PTSD/OCD/depression hurt my GPA and kept me from graduating on time

[BurtKocain]

Where to begin. Well, I'm one semester away from graduating with a BS in chemistry and BA in math. My GPA, though, will likely be no greater than a 3.3 by the time I'm done. It's kind of strange - I've had semesters when I made Dean's List, and others that I either got below a 2.5 or just had to withdraw from entirely. The withdrawals and all the resigns have kept me in school a full two years longer than I should have been. This was all due to undiagnosed/poorly treated neuroses, and I feel these things have destroyed my chances of becoming a doctor.

There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that being a medical doctor is what I want to do. I know I'm capable of it when I'm not distracted by my negativity. I've been motivated to do this ever since the death of a close family member, and my drive has only gotten more potent since I've been exposed through shadowing, volunteering, and working. I've been considering getting a masters in chemistry. If I do well in an MS program (if my issues remain at a minimum), would that significantly bolster my chances?

As for my other current qualifications - I have a year of research credit and name on a publication in the Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry. I'm a member of the American Chemical Society as well. I haven't taken the MCAT yet (been a bit discouraged since I got an 18 on the PMCAT, though I didn't study at all for it and I took it while I was depressed).

Any input would be appreciated. I just feel a bit lost at the moment - only recently has my head been clear enough to really evaluate things somewhat objectively. I think I've finally found an antidepressant that seems to be having an effect (after years of trying others that either did nothing or gave me horrible side effects).

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[chemguy79]

With respect to earning a Master's in Chemistry, I don't think that will help you very much. Seminar courses and research hours will not help out with your cumulative GPA in the eyes of an ad com.

In addition, you have the research aspect of your application covered, so I would focus my energy on scoring well on the MCAT before pursuing any graduate program. With a poor MCAT score, your doors to medical school will be closed.

 

[Catalystik]

Where to begin. Well, I'm one semester away from graduating with a BS in chemistry and BA in math. My GPA, though, will likely be no greater than a 3.3 by the time I'm done. It's kind of strange - I've had semesters when I made Dean's List, and others that I either got below a 2.5 or just had to withdraw from entirely. The withdrawals and all the resigns have kept me in school a full two years longer than I should have been. This was all due to undiagnosed/poorly treated neuroses, and I feel these things have destroyed my chances of becoming a doctor.

There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that being a medical doctor is what I want to do. I know I'm capable of it when I'm not distracted by my negativity. I've been motivated to do this ever since the death of a close family member, and my drive has only gotten more potent since I've been exposed through shadowing, volunteering, and working. I've been considering getting a masters in chemistry. If I do well in an MS program (if my issues remain at a minimum), would that significantly bolster my chances?

As for my other current qualifications - I have a year of research credit and name on a publication in the Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry. I'm a member of the American Chemical Society as well. I haven't taken the MCAT yet (been a bit discouraged since I got an 18 on the PMCAT, though I didn't study at all for it and I took it while I was depressed).

Any input would be appreciated. I just feel a bit lost at the moment - only recently has my head been clear enough to really evaluate things somewhat objectively. I think I've finally found an antidepressant that seems to be having an effect (after years of trying others that either did nothing or gave me horrible side effects).

You would be far better off staying in undergrad another extra year or doing an additional year of undergrad coursework as a postbac, than by completing a traditional masters degree. Considering you've had a sketchy transcript in the past, I suggest you aim to have 3-4 terms of full-time excellent coursework on the most recent portion of your transcript to demonstrate that you've moved past whatever held you back before.

 

[BurtKocain]

You would be far better off staying in undergrad another extra year or doing an additional year of undergrad coursework as a postbac, than by completing a traditional masters degree. Considering you've had a sketchy transcript in the past, I suggest you aim to have 3-4 terms of full-time excellent coursework on the most recent portion of your transcript to demonstrate that you've moved past whatever held you back before.

I'm trying to wrap my head around this - why would extra undergrad classes, which would be far less intense than graduate courses, be better than completing an MS? The thing is, I'm not thinking about pursuing a masters degree just to boost my transcript, I'm also pursuing it because I do enjoy scientific research and want to open a few more doors in that department in the future. I'm too impatient to do an MD/PhD, and at this point I doubt I'd get into any MD/PhD program anyway, so I think an MS is a nice middle ground.

I also have a full time job as a specimen processor in a medical lab that I'm doing pretty well in (not a difficult job of course, but I get a good understanding of all the medical tests). On top of that, I'm thinking about taking an EMT course this summer and being a volunteer EMT. I'm wondering how much this would help my chances as well.

If the postbac idea is still superior...what exactly do you recommend with that? I've honestly never even heard of a post-bac before.

 

[gyngyn]

I'm trying to wrap my head around this - why would extra undergrad classes, which would be far less intense than graduate courses, be better than completing an MS? The thing is, I'm not thinking about pursuing a masters degree just to boost my transcript, I'm also pursuing it because I do enjoy scientific research and want to open a few more doors in that department in the future. I'm too impatient to do an MD/PhD, and at this point I doubt I'd get into any MD/PhD program anyway, so I think an MS is a nice middle ground.

I also have a full time job as a specimen processor in a medical lab that I'm doing pretty well in (not a difficult job of course, but I get a good understanding of all the medical tests). On top of that, I'm thinking about taking an EMT course this summer and being a volunteer EMT. I'm wondering how much this would help my chances as well.

If the postbac idea is still superior...what exactly do you recommend with that? I've honestly never even heard of a post-bac before.

