Seeking Guidance From Experienced Students

[taechris]

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Hi everyone. I'm gotten myself in a very deep hole and I need some advice which will probably determine how the rest of my life plays out. For those that don't know my story, I've been a hard working student all my life and have dreamed about being a doctor. I've used these forums before to see what people thought about the 7 year bs/dds program at Detroit Mercy vs. University of Michigan as pre-med and ultimately, I chose to attend the University of Michigan--Ann Arbor in pursuit of a chemical engineering degree while finishing my pre-medical pre-reqs.

Long story short... Over the period of my first year, I lost all sense of responsibility, started drinking and using drugs (casual smoker now), and stopped attending class. But I somehow managed to dig myself out of academic probation and end up with a 2.0 average for the freshmen year (0.9 first semester and 3.0 second semester). I don't have any other EC's besides marching band and concert band (which are huge time commitments... BUT I plan on adding some hospital volunteering and maybe a club or two into the mix).

I think I can get my cumulative GPA above 3.0 (but it would probably remain close to 3.0) and I think I can score well on the MCAT (I've always had a knack for scoring in the 95% percentile or above on standardized tests). I realize that being an engineering major gives me some slack on GPA since engineering classes are ridiculously difficult BUT if I clean up my act and recover, would it be practical to continue my pre-med track? Should I just drop pre-med and pursue a minor/major? Please share your thoughts, it would be much appreciated.

 

[LizzyM]

Get some help if you can't stop drinking and smoking on your own. This is important regardless of your career plans as you could end up with no career (and no life) if you continue doing what you are doing in that regard.

Do not major in engineering if you can't get exceptional grades in engineering. It is not worth the risk. Change your major to the easiest thing you can think of. At this point, it is all about protecting the gpa. You are going to need to report that academic probation as an "Institutional action" so you might as well go all out and change your major and really change everything you've been doing.

Drop music and spend some of those hours serving patients in a health care setting as a volunteer. Find some health care providers to shadow.

 

[taechris]

I don't have a drinking or smoking problem. The only issue was that I lost sight of what was important (academics) and placed partying in front of it. I just want to know if it's feasible if I do practically fantastic (meaning 3.5+ GPA semesters) from this point onward.

 

[el_duderino]

What year are you in now?

 

[taechris]

I will be a sophomore starting Fall '14

 

[el_duderino]

LizzyM's advice is, unsurprisingly, good. Have you genuinely gotten the substance abuse under total control for good?

 

[taechris]

Oh yeah. The substance "issue" was never really an issue. It just helps further illustrate how insane I kind of got freshmen year. I was basically just super lazy and didn't really spend time studying or orking out or anything. I just slept in all the time and partied a lot on weekends.

 

[taechris]

I also don't want to drop music. I've already given up a year's worth of extra curricular activities and a research opportunity for music. I think giving up music now and starting these activities late will hurt me more as opposed to me getting a leadership position in marching band. I can still volunteer and stuff during the school year (at the hospital) I plan on starting this fall.

 

[deleted480308]

Oh yeah. The substance "issue" was never really an issue. It just helps further illustrate how insane I kind of got freshmen year. I was basically just super lazy and didn't really spend time studying or orking out or anything. I just slept in all the time and partied a lot on weekends.

your drug/drinking problem was a big enough deal to mention it. If you've addressed it, that's fine....but don't pretend it wasn't a big contributor. This is an anonymous forum, there is no embarassment in us knowing...but there is a risk in you not taking it seriously.

 

[Shjanzey]

So basically you got really great advice from an adcom and you have managed to discount it all. This should be good

 

[taechris]

Well if I did discount it, I'm sorry, but I just felt like I needed to clarify my situation a little. Like I said, I was one of those high schoolers that had excellent grades, was very involved at school, and had a healthy social life. The only reason I brought up drinking and drugs was to kind of show how crazy things had gotten, it was never something I felt an "addiction" or compulsion towards. And I felt like the adcom's advice is great and I appreciate it very much.

BUT unlike a lot of people on this forum, I have a back-up career and that is engineering. I can make a promising life out of myself if I pursue that career as well, so I don't want to do anything like quit and start up new activities just to look great on an application. Medical School is something that I've dreamed of for long but I don't want to go through the whole "padding" the resume deal again. I went through it in high school and I don't want to feel that superficial ever again.

With that said, all I want to know is whether or not getting into medical school is feasible or likely if I do well from this point onward (meaning I'll have a GPA that's 3.0+ and MCAT 30+) as well as volunteering at the hospital, a degree in chemical engineering, and my involvement in music.

 

[el_duderino]

It's feasible if you commit to it.

Sounds like you want to hedge your bets and keep one foot out the door.

That's not going to work out too well.

 

[LizzyM]

A member of my extended family did marching band and engineering. Has a super job in engineering and some really wonderful memories of marching band. You've got a good back up plan, OP, maybe you should embrace it.