need some advice

[ugh]

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Okay, so i've done a lot of changing over the past year. for the better. Let me start off by telling you that i've done horrible in these past years in high school. i didn't care to the extent where i stopped going to school. i missed 90 days my sophomore year and still passed, but state laws wouldn't let me pass my classes so i instantly failed them.

After some reflecting and some outside inspiration i've decided i want to be a doctor, i know i have the intelligence for it and biology thrills me. So i've been playing catch up like crazy and i'll be graduating this year. with a gpa of around 2.0-5 if i get all A's(which i intend.).Haven't taken my SAT or ACT yet but i intend on about a 30 (give or take) and a pretty decent sat scores. My question is what's next? will colleges look over my gpa and see how well i did on these tests?. should i go to community college and then transfer? (i'd really rather not considering the mixed feelings in the community about junior colleges.) or should i just try to get into a university. i'm a kentucky resident btw, but also can qualify for texas as well.(would rather live in tx😛)

thanks.

 

[El Nino]

IMO your gpa may effect your chances at your state schools depending what their average gpa and SAT/ACT scores. I don't know if your state schools allow you to submit a personal statement but, you should if you get the opportunity. Try for some private schools because they tend to look more at the overall applicant.

You may have to attend a CC for 2-3 years then transfer so don't throw out this option. Plus, if you have not applied to any colleges and you're graduating in the year of 2009, then I think you have no other option.

 

[ucsfstudents]

I would recommend attending a community college and completing requirements to transfer to a 4 year university with an intended biology major. This means you will complete English, Math, Chemistry, and Biology , and other classes, at your community college, and then transfer to a 4 year college to do upper division work.

You still have a very good chance of making it into medical school. Just don't ever repeat the behaviors that led you toward failing your classes. I would recommend NOT applying to a 4 year college at this time. Because of your history, and low GPA, you might not be able to do well in classes in 4 year colleges and might end up failing out or dropping out. To prevent that from happening, I would recommend going to a community college, getting really good mentoring, building up your confidence, and then transferring to a 4 year college or university to continue your success.

Good luck!

 

[NickNaylor]

I would recommend attending a community college and completing requirements to transfer to a 4 year university with an intended biology major. This means you will complete English, Math, Chemistry, and Biology , and other classes, at your community college, and then transfer to a 4 year college to do upper division work.

You still have a very good chance of making it into medical school. Just don't ever repeat the behaviors that led you toward failing your classes. I would recommend NOT applying to a 4 year college at this time. Because of your history, and low GPA, you might not be able to do well in classes in 4 year colleges and might end up failing out or dropping out. To prevent that from happening, I would recommend going to a community college, getting really good mentoring, building up your confidence, and then transferring to a 4 year college or university to continue your success.

Good luck!

I think this is great advice, but a caveat: make sure you dedicate yourself to finishing at CC. I know several people that have been in similar situations, get into CC, but never finish. This cannot be you if you want to become a doctor.

If you have the desire and drive to become a doctor, you'll be able to do it. It may not be the most direct route and it may not be perfect, but you'll get there.

 

[ugh]

Thanks for the advice so far guys. I've heard some debates about CC and how medical schools look at it. I don't know if i said this in my previous post but i will be a senior this year. should i even bother at applying to some of my state schools like western/eastern KY or just go straight to CC? and if i do go straight to community, what classes should/shouldn't i take? Oh, and what steps do i take for applying to a university after i put my two years in at community?

 

[MilkmanAl]

I would absolutely apply to your state schools. With strong standardized test scores, you'll probably be able to get in. That's definitely the more efficient way of going about your education.

If you go to a community college first, you'll need to transfer to whatever university you want to attend. Try to avoid taking anything outside of the most basic med school pre-reqs like bio 1 and gen chem 1. Use it mostly for elective requirements.

 

[AryaStark]

I personally probably wouldn't go to a CC if I could go to a regular university. After having just applied to 12 programs in my own graduate field (non medical) I can't imagine having to deal with getting transcripts from a CC and from my current university. It just sounds like a major headache. Additionally, does that full college experience matter to you? It's a lot easier to make friends when EVERYONE is new as opposed to trying to join a group of established friends. Also, there is always the possibility that not all your credits would transfer the way you want them to. Lastly, at my undergrad, a student needs to take a certain number of "MODE classes" This means you need to take a science, a humanity, an art class, an English class, a foreign language class. A lot of people I know who transferred in from a CC were pretty much screwed because they hadn't been working on this for the last two years, and instead of taking interesting classes pertaining to their major, they had to fulfill the requirements for graduation from that particular school. It just sounds like a huge ball of stress to me.