Should I just give up now? I dont want to chase a pipe dream.

[iqe2010]

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Ok, I was going to make a new account to ask this question, because frankly this is extremely embarrassing for me, but I decided against it. I have nobody to blame but myself for the predicament I'm in. So here it goes:

At my main college, my GPA is a 1.69. At the community college I currently attend, my GPA is about a 3.6.

Backstory: I started college Fall 2010. I was suspended because of poor academic performance at the end of Fall 2011 semester. So I spent 3 semesters at school playing around and not caring. I've spent a year at community college trying to raise my GPA and I've done pretty well. I've applied and been accepted back into my university, so I'll be back next semester. Today I was actually interviewed by my dean as part of my readmission process. He flat out told me that my math and science skills weren't up to par and that I should switch majors and not invest anymore time and money as a science/premed major. In a sense he's absolutely right. My grades are atrocious. He also said that only 1-2% of people who come off of suspension make it to medical school. That statistic was nation wide.

Should I just chose another major and career path?

 

[Gauss44]

Ok, I was going to make a new account to ask this question, because frankly this is extremely embarrassing for me, but I decided against it. I have nobody to blame but myself for the predicament I'm in. So here it goes:

At my main college, my GPA is a 1.69. At the community college I currently attend, my GPA is about a 3.6.

Backstory: I started college Fall 2010. I was suspended because of poor academic performance at the end of Fall 2011 semester. So I spent 3 semesters at school playing around and not caring. I've spent a year at community college trying to raise my GPA and I've done pretty well. I've applied and been accepted back into my university, so I'll be back next semester. Today I was actually interviewed by my dean as part of my readmission process. He flat out told me that my math and science skills weren't up to par and that I should switch majors and not invest anymore time and money as a science/premed major. In a sense he's absolutely right. My grades are atrocious. He also said that only 1-2% of people who come off of suspension make it to medical school. That statistic was nation wide.

Should I just chose another major and career path?

You might have a chance depending the grades you earned later on (years 2-4). I started a discussion about how some universities recalculate gpas (different than amcas).

University of Washington allows students to contact them if their recalculated gpa is significantly better than amcas's calculation. I wish I knew more about other school's that recalculate. I think Cornell is one. I've heard of others too.

If something happened that brought your grades down and you can explain that, it will help.

Good luck!

 

[ClemsonFirst]

You should definitely choose a major that you enjoy and one that will let you get a job out of college. Business or engineering would be great but you can also get a good job with a science degree too. If you get get amazing grades and good ECs while you are finishing your degree (in whatever you choose and enjoy), you could still apply to medical school. There is no telling if you will or will not get in.

The best advice I can give is get a degree that will allow you to get a job you will enjoy. You can always apply to PA school or nursing if you are dead set on the medical field. If you can graduate with a high GPA and ECs, you can still apply then, but because there is such a small number of people who do get accepted after suspension, you will graduate with a degree you can use in case you are not accepted.

 

[BABSstudent]

Well you definitely need to pick up your game. If you were able to get above a 3.8 for the remainder of school and get above a 32 on the MCAT, I don't see why not.

However, with grades like you have now do not suggest you will be able to do that.


Sent from my iPod using SDN Mobile app. Please excuse the typos.

 

[Freesia88]

Ok, I was going to make a new account to ask this question, because frankly this is extremely embarrassing for me, but I decided against it. I have nobody to blame but myself for the predicament I'm in. So here it goes:

At my main college, my GPA is a 1.69. At the community college I currently attend, my GPA is about a 3.6.

Backstory: I started college Fall 2010. I was suspended because of poor academic performance at the end of Fall 2011 semester. 1. So I spent 3 semesters at school playing around and not caring. I've spent a year at community college trying to raise my GPA and I've done pretty well. I've applied and been accepted back into my university, so I'll be back next semester. Today I was actually interviewed by my dean as part of my readmission process. 2. He flat out told me that my math and science skills weren't up to par and that I should switch majors and not invest anymore time and money as a science/premed major. In a sense he's absolutely right. My grades are atrocious. He also said that only 1-2% of people who come off of suspension make it to medical school. That statistic was nation wide.

