Please help, I am starting to loose hope

[redwings54]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I realize that everyone here has their own sob story, and here is mine. I recently had to give up a dream fellowship in holistic medicine in Russia, Scotland, and Malaysia because of personal problems. It was amazing, but my personal life fell apart and as a result I am home with the fellowship over. I graduated in May from a great liberal arts college with a degree in chem. My GPA was 3.05 with a BCMP of 2.79. I took the MCAT twice with a high of 25. I have tons of volunteer work with child, great since I want to be a pediatrician, but limited experience in the clinical field. I am shadowing a DO ped and an MD FP. I am applying on Thrusday for a job as a clinical lab assistant at my local hospital to get more clinical experience. I am also going to be taking some science classes at my local college this summer and fall because my undergrad didnt offer them. My feelings now is that medical school is so far away now, more than likely 2 and a half years at a minimum. I feel like I am in such a rut now because of my personal problems but that it is only being perpetuated by med school seeming so far off in the future. And I need to do so many things to get to even be a crappy candidate that I cant see the light at the end of the tunnel. Its smaller than a pin prick and getting darker by the day. Any words of advice or suggestions would be very much appreciated. I want to be a doctor more than anything, I want to help children. Please help me to achieve my dream. Thank you.

 

[crys20]

I know it sucks but all you can do is keep working toward it. I have often gotten down about how my life sucks at times with having to seemingly jump through so many hoops to even get a SHOT, just a shot at making this medicine thing happen. Then I realized that my life doesn't suck at all right now because second only to the joy of a dream come true is the joy of knowing that you are genuinly, wholeheartedly making real progress towards making that dream happen. At least that's how I see it. As long as I know I'm getting closer I feel good, and like things are ok and WILL be ok. Your ECs sound good and I don't know a ton about osteo admissions yet but your MCAT should be passable. The fact that your taking classes to get that GPA up is great and exactly what you need to be doing right now.

I know the personal life things suck...I have often heard people say "Yeah, I could have gotten a 4.0, but life just kept getting in the way!". And it is hard to juggle everything that you have going on, I'm sure. The only advice I have is to take your time and really get your ducks in a row with regard to the GPA and the total appplication and then apply to as many DO schools as you can. It seems a long way off but 2 years isn't so bad.

You can do it. You really seem to have the same burning desire to do this that I do and no one, I promise you no one who wants it that bad won't become a doctor if they work hard enough for long enough.

 

[BradenDO]

Your MCAT score looks fine to me! Two of my best friends got into KCUMB (DO) with a 22 and a 24, so your score should be competitive enough. The only thing you could improve on is your GPA, but other than that everything looks good. Anyways, keep working hard and have fun learning! I'm in my second year of undergrad, so I know how you feel!

 

[Female]

I don't have anything to say other than I wish you the best of luck.

 

[dr.z]

Go do a postbac and raise your GPA a little. You will have a better shot at schools if your GPA goes up.

 

[Frogmed]

I realize that everyone here has their own sob story, and here is mine. I recently had to give up a dream fellowship in holistic medicine in Russia, Scotland, and Malaysia because of personal problems. It was amazing, but my personal life fell apart and as a result I am home with the fellowship over. I graduated in May from a great liberal arts college with a degree in chem. My GPA was 3.05 with a BCMP of 2.79. I took the MCAT twice with a high of 25. I have tons of volunteer work with child, great since I want to be a pediatrician, but limited experience in the clinical field. I am shadowing a DO ped and an MD FP. I am applying on Thrusday for a job as a clinical lab assistant at my local hospital to get more clinical experience. I am also going to be taking some science classes at my local college this summer and fall because my undergrad didnt offer them. My feelings now is that medical school is so far away now, more than likely 2 and a half years at a minimum. I feel like I am in such a rut now because of my personal problems but that it is only being perpetuated by med school seeming so far off in the future. And I need to do so many things to get to even be a crappy candidate that I cant see the light at the end of the tunnel. Its smaller than a pin prick and getting darker by the day. Any words of advice or suggestions would be very much appreciated. I want to be a doctor more than anything, I want to help children. Please help me to achieve my dream. Thank you.

Some med schools have post-bac programs specifically for med school. Creighton offers such a program. I recently received an e-mail from the stating they have oppenings for the 2005-2006 semester, which includes a scholarship and stipen. If you successfuly complete the program, I think you are accepted to Creighton's md program. Students who complete the program are also offered a scholarship for their first year in med school. Check out their web site creighton.edu - addmissions link. If your not interested in Creighton, I'm sure their are other med schools offering such programs.

 

[futuredo32]

I don't have any specific advice for you, but I just wanted to let you know that I know of several people in medical who had to work a little harder than others to be admitted and they doing great now that they are in med school. So, it's by no means hopeless. Your MCAT score is competitive for many osteopathic schools and doing well in additional courses should boost your gpa. I wish you the very best of luck.

 

[PublicEnemy]

your science gpa may be hurting your chances a little. but the good thing is you can fix that, if you did poorly in any classes and you retake them, on the DO application, only the more recent score counts so even just retaking a couple classes you didn't do great in can have a big impact and make you a lot more competetive. good luck.

 

[eldarion3141]

LECOM has a post-bac program as well

 

[OSUdoc08]

LECOM has a post-bac program as well

So does TCOM and OSU-COM.

