Should I even bother?

[AnotherHoprful]

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I'm currently debating whether or not I'm wasting my time trying to go to med school. I'm a 26 year old non traditional student with a checkered past.

Here's the story:
I never had a stable home life. I bounced around from guardian to guardian, and generally had very little guidance in life.

I dropped out of high school during my senior year when my mother decided to abandon me and leave the state.

I worked different jobs between the ages of 16 and 19. At one point I was actually homeless and sleeping in my car.

At age 19 my mother contacted me and offered to let me move to Idaho and go to college. I accepted her offer, but I did not complete my first semester. I thought I successfully withdrew, but I actually got 9 credits worth of failing grades.

I found employment with a call center that does support for Apple. I was promoted to senior technical advisor/trainer and worked here for a few years before burning out.

Unfortunately, I was arrested for DUI at the age of 20. I made an incredibly poor decision and I paid the consequences. I take full responsibility for my actions, but I honestly didn't realize that drinking and driving was a big deal. I assumed that it was normal behavior, mainly because my step father/adoptive father was an alcoholic who frequently drove drunk with me in the car as a child. I also didn't realize that a 0.04 BAC was DUI level for anyone under 21. (I no longer drink alcohol, period)

I completed my community service and received what Idaho calls a "withheld judgment". My understanding is that this means I wasn't technically convicted, but it's still on my record.

My next major screw up occurred at 12:30AM on my way home from work. Apparently my 30 day driving permit expired 30 minutes earlier. I was cited for driving without a license.

I went to court and plead guilty due to advice from my public defender.

I completed everything required of me for my DUI and went to DMV to get my license. I was given my license and a letter of reinstatement.

A couple of weeks later, I was pulled over on my way to a dental appointment. Apparently my license was still suspended. I was cited once again for DWP. I went to court again and explained my situation to my public defender. The public defender stated that I could try to fight it, but it was advisable to accept a plea deal in order to avoid going to jail. I ignorantly accepted the deal and obtained yet another driving without privileges conviction.

Fast forward 6 years to today. I'm in college for my 3rd year. I have managed to maintain a 4.0 GPA, I have racked up hundreds of hours of volunteer experience, founded a school chemistry club, created great relationships with professors, received merit scholarships, worked in a chemistry lab for 2 years, obtained a biochemistry research position for next term, and I'm generally thriving as a student. I have taken 3 practice MCATs and my average score is 36.

I have found a love for learning and I honestly can't see myself doing anything other than becoming a physician. I'm just concerned that I am doing all of this for nothing.

I'm writing this in hopes of finding someone with a similar experience or general advice.

Am I wasting my time?

I don't want to continue down this path if it's a waste of time. My family's quality of life has dropped significantly since I started down this path. I don't want to continue making my family suffer if my dream can never become a reality.

 

[theseeker4]

I'm currently debating whether or not I'm wasting my time trying to go to med school. I'm a 26 year old non traditional student with a checkered past.

Here's the story:
I never had a stable home life. I bounced around from guardian to guardian, and generally had very little guidance in life.

I dropped out of high school during my senior year when my mother decided to abandon me and leave the state.

I worked different jobs between the ages of 16 and 19. At one point I was actually homeless and sleeping in my car.

At age 19 my mother contacted me and offered to let me move to Idaho and go to college. I accepted her offer, but I did not complete my first semester. I thought I successfully withdrew, but I actually got 9 credits worth of failing grades.

I found employment with a call center that does support for Apple. I was promoted to senior technical advisor/trainer and worked here for a few years before burning out.

Unfortunately, I was arrested for DUI at the age of 20. I made an incredibly poor decision and I paid the consequences. I take full responsibility for my actions, but I honestly didn't realize that drinking and driving was a big deal. I assumed that it was normal behavior, mainly because my step father/adoptive father was an alcoholic who frequently drove drunk with me in the car as a child. I also didn't realize that a 0.04 BAC was DUI level for anyone under 21. (I no longer drink alcohol, period)

I completed my community service and received what Idaho calls a "withheld judgment". My understanding is that this means I wasn't technically convicted, but it's still on my record.

My next major screw up occurred at 12:30AM on my way home from work. Apparently my 30 day driving permit expired 30 minutes earlier. I was cited for driving without a license.

