Stress is becoming unbearable!

[longhorn2016]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey guys so im a current Junior at the University of Texas at Austin, BSA in Biochemistry. I had an amazing start to my college career (fall 2012- 4.0 GPA) which sadly began to fall off. it had a negative decline all the way from fall of freshmen year till now, i have began to come back in my fall of Junior year and am determined to make this continue. My GPA is sitting at around a 3.1 and i'm basically grasping for hope at a chance of med school. Im not really sure what to do anymore....Im beginning to lose hope that I won't get into med school...have i basically screwed up my life...help please. Also on a side note, should i take MCAT courses from january-april or just this coming summer? if i take the MCAT early it gives me a chance to re-take if needed. Thanks!

 

[GomersGoToGround]

Do you still have a shot at getting into medical school? Yes, IF you raise the GPA, and show a strong, long-term, upward trend. You might be able to raise it to the 3.4-3.5 range by the end of senior year, depending on your course load and performance, in which case, it might be an okay time to apply for DO, and low tier MDs. But that's still quite a hike. It all depends on the rest of your application, including MCAT score. Remember, even a 40 MCAT (or the equivalent in the new MCAT) will not make up for that dismal GPA.

Don't even think about it until you are at least in a 3.4-3.5 range. That might take a while, and may even require you to do a post-bacc program or SMP, which you would need to seriously ace.

MCAT scores are good for 2-3 years, IIRC, but, taking it any time soon, when the rest of your app is not ready might not be a good choice, because you don't honestly know how long it's going to take for you to get a reasonable GPA. On the other hand, it can help you relieve stress by getting it over with. Try to keep your MCAT as recent as possible, because chances are, it'll be a couple of cycles before you're ready to apply. Best to take the time and get everything solid. Reduce the chances of becoming a reapplicant.

Taking it early DOES give you a chance to get it out of the way, or possibly to re-take it, but also makes it older if it takes you longer to raise the GPA. The reality is that you have no idea how you're going to do, academically, from now on. Neither do I. These are only speculations and hypotheticals.

Keep in mind that DO schools allow you to re-take a course and replace the higher grade. Something to look into. You're GPA is not strong for MD schools.

At this point, it's not so much about getting up to a high GPA, as it is to show a solid, long-term, upward trend.

 

[longhorn2016]

So are you saying don't apply until my senior year? if my GPA spikes up that is?
What are my chances at DO school in place of MD? I REALLY don't want to spend 1-2 years extra in undergrad, i know it is my fault but regardless, anything that could avoid extra time in undergrad would be amazing.

 

[GomersGoToGround]

Chances at a DO school over than an MD school? 34.86769% higher. Not really. I honestly couldn't tell you, because there are just so many variables that go into an application, including the specific MD and DO schools that you apply to.

I'm saying that you will not apply this coming cycle. You have 2.5 years-worth of credits behind you that amounts to a 3.1. It will not take you only 1 or 2 semesters to go up .3-.4 grade points.
I'm saying that you should not apply until you have at least around a 3.4-3.5.

Look, I'm telling you what you should do to find a balance of less schooling time and higher acceptance chances. Every app is different. There are people with GPAs < 3.5 or 3.4 that have gotten into MD schools. There are people with GPAs > 3.7 and high MCATs that have had to reapply. It depends on many things, including but not limited to (not necessarily in order): ECs, LOR (quality, diversity, amount), MCAT (including subsection balance), timing of cycle, # schools, specific schools, secondary turnaround time, secondary quality, personal statement quality, state of residence, etc.

I absolutely understand that you do not want to stay in school any longer. If you really want to go to medical school, you have to suck it up and deal with staying in a bit longer to fix the GPA. No matter how much you simply want it. My favorite piece of advice is to s*** in one hand, wish in the other, and see which gets filled first.

Again, DO schools allow you to retake courses and do better in them, and allow you to replace the crap scores with the new ones. This is extremely helpful, and makes a big difference.

I'll let @Goro chime in more about DO.

 

[Mad Jack]

If you find this stress unbearable, medical school will make you want to die. That whole line about "the hardest thing about med school is getting in" is an absolute lie, so be careful what you wish for, because this process is uphill both ways and it only gets steeper.

Now, as to your situation- keep your grades up as high as possible. Apply to Texas schools and hope they take you. That failing, do some retakes to boost your GPA for possible DO admission. I'd do your MCAT course over the summer, as you already have lukewarm performance in your classes, and the added stress of MCAT studying would limey only make that performance take a further slide. Good luck.

 

[longhorn2016]

Im confused on what to do to be honest, so after my senior year graduation, should i apply to a different school or what? Im still a little confused on that.

 

[FCMike11]

Im confused on what to do to be honest, so after my senior year graduation, should i apply to a different school or what? Im still a little confused on that.

You need to make all As and hope to raise your GPA to 3.3+ and do decent on the mcat, then you have a chance at DO schools. Also, for DO schools you can retake classes you did poorly in to raise your GPA. Right now to be more specific, go look at TCOM's average accepted stats (easily googled) to get an idea of where you need to be(also do the same for other DO schools).

 

[Goro]

OP, your first concern is to turn around the currently lethal declining trend in your grades. Go to your school's education or learning center and get help with learning style, test taking strategies, time mgt, etc. Also, I wonder if depression or some other life issue is affecting you. If so, get to your counseling center STAT!

If you start acing things from now on, the you can still be a viable candidate for medical school (DO or MD). The former is an easier path because of grade replacement.

You should not be thinking about MCAT until you turn your grades around.

 

[longhorn2016]

Depression hasn't been a problem, I blame myself for a lack of discipline honestly. I plan on turning things around! Since I "graduate" in may 2016 would you suggest entering a post-bac program or what? I need to plan ahead even though I also have to focus on current grades.

 

[secondroundpremed]

You say stress then here lack of discipline? What is it? Is is both? Before going anywhere figure out why this happend, and like GORO said, get help. This is better than pulling an A in the next semester of X class.

 

[longhorn2016]

The stress is self inflicted, if i had been more disciplined i would have gotten better grades and thus not have been in this position. There is nothing wrong with my psyche, I just have fully realized the position I have put myself in.

 

[Mad Jack]

The stress is self inflicted, if i had been more disciplined i would have gotten better grades and thus not have been in this position. There is nothing wrong with my psyche, I just have fully realized the position I have put myself in.

Straighten out your act and you have a chance. If you don't do so, you're boned. It's pretty cut and dry.