Really Freaking Out

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
D

Dbate

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2009
Messages
1,404
Reaction score
82
Members don't see this ad.
This is the short: I messed up really badly.
I got a B- in ecosystem ecology (a stupid elective class) and a B+ in Orgo 2 and now my overall GPA and science GPA are alot less than I thought they were going to be.

cum GPA: 3.51
science GPA: 3.31

Right now, I am freaking out because I feel like I am not going to be a doctor. I worked really, really hard and I don't think my GPA is going to improve from this by the time I apply. The only redeeming thing is my undergrad (HYP Ivy), which I am praying will help offset my terrible GPA.

I am seriously considering a career switch to another field because at this point my chances of getting into medical school seem to be slim.

What should I do? Any advice or help would be appreciated?

Should I consider a post-bacc? Take a year off? What can I do to allow me to get into medical school?
 
Should I go DO? I really, really, really don't want to go that path. I know it is stupidly prideful and whatever, but I don't want to live with a stigma my entire life.
 
CodeBlu said:
Take the MCAT... do well.

Take a few more upper level science classes. Get your science GPA to a 3.5 and then apply.
Click to expand...

This is what I am worried about. I didn't slack off this semester. I worked HARD! The stupid ecology class was at the graduate school level (although it was listed as an undergrad class) and I just got my butt handed to me.

For orgo 2, I worked really hard and improved from a B in Orgo 1 to a B+ in Orgo 2, but that is still not enough.

I am afraid that I will not be able to raise my science GPA beyond this point and now I am really concerned as to whether or not I will be able to get into medical school with my GPA as it is now.
 
Dbate said:
This is the short: I messed up really badly.
I got a B- in ecosystem ecology (a stupid elective class) and a B+ in Orgo 2 and now my overall GPA and science GPA are alot less than I thought they were going to be.

cum GPA: 3.51
science GPA: 3.31

Right now, I am freaking out because I feel like I am not going to be a doctor. I worked really, really hard and I don't think my GPA is going to improve from this by the time I apply. The only redeeming thing is my undergrad (HYP Ivy), which I am praying will help offset my terrible GPA.

I am seriously considering a career switch to another field because at this point my chances of getting into medical school seem to be slim.

What should I do? Any advice or help would be appreciated?

Should I consider a post-bacc? Take a year off? What can I do to allow me to get into medical school?
Click to expand...

Maybe being a doctor is not for you? You are giving up so easily. Either you suck it up, and do what you have to do to get to your dream or go become a Dentist.

Take more science classes to lift your GPA. Double major if you have to or minor in something. Since you have tons of science classes already a post-bacc will not do crap for you, neither will taking a year off. Use your head, you are such an emotional child - do some growing up.
 
If it's Princeton that might redeem the gpa somewhat, since they're notoriously tough graders.
 
pre-meds, stop being neurotic--it's not a good look.

those were my stats at time of application and i got into 5 schools. if you want it, you'll go for it and bad grades shouldn't change the effort you put into school or the rest of your application.
 
iniquus said:
pre-meds, stop being neurotic--it's not a good look.

those were my stats at time of application and i got into 5 schools. if you want it, you'll go for it and bad grades shouldn't change the effort you put into school or the rest of your application.
Click to expand...

Can you let me know the schools you applied to and were ultimately accepted? It would help me to construct my list.

Also, MCAT scores matter alot, so I would really appreciate it if you told me your MCAT scores. Thanks a bunch!
 
Porfirio said:
Maybe being a doctor is not for you? You are giving up so easily. Either you suck it up, and do what you have to do to get to your dream or go become a Dentist.

Take more science classes to lift your GPA. Double major if you have to or minor in something. Since you have tons of science classes already a post-bacc will not do crap for you, neither will taking a year off. Use your head, you are such an emotional child - do some growing up.
Click to expand...

Perhaps I am being a bit hysterical, but I was surprised at how low my grades were for this semester.

This are my extracurricular activities, what MCAT score should I shoot for to be admitted to a MD school?

ECs:

Yale Political Union Member & Executive Board Member (4 years)
Head of Economic Development Center (3 years)
Writer for the Yale Journal of Medicine and Law and Business Team Associate (3 years)
Shadowing through the Yale Medical Professions Outreach Program (3 years)
Endocrinology Lab Research (2 years)
Medical Clinic Worker (2 years)
 
Break 30 and you'll be in good shape for an MD school somewhere.

