Need some real advice.

[New Guy]

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To whom it may concern,😕

I am at a crossroads as to whether or not I should keep going for medicine given my current situation. I am a 4th year Senior with a debt level higher than a resident's salary. I had a hard time receiving social support from friends and classmates during my Pre-Med years. My statistics and ECs are below:

Statistics

GPA = 3.26
BCPM = 3.34
MCAT = Taken but voided due to extreme depression (4 years long). Looking to retake it in April 2008; it is now the end of June 2007.

ECs

Medical Mission Trip (40 hours in Spring of 2004)

First Responder Course (Spring 2007)

Various volunteer activities (ER volunteering in Summer of 2004; Info desk--
200 hours before college; Volunteer in Radiation Therapy--30 hours in Summer 2006)

Three physicians shadowed (Pediatrician, Dermatologist, and Emergency Medicine, all MDs). The time spent was not long (a full day at the most), but each encounter gave me more insight to pursue medicine as a career.

Leadership position in a Pre-Med Organization as well as in a fraternity, former and latter, for a year each.

AmeriCorps volunteering (Looking to do from July 2008 to July 2009)

I had one medical withdrawl for depression in Spring of 2005 as well as a killer last semester (2Cs and a D) and this Summer does not look good either (2 Bs). However, I have had As and Bs in most core science courses as well as my prerequisites.

If I was to apply within two to three years, which aspects do you think I should focus on during that time? If I am going to have a shot at medicine in my lifetime, I can't rush anything from now on or rely on pride as a crutch; I fear a post-bacc might hurt me at this point if I applied for one within two years, seeing as I need a 3.8-4.0 ithroughout 1.5 years of academic work to bring my BCPM to a 3.65+, maybe my undergrad to a 3.43. My MCAT score must also be a 34+ for schools in North Carolina and Florida to even look at me, which are the two states I am looking to attend. My ECs also need improvement, even with AmeriCorps as volunteering. There is also the matter of my debt, which will be over $60K if I decide on a post-bacc. The Caribbean and Mexico are my last resorts if, after two cycles, I do not get in.

Which of the above aspects should I focus on first? If I can realistically try for medicine, now is the time.

Any advice on improving my current highlights would be appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[LifetimeDoc]

I would first focus on the courses you are taking now. Don't focus on the past, but try to change things you can affect now. Try to get A's or at minimal B's. Talk with a counselor about your depression and a pre-med adviser about your situation. Map out a course to apply to medical school as the journey is predictable and can be surmounted with the right planning, dedication, and hard work.

Your undergrad is not all that bad, better than mine was! You will need to start your post-baccalaureate when you feel you can dedicate the time and energy to ace all of your classes and pour your energies into doing well.

You don't need a 34+ on the MCAT, only a 30+. Of course higher scores are always better, but make realistic goals and works towards them, then make new ones. Don't let the entire process overwhelm you as it is a marathon and not a sprint (to paraphrase many advise givers here on SDN).

Good luck with your journey!

 

[MeowMix]

I think the most important thing is learning to manage your depression and learning to build a good support network. Without these, med school can be unbearable. It is like putting Miracle-Gro on any difficulty in your life. If I were looking at your application with this info, I would see you as a very high-risk student unless you could convince me that you had learned how to deal with your issues and not have another disastrous semester.

You do not give us your age, which is a big factor. Unless you are very very old like me 😀, i.e. >40, I would advise getting your life in order before going to med school. This might include knocking down some of your debt, or you are going to max out very quickly on federal loan lifetime limits.

Your options seem a little odd: NC/FL vs Caribbean vs Mexico. A 34+ MCAT is very ambitious for most of us average people. I think you should read some more around here and get a more realistic picture of your options, including all kinds of US MD and DO schools.

 

[ShyRem]

Realistically, I wouldn't limit myself to two states for application unless there is a REALLY good reason. You also need to make sure you manage your depression. Med school is depressing enough first year.

It all comes down to how badly do you want medical school? If it's what you really want, study hard and do well in your current classes. Study hard for the MCAT and then apply broadly. You may not end up at your #1 choice (or your #2, #3, #4... etc), but even your dead last choice is still medical school.

Good luck. Let us know how you're doing.

 

[hilseb]

An MCAT score of 34 is way above the average for Florida schools, at least of their accepted classes for 2006.

Good luck.

 

[LUCPM]

To whom it may concern,😕

I am at a crossroads as to whether or not I should keep going for medicine given my current situation. I am a 4th year Senior with a debt level higher than a resident's salary. I had a hard time receiving social support from friends and classmates during my Pre-Med years. My statistics and ECs are below:

Statistics

GPA = 3.26
BCPM = 3.34
MCAT = Taken but voided due to extreme depression (4 years long). Looking to retake it in April 2008; it is now the end of June 2007.

