After two years of undergrad, my GPA is not looking so great. I've taken calculus, general chemistry and finishing the first year of bio, and I've gotten two C's, a B, two B+'s, a B, and two A-'s. I'm looking at a couple of B's (maybe a C) and maybe an A- this semester.
These past two years and throughout my high school years, my mother has been sick and I had to send money back home occasionally due to financial problems. She's also been treated poorly by medical professionals and the system in general, which is part of the reason why I am determined to be a doctor. I also was "diagnosed" with moderate depression, which had a hand in dampening my grades this semester.
I'm awakening from this nightmare and starting to freak out. Even if I were to get straight A's for the rest of my undergraduate years, I'm looking at a 3.5 science GPA at best, which is difficult to do at the university I'm in. More than once have I thought of withdrawing for a semester to steady myself, but that would severely jeopardize my financial aid, which is the sole reason why I can afford to be at a four year institution.
As for extracurriculars, I'm volunteering at a free clinic that's no ordinary free clinic. I'm training as a medic, which has involved 23 to 30 hours a week this past summer. It is extremely client-centered and embodies the values that make me want to pursue medicine. I'm also planning on continuing a project I started in high school, raising awareness and funds for a particular cause involving women of third world countries.
Right now, I'm a Public Health major working about 10 to 15 hours a week (down from the 20 -35 hours including medic training), I'm battling depression, and I'm desperately trying to salvage my grades. I'm seriously considering a remedial post bac program, but it was never my intention to apply to medical school straight out of undergrad anyway. I feel like other experience is necessary to expand my understanding of the world, i.e. travel, peace corps.
I'm scared. This has been my dream and my cause for so long, and I can't help but feel like I've messed up so early in the process. What should I do?
These past two years and throughout my high school years, my mother has been sick and I had to send money back home occasionally due to financial problems. She's also been treated poorly by medical professionals and the system in general, which is part of the reason why I am determined to be a doctor. I also was "diagnosed" with moderate depression, which had a hand in dampening my grades this semester.
I'm awakening from this nightmare and starting to freak out. Even if I were to get straight A's for the rest of my undergraduate years, I'm looking at a 3.5 science GPA at best, which is difficult to do at the university I'm in. More than once have I thought of withdrawing for a semester to steady myself, but that would severely jeopardize my financial aid, which is the sole reason why I can afford to be at a four year institution.
As for extracurriculars, I'm volunteering at a free clinic that's no ordinary free clinic. I'm training as a medic, which has involved 23 to 30 hours a week this past summer. It is extremely client-centered and embodies the values that make me want to pursue medicine. I'm also planning on continuing a project I started in high school, raising awareness and funds for a particular cause involving women of third world countries.
Right now, I'm a Public Health major working about 10 to 15 hours a week (down from the 20 -35 hours including medic training), I'm battling depression, and I'm desperately trying to salvage my grades. I'm seriously considering a remedial post bac program, but it was never my intention to apply to medical school straight out of undergrad anyway. I feel like other experience is necessary to expand my understanding of the world, i.e. travel, peace corps.
I'm scared. This has been my dream and my cause for so long, and I can't help but feel like I've messed up so early in the process. What should I do?