 

[fateema368]

I realize that everyone here has their own sob story, and here is mine. I recently had to give up a dream fellowship in holistic medicine in Russia, Scotland, and Malaysia because of personal problems. It was amazing, but my personal life fell apart and as a result I am home with the fellowship over. I graduated in May from a great liberal arts college with a degree in chem. My GPA was 3.05 with a BCMP of 2.79. I took the MCAT twice with a high of 25. I have tons of volunteer work with child, great since I want to be a pediatrician, but limited experience in the clinical field. I am shadowing a DO ped and an MD FP. I am applying on Thrusday for a job as a clinical lab assistant at my local hospital to get more clinical experience. I am also going to be taking some science classes at my local college this summer and fall because my undergrad didnt offer them. My feelings now is that medical school is so far away now, more than likely 2 and a half years at a minimum. I feel like I am in such a rut now because of my personal problems but that it is only being perpetuated by med school seeming so far off in the future. And I need to do so many things to get to even be a crappy candidate that I cant see the light at the end of the tunnel. Its smaller than a pin prick and getting darker by the day. Any words of advice or suggestions would be very much appreciated. I want to be a doctor more than anything, I want to help children. Please help me to achieve my dream. Thank you.

Let me tell you sweetie, I'm in the same boat and fighting! 😉
Due to family issues I'm forced too; 1. relocate across country-find a credible school to attend in less than 2 months time, and try to excel in a completely foreign environment. 2. pray that the majority of credits will transfer and not further delay my graduation 3. hope that this turmoil won't affect my chances at medical school 2-3 years from now.

So my advice? Well, it's the same I'm giving myself; find strength in your family and your friends. Make a life for yourself in your new unplanned situation--your going to be home for a while, so you might as well make the best of it! Discover those interests/abilities/passions you posses that have nothing to do with your career track. That being said, work vehemently towards that career track! Work through any and all personal issues, it's likely these problems will present during medical school--and again in your career if they were strong enough to completely throw your life off-kilter now,--you'd better prepare yourself for this while you have the chance. It won't be so easy to throw things aside and come home for personal issues during medical school. Keep hope, and you'll survive. After all, you've gotten yourself through this much what's 2.5 years??

Keep fighting, your not alone!!!!!!

 

[raDiOnut]

redwings

First off, like some of the other posters told you, your MCAT is pretty good. I started with a 22, upped it to a 24 and had 5 interviews/3 acceptances (turned down 2 interviews) to DO schools. So you are def. in decent shape there.

I'd recommend some post-bacc courses too, to show the schools you're competitive academically, although your MCAT does demonstrate that. I'd still go for some good classes and do well in them.

Yep, clinical experience is always a good thing, same with shadowing if you haven't already been there. Your background in the int'l fellowship and holistic medicine should be something you can really talk about in your applications and interviews.

gl, you'll make it -- just keep at it

raDiOnut

 

[redwings54]

Thank you everyone. I am going to be taking classes at my local college and figured out that if I get all A's that I can increase my GPA up to a 3.25 and a 3.2 science. With a 25 MCAT and some great experiences and LoRs, does anyone think I would be able to apply this app cycle. I also just got a job as a clinical lab assistant at a hospital so I will have some great clinical experiences along with the shadowing I have done. Thanks for the help and boosting my confidence a bit.

 

[gbiz]

Okay, this adds nothing, but I like ur username

(I am from Detroit)

 

[Moze]

a few years from now, i think you will undoubtedly be amazed at how quickly 2-3 years flew by. nothing may be certain in this world except that time, no matter what else, will definitely keep moving. you've got to pass the years somehow--may as well be passing them while taking steps towards achieving your goals. im sure in 20 or 30 years from now, you'll be much happier that you took those few years to do the requirements and become a member of one of the most honorable and respected professions in the entire world. from this side of the spectrum where you're starting out, i know it seems like a long and arduous process. pre-med requirements are hard enough without having to deal with personal problems, but just remember that everyone is afflicted with problems at some point in time. keep the ultimate goal in mind, do what needs to be done to get you there, and one day you can sit back and be called "doctor." 🙂

 

[redwings54]

Bump...just wanted to see what others would say...Thanks

 

[Megalofyia]

a few years from now, i think you will undoubtedly be amazed at how quickly 2-3 years flew by.

I can not express how very very slowly the last few years have passed since I have hate what I've been doing. Time only passes quickly when you kind of enjoy what your doing and nto stressing about the future.

nothing may be certain in this world except that time, no matter what else, will definitely keep moving.

It's this very thought that keeps me awake for hours every night thinking how much time I'm wasting.

you've got to pass the years somehow--may as well be passing them while taking steps towards achieving your goals. im sure in 20 or 30 years from now, you'll be much happier that you took those few years to do the requirements and become a member of one of the most honorable and respected professions in the entire world. from this side of the spectrum where you're starting out, i know it seems like a long and arduous process. pre-med requirements are hard enough without having to deal with personal problems, but just remember that everyone is afflicted with problems at some point in time. keep the ultimate goal in mind, do what needs to be done to get you there, and one day you can sit back and be called "doctor." 🙂

That's very idealistic. I'm not sure that doctors ARE considere that honorable and are that well respected. I'm not knocking that theyget respect but there are a lot of people out there that think that doctors are greedy and self opionated.

If you really want to be a doctor then just keep trudging along. The time will pass and eventually you'll find a way to be a doctor. Though it may not be the path you want to take to achieve it.
However I know that if I could go back in time ten years and see what a pain things have been in this whole application process and how much bulls hit there is I would have done something else. As it is I've spent too much time and effort now to drop the idea. Though it hasn't made me a better person and I know I'll never look back and think "oh i'm so happy I wasted my 20s trying to get in to med school.. I got to be so much more mature than if I had been accepte straight out of undergrad" I just hope that the bitterness I have developed over the years subsides quickly once I'm practicing.

So to the OP you wanted more opinions... this is just mine and I know that many many people do not feel the way I do and are very happy with their decisions to wait and to keep applying.

My advice to you is to only continue with this if it's making you happy. If applying and getting rejected is gonna make you bitter then drop it as soon as that starts happening.. cause in the end the stress and postponment of your life just isn't worth it.