Should I bother trying?

[Minigun]

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Hi, I was recently enrolled in school two years ago, and during my semester, I developed chron's disease. I had to drop out, and received 4 f's on my transcript. It was my first year so it brought my GPA down to a 2.4. I was bedridden for the next year or so, because they had trouble diagnosing me. And the year following, trying to find a treatment that works.

So now that I am doing better, I am wanting to get back into school, but worried if I can even pursue my life dream anymore. If I make up these classes, and hopefully get a's in them, bringing them to c's. And doing well in the next three years, can I fix the damage that has been done? I was more interested in MD than DO, but that might be stretching it now.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[DryHopped]

If becoming a physician is what you want in life, then you should do all you can to get there and pursue all avenues available. Either route is possible if you retake those classes and pull As from here on out, get a decent MCAT score, and jump through all the necessary hoops while doing so (volunteering, shadowing, etc.). If you want it, put your all into it and go get it, it is by all means possible.

 

[J ROD]

You can retake the classes and explain your medical condition to cover those grades when applying......

you should get a shot if you prove those grades are the exception and not the rule.....

 

[BuSyDaZe]

Hi, I was recently enrolled in school two years ago, and during my semester, I developed chron's disease. I had to drop out, and received 4 f's on my transcript. It was my first year so it brought my GPA down to a 2.4. I was bedridden for the next year or so, because they had trouble diagnosing me. And the year following, trying to find a treatment that works.

So now that I am doing better, I am wanting to get back into school, but worried if I can even pursue my life dream anymore. If I make up these classes, and hopefully get a's in them, bringing them to c's. And doing well in the next three years, can I fix the damage that has been done? I was more interested in MD than DO, but that might be stretching it now.

Thanks for the replies.

If you have your medical forms, you should be able to get those grades changed to retroactive withdrawals. Doesn't hurt to at least try. Just check the student handbook and the school's provost office to check on the policies for medical emergencies. Good luck

 

[curt656]

Petition the Office of the Registrar for late withdrawal. Most schools have a committee that you can petition to if you have special circumstances. If you have a legitimate reason for not withdrawing and can prove it with documentation, they should rule in your favor and withdraw those classes. I know because I am going through this right now with one of my old schools.

Almost 20 years ago I had to leave school midway through a semester to help my family rebuild from Hurricane Andrew. My father was taking care of the rebuilding process when his mother (my grandmother) fell ill and he had to leave town to tend to her health. I had to go home to take over for him and I was not able to withdraw. I petitioned them a couple months ago, and my first try was denied because they have a 1 year statute of limitations (in other words, the semester in question cannot be more than one year ago). I petitioned the Head Registrar to waive the statute of limitations and she did. I resubmitted my petition and it went before the committee 2 weeks ago. It was denied, but only because they asked for additional documentation, which I have provided. My appeal will be heard on Thursday and I am told I have a pretty good shot. 4 F's from 20 years ago off of my transcript will be a HUGE help to my cause.

I think you have a better shot than I do if what you say is true. Start looking into it right away!! You can do it!

 

[Minigun]

Thanks for the responds guys.

I will see what I can do in that regard.

Back then I did not know what field I could go in, and if even going pre-med was reasonable.

Two years ago I was also dealing with depression and social anxiety. I was basically being forced to go to school by my parents. They knew I was sick, but didn't know I was skipping school. They were pretty oblivious to everything. I also got two semesters of WP's after the semesters of F's, because i couldn't handle the stress, and my disease at the same time. I didn't want my parents to know I wasn't going to school for some reason. (I was such a dumb kid) So I kept trying for two semesters, and kept failing. Luckily those were only WP's I suppose. My first semester I had soso grades, as-c's. Was being forced to go, and didn't really care what I was making. So once these courses are retaken, that will be my first year, so I should be able to repair the damage maybe in the next 3?...

This was done at a community college.

After some reading on this forum I realize community college credits are looked down upon. But unfortunately to transfer to a university, I need a 2.5 GPA, and as of now I have a 2.4.