ECs

Medical Mission Trip (40 hours in Spring of 2004)

First Responder Course (Spring 2007)

Various volunteer activities (ER volunteering in Summer of 2004; Info desk--
200 hours before college; Volunteer in Radiation Therapy--30 hours in Summer 2006)

Three physicians shadowed (Pediatrician, Dermatologist, and Emergency Medicine, all MDs). The time spent was not long (a full day at the most), but each encounter gave me more insight to pursue medicine as a career.

Leadership position in a Pre-Med Organization as well as in a fraternity, former and latter, for a year each.

AmeriCorps volunteering (Looking to do from July 2008 to July 2009)

I had one medical withdrawl for depression in Spring of 2005 as well as a killer last semester (2Cs and a D) and this Summer does not look good either (2 Bs). However, I have had As and Bs in most core science courses as well as my prerequisites.

If I was to apply within two to three years, which aspects do you think I should focus on during that time? If I am going to have a shot at medicine in my lifetime, I can't rush anything from now on or rely on pride as a crutch; I fear a post-bacc might hurt me at this point if I applied for one within two years, seeing as I need a 3.8-4.0 ithroughout 1.5 years of academic work to bring my BCPM to a 3.65+, maybe my undergrad to a 3.43. My MCAT score must also be a 34+ for schools in North Carolina and Florida to even look at me, which are the two states I am looking to attend. My ECs also need improvement, even with AmeriCorps as volunteering. There is also the matter of my debt, which will be over $60K if I decide on a post-bacc. The Caribbean and Mexico are my last resorts if, after two cycles, I do not get in.

Which of the above aspects should I focus on first? If I can realistically try for medicine, now is the time.

Any advice on improving my current highlights would be appreciated.

Thank you.

The biggest advantage you have is that you still have a plenty of time. I worked for over 12 years before I decided to go back to school. All the money I saved was used up during my post-bacc years. Money comes and goes but you can never turn the clock back.

Best of all, your GPA can be improved with some damage control. Just try your best and don't think about Caribbean yet.

Good Luck

 

[schooltill30]

Health comes before everything.

I had a screwed up freshman and sophomore year due to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Narcolepsy. While thingsa re looking better now, I would never even consider making the kind of commitment that a medical student makes unles I knew for certain that: 1) I had a solid support, both from friends and from family, and 2) A way of dealing with symptoms if (and when) they happen.

Imagine what would happen if, after 4 years of med school, your depression came back for a relapse and debilitated you, effectively ruining any plans for residency. Do you have a plan for that?

Of course, since I don't know the details of your medical issues, i can't really assume anything about your condition. It sounds like your depression was really bad. While I have never suffered from chronic depression, I have a friend who did. I watched him suffer, and I know that it would be impossible to go through the stresses of med school like that. If you know that your depression is under control, then all of what I'm saying is moot point anyways. But you really have to be careful if there are some unknowns about it.

You've probably thought this through thousands of times, and I'm probably not adding any substantial advice, but I'm just trying to look out for fellow chronic conditioned people out there.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[New Guy]

I think the most important thing is learning to manage your depression and learning to build a good support network. Without these, med school can be unbearable. It is like putting Miracle-Gro on any difficulty in your life. If I were looking at your application with this info, I would see you as a very high-risk student unless you could convince me that you had learned how to deal with your issues and not have another disastrous semester.

You do not give us your age, which is a big factor. Unless you are very very old like me 😀, i.e. >40, I would advise getting your life in order before going to med school. This might include knocking down some of your debt, or you are going to max out very quickly on federal loan lifetime limits.

Your options seem a little odd: NC/FL vs Caribbean vs Mexico. A 34+ MCAT is very ambitious for most of us average people. I think you should read some more around here and get a more realistic picture of your options, including all kinds of US MD and DO schools.

I'm currently 22 and need to get a clue before I'm blue.

 

[MeowMix]

If I were Dean of Admissions, then, I would recommend that you take a good few years (like 3-5) to get it together. Get a job, make some money, pay off some debts, address your health issues, make friends, show that you can deal with the stresses of everyday life and work and flourish. Do some good solid part-time course work and get incredible grades.

As pointed out above, if your depression shows up again in intern year, when you are $200,000 in debt, you are going to be in a dire situation. You need to do everything possible to ensure that that never happens.

 

[medschl hpeful]

You have no other choice, but to pursue your dreams if you cannot think of nothing else that you want to do as a career. It CANNOT be about the money, because at an older age it's a gamble on breaking even.

I know of people who have gotten into medical school on a GPA of 3.0 and an MCAT of 25. Why are you creating these mountains for your self. I also know of people with an mcat of 35 and GPAs of 3.7 and higher and have not gotten in yet!!!!