Break 35 and you'll be competitive for any school except perhaps top 5.

And chill out. 3.5 is not an application-killing GPA. Go have a drink and enjoy the holiday.
 
My overall GPA was a little lower than that (but my Science GPA was a good bit higher), I got a 30 on the MCAT and have had several interview invites and two acceptances.

My GPA used to be lower, and it took a while to get it up to where it was when I applied. I had a terrible semester in the past. I am going to an M.D. school next year, but at no point did I think I was too good for D.O., because I wanted to be a physician. The "stigma" will apply in certain very competitive fields, but in many fields it won't make a difference. I would look into this, and also look at your reasons for wanting to become a doctor.

The MCAT matters more than GPA. 30 is kinda the magic number, but obviously the better you do, the better of a chance you have. There are tons of people with worse grades than you that got into M.D. schools.
 
Dbate said:
Perhaps I am being a bit hysterical, but I was surprised at how low my grades were for this semester.

This are my extracurricular activities, what MCAT score should I shoot for to be admitted to a MD school?

ECs:

Yale Political Union Member & Executive Board Member (4 years)
Head of Economic Development Center (3 years)
Writer for the Yale Journal of Medicine and Law and Business Team Associate (3 years)
Shadowing through the Yale Medical Professions Outreach Program (3 years)
Endocrinology Lab Research (2 years)
Medical Clinic Worker (2 years)
Click to expand...

Low side for competitive GPA + solid ECs + solid MCAT = solid chance
Ruminating other careers + freakouts at hiccups = lower chances


P.S. A lot of the times those classes you think would be easier (e.g. limnology, fresh water ecology, etc) turn out to actually be harder if the class is curved
 
cheekiemunky said:
The MCAT matters more than GPA. 30 is kinda the magic number, but obviously the better you do, the better of a chance you have. There are tons of people with worse grades than you that got into M.D. schools.
Click to expand...

I would disagree somewhat with the notion that the MCAT matters more than GPA. I had a modest 30+ MCAT when I applied but would've fared better with a stronger GPA. Would've gladly traded a few points off the MCAT for a 0.1 increase in GPA. But that's all in the past. In any case, I knew some people with 30 or low-30 MCATs that got in on 3.6 or 3.7+ GPAs.
 
In my NON-PROFESSIONAL opinion, this sort of relates to all of the other students who are freaking out about their gpa's, when in reality, there have been many other people who have WORSE grades than you that have been accepted. Your EC's look very good (in my opinion), so kill the mcat and you'll be gravy. Worst comes to worst, you'll have to settle with a "DO" school.
 
Last edited:
I am going to stick it out. Looking at the GPA/MCAT grid applicants with my GPA range had a 40.3% chance of acceptance with a MCAT of between 30 to 32 and a 52.1% chance with a 33 to 35.

I think if I apply to enough schools, then I will have a shot. I only need one to accept me.

Here is my list. Can anyone comment on whether it is appropriate and if I should add more?

List:

In state for Texas:

Texas A&M
Texas Tech-El Paso
Texas Tech-Lubbock
UT-Houston
UT-San Antonio
UT-Galveston
UT-Southwestern

Out of State:

Rush Medical School
Rosalind Franklin Medical School
Drexel
Thomas Jefferson
Tulane
Loyola
Albany Medical School
New York Medical College
SUNY Downstate
Albert Einstein
Yeshiva
Howard Medical School
 
the sunys are all pretty in-state friendly so you might not want to spend money since you have so many in-state schools anyway (in texas no less)
 
Dbate said:
I am going to stick it out. Looking at the GPA/MCAT grid applicants with my GPA range had a 40.3% chance of acceptance with a MCAT of between 30 to 32 and a 52.1% chance with a 33 to 35.

I think if I apply to enough schools, then I will have a shot. I only need one to accept me.

Here is my list. Can anyone comment on whether it is appropriate and if I should add more?

List:

In state for Texas:

Texas A&M
Texas Tech-El Paso
Texas Tech-Lubbock
UT-Houston
UT-San Antonio
UT-Galveston
UT-Southwestern

Out of State:

Rush Medical School
Rosalind Franklin Medical School
Drexel
Thomas Jefferson
Tulane
Loyola
Albany Medical School
New York Medical College
SUNY Downstate
Albert Einstein
Yeshiva
Howard Medical School
Click to expand...

