Transferring and Med School

[futur_docteur]

Where do I start...

I've dreamed about being a doctor since I was a young girl. I graduated with honors from high school with a 3.78 gpa. I was accepted into all of the schools I applied to, including Northeastern, Howard, etc. I come from a very traditional family, and was basically told that although I got into these amazing schools, there'd be no way that I'd be going anywhere out of state. There are two universities within commuting distance of my house, and I was instructed to pick on of the two.

Having my college decision limited to two schools really took a toll on me, and it still has to this day. I hated the fact that I tried my absolute hardest in high school to only attend the state university that I've attended these past two years. After my freshman year I had a 3.18 gpa. I was determined to bring my gpa up my sophomore and was doing quite well. Half way through the semester I became ill and missed a few weeks of classes. My gpa dropped to a 2.89. I couldn't believe that I went from being an honors student in high school to where I was in college. After being sexually assaulted during my spring semester, I made the decision to withdraw from the semester and start therapy.

This upcoming semester I will be transferring to the second school in my area. I've taken a few summer classes and my gpa at the new school is a 3.85. I'm determined to finish my last two years off well, and graduate in 2018 with a degree in biochemistry. I worry that my chances at medical school are hurt. I'm also transferring without familial support. I've been told that the institution I'm transferring to is not as good as the old one, but I'm looking forward to a fresh start.

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[Crayola227]

so, take care of yourself first

I'm sorry your parents haven't been more supportive of your goals - do they know you want to be a doctor? are they supportive of that? do they understand you need to go to the best school and get the best grades you can to do that? were they paying for school before? why won't they help you at this next school?

do they know you were assaulted? I don't ask because I'm saying you should tell them - only you know if you are comfortable with that or if you feel it would help or hurt more. Just wondering if they did know, and how supportive have they been?

your chances at medical school are not as good as if the school stuff had not happened, I cannot lie. but, I'm more worried about your well being. That matters most.

How good the university is doesn't matter that much to med admissions. More important, is if you can continue having 3.85 semesters at your new school. If you do that and check the other boxes, you can be successful in becoming a doctor!!

Use this as a fresh slate, start strong at this school, do all the things here on SDN that people will tell you it takes to repair your GPA and show an upward trend, and make the rest of your app great, and you can absolutely still can be a doctor. Closer to app time when you have more info on your GPA, MCAT, ECs, etc, we can help you figure out the best way to go about explaining some of your difficulties and crafting a PS. It will be up to you how to address the tough semesters and taking time off in your academic record, and it's possible to do that with or without going into details.

Explore with a trusted friend or counselor if there's anyway to get more support from your parents. It's not necessary, you can do it on your own, but having family support is just easier.

Otherwise, you got us! And we probably have better advice on how to do well in school and become a doctor than your folks, so that's one way we can help you! Good luck and know that we are here to advise you more on moving forward! There's still hope for you, and people with way worse things in their record than a few low GPA semesters get into med school all the time.

 

[futur_docteur]

so, take care of yourself first

I'm sorry your parents haven't been more supportive of your goals - do they know you want to be a doctor? are they supportive of that? do they understand you need to go to the best school and get the best grades you can to do that? were they paying for school before? why won't they help you at this next school?

do they know you were assaulted? I don't ask because I'm saying you should tell them - only you know if you are comfortable with that or if you feel it would help or hurt more. Just wondering if they did know, and how supportive have they been?

your chances at medical school are not as good as if the school stuff had not happened, I cannot lie. but, I'm more worried about your well being. That matters most.

How good the university is doesn't matter that much to med admissions. More important, is if you can continue having 3.85 semesters at your new school. If you do that and check the other boxes, you can be successful in becoming a doctor!!

Use this as a fresh slate, start strong at this school, do all the things here on SDN that people will tell you it takes to repair your GPA and show an upward trend, and make the rest of your app great, and you can absolutely still can be a doctor. Closer to app time when you have more info on your GPA, MCAT, ECs, etc, we can help you figure out the best way to go about explaining some of your difficulties and crafting a PS. It will be up to you how to address the tough semesters and taking time off in your academic record, and it's possible to do that with or without going into details.

Explore with a trusted friend or counselor if there's anyway to get more support from your parents. It's not necessary, you can do it on your own, but having family support is just easier.

Otherwise, you got us! And we probably have better advice on how to do well in school and become a doctor than your folks, so that's one way we can help you! Good luck and know that we are here to advise you more on moving forward! There's still hope for you, and people with way worse things in their record than a few low GPA semesters get into med school all the time.

Thank you so much for your reply! I didn't tell my parents that I was assaulted nor that I withdrew from the semester... it's just not something that they'd understand. I spoke to a family member not too long after it happened.. and was basically told to suck it up, and continue my next two years at the same institution. Although I'm encouraged to be a doctor, these past few years have been tough living at home. I've found it very hard to focus being in this environment.
Stemming back to the college decision, they've seen that many "bright" students in my community have gone to said institution.. so it must be good enough for me. I haven't told them that I've transferred yet, because I was told if I do they wouldn't support me financially among other things.

My goal is attend an MD school, do you think that I can do that still?

 

[Crayola227]

yes of course!!

this is a case of me wanting to "fix" this for you by trying to make your parents understand

are you sure you can't get anywhere with them, even with the help of your therapist?

if not, forget them and move on. you can do it on your own and there's other docs on this board that have and can tell you

 

[futur_docteur]

yes of course!!

this is a case of me wanting to "fix" this for you by trying to make your parents understand

are you sure you can't get anywhere with them, even with the help of your therapist?

if not, forget them and move on. you can do it on your own and there's other docs on this board that have and can tell you

No they're not from this country, and won't go for the whole therapy thing. If I thought that could solve it, I'd definitely be on board. There's definitely a cultural clash and long standing traditions where you don't question what you're told to do by your parents and elders. Hence, why I didn't leave for college. It's definitely taken a toll on me mentally, but I'm determined to finish these next two years off strong!

I'm not sure if a post bacc program is necessary or not, for I think that my gpa will be solid. But I'm thinking that if I don't go directly to medical school, I'll get my masters in biomedical sciences first (through a 1 or 1.5 year program). I'm also hoping to do a summer research program next summer.

 

[candbgirl]

Slow down! Crayola is 100% correct. You have to take care of yourself first. Can you go to therapy even if your parents won't go with you? You've had a lot happen to you that needs sorting out. Don't worry about what you are going to do after graduation yet. Take your classes, do the best you can and see where you are in a few semesters. Can you work on your ECs? Do you work? The med school route is long and hard so take it one step at a time. But please take care of you first.


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