Master's degree programs are widely believed to be grade inflated.
These grades are not averaged into your UG gpa.
Post bac grades (although they appear in a separate line) are averaged into your previous grades potentially resulting in a gpa enhancement.
In your situation, patience is a more important quality than ambition. It can be developed.

 

[Goro]

You need to demonstrate to Adcoms that you can handle medical school. Right now, you haven't and you uneven performance is of great concern.

A research MS, like my learned colleagues refer to, will have courses like "Methods in..." or Seminars in ..." This is NOT the same as taking anatomy, physiology, micro, stats, biochem, all at the same time.

The ideal MS program is called a Special Master's Program. Many of these are given at medical schools (Drexel has two of them, for example) and they're basically auditions for med school. Ace these (and yes, you need to ACE them, not merely get Bs) and get a strong MCAT score and there are med schools that favor reinvention.

Post-bac programs are similar. they're a dime-a-dozen and they're for grade repair. There are formal programs, and you can also DIY, as Cat suggests.

Keep in mind that AACOMAS' grade repair policy does wonders for the GPA, and so going DO might be the easiest route.

If the postbac idea is still superior...what exactly do you recommend with that? I've honestly never even heard of a post-bac before.[/QUOTE]

 

[Catalystik]

1) why would extra undergrad classes, which would be far less intense than graduate courses, be better than completing an MS?
2) The thing is, I'm not thinking about pursuing a masters degree just to boost my transcript, I'm also pursuing it because I do enjoy scientific research and want to open a few more doors in that department in the future.

3) I'm thinking about taking an EMT course this summer and being a volunteer EMT. I'm wondering how much this would help my chances as well.

4) If the postbac idea is still superior...what exactly do you recommend with that? I've honestly never even heard of a post-bac before.

1) What gygngyn said.
2) You have a year of research and a publication already, which is more than most applicants can say. Pursuing a traditional masters if you want to master a discipline or to open a door to Plan B job opportunities is fine. If you feel your application would benefit from research and teaching opportunities that a funded masters might offer, that is a good use of the time as well. but expecting the grades earned to redeem a poor undergrad transcript is not going to happen.

3) Since we don't know your relevant active clinical experience to date, I cannot comment.

4) See SDN's Postbaccalaureate Programs forum for more information on GPA boosting programs. Particularly note Dr Midlife's sticky at the top that lists them.

 

[BurtKocain]

You need to demonstrate to Adcoms that you can handle medical school. Right now, you haven't and you uneven performance is of great concern.

A research MS, like my learned colleagues refer to, will have courses like "Methods in..." or Seminars in ..." This is NOT the same as taking anatomy, physiology, micro, stats, biochem, all at the same time.

The ideal MS program is called a Special Master's Program. Many of these are given at medical schools (Drexel has two of them, for example) and they're basically auditions for med school. Ace these (and yes, you need to ACE them, not merely get Bs) and get a strong MCAT score and there are med schools that favor reinvention.

Post-bac programs are similar. they're a dime-a-dozen and they're for grade repair. There are formal programs, and you can also DIY, as Cat suggests.

Keep in mind that AACOMAS' grade repair policy does wonders for the GPA, and so going DO might be the easiest route.

1) What gygngyn said.
3) Since we don't know your relevant active clinical experience to date, I cannot comment.

4) See SDN's Postbaccalaureate Programs forum for more information on GPA boosting programs. Particularly note Dr Midlife's sticky at the top that lists them.

Never heard of a Special Masters, although it definitely sounds like the best way to kill two birds with one stone. I'll look into it. I'm not really interested in DO, as I may want to go into surgical.

As for my previous clinical experience - I have 120 hours of volunteer experience (20 at the Red Cross, 60 in veterans hospital (VA) PT, 20 in VA patient escort, and another 20 in the VA emergency room) and 20 hours of shadowing (10 hours with a GI doc, 5 with a neurologist, and 5 with an oncologist). I plan on gaining at least an additional 200 hours over the next 6 months, once I get cleared at a few other hospitals, and I'd like to shadow a cardiologist, ophthalmologist, psychiatrist, and a few surgeons before the year's over.

I'll definitely take advantage of the information this site has to offer.

 

[Catalystik]

-A Special Masters Program does not lead to a usable degree. You take intense coursework while competing with current first year med students. They are expensive. To get the most value from it, one must earn a 3.7+ GPA. If you haven't demonstrated that degree of academic excellence in college, I suggest you aim to do so now, in order that the effort not be a complete waste of time and money, and because SMPs are competitive to enter. Their advantage is that the GPA earned, even though considered "graduate work" will override one's subpar undergrad performance at a number of med schools. They are also generally a year long, so they are a fast mode of redemption, if you can afford it.

-General Surgery is not competitive and having a DO medical degree is not a bar to entering this specialty.

-I think you are lucky to have had a variety of active clinical experiences in the VA hospital. I don't think that adding EMT experience will make any difference in your chances.

 

[FranzLO]

Meh, it happens. I was in the same about. I actually had a 3.8 through 3 years, had some baaaad stuff go down and graduated in 5 with a 3.3 with some C's, 6 W's, and a D. I did an SMP program, the MSBS at Toledo, and have been 10-15% above the average for every exam (this includes the M1's). Just push through and demonstrate what you can do. I do not know as much about other app things (so stick with what others might suggest), but I wanted you to know that there are incredible options, and you may not have even had a situation as bad as mine. However, working through it and showing it will not have a great and negative effect on your life and career is number one. In a way, redemption helped a lot of my problems diminish in importance. It depends.