Not sure if you meant to separate them, but Einstein is part of Yeshiva U so that's the same school. I would apply to more than 18 places if you are worried and don't want to risk going through another cycle. Try Temple, George Washington, MCW
 
Dbate said:
This is the short: I messed up really badly.
I got a B- in ecosystem ecology (a stupid elective class) and a B+ in Orgo 2 and now my overall GPA and science GPA are alot less than I thought they were going to be.

cum GPA: 3.51
science GPA: 3.31

Right now, I am freaking out because I feel like I am not going to be a doctor. I worked really, really hard and I don't think my GPA is going to improve from this by the time I apply. The only redeeming thing is my undergrad (HYP Ivy), which I am praying will help offset my terrible GPA.

I am seriously considering a career switch to another field because at this point my chances of getting into medical school seem to be slim.

What should I do? Any advice or help would be appreciated?

Should I consider a post-bacc? Take a year off? What can I do to allow me to get into medical school?
Click to expand...

You need to take the MCAT to find out if you have a chance before a career change.
 
Oops, forgot you didn't take the MCAT yet..I was suggesting schools based off the others you selected for yourself. Definitely wait to take the MCAT and se your score before you start worrying about which schools to apply to.
 
Bl4ckout said:
yeah good luck man thats even pushing the envelope for DO
Click to expand...

He lists himself as an "MS-0" -- meaning, he got in.

To OP:

Take a deep breath. Take a walk outside if you need to.

Then repeat this to yourself: Your ("My") chances are not ruined AT ALL.

You are only slightly below average and have solid ECs. You are a Texas resident and, therefore, likely have a bit of an advantage over non-Texans in your situation as you have many, many schools to give you in-state love. If you do not drop your GPA any lower (preferably, go higher. But, even if you can't, you're far from in a hopeless situation), do well on the MCAT and apply smartly and broadly, you will very likely be fine.

Also, though this is not meant in an offensive way, this is neurotic. Step outside yourself for a moment and look at the situation objectively, without your panic to cloud your judgement. If you are truly being objective, you will see that you're not doing too bad.

Now, take another deep breath and go enjoy the rest of the holidays. Make New Years Eve fun; be with friends, treat yourself to something and try to relax.
 
Ignore your pride and apply DO. You'll still be a doctor, who cares what the letters are after your name? If it's that important to you, maybe you should reconsider why you want to be in medicine. You need to realize a lot of people would trade places with you. Appreciate that fact.
 
Elevencents said:
Ignore your pride and apply DO. You'll still be a doctor, who cares what the letters are after your name? If it's that important to you, maybe you should reconsider why you want to be in medicine. You need to realize a lot of people would trade places with you. Appreciate that fact.
Click to expand...

(S)he isn't even at a place that DO is his/her only option -- not in the least.

Also, there are reasons other than pride and letters after one's name not to go DO.
 
Enjay said:
Howard? Are you African American? If so, you have an increased chance of acceptance. But to your original concern, there is no reason to be freaking out my dude. I finished college with a 3.45 (including a C- in Bio 101) and have been accepted to 3 MD schools so far. My mcat is decent (31), I'm white, and didn't do any post-bacc stuff. You shouldn't be worried, just focus on your mcat and make sure you have solid interviewing skills and you'll be all set. Add Drexel to your list
Click to expand...

GPA and MCAT are used to see if you can pass their curriculum and pass the boards. Nobody wants to take students that will fail out or lower their USMLE/COMLEX pass rate. My GPA overall sucks. However, I was able to show them that, despite poor cumulative GPA numbers, I would not have a problem academically.

Although GPA and MCAT are also used as initial markers to rank applicants, many times once you show them you are academically capable, it is the other parts of your application that are more important.

Obviously this differs somewhat by schools and higher GPA and MCAT are always better. Keep in mind there is more to your application than numbers.
 
Enjay said:
Howard? Are you African American? If so, you have an increased chance of acceptance. But to your original concern, there is no reason to be freaking out my dude. I finished college with a 3.45 (including a C- in Bio 101) and have been accepted to 3 MD schools so far. My mcat is decent (31), I'm white, and didn't do any post-bacc stuff. You shouldn't be worried, just focus on your mcat and make sure you have solid interviewing skills and you'll be all set. Add Drexel to your list
Click to expand...