It is a combination of things. If the school you are shooting for is local, get to know the recruiters! We are adults,use the experience that we have gained. NETWORK!!! I am not suggesting (AT ALL )that you can smooze your way into medschool, however, if you can show them your attributes do so !! This process is about more than just mcat scores and grade point averages!!!!!!!!!
Schools need smart, savy, thinkers, who can communicate well with the public, and who have an innate desire to help.

If that is you, then plow steady!

 

[QofQuimica]

You didn't tell us what your state of residency is, but I can tell you that it will be very hard for you to get into any of the FL state schools if you are not a FL resident or someone who has strong ties to the state of FL. It's not impossible to come here from another state, but very few OOS students are accepted to any of our state schools. The ones who are tend to be people with stellar stats along with ties to the state. It's also very expensive to attend a FL school as an OOS student, although you may be able to get in-state residency after a year.

I agree with what the other posters have said. First, deal with your depression, because you cannot realistically expect to make it through medical school successfully with an uncontrolled mental illness. Are you seeing a doctor for help? If not, you should look into doing this as soon as you can; there are many treatment options available for people with depression. Second, take whatever time you need to get your application in order. There is no one important aspect of the application that trumps everything else; you need to be reasonably strong in all areas (grades, MCAT, ECs, LORs, essays, interviews) if you want to be a competitive candidate. Third, apply BROADLY. Start by applying to all of the state schools in your state of residence, and add multiple other schools that accept reasonable numbers of OOS residents. In FL, the only school that takes a large number of OOS students is U Miami. You will need at least a 3.6 GPA and a 30 MCAT to apply there as an OOS student.

The road to medical school is long, but it's doable if you really want it. Best of luck to you. 🙂

 

[budhak0n]

Hey I can only offer my own story... If there's something in there that can help, great....

I also dealt with a great deal of depression during my undergraduate time. Unlike you however, I did not recognize it as anything that was seriously, let alone "medically" wrong with me at the time.

Being Irish and Stubborn and taught that we don't share such things with others. I bottled it up and didn't even recognize I had a problem. I would give anything to have the years back that I wasted simply because I was too proud to admit to myself or to anyone else that I truly had a "problem".

In today's world, you've done a great thing and taken the first step which was to admit that you were having a problem and seeking help. Me I "self" medicated the problem.. and to be honest that's not the way to go.

If you need a year or so to get your head straight, don't be afraid to take it. Your goals will always be there.

I'm not one to say that you should disregard the "financial" aspects of your situation but having been through it... I can honestly say that nothing is as bad as you perceive it to be.

Don't simply pursue something you don't want to do simply because you think you'll garner some type of financial benefit.

In the same breath, however, if the reason why you are pursuing this dream is some perceived future monetary benefit... I would also reevaluate that plan as well.

I guess what I'm saying is.... take whatever time you need to Get "YOU" right because without "YOU" being in the right place... none of the other chips will fall the way you need them to... or at least that has BEEN MY Experience.

Everybody is different, and It's not for me to say what will work for you... I can only share what it was like for me.

Once I addressed my own problems.. and did so with a professional, my life took one large sweeping upswing for the better and I've never looked back.

I have a great family, two great kids, I live in a great neighborhood. I don't have anything to complain about moneywise and when I was your age... I felt a lot like some of the things you communicated.

IT "will" work out.. It just takes a lot of time... If Medicine is your DREAM, don't let it go over financial worries... but at the same time... if medicine is what you placed there for yourself and isn't truly what you feel called to do... don't be afraid to make the choice that will make you happy.

Without "ME" being in the right place, I can't expect anything else to work in my life.

Hope you find your way.

 

[saintsfan]

I feel your pain. However, trust me, there comes a time when you have to just get over it and not care what others think. I know that sounds harsh, but I am talking form personal experience.

I am 27 and basically "starting over". I spent many years in college (150 hours and NO degree yet), trying to do what everyone else thought I should do (including a marriage!). Last year I woke up one day and realilzed I was getting nowhere fast. There was a reason as to why I was so depressed and feeling hopeless. You have to do what you want with your life. I did not have a great support system.

I looked at what I could control-getting my sub 3.0 gpa inline, kicking butt on the MCAT, getting out of an unhealthy relationship, getting away form those that bring me down (or learning to say, "I appreciate your concern, but I think I can handle it"), regaining my shadowing experience, paying off my debt, etc.

It is hard not to focus on the past. But, you need to focus on the things that you can change. That is what I am having to do. Would you know it, in the process I have totally found a true support system (including staff physicians). I am also more motivated than ever. Also, I have realized that it might take me a 2nd degree/post bac before I get in. That is ok. We all do what we have to do to make it, regardless of what others may think.

Best of luck to you.