I went to court and plead guilty due to advice from my public defender.

I completed everything required of me for my DUI and went to DMV to get my license. I was given my license and a letter of reinstatement.

A couple of weeks later, I was pulled over on my way to a dental appointment. Apparently my license was still suspended. I was cited once again for DWP. I went to court again and explained my situation to my public defender. The public defender stated that I could try to fight it, but it was advisable to accept a plea deal in order to avoid going to jail. I ignorantly accepted the deal and obtained yet another driving without privileges conviction.

Fast forward 6 years to today. I'm in college for my 3rd year. I have managed to maintain a 4.0 GPA, I have racked up hundreds of hours of volunteer experience, founded a school chemistry club, created great relationships with professors, received merit scholarships, worked in a chemistry lab for 2 years, obtained a biochemistry research position for next term, and I'm generally thriving as a student. I have taken 3 practice MCATs and my average score is 36.

I have found a love for learning and I honestly can't see myself doing anything other than becoming a physician. I'm just concerned that I am doing all of this for nothing.

I'm writing this in hopes of finding someone with a similar experience or general advice.

Am I wasting my time?

I don't want to continue down this path if it's a waste of time. My family's quality of life has dropped significantly since I started down this path. I don't want to continue making my family suffer if my dream can never become a reality.

The relatively minor infractions in the past, with 6 years between then and now (7 at least by the time you apply if you apply next cycle), with your excellent performance since then, is probably plenty for most Adcoms to cut your some slack. This is assuming you have been "clean" of issues since then. Top schools are probably not possible, as you probably are aware, but you are certainly not out of the running for an MD degree, let alone a DO. Good luck!

 

[AnotherHoprful]

I have had zero negative encounters with police in the past 6 years.

Not even a speeding ticket.

 

[Aelius]

Why would you be wasting your time? It's pretty obvious that your checkered past is in the past and you have greatly matured since then. With your stats make you a very attractive med school candidate.

 

[AnotherHoprful]

Why would you be wasting your time? It's pretty obvious that your checkered past is in the past and you have greatly matured since then. With your stats make you a very attractive med school candidate.

I didn't know if schools would immediately reject me due to the DUI and DWP.

I've suffered anxiety and periods of depression over it. I just want to find out if my concerns are warranted or not.

It's very reassuring to hear that I might actually be able to do this.

 

[Goro]

Repeated moving violations won't be an issue, especially given how long ago that was. When it comes time to explain, just own the transgression.
You have a compelling life story and so yes, it is worth trying for.

I'm currently debating whether or not I'm wasting my time trying to go to med school. I'm a 26 year old non traditional student with a checkered past.

Here's the story:
I never had a stable home life. I bounced around from guardian to guardian, and generally had very little guidance in life.

I dropped out of high school during my senior year when my mother decided to abandon me and leave the state.

I worked different jobs between the ages of 16 and 19. At one point I was actually homeless and sleeping in my car.

At age 19 my mother contacted me and offered to let me move to Idaho and go to college. I accepted her offer, but I did not complete my first semester. I thought I successfully withdrew, but I actually got 9 credits worth of failing grades.

I found employment with a call center that does support for Apple. I was promoted to senior technical advisor/trainer and worked here for a few years before burning out.

Unfortunately, I was arrested for DUI at the age of 20. I made an incredibly poor decision and I paid the consequences. I take full responsibility for my actions, but I honestly didn't realize that drinking and driving was a big deal. I assumed that it was normal behavior, mainly because my step father/adoptive father was an alcoholic who frequently drove drunk with me in the car as a child. I also didn't realize that a 0.04 BAC was DUI level for anyone under 21. (I no longer drink alcohol, period)

I completed my community service and received what Idaho calls a "withheld judgment". My understanding is that this means I wasn't technically convicted, but it's still on my record.

My next major screw up occurred at 12:30AM on my way home from work. Apparently my 30 day driving permit expired 30 minutes earlier. I was cited for driving without a license.

I went to court and plead guilty due to advice from my public defender.

I completed everything required of me for my DUI and went to DMV to get my license. I was given my license and a letter of reinstatement.