I am african american, but I want to get into Medical school on my own merits (or be rejected on my own merits). I haven't done very well in school, but it is my work and that is what I want to be evaluated on.

So that's why I am not including my ethnicity in my application. Point Blank. If I can't be a doctor on the white/asian scale, then I just won't be a doctor.
 
Dbate said:
I am african american, but I want to get into Medical school on my own merits (or be rejected on my own merits). I haven't done very well in school, but it is my work and that is what I want to be evaluated on.

So that's why I am not including my ethnicity in my application. Point Blank. If I can't be a doctor on the white/asian scale, then I just won't be a doctor.
Click to expand...

So once you get an interview you don't care if your race comes into play? Unless you have a way of concealing the fact that you're black...

People will make judgments on you in so many more ways without you ever knowing or having any say in the matter, why single out race? If you're not qualified enough to handle medical school, you won't get in because you're black. Were you to be chosen over another qualified candidate due to your race, do you think this would be unfair? The whole idea behind URM consideration is that we need diversity among physicians. If both you and another candidate are academically qualified to become physicians, but one of you represents an effort on the part of the school to improve public health through a representative provider population and there aren't significant other differences between the two, what do you think the adcom will do? Is it your fault if you're chosen this way? Is there even anything wrong with this?
 
Dbate said:
I am african american, but I want to get into Medical school on my own merits (or be rejected on my own merits). I haven't done very well in school, but it is my work and that is what I want to be evaluated on.

So that's why I am not including my ethnicity in my application. Point Blank. If I can't be a doctor on the white/asian scale, then I just won't be a doctor.
Click to expand...

Wow... I think it's a pretty cool thing you think you're doing, but you do know that people are always critics, right? You'll be criticized for everything, and race is one of those things.
 
Dbate said:
I am african american, but I want to get into Medical school on my own merits (or be rejected on my own merits). I haven't done very well in school, but it is my work and that is what I want to be evaluated on.

So that's why I am not including my ethnicity in my application. Point Blank. If I can't be a doctor on the white/asian scale, then I just won't be a doctor.
Click to expand...

Good for you. You will always have the pride knowing your race wasn't the motivating factor in the adcom choosing your for an interview. Its nice that you are not using your race as an excuse.

Everyone you will work with will still judge you on your race.

I remember an episode on ER where Dr. Benton and Gant (who plays Dr. Foreman on House) were arguing about this same thing.. Benton didn't mark his race on his application.
 
Double Trouble said:
Good for you. You will always have the pride knowing your race wasn't the motivating factor in the adcom choosing your for an interview. Its nice that you are not using your race as an excuse.

Everyone you will work with will still judge you on your race.

I remember an episode on ER where Dr. Benton and Gant (who plays Dr. Foreman on House) were arguing about this same thing.. Benton didn't mark his race on his application.
Click to expand...

My Medical Science teacher has the class watch ER when she's out sick. It's actually an awesome series. =D

OP, you are fine. Just straighten things out from now on and get at least a 30 on the MCAT. Even if your GPA ends up being where it is right now when it's time to apply, you'd still get in to some schools as long as you know where to apply.
 
Porfirio said:
Maybe being a doctor is not for you? You are giving up so easily. Either you suck it up, and do what you have to do to get to your dream or go become a Dentist.

Take more science classes to lift your GPA. Double major if you have to or minor in something. Since you have tons of science classes already a post-bacc will not do crap for you, neither will taking a year off. Use your head, you are such an emotional child - do some growing up.
Click to expand...

Dentist? seriously? I love how premeds like to exhibit certain professions as inferior when they are not even in professional school yet. Please at least get out of college or high school first.
 
Last edited:
gettheleadout said:
So once you get an interview you don't care if your race comes into play? Unless you have a way of concealing the fact that you're black...

People will make judgments on you in so many more ways without you ever knowing or having any say in the matter, why single out race? If you're not qualified enough to handle medical school, you won't get in because you're black. Were you to be chosen over another qualified candidate due to your race, do you think this would be unfair? The whole idea behind URM consideration is that we need diversity among physicians. If both you and another candidate are academically qualified to become physicians, but one of you represents an effort on the part of the school to improve public health through a representative provider population and there aren't significant other differences between the two, what do you think the adcom will do? Is it your fault if you're chosen this way? Is there even anything wrong with this?
Click to expand...

From what I have heard, to get an interview you have to be academically qualified.