Should I just chose another major and career path?

1. You seem to have identified the reason for your initial failure i.e playing around. And you committed yourself to doing better so kudos on that. Good luck with the new semester and new academic path.

2. What kind of classes did you take at the CC? If you took math and science classes and the grades from these classes are what he describes as "atrocious" then there's a problem. If not, how about you sign up for one or two math/science classes at your University next semester and see how you do on them? Testing the waters so to speak?


Either way, you have a long path ahead of you recovering from that GPA and the suspension. If you have the patience, determination and resources to invest in your desire to go to medical school then it is not impossible.

 

[iqe2010]

At the university my lowest grades were my math and science classes. At the CC I re-took those courses and got all As and Bs.

My first instinct was to just quit medicine altogether, but I was just thinking maybe I should get a job when I graduate and work 3-5 years to build up some savings, and then start the application process.

 

[stscrivener]

At the university my lowest grades were my math and science classes. At the CC I re-took those courses and got all As and Bs.

My first instinct was to just quit medicine altogether, but I was just thinking maybe I should get a job when I graduate and work 3-5 years to build up some savings, and then start the application process.

A's and B's at CC? Those B's raise a red flag, because the classes you took there are WAY easier than any you'll encounter at the university. I suggest that you read up on some study habits and learn some time management skills and put those to practice. Figure out how to study effectively.

 

[Gauss44]

My first instinct was to just quit medicine altogether,....QUOTE]

Have you considered a D.O. program? (I didn't say that earlier because this is the MD thread so I thought you were set on an MD.)

 

[iqe2010]

My first instinct was to just quit medicine altogether,....QUOTE]

Have you considered a D.O. program? (I didn't say that earlier because this is the MD thread so I thought you were set on an MD.)

lol, I'll go wherever I'm accepted stateside.

 

[Freesia88]

At the university my lowest grades were my math and science classes. At the CC I re-took those courses and got all As and Bs.

My first instinct was to just quit medicine altogether, but I was just thinking maybe I should get a job when I graduate and work 3-5 years to build up some savings, and then start the application process.

OK then..Take a few introductory science and math courses at University level and see how you do on those.

Use this semester to develop your time management skills and effective study methods.

If possible shadow and /or volunteer a little and see if medicine/dealing with sick people is really what you want.

By the end of the semester if you are sure this is what you want and you have developed the skills necessary for studying the sciences then you can decide if medicine is still possible/worth going after.

Like I said, your road to success will be long and you really will have to be on top of things to get there. Best to take your time, do it once and do it right.

Just my $0.02

 

[Gauss44]

lol, I'll go wherever I'm accepted stateside.

Here's a link to the DO website: http://www.aacom.org/Pages/default.aspx

They should have an equivalent to the MSAR book, lower right side of page. SDN also has a DO category where you can ask questions. Honestly though, if you find the right MD school, you might be fine there too.

 

[iqe2010]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I thought everybody would be calling me stupid..lol.

I'm only taking one science class next semester, Chem 2 w/ lab. The rest are business classes (my minor is business).

 

[Freesia88]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I thought everybody would be calling me stupid..lol.

I'm only taking one science class next semester, Chem 2 w/ lab. The rest are business classes (my minor is business).

We only do that on Thursdays...😉

Quick question, with regards to the core med school prerequisites are most of yours from the CC or do you plan to take them at University level?

The reason I ask is because from what has been discussed on the forum before, if you failed science classes at a University and passed them at a CC, it might raise questions about your abilities and might require you to kill the MCAT to make up for that. Killing the MCAT is not easy. So if most of your prereqs are from CC then you might wanna prepare to take more upper level science classes at your university to bolster them... But I might be wrong so...

 

[iqe2010]

We only do that on Thursdays...😉

Quick question, with regards to the core med school prerequisites are most of yours from the CC or do you plan to take them at University level?

The reason I ask is because from what has been discussed on the forum before, if you failed science classes at a University and passed them at a CC, it might raise questions about your abilities and might require you to kill the MCAT to make up for that. Killing the MCAT is not easy. So if most of your prereqs are from CC then you might wanna prepare to take more upper level science classes at your university to bolster them... But I might be wrong so...

