Need some serious help with career choice

[csh123]

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Hi i am currently a sophomore at allegheny majoring in environmental science and minoring in psych. My goal has been to get into medical school but my problem is my gpa. I have a 2.8. I know I'll be able to improve my gpa if I try my hardest but I feel as if my best wont be enough to get into medical school. I just took ochem and I think I got a C in it, which made me feel depressed. I'm also reconsidering my major because I am going to have 64k in loans to pay off after college.

Right now I have taken a lot of pre med/ ES prereqs. I can apply to med school and pharm school. But another problem is that if I get my Pharmd and can't find a job, I'm stuck with 200k loans. I keep hearing how pharmacy is doing very bad right now and science PhDs are worthless ( which is why I'm not even considering one).

This brings me to my next point... If I can't get into med school, pharm school is too expensive, and I can't do anything with an ES major with a chemistry concentration, is it a good idea to just switch my major to economics( I would have to take an extra class just for one semester if I chose this path) and minor in bio so I can at least find a job if I can't get into med school and if pharm school doesn't seem worth it? Also I will be able to fulfill premed and prepharm requirements with a econ major/bio minor so i have a lot of options.

Honestly, I really want to be a doctor (specifically a DO) and I feel like I'm not left with many decisions. I just want to be able to pay off my loans and live a comfortable life with a secure job. I know I messed up but I realize I need to grow up and deal with it now than later down the road.

I have a couple of weeks until school starts and I need to decide now if im changing majors so I can take the appropriate classes. I know I should study what I'm interested in which of course is Biochem/Bio/Environmental Science, but what good is it to have 64k in loans if I won't even be able to get a decent job with a science degree?

Summary:
LAC
Bad GPA
Dreams to be a doctor
Will have 64 K in loans after college
Problem: Those loans need to be paid eventually
Considering Pharm as a back up plan, but worried about job prospects and loans from pharm school
Considering going from Environmental Science to Economics to have a back up plan in case pharm school and med school don't work out
Interested in ES/Bio/Biochem, but there are no jobs.
Medical School = Ultimate Goal

 

[emtthink]

First things first, you need to choose a path. I know you said pharm school is a back up plan, but it is equally as hard to get into (plus you really have to like O-chem). While your GPA is not hoorid, you need to take a look at why you are doing bad and fix it. You still have time to fix your GPA. I started out my freshman year poorly, but I fixed it as time went on (upward trend). I would also advise you to take advantage of the retake policy and retake classes that you did poorly in. So from here on out shoot for A's in all of your classes and do awesome on the MCAT.

 

[csh123]

Some of the classes required for me to go onto pharmacy school include Biochemistry, Economics, Microbiology, Physiology, and Anatomy. If my main goal is medical school, should I just not worry about any of those classes and just focus on fitting the classes that I need to retake into my schedule?

 

[emtthink]

Some of the classes required for me to go onto pharmacy school include Biochemistry, Economics, Microbiology, Physiology, and Anatomy. If my main goal is medical school, should I just not worry about any of those classes and just focus on fitting the classes that I need to retake into my schedule?

Well first I think you need to make an ultimate decision on what you want to be (sounds like a physician). I would try to srpead your retakes out and focus on doing well in the pre-reqs for medical school. Gen chem, Bio, O-chem, physics (not sure what you have taken yet). Also, don't overload youself with classes. Take the number of credits that you can handle whule you figure out what you neeed to do to get better grades. It's ok to have a term without a lot of credits. The classes you listed will help with med school (esp. biochem), but I would wait to take them until you have your pre-reqs done then take it.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

No jobs in pharm, keep your GPA up from now on, you'll be fine, retake some classes... You'll be set...

 

[costales]

With everyone going green and all, I thought there was more demand for environmental specialists than economists at the bachelor's level?

 

[DrWily]

If you want to be a physician, then work hard to be one. Don't go to PharmD; you will always regret it when you could have gone for your dream. See if your school has like a pre-med major or something.. or just go into Biology/Chemistry... and f~ck the minor unless you're really close to getting it done (1-2 classes). The minor doesn't do sh~t and certainly won't help you get into medical school with a low gpa.

Get A's from now on. Seriously, all A's. Do whatever it takes. Tutoring, Office Hours, whatever.

Retake science classes that you got a C in or less. Retake these and get an A. No Bs, all As. AACOMAS will use your most recent grade from a retake towards GPA calculation.

Do some shadowing/volunteering/community service/leadership. Start off slow, like 2 hours a week but do it for a year or more. Don't let these affect your grades.

Study like crazy for the MCAT over a summer break or something. 4-8 hours a day, every day for 2-3 months.

If it takes you a year or two after your graduation date to get all this done, that is fine. There is no rush; apply when you are ready and the most competitive.

 

[YiSheng]

If you want to be a physician, then work hard to be one. Don't go to PharmD; you will always regret it when you could have gone for your dream. See if your school has like a pre-med major or something.. or just go into Biology/Chemistry... and f~ck the minor unless you're really close to getting it done (1-2 classes). The minor doesn't do sh~t and certainly won't help you get into medical school with a low gpa.

Get A's from now on. Seriously, all A's. Do whatever it takes. Tutoring, Office Hours, whatever.