So If I can't get these 4's overturned, the best option would be to retake the classes at the community college, then transfer to a university, and take the rest of my courses there correct?

I hope my immature decisions and bad situation two years ago, didn't screw this up. Although I hear they like a upward trend right? 😛...

Thanks everyone for your replies, I do appreciate it. A little confused on what I should do atm.


Er also I had it wrong sorry, it's a 2.1 not 2.4, for some reason I changed it in my head ;/

Total Earned Credits 17.00

Total Grade Points 42.00

Cumulative GPA 2.100

 

[curt656]

Well, good luck! My advice to you is to not take no for an answer. Appeal, appeal, appeal. Don't be rude or confrontational, but stand your ground. If someone tells you bad news, ask them who is next in line up the totem pole and appeal to them Go all the way to the top if you have to. You have absolutely nothing to lose by fighting the good fight; you are fighting for your future. Just remember that you kill more flies with honey instead of vinegar! Pull on their heartstrings if you must.

Tomorrow is D-Day for me, lol. The committee meets tomorrow afternoon and I should have my answer by 5:00pm. If I win, my cGPA will jump from 2.1 to 2.70. Fortunately, I still have a long way to go to bring it up! Wish me luck!!

 

[jd221b]

Since you have so few hours, you are technically capable of 3.8 or higher. Even if you can't get the F's revoked, the sky is your limit. Just be sure your ready this time and don't start settling for B's when you can bust your ass and get A's.

Thanks for the responds guys.

I will see what I can do in that regard.

Back then I did not know what field I could go in, and if even going pre-med was reasonable.

Two years ago I was also dealing with depression and social anxiety. I was basically being forced to go to school by my parents. They knew I was sick, but didn't know I was skipping school. They were pretty oblivious to everything. I also got two semesters of WP's after the semesters of F's, because i couldn't handle the stress, and my disease at the same time. I didn't want my parents to know I wasn't going to school for some reason. (I was such a dumb kid) So I kept trying for two semesters, and kept failing. Luckily those were only WP's I suppose. My first semester I had soso grades, as-c's. Was being forced to go, and didn't really care what I was making. So once these courses are retaken, that will be my first year, so I should be able to repair the damage maybe in the next 3?...

This was done at a community college.

After some reading on this forum I realize community college credits are looked down upon. But unfortunately to transfer to a university, I need a 2.5 GPA, and as of now I have a 2.4.

So If I can't get these 4's overturned, the best option would be to retake the classes at the community college, then transfer to a university, and take the rest of my courses there correct?

I hope my immature decisions and bad situation two years ago, didn't screw this up. Although I hear they like a upward trend right? 😛...

Thanks everyone for your replies, I do appreciate it. A little confused on what I should do atm.


Er also I had it wrong sorry, it's a 2.1 not 2.4, for some reason I changed it in my head ;/

Total Earned Credits 17.00

Total Grade Points 42.00

Cumulative GPA 2.100

 

[Minigun]

Since you have so few hours, you are technically capable of 3.8 or higher. Even if you can't get the F's revoked, the sky is your limit. Just be sure your ready this time and don't start settling for B's when you can bust your ass and get A's.

I'm more than ready, medicine is my passion, I want nothing else more than this.

When I go through other threads it seems like if they have one F they freak out, but if I can't get these revoked I will have 4...and two semesters of w's and wps...

The 4 f's would have been my first semester of my 2nd year, I can really get my GPA up that high (or a bit lower if I can't get them revoked say...3.2-3.5 or so)? From a 2.1?

Maybe I'm just not optimistic but that is possible?

Thanks for the reply by the way.

Also if someone could answer my question about the community college thing as well, I would appreciate it.

Well, good luck! My advice to you is to not take no for an answer. Appeal, appeal, appeal. Don't be rude or confrontational, but stand your ground. If someone tells you bad news, ask them who is next in line up the totem pole and appeal to them Go all the way to the top if you have to. You have absolutely nothing to lose by fighting the good fight; you are fighting for your future. Just remember that you kill more flies with honey instead of vinegar! Pull on their heartstrings if you must.