Let's see here..I took Bio 1, Bio 2, Chem 1, & Calc 1 at my university. I received a D, F, F, F in those classes respectably. At the CC I retook those classes ( along with Calc 2 and 3) and got B, B, B, and A. So I still have Chem 2, Orgo 1&2, Physics 1&2, and upper-level science (probably Biochem or Human Physiology).

In regards to the MCAT, if I don't absolutely kill it then I'm not going to apply at all. I think the average MCAT score of those who matriculate is around a 28. Well, my goal is 31 or 32. I'm going all out for MCAT studying once I get to that point. I really don't have a choice.

 

[Freesia88]

Let's see here..I took Bio 1, Bio 2, Chem 1, & Calc 1 at my university. I received a D, F, F, F in those classes respectably. At the CC I retook those classes ( along with Calc 2 and 3) and got B, B, B, and A. So I still have Chem 2, Orgo 1&2, Physics 1&2, and upper-level science (probably Biochem or Human Physiology).

In regards to the MCAT, if I don't absolutely kill it then I'm not going to apply at all. I think the average MCAT score of those who matriculate is around a 28. Well, my goal is 31 or 32. I'm going all out for MCAT studying once I get to that point. I really don't have a choice.

👍

Right on!! Peform well on these at your university, major in whatever you want and do well in that as well, get the best MCAT score you can produce, involve yourself in activities you enjoy outside of academics, get some shadowing and patient exposure in there so you can see what you're getting into and you have a definite chance at getting into medical school.

Might take a couple of years and you will have to give it your all and then some.

Rooting for you OP, go out there and conquer!!😀

 

[ClemsonFirst]

Exactly. Do well in whatever courses you have left, and you can explain to some extent your rocky start. Keep working hard! Make sure you shadow a physician soon in whatever you can to determine if this is really what you want to do because it is one heck of a time commitment and a lot of stress just to get through the application process.

Just to let you know, a 28 is the average for everyone taking the MCAT. I think a 32 is the average for matriculants, so scoring a 32 will be good to show the adcoms you can handle the information. Higher will help balance out your lower GPA. Persevere through, and I wish you good luck.

 

[iqe2010]

Thanks! I've so changed so much over the last 2 years (for the better). I'm finally serious this time, I'm not playing any games.

I'm SO ready to get back to real school. I hated dealing with the CC administration, it seems everybody is under-qualified for their position lol. Their VA office was terrible.

Thanks so much for the encouragement! I really needed it. After my interview I spent the entire morning looking at other majors lol. I think I'm making the right decision.

 

[TheKingofClay]

Never give up man. Anything is possible as long as you try.

All dreams are crazy until they come true.

 

[Shinobiz11]

You should definitely choose a major that you enjoy and one that will let you get a job out of college. Business or engineering would be great but you can also get a good job with a science degree too. If you get get amazing grades and good ECs while you are finishing your degree (in whatever you choose and enjoy), you could still apply to medical school. There is no telling if you will or will not get in.

The best advice I can give is get a degree that will allow you to get a job you will enjoy. You can always apply to PA school or nursing if you are dead set on the medical field. If you can graduate with a high GPA and ECs, you can still apply then, but because there is such a small number of people who do get accepted after suspension, you will graduate with a degree you can use in case you are not accepted.

Unless you're at the top of your class, it's almost as hard to get into these programs nowadays[with all of the competition] as it is to get into med school. Don't just go DO if you have lower grades, and I swear, you better not apply for DPM.

Like most people said; go out and shadow. Get experience and expose yourself to the career. Make sure this is the right field for you. The biggest problem I find with pre-meds is that they do live in a pipe-dream. The magical fantasy world of being an MD. Personally, I love the field of medicine, but I didn't feel an MD/DO was the right choice for me based on my experiences. I love the story of the underdog, but find a career which truly makes you happy, we don't need anymore miserable doctors. Best of luck, I am rooting for you OP; you better deliver. 🙂

P.S. Don't slack off in Orgo or physics; if you get behind in those classes, you'll be screwed.