Trying this again, am I nuts?

[JL101]

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I'm a bit new here and I wasn't sure where to really post this, but I figure this forum fits best.

Undergrad I had a 3.2 gpa and a lower science gpa, maybe a 2.7-2.8 (I haven't re-done all the calculations) with a 23 T on the MCAT. I only applied to D.O. schools, got one interview at Georgia and was wait-listed. I took a post-bac and got a medical science certificate with a 3.0-3.1. I re-took the MCATS and got a 25 while barely studying for it because I wasn't going to re-apply for personal reasons.

Now, when I was in Undergrad and the Post-Bacc, I had severe clinical depression with anxiety issues (And I realize how this looks with the thread title 😛). It was all untreated, so you can imagine how that affected me.

I switched into a Master's Program for Teaching Biology, but it wasn't for me. Not wanting to just abandon what I had done, I switched to a Masters in Bio. Now that I am actually getting treatment, my GPA for my Masters was a 3.7. There were graduate courses in genetics, toxicology, biochemistry and physiology.

I work on and off at an office doing data entry and fixing computers, but I want to try again. I'm planning on getting more clinical experience and volunteer experience for about 6 months, with the latter half of it being dedicated to studying for the MCAT again. I'm just looking for any advice on this plan. I'm shooting more for D.O. than M.D. with my background and I'd really rather not go to the Caribbean.

I also need to take a course to defer my loans, and I wasn't sure if it should be science related or something else.

Thanks for reading and any advice you can provide!

 

[Farmacist2011]

I re-took the MCATS and got a 25 while barely studying for it because I wasn't going to re-apply for personal reasons.

Why would you retake the MCAT when you knew you werent reapplying. Anyway I don't know why you wouldn't get in with the god grad gpa and bringing your MCAT closer to 30, but it definitely seems you have a scatter academic record based on all the programs you jumped around to. How much debt are you in already? Maybe PA would be better?

Oh and don't you need to be full time student to defer loans? Is it wise to just take another class to defer loans. Borrow more to pay mor elater for a class you don't need?

 

[JL101]

If I remember it correctly, it was a requirement to get the certificate. I didn't apply because I was still struggling then with my illness.

Yeah, I'm in a ton of debt, a large chunk of it is from Undergrad. At this point I don't care about the debt, just what will make me happy. It feels right to me to try and go back, despite the money and the hardship. I've thought about PA, but a physician is what I want. Even though it is less time and money, I feel I would regret it if I went PA. Don't get me wrong, I think it is a great and rewarding career. It just isn't for me.

My private undergrad loans only need 1 credit to defer the loans, while federal requires you to be in a program.

 

[Farmacist2011]

Your private undergrad loans kind of scare me. I'm assuming the interest is alot higher than federal. How much debt are you in? Maybe LECOM for medical school would be good fo ryou since it's DO and very affordable tuition.

 

[JL101]

Yeah, I went to a private school and didn't get government loans the first time around. I don't want to admit the amount (A lot) but it did kill me. Those are the real loans that are hampering me.

LECOM looks good, though thinking about schools seems far away from right now!

 

[panasonic52]

I don't know how this situation would look to an adcom, but I personally think your plan sounds good. You definitely should re-take the MCAT during a time when you can put your all into it. I'm glad to hear that getting the treatment helped so much with grades. My bf right now is trying to recover from 3 years of clinical depression that killed his GPA. I've seen the toll it took on him, so it's nice to see you're doing better.

I think the main issue here is just getting the interview. After that, at least you get a chance to explain what happened. But since getting an interview all depends on paperwork and essays, make sure you start planning a strong personal statement.

 

[fahimaz7]

I re-took the MCATS and got a 25 while barely studying for it because I wasn't going to re-apply for personal reasons.

Why would you retake the MCAT when you knew you werent reapplying. Anyway I don't know why you wouldn't get in with the god grad gpa and bringing your MCAT closer to 30, but it definitely seems you have a scatter academic record based on all the programs you jumped around to. How much debt are you in already? Maybe PA would be better?

Oh and don't you need to be full time student to defer loans? Is it wise to just take another class to defer loans. Borrow more to pay mor elater for a class you don't need?

Ya? How many tests did you take that day? How were your PCATS? lol.

 

[JL101]

I don't know how this situation would look to an adcom, but I personally think your plan sounds good. You definitely should re-take the MCAT during a time when you can put your all into it. I'm glad to hear that getting the treatment helped so much with grades. My bf right now is trying to recover from 3 years of clinical depression that killed his GPA. I've seen the toll it took on him, so it's nice to see you're doing better.

I think the main issue here is just getting the interview. After that, at least you get a chance to explain what happened. But since getting an interview all depends on paperwork and essays, make sure you start planning a strong personal statement.

It is so hard going through it, every day is a fight. I hope your BF is getting the treatment he needs. It took me years to find the right doctor, but once I did it was like night and day.

I will, thank you for your advice and support 🙂

 

[VCU07]

Ya? How many tests did you take that day? How were your PCATS? lol.

PCATS lol. I hate when pre-meds can't even get the name of the test correct. It reminds me of watching a soap opera (I wasn't really watching it, but my wife was and I just happened to catch the scene) where this guy apparently went to the hospital to take his MCATS and got his results back right away. Fahimaz, how you doing buddy?