A couple of weeks later, I was pulled over on my way to a dental appointment. Apparently my license was still suspended. I was cited once again for DWP. I went to court again and explained my situation to my public defender. The public defender stated that I could try to fight it, but it was advisable to accept a plea deal in order to avoid going to jail. I ignorantly accepted the deal and obtained yet another driving without privileges conviction.

Fast forward 6 years to today. I'm in college for my 3rd year. I have managed to maintain a 4.0 GPA, I have racked up hundreds of hours of volunteer experience, founded a school chemistry club, created great relationships with professors, received merit scholarships, worked in a chemistry lab for 2 years, obtained a biochemistry research position for next term, and I'm generally thriving as a student. I have taken 3 practice MCATs and my average score is 36.

I have found a love for learning and I honestly can't see myself doing anything other than becoming a physician. I'm just concerned that I am doing all of this for nothing.

I'm writing this in hopes of finding someone with a similar experience or general advice.

Am I wasting my time?

I don't want to continue down this path if it's a waste of time. My family's quality of life has dropped significantly since I started down this path. I don't want to continue making my family suffer if my dream can never become a reality.

 

[AnotherHoprful]

Thanks for the replies. I think I just needed reassurance.

I'm going to keep working hard to achieve my goal of becoming a primary care doc in rural Alabama.

 

[QofQuimica]

I agree with the others that your transgressions are distant enough that they shouldn't translate into an automatic rejection from med school for you. However, getting accepted to medical school is only the beginning of your record being examined under a microscope, not the end. The DWPs are probably not going to be a major issue, but given the serious scrutiny of physicians with substance abuse problems, you will definitely have to report and explain that DUI on every state license, hospital credentialing, and job application that you fill out for the rest of your career. It would be advisable to check as to whether you are eligible for licensing in the state of Alabama with a DUI on your record. I suggest that you contact the state board and find out what their policy is on this. It would be horrible for you to go through med school and residency only to find out that the state won't license you. Though my guess is that they will, in which case, by all means you should try to achieve your dream.

 

[AnotherHoprful]

I agree with the others that your transgressions are distant enough that they shouldn't translate into an automatic rejection from med school for you. However, getting accepted to medical school is only the beginning of your record being examined under a microscope, not the end. The DWPs are probably not going to be a major issue, but given the serious scrutiny of physicians with substance abuse problems, you will definitely have to report and explain that DUI on every state license, hospital credentialing, and job application that you fill out for the rest of your career. It would be advisable to check as to whether you are eligible for licensing in the state of Alabama with a DUI on your record. I suggest that you contact the state board and find out what their policy is on this. It would be horrible for you to go through med school and residency only to find out that the state won't license you. Though my guess is that they will, in which case, by all means you should try to achieve your dream.

Thanks for the advice.

I'll contact Alabama to make sure I can be licensed.

I know I can be licensed in Idaho, but I really want to finish undergrad and go to med school in Alabama. I miss small town Alabama.

 

[iceet]

You were not convicted. I believe you may be able to get it expunged.

And bro, I'm 27. I graduated in 2008. I JUST submitted my AMCAS today for the FIRST time today. In my gap years I've been staying busy and accomplishing things, just like you. Don't give up. And make sure you ACE the MCAT.

 

[Law2Doc]

... It's pretty obvious that your checkered past is in the past and you have greatly matured since then...

Here's my concern. Although the transgressions you list all happened years ago and are relatively minor, you don't seem to have matured to the point that you really own them. Every sentence seems to end with a Justification/excuse. never had a stable home or guidance, mother abandoned me, I thought I successfully withdrew, I burned out on my job, I thought drinking and driving wasn't a big deal because my step father drove dunk, my permit expired only 30 minutes ago, my public defender gave me bad advice... I hope you have matured enough for med school but reading your initial post I don't get the same warm fuzzies I would have gotten if you had actually owned the mistakes without the excuses and just said I was a young stupid kid who screwed up a lot, no excuses, but I've quit drinking and gotten straight A's and turned my life around since then. If you say that (especially in a PS) I'm inspired. If you talk about screwing up because you didn't have guidance and your mom abandoned you and your stepfather was a drunk, and your PD screwed you with a plea, I think you are trying NOT to fall in your sword and take all the blame.