Retake science classes that you got a C in or less. Retake these and get an A. No Bs, all As. AACOMAS will use your most recent grade from a retake towards GPA calculation.

Do some shadowing/volunteering/community service/leadership. Start off slow, like 2 hours a week but do it for a year or more. Don't let these affect your grades.

Study like crazy for the MCAT over a summer break or something. 4-8 hours a day, every day for 2-3 months.

If it takes you a year or two after your graduation date to get all this done, that is fine. There is no rush; apply when you are ready and the most competitive.

+1. OP, listen to the man.

 

[csh123]

Just had another problem... My parents are kicking me out and not paying for my second semester. I have friends that will let me crash with them until I get things in order. What are my options? I'll have 48 credit hours, but I need to get a job asap if I want to even take classes at CC. My Friends r undergrads at a state school. Should I work this semester, take classes at CC in th summer then transfer to a state school or back to my LAC?

 

[DrWily]

Just had another problem... My parents are kicking me out and not paying for my second semester. I have friends that will let me crash with them until I get things in order. What are my options? I'll have 48 credit hours, but I need to get a job asap if I want to even take classes at CC. My Friends r undergrads at a state school. Should I work this semester, take classes at CC in th summer then transfer to a state school or back to my LAC?

Errr, why are they kicking you out? If you have personal issues like drugs/etc, then you should probably fix those issues before considering medical school.

If they are just kicking you out for the hell of it, then your parents suck 👎 May have to put your college plans on hold until you can get back on your feet. Try to apply for financial aid so that you don't have to work too much while going to school.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

Financial aid and work study at a state university should be enough to cover dorm costs or apartment life near a campus. Call the financial aid dept at your CC and see what your options are IF there are not personal issues like DrWily described, and that list is not inclusive...

Best of luck

 

[csh123]

It's because of my gpa and they can't afford to send me to college so they suggest I live on my own . I was thinking of getting a job, working all of spring, then using my money to take around 16 credit hours at a community college, then transferring back to my old school or an LAC with a good rep. I feel like going to a state school will hurt my chances of getting into medical school

 

[emtthink]

It's because of my gpa and they can't afford to send me to college so they suggest I live on my own . I was thinking of getting a job, working all of spring, then using my money to take around 16 credit hours at a community college, then transferring back to my old school or an LAC with a good rep. I feel like going to a state school will hurt my chances of getting into medical school

Going to a state schools will not hurt your chances of getting into med school. A lot of us went to state school, there is no way I could have afforded a private school

 

[csh123]

True but I was paying 2k less to go to allegheny than my state school . I just looked at the lac which is near me and it seems as if there are too many classes required to graduate. It's either I transfer to my state school or allegheny... Not sure how I'll be able to afford either now that Im by myself. I'm not even sure what to do at this point...

 

[emtthink]

True but I was paying 2k less to go to allegheny than my state school . I just looked at the lac which is near me and it seems as if there are too many classes required to graduate. It's either I transfer to my state school or allegheny... Not sure how I'll be able to afford either now that Im by myself. I'm not even sure what to do at this point...

Sorry, what is a LAC? I'm thinking local area college, or Lac operon

 

[varsityblue]

Hahaha, it's not a lac operon! LAC = liberal arts college. #toomuchbioonthebrain

 

[pchemichem]

keep your head up and goal in sight! 👍 that seems to be what you are doing!

A state school will not hurt your chances. as others have said, the majority of us have gone to state schools. Most medical schools want your pre-reqs to be taken at a 4-year university, and not a CC.

But take everything one step at a time. You know what you need to do and improve on. Just dont try to tackle everything at once or you might bite off more than you can chew.

 

[csh123]

So does this sound good... Work this semester, take summer classes at Cc and apply for fafsa and then try and go back to allegheny during the fall? I feel like I should o back to allegheny because I know what classes I need to take and I won't need to transfe classes.

 

[dreamweaver1988]

So does this sound good... Work this semester, take summer classes at Cc and apply for fafsa and then try and go back to allegheny during the fall? I feel like I should o back to allegheny because I know what classes I need to take and I won't need to transfe classes.

Alas, the money issue. Sleepless nights worrying about how you will pay for things suck, man, I know.

I think your plan sounds reasonable, all things considered. If there's ANY way you can take out loans and try to take maybe just 12 credit hours this semester (and still be able to do very well in all your classes) then do that. If that's not possible, then I would move forward with your plan. Since you'll be taking CC classes, knock as many out as you can (talk to advisers at both the CC and Allegheny to make sure the classes will transfer) for a good price. Also, if you get into med school, you will conceivably have an extra $200,000 of debt, so try to keep things in perspective.

One last thing...environmental science is similar to my major (geography) and is not a very difficult major. Of course, adding in bio, chem, and physics makes things interesting, but still. I think you really need to step up your game and get your GPA up.

Good luck!!!

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

Idk, I'm never for people taking time off to work. Reason being: they seldom go back... Work tends to make people keep saying, 'just one more semester of work THEN I'll go back'... So I'm of the plan of use loans to do some and work PT. I have only taken courses at a state school, as did my three very good physician friends, soooo I don't think a state school is a bad plan, and they're a heck of a lot cheaper. A 4th friend went to UMass and then to Tufts for med school... Sooo, again, if your CC is state run, chances are good that the credits will transfer to the state school...