.

 

[txguy]

I am currently wondering if I should give up on going to Med-School. I started school at a junior college 2 years ago while I was a pro bmx racer. My school grades were not so hot due to the fact I was focused more on racing than on school. I was working at a hospital as a pharmacy tech. and found that I wanted to go to Med-School because I could not see myself doing anything else for the rest of my life. I quit racing and starting making good grades for a semester and the summer, then I got into a bind this semester and I am having to drop every class because of issues at home. I am wondering if I have demolished my chance of getting into Med-School because of the horrible transcript I have so far, or if I make awesome grades when I go to a university that it will make up for the mishaps I have had. I want to go to Med-School more than anything else and I am not giving up, but I just wonder sometimes if I should plan on getting an MBA instead. If anyone has stories of how they had a rough start in college and still made it to be a doctor, I would appreciate if you could share them with me for encouragement.

Thanks

Very interesting story!

Definitely do not give up, especially with a 3.3 GPA of only 31 hours! These next 10 years will go by no matter what you do, might as well be pursuing something you love, right?

Like some of the above posters have said, your interesting story and upward trend are a thumbs up 👍 👍

Good luck the rest of the way! And if you ever find yourself in doubt again, do what I do--imagine yourself on your deathbed reflecting back on your life--that is usually enough to dispell any doubt for me 🙂

Cya around SDN....

-tx

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

Just keep working at it. I went from a 3.3 GPA freshman year to a 3.7 Senior year. Work hard, and good things will happen. Good luck!

 

[Fermata]

Just keep working at it. I went from a 3.3 GPA freshman year to a 3.7 Senior year. Work hard, and good things will happen. Good luck!

But what if you are lazy? 🙁 😉

 

[Propofol482]

Thats cool about the motocross dude. I raced motocross for 2 years, and loved it more than bmx. There isn't much money in bmx though, or I would have kept on racing. My friend just turned pro and is racing the supercross series this year, can't wait to get down on the track and watch from there. I didn't do what Mirra does in bmx, I raced on dirt with jumps and stuff. I still ride mountain bikes though, and I took up playing golf. Golf just frustrates me to no end sometimes though. I am looking for what will benefit me most in the future, and I cannot see myself doing anything else except but being a doctor. Thanks for all your posts, it definately encourages me to keep on moving forward. 👍

 

[Apollo8]

Funny to come across another who's passions are BMX + medicine. BMX is all my friends, all my good times, and the happy thoughts I focus on to sleep at night. Medicine is basically the opposite .