Tomorrow is D-Day for me, lol. The committee meets tomorrow afternoon and I should have my answer by 5:00pm. If I win, my cGPA will jump from 2.1 to 2.70. Fortunately, I still have a long way to go to bring it up! Wish me luck!!

Goodluck! Thanks for the inspiration, I hope it turns out well. I can tell you are anxious, I know I would be 😛 .

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

Read the underdog acceptance threads... 😉

 

[Minigun]

Read the underdog acceptance threads... 😉

I know, but I don't want to go in knowing I'm going to be an underdog 🙁 , or my chances are "slim"

 

[theseeker4]

I know, but I don't want to go in knowing I'm going to be an underdog 🙁 , or my chances are "slim"

Either way, you will have to explain the situation. Whether you have to explain a series of F's followed by several semesters out of school, or a series of W's followed by several semesters out of school, it will probably come up in an interview. Maintain as near a 4.0 as you can for the rest of your undergrad and the fact that you had some failing grades/withdraws early in your schooling will likely have little influence on your acceptance. Getting all A's from here on out will make you look better than the many students applying with B's and the occasional C's scattered throughout their career, especially since you have a legitimate reason for the early hardship. Good luck.

 

[LegendaryPunk]

The 4 f's would have been my first semester of my 2nd year, I can really get my GPA up that high (or a bit lower if I can't get them revoked say...3.2-3.5 or so)? From a 2.1?

Maybe I'm just not optimistic but that is possible?

With only 17 credits under your belt, a cGPA of 3.0+ is totally possible. Even if you get a degree requiring 120 hours, that still gives you 100+ hours to boost your GPA. If you really turn things around and get a 3.75 for those remaining hours, you'll end up with a 3.4-3.5.

What is your sGPA? Were any of those classes biology, chemistry, math or physics? If no, then you truly have no ceiling for your sGPA.

You most likely won't end up with anything that will knock the socks off the adcoms, but you won't get screened out either.

 

[Minigun]

Bit of bad news, they are telling my my f's are to stay, due to how long I waited to try and get them revoked.

Either way, you will have to explain the situation. Whether you have to explain a series of F's followed by several semesters out of school, or a series of W's followed by several semesters out of school, it will probably come up in an interview. Maintain as near a 4.0 as you can for the rest of your undergrad and the fact that you had some failing grades/withdraws early in your schooling will likely have little influence on your acceptance. Getting all A's from here on out will make you look better than the many students applying with B's and the occasional C's scattered throughout their career, especially since you have a legitimate reason for the early hardship. Good luck.

That sounds like a good plan, I just didn't want to put all the effort it takes into medicine, knowing that if I make just one B on one class, all the effort will be for nothing.

With only 17 credits under your belt, a cGPA of 3.0+ is totally possible. Even if you get a degree requiring 120 hours, that still gives you 100+ hours to boost your GPA. If you really turn things around and get a 3.75 for those remaining hours, you'll end up with a 3.4-3.5.

What is your sGPA? Were any of those classes biology, chemistry, math or physics? If no, then you truly have no ceiling for your sGPA.

You most likely won't end up with anything that will knock the socks off the adcoms, but you won't get screened out either.

One was psychology, the rest were not close to biology/chemistry/math/or physics, I was just taking "required courses" for any degree.




One last question I promise!

Since my GPA is so low due to these f's, and I can't transfer to my state university until my gpa is 2.5+, I have no choice but to retake the classes at my community college correct? And since they aren't biology related, it doesn't really matter?




Thanks for the responses, I appreciate how much info you guys have given me. A little relieved that I can still do pretty well if I study my ass of from here on out. Hopefully I will look back at this thread in 4+ years and get a good laugh 😛

 

[LegendaryPunk]

One was psychology, the rest were not close to biology/chemistry/math/or physics, I was just taking "required courses" for any degree.

