Ready to give this my all. Can I still make it?

[HopefulDO25]

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Hey guys so if you haven't ready my last post basically I was depressed for a 1.5 years and my gpa took a HUGE hit. So right now I'm hovering around a 3.38 cgpa and a 2.9 spga. I have been really feeling better I got psychological help and I'm ready to start over again. The problem is I feel lost. Like those 1.5 years sucked all the life out of me and I don't know where to start again. I know I have to take a post bacc but I feel a lack of confidence due to the fact that I haven't taken or started studying for the MCAT, no research, no letter of rec, and my low gpa. I also forgot alot of my science classes due to the depression. Also I'm going to be taking biochem and biology next quarter. I however do not want to take the last two quarters of physics at my school because I wouldn't graduate on time (I'm a humanities major) Would it be okay for me to not take the last two quarters of physics at my university and instead at a post bacc so I can graduate on time? (this upcoming year will be my fourth year) I would just like your honest opinion as I need to make a very important decision and I want to know if it's possible for me to still pursue being a doctor. If not I was thinking about settling for podiatry or nursing or something like that. Please advise me thanks. 🙂

 

[Goro]

Read this:
Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention

 

[HopefulDO25]

Read this:
Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention

Thanks! I know where to start now it gives me hope! But I was wondering what about the letters of rec and research and shadwoing? do i still need those for DO if i go post bacc route? When should i do those things assuming I do well in the DIY post bacc?

 

[lyktrnn]

Thanks! I know where to start now it gives me hope! But I was wondering what about the letters of rec and research and shadwoing? do i still need those for DO if i go post bacc route? When should i do those things assuming I do well in the DIY post bacc?

I got in to multiple DO schools this cycle without having the most stellar stats. You can do this! I did a post bacc after college to improve my grades. And not only was it a good preparation for MCAT, I also got to know several faculty members (since its a smaller class size, vs the large university I went to) who ended up writing me great LORs. I did partake in research when I was an undergrad and have several publications, but honestly, I don't feel like those helped me that much during my application cycle lol.

I am one of those students that truly believe in the DO philosophy and WANT to be a DO (and not just doing it as a backup). I went ahead and emailed an OMM professor at a DO school near me for shadowing opportunities, and she immediately got back to me and welcomed me to her clinic! It was a tremendous experience and really what convinced me to pursue DO 100%. She ended up writing me a killer LOR too so that definitely helped my application. (Some DO schools don't require you to have DO letters, but it's obviously better to have).

Additionally, I worked as an ED scribe for couple years after college, and I think that is a great opportunity to really see and understand whether medicine is right for you. Luckily for me, the doctors I worked with were really inspiring and helpful advisors. I also got LORs from them!

I would advise you to not rush to get all these done in the next year or two, I took my time to get my LORs, to study for MCAT and to gain more experience. I believe it was through this process that I became more confident in myself and my abilities, and when I was finally ready to apply, I found success in doing so!!

 

[Goro]

Thanks! I know where to start now it gives me hope! But I was wondering what about the letters of rec and research and shadwoing? do i still need those for DO if i go post bacc route? When should i do those things assuming I do well in the DIY post bacc?

Research, no.
Letters of rec, yes
Shadowing, yes.

 

[HopefulDO25]

I got in to multiple DO schools this cycle without having the most stellar stats. You can do this! I did a post bacc after college to improve my grades. And not only was it a good preparation for MCAT, I also got to know several faculty members (since its a smaller class size, vs the large university I went to) who ended up writing me great LORs. I did partake in research when I was an undergrad and have several publications, but honestly, I don't feel like those helped me that much during my application cycle lol.

I am one of those students that truly believe in the DO philosophy and WANT to be a DO (and not just doing it as a backup). I went ahead and emailed an OMM professor at a DO school near me for shadowing opportunities, and she immediately got back to me and welcomed me to her clinic! It was a tremendous experience and really what convinced me to pursue DO 100%. She ended up writing me a killer LOR too so that definitely helped my application. (Some DO schools don't require you to have DO letters, but it's obviously better to have).

Additionally, I worked as an ED scribe for couple years after college, and I think that is a great opportunity to really see and understand whether medicine is right for you. Luckily for me, the doctors I worked with were really inspiring and helpful advisors. I also got LORs from them!

I would advise you to not rush to get all these done in the next year or two, I took my time to get my LORs, to study for MCAT and to gain more experience. I believe it was through this process that I became more confident in myself and my abilities, and when I was finally ready to apply, I found success in doing so!!