So in short, I don't think these transgressions that happened years ago will be an insurmountable hurdle. Some kids are young nd stupid and adcoms get that. But if you write essays or interview in ways that try to mitigate much of the blame like you did above, I think adcoms will have concerns.

 

[Shjanzey]

I didn't read anything, I just saw that you misspelled hopeful in your username and passed quick judgement. No, it won't work for you. Sorry

 

[AnotherHoprful]

Here's my concern. Although the transgressions you list all happened years ago and are relatively minor, you don't seem to have matured to the point that you really own them. Every sentence seems to end with a Justification/excuse. never had a stable home or guidance, mother abandoned me, I thought I successfully withdrew, I burned out on my job, I thought drinking and driving wasn't a big deal because my step father drove dunk, my permit expired only 30 minutes ago, my public defender gave me bad advice... I hope you have matured enough for med school but reading your initial post I don't get the same warm fuzzies I would have gotten if you had actually owned the mistakes without the excuses and just said I was a young stupid kid who screwed up a lot, no excuses, but I've quit drinking and gotten straight A's and turned my life around since then. If you say that (especially in a PS) I'm inspired. If you talk about screwing up because you didn't have guidance and your mom abandoned you and your stepfather was a drunk, and your PD screwed you with a plea, I think you are trying NOT to fall in your sword and take all the blame.

So in short, I don't think these transgressions that happened years ago will be an insurmountable hurdle. Some kids are young nd stupid and adcoms get that. But if you write essays or interview in ways that try to mitigate much of the blame like you did above, I think adcoms will have concerns.

I can see how my post could lead you to believe that. Thanks for the advice.

I posted my background because I thought it was important to explain how I came to make my decisions. They were ultimately my decisions and I am responsible for them.

 

[NettleHead]

I didn't know if schools would immediately reject me due to the DUI and DWP.

I've suffered anxiety and periods of depression over it. I just want to find out if my concerns are warranted or not.

It's very reassuring to hear that I might actually be able to do this.

If you never try, you will NEVER know! that's no way to live life, especially when you only live once. Do you want to be a doctor? do you love helping people? are you willing to make the commitment? Will your family be OK throughout the process? because it's going to stay difficult. Do you have the clinical experience and you know what it's going to be like working with people day in and day out? Getting answers for the unanswered questions of life, and finding clarity, is well worth the risk of being rejected.

 

[Quik]

You will not be the first, nor the last person to be accepted into medical school with a DUI. I personally know several who've made the mistake and have now moved well beyond and into med school and/or residencies with a DUI on record. It may come up in interviews, some schools may screen you because of it, but it is certainly not the end of your dream. Keep kicking ass and you'll be just fine.

 

[AnotherHoprful]

Thanks for the encouragement.

I'm going to continue working on my MCAT (verbal needs work) and pursue more opportunities for clinical experience.

 

[AnotherHoprful]

I didn't read anything, I just saw that you misspelled hopeful in your username and passed quick judgement. No, it won't work for you. Sorry

Haha. I registered on the mobile app.

 

[Law2Doc]

...

I posted my background because I thought it was important to explain how I came to make my decisions...

For most of these things there is no acceptable explanation thats going to fly other than the foolishness of youth. Just say -- I was an idiot then but I'm a very different person now and here's why. Plenty of people had even bigger hurdles in life and managed not to fall into some of the holes you did. Your initial post seems to attribute every misstep to another person or circumstance and you definitely don't want do that when you get to the application setting. That's not going to be read as "background", it's going to be read as trying to deflect blame because you had a mother that abandoned you, a stepfather who was a drunk, a PD who screwed you over, and the difficulties of being homeless, etc. That's really not taking responsibility. That's trying to justify and explain your screw ups, in a way that at least shares the blame with others, not own them. It's trying to pass the buck. Sorry but the buck stops here. Anyhow, you get my point.

 

[jl lin]

I don't know about med school; but I do know for a fact that many jobs in healthcare look at your driving record, as well as other things. We had a nurse we would have loved to have hired, but her driving record would not allow the agency to hire her.
Suffice it to say that jobs and schools are looking at all kinds of things nowadays. But if you have redeemed yourself, and your current information is better, you should do your best to move forward.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

I'm 37. Big deal. Keep your nose clean and if you want to do it make it happen...