This is good, as it gives you the chance to get your BCMP to a level that would catch someone's eye.

Since my GPA is so low due to these f's, and I can't transfer to my state university until my gpa is 2.5+, I have no choice but to retake the classes at my community college correct? And since they aren't biology related, it doesn't really matter?

Seems to be that way. Others can give better advice on this than I can (there are multiple old threads as well), but the general consensus is that community college puts you in a gray area; it certainly doesn't do you any favors. However, since you don't really have any choice, well, try not to let it keep you up at night.

Not sure what you mean by your second question. Even though the courses aren't pre-med requirements, they still matter both in terms of your overall GPA and perception of your work ethic.

Finally, I recommend you do a little research into DO schools. While MD schools average grades from repeated courses, DO schools offer grade forgiveness and accept the most recent grade.

 

[Minigun]

This is good, as it gives you the chance to get your BCMP to a level that would catch someone's eye.



Seems to be that way. Others can give better advice on this than I can (there are multiple old threads as well), but the general consensus is that community college puts you in a gray area; it certainly doesn't do you any favors. However, since you don't really have any choice, well, try not to let it keep you up at night.

Not sure what you mean by your second question. Even though the courses aren't pre-med requirements, they still matter both in terms of your overall GPA and perception of your work ethic.

Finally, I recommend you do a little research into DO schools. While MD schools average grades from repeated courses, DO schools offer grade forgiveness and accept the most recent grade.

Ah, sorry I will try to be a little more specific.

Say I get my 2 year degree from my community college, but I don't take any of the important classes in the field, and save those for the university. Does that still put you in the gray area?

I have done some research in both DO and MD. I would really rather get into MD though, it interests me a lot more.

Thanks for responding 🙂 .

 

[Eik Ooc]

/wrong thread

 

[curt656]

Bit of bad news, they are telling my my f's are to stay, due to how long I waited to try and get them revoked.

Not to offer false hope, but that was exactly what they told me too. I asked who I can appeal to and they said something like, "I don't know, maybe you could try writing a letter to the head registrar." Which is exactly what I did. I wrote a truthful and heartfelt letter saying that I had no idea at the time the any kind of retroactive withdraw was possible so I never tried until now.

Tell them that and also how you were informed only recently that such a retroactive withdrawal was possible. Don't take no for an answer...unless they flat out say no and hang up. Then I would go higher up the ladder. All the way to the dean of students and the president of the university if I had to. It's all up to you though. Fight if you want, or you can just buckle down and do it the old fashioned way!

You are fortunate in that you are in a better position than I am in the respect that you have so few credits. I have some other not so good grades from back then weighing me down. That's why this committee meeting today is so critical.

It's 6 o'clock and I still have not heard an answer. IT'S KILLING ME, lol!!!!! The first time I got a response around 4, so I was hoping to get something back by now. AAAHHHHH!!!

 

[Minigun]

Not to offer false hope, but that was exactly what they told me too. I asked who I can appeal to and they said something like, "I don't know, maybe you could try writing a letter to the head registrar." Which is exactly what I did. I wrote a truthful and heartfelt letter saying that I had no idea at the time the any kind of retroactive withdraw was possible so I never tried until now.

Tell them that and also how you were informed only recently that such a retroactive withdrawal was possible. Don't take no for an answer...unless they flat out say no and hang up. Then I would go higher up the ladder. All the way to the dean of students and the president of the university if I had to. It's all up to you though. Fight if you want, or you can just buckle down and do it the old fashioned way!

You are fortunate in that you are in a better position than I am in the respect that you have so few credits. I have some other not so good grades from back then weighing me down. That's why this committee meeting today is so critical.

It's 6 o'clock and I still have not heard an answer. IT'S KILLING ME, lol!!!!! The first time I got a response around 4, so I was hoping to get something back by now. AAAHHHHH!!!

Really hoping you can get them reversed glglgl! I know the type of position you are in and it sucks. Being sick in general sucks actually.