Hey man thanks for the hope! I was just wondering how was the post bacc? Was it extremely difficult? harder than when you took it at university? any advice? I probably did around B average on all my science courses I was wondering is it doable to do well in a post bacc? I kind have low confidence lol

 

[lyktrnn]

Hey man thanks for the hope! I was just wondering how was the post bacc? Was it extremely difficult? harder than when you took it at university? any advice? I probably did around B average on all my science courses I was wondering is it doable to do well in a post bacc? I kind have low confidence lol

I had a 4.0 in my post bacc, so definitely easier I'd say. I think it's because I had some knowledge of the material already established from undergrad so that made understanding post bacc classes easier. Which is a trend I HOPE to continue in med school lol. I also changed the way I study/ take notes too, so that helped as well. And I feel ya on that low confidence thing, that was me too, but I think it's best to just take it one step at a time, focus on your next semester classes, get good grades and go from there!

 

[HopefulDO25]

I had a 4.0 in my post bacc, so definitely easier I'd say. I think it's because I had some knowledge of the material already established from undergrad so that made understanding post bacc classes easier. Which is a trend I HOPE to continue in med school lol. I also changed the way I study/ take notes too, so that helped as well. And I feel ya on that low confidence thing, that was me too, but I think it's best to just take it one step at a time, focus on your next semester classes, get good grades and go from there!

do you feel that your post bacc classes were mostly memorization and less application? free response or multiple choice exams? I'm from a UC school so they curve like crazy and people are killing each other to be at the top of the curve.

 

[lyktrnn]

I went to a uc too and my post bacc program was very different from it. It's multiple choice exams to mimic the mcat. the program was very mcat-focused so it is both memorization and application within that scope.

 

[HopefulDO25]

I went to a uc too and my post bacc program was very different from it. It's multiple choice exams to mimic the mcat. the program was very mcat-focused so it is both memorization and application within that scope.

wow. i'm impressed. It's my last year at my UC school and I'm so used to getting B's. How did you get a 4.0 in your post bacc? It sounds very difficult. Of course I'm willing to give it my all. I am just curious on what study habits you had and what you changed about yourself from undergrad to medical school. I think it's important to change my study habits and prepare myself. does the post bacc stafff help you too?

 

[lyktrnn]

wow. i'm impressed. It's my last year at my UC school and I'm so used to getting B's. How did you get a 4.0 in your post bacc? It sounds very difficult. Of course I'm willing to give it my all. I am just curious on what study habits you had and what you changed about yourself from undergrad to medical school. I think it's important to change my study habits and prepare myself. does the post bacc stafff help you too?

Well everyones learning style is different, what works for me might not work for you so it's your job to find out what would work for you obviously. I can tell you that hand writing/going over my notes after lectures works for me, putting things into my own words so it makes sense to me, and really try to understand all concept as an integrated whole instead of regurgitating facts.

 

[HopefulDO25]

Well everyones learning style is different, what works for me might not work for you so it's your job to find out what would work for you obviously. I can tell you that hand writing/going over my notes after lectures works for me, putting things into my own words so it makes sense to me, and really try to understand all concept as an integrated whole instead of regurgitating facts.

kk thanks! i'll definitely try that out. If you don't mind I have two questions. I was wondering if you did your post baccc out of california and the second is do i need to finish the physics series to do the post bacc? I'm an anthro major and if I take the last quarters of physics I will have to pay for a 5th year quarter (costs alot of money) so i was wondering if i could just not finish the last two quarters of physics and instead take physics duirng the post bacc

 

[lyktrnn]

kk thanks! i'll definitely try that out. If you don't mind I have two questions. I was wondering if you did your post baccc out of california and the second is do i need to finish the physics series to do the post bacc? I'm an anthro major and if I take the last quarters of physics I will have to pay for a 5th year quarter (costs alot of money) so i was wondering if i could just not finish the last two quarters of physics and instead take physics duirng the post bacc

I did it in California. And with regards to when to take your last two physics courses, I would just say to ask your academic advisor at school. I didn't like the physics classes at my school when I took it as a sophomore, I kinda wish I took it at post-bacc instead cuz it probably would've helped more with the mcat. But then if you already started the physics series at your UC, and you plan on finishing the rest of the series at a post-bacc, there is a chance that you may run into the coursework not being accepted by aacomas/amcas? But honestly, I don't know much about that, so your best option is to ask a profession about it.

 

[HopefulDO25]

I did it in California. And with regards to when to take your last two physics courses, I would just say to ask your academic advisor at school. I didn't like the physics classes at my school when I took it as a sophomore, I kinda wish I took it at post-bacc instead cuz it probably would've helped more with the mcat. But then if you already started the physics series at your UC, and you plan on finishing the rest of the series at a post-bacc, there is a chance that you may run into the coursework not being accepted by aacomas/amcas? But honestly, I don't know much about that, so your best option is to ask a profession about it.

ahh i see. I only took the first quarter physics. I only took Physics A out of C. I'm excited to graduate. I feel like I really need the chance to start over and to prove to myself that I can do this and fulfill my dream of being a doctor. No relationships to worry about. I can finally take care of myself. Of course I still miss having a gf but that will come when I'm ready.