Questions

[AspiringPA123]

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Ok so my college transcript is a mess. I have a lot of W grades but most of them were the result of mental health issues and career indecision (I know that doesn't make them any better). Most of the W grades were whole semester drops. There are only two W grades that were not part of whole semester drops that I think are major red flags. One is for college algebra and trigonometry and the other is for general chemistry II. I was experiencing depression at the time of both of those drops but I was struggling with the material as well. I retook college algebra and trigonometry and got a B. I'm still yet to retake general chemistry II. When I dropped general chemistry II, I was depressed and overwhelmed by the lab but I think I can manage it next semester because my mental health has improved. My science grades are mediocre: C in General Biology I, B in General Biology I lab, B- in General Biology II, B in General Biology II lab, B+ in General Chemistry I, B + in General Chemistry I lab, and my Anatomy and Physiology I grade is upcoming and should be in the B range (maybe A- if I ace the final).
My college history is definitely erratic. I started after high school in 2009 majoring in business, left because of depression and pursued an acting career, came back here and there taking core classes and acting classes part time with my major still business (really stupid), and finally got serious in 2017 when I officially switched my major to biology and was able to handle full class loads for consecutive semesters. I'm currently at a junior standing with 78 credits. My overall GPA is 3.3. I want to switch my major to African Studies because I genuinely like it but will that look bad? Is my transcript too fvcked up already to even apply to PA school? Can volunteer experience, better grades from now on, letters of recommendation, and a solid personal statement make up for it?

 

[Goro]

My overall GPA is 3.3. I want to switch my major to African Studies because I genuinely like it but will that look bad?
Med schools don't care about your major, only that you do well.

Is my transcript too fvcked up already to even apply to PA school?
A 3.3 is fine for DO schools, but too low for mD, unless you live in a very lucky state. I'm more concerned about the uneven performance. You need to continue aceing things to show that the you of now is not the you of then. This will also help allay any concerns about your mental health issues.

Can volunteer experience, better grades from now on, letters of recommendation, and a solid personal statement make up for it?
Yes, but keep in mind that pre-meds put near magic qualities on PS's and they really, truly aren't the things that help you get tot he door, or through the door. After awhile, they all gel. A bad PS will sink you.

You will also need to do well on MCAT

 

[Dral]

Please make sure your mental health is and stays under control. If undergrad courses triggered or exacerbated it (That is something I may be incorrectly assuming from your post), med school coursework will wreck it.

Once your’re in, there is a lot of money and time invested. It’s easy for mental disease to easily spiral out of control.