Everyone you will work with will still judge you on your race.
Click to expand...

This has nothing to do with how other people will view me. I couldn't care less about other people's opinions.

I have wanted to be a doctor since I was young and I want to earn it.
 
Dbate said:
From what I have heard, to get an interview you have to be academically qualified.

This has nothing to do with how other people will view me. I couldn't care less about other people's opinions.

I have wanted to be a doctor since I was young and I want to earn it.
Click to expand...

👍👍 nice!

get more science class A's and study hard for the MCAT, you'll be more than fine 🙂
 
gettheleadout said:
That's exactly my point. Why care about your race being a factor if you know you have to be academically qualified anyway to be considered?
Click to expand...

Its personal. I included my race on my app to college and when I got into Yale, I wondered if I would have been admitted otherwise.

I don't want to have the same experience with medicine.


Also, I just found out that I don't have to include that stupid ecosystem ecology class in my science GPA because it can count as a forestry class (also everyone in the class was in the school of forestry on campus).

Sweet :soexcited:
 
Dbate said:
Should I go DO? I really, really, really don't want to go that path. I know it is stupidly prideful and whatever, but I don't want to live with a stigma my entire life.
Click to expand...

Attending a DO school will make things a bit harder for you, depending on your specialty, but life long stigma? Come on! Give me a break. Do you want to be a physician or not? If you really do, you'll do whatever it takes, even go to an osteopathic school!
One of my partners is a DO, his wife is also a specialist DO. The cure for their shame of a DO degree seems to be an income exceeding $1M/yr. Personally I couldn't imagine a 2 DO family. In fact the only reason I socialize with them at all is for the wine. Their cellar is quite impressive.
Kill the MCAT and go to whatever school you want. Or quit.
 
Last edited:
IlDestriero said:
Attending a DO school will make things a bit harder for you, depending on your specialty, but life long stigma? Come on! Give me a break. Do you want to be a physician or not? If you really do, you'll do whatever it takes, even go to an osteopathic school!
One of my partners is a DO, his wife is also a specialist DO. The cure for their shame of a DO degree seems to be an income exceeding $1M/yr. Personally I couldn't imagine a 2 DO family. In fact the only reason I socialize with them at all is for the wine. Their cellar is quite impressive.
Kill the MCAT and go to whatever school you want. Or quit.
Click to expand...
:laugh:
 
Nothing substantial to add here, but I wanted to wish the OP good luck. I have a lower gpa as well (though I didn't go to Yale) and I can understand how sometimes it feels like you have no chance at getting into med school. The only advice I can give is to try to relax, work hard on the rest of your classes and the MCAT, and have some fun in between.
 
are u a urm? If so it could help especially with a decent mcat score and your solid ecs.
 
You said you work in a lab. You can probably get some elective research credits. Those are usually easy A's.
 
Why the hell do people here criticize DO too much that like they think people only go to DO schools because its a piece of cake?!

I've seen this statement somewhere in here *Im not gonna get into medical school so I'll just be an optometrist or dentist?* --like seriously? they make it sound like its easy and only for losers who didn't get into med school eventhough some people do really want to be an opthalmologist./dentist.
 
Last edited:
kristinairene said:
Why the hell do people here criticize DO too much that like they think people only go to DO schools because its a piece of cake?!

I've seen this statement somewhere in here *Im not gonna get into medical school so I'll just be an opthalmologist or dentist?* --like seriously? they make it sound like its easy and only for losers who didn't get into med school eventhough some people do really want to be an opthalmologist./dentist.
Click to expand...

*cough* optometrist *cough*
 
I believe Lizzy M said that a high enough MCAT can make up for just about anything...hahaha....I like to think thats true to an extent. I have 3.26S gpa at a top 15 school notorious for grade deflation, 35S MCAT, and 5 invites...OP the real issue here is why are you willing to throw in the towel so easily....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
freaking out about last semester grades
Replies
6
Views
981
dionysusofhealth
D
T
  • Question Question
Question about Institutional Action - I really messed up
Replies
17
Views
3K
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
hommefatale
What Really Matters in a Med School App?
Replies
20
Views
2K
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
U
There is a lot of conflicting info out there but I really need help
Replies
3
Views
793
chilly_md
chilly_md
M
Is matriculating at 21/22 really an issue?
Replies
12
Views
1K
maybefuturedoctor7
M
Top