Also why does me having a small amount of credits matter? If i had completed say another semester the f's are still there, they are just more obvious atm ^^ ...

 

[jd221b]

Really hoping you can get them reversed glglgl! I know the type of position you are in and it sucks. Being sick in general sucks actually.

Also why does me having a small amount of credits matter? If i had completed say another semester the f's are still there, they are just more obvious atm ^^ ...

It just means that your GPA is easily corrected. If you had a 2.1 average with 100 credit hours, it would be very difficult to move your gpa significantly.

 

[karkatvantas]

There was a thread somewhere on SDN posted by a current med student who'd done poorly in undergraduate, then got a masters with a 4.0 GPA and did well on the MCAT. I can't find the specific thread right now, but remember that this is always an option. Sure, it means an extra year or two spent studying in order to get a masters, but if that's what it takes to achieve your dream, then it's more than a fair sacrifice. Also it'll make you a better doctor and probably make the MCAT bio section easier.

 

[DoctorRock25]

You can retake the classes and explain your medical condition to cover those grades when applying......

you should get a shot if you prove those grades are the exception and not the rule.....

I agree. Also, be around people that are willing to keep you motivated and cheer you on too in the process. That helps~

 

[jd221b]

That sounds like a good plan, I just didn't want to put all the effort it takes into medicine, knowing that if I make just one B on one class, all the effort will be for nothing.

This is not true for you, but you should definitely pretend it is. Don't go in to this until your ready to put the effort into every class to get that A. If a small handful of classes kick your butt and you end up with a B in spite of all efforts, shake it off and keep striving.

 

[eablackwell]

If you have your medical forms, you should be able to get those grades changed to retroactive withdrawals. Doesn't hurt to at least try. Just check the student handbook and the school's provost office to check on the policies for medical emergencies. Good luck

I know there has been a lot of discussion about this, but I just want to echo this bit of advice. I had almost the same situation (was on bedrest for what ended up being 9 months). The school tried to fail me for the semester when I first became ill. I called several times, was very nice to no avail, and eventually only with the threat of legal action did they change their minds. Granted, the Fs never went on my transcript because I took care of this before grades were even posted, but I think you should not give up if this was seriously a medical issue that the school was alerted to during the semester.

If you never told anyone you were going to be out for medical reasons beforehand, you may have a harder time of it, but don't give up until you've exhausted every avenue. Also, I wouldn't mention lawyers (if it comes to that), unless you've actually consulted with one. Flies with honey and all that jazz.

Good luck!

 

[Minigun]

This is not true for you, but you should definitely pretend it is. Don't go in to this until your ready to put the effort into every class to get that A. If a small handful of classes kick your butt and you end up with a B in spite of all efforts, shake it off and keep striving.

Definitely.

Did you get your grades reversed? I hope so 🙂 .



Thanks everyone for the replies. They are much appreciated. I will definitely try my hardest to get these 3 years I have left with the best grades possible.

When should I start looking to shadow/volunteer? At around my 3rd year of grad school?

 

[curt656]

Well, I got some GREAT news today! After initially getting an e-mail notification the other day that my petition had been denied, I called the Registrar's office to thank the lady who has been helping me through this entire process and to get an idea of why the committee said no. When I told her that even though I had gotten the bad news I wanted to thank her, she asked me, puzzled, what I was talking about. Apparently, she sent the wrong message to me and my petition had, in fact been APPROVED!!!! I just got 4 F's on my transcript from 1993 changed to 4 W's. My GPA climbed from 2.1 to 2.7 and I am only 33 credits into my Bachelor's at a level of 3.82 GPA since I started back to school last year. Even though I still have some bad grades from 1992 and 1993 holding me back, I am in a much better situation!!

It never hurts to ask, and perseverance pays off, lol! I think iI will have a tall frosty beer after Physics lab today!!

 

[jd221b]

That's awesome. Congratulations!!! I might just have to have a beer myself. On your behalf of course.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

I am really really happy that it paid off. That is great news... Now keep up the good work!!!

 

[Quizlet04]

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