Trying to be Honest

[HonestAbe]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I am in need of some guidance here.

I started my undergrad work at my state school. The summer after my soph year I did in internship in another state, far from my home, and ended up staying there for a 2 year hiatus. While I was in the other state I decided that I should try to take a few courses at the local university, I enrolled but had to drop the 1st semester and got Fs in the 2nd semester because I just couldn't find time in the evening to work/ then go to school. Long drive across town in a major city. I was a stupid idea as I was working some 60+ hours a week anyhow.....

Long story short I returned to my original university after the 2 years and reenrolled in my state school. When I met with my academic advisor I mentioned the fact that I had a couple of semesters out-of-state but no credits to transfer because of the drops and Fs....she said don;t worry about transferring them back in because there was nothing to transfer. So I didn;t even mention on paper that I had attended another institution.

I finished my degree at my state school with a 3.4 and got a 37 on MCAT. I didn;t apply this year because I wanted to work and save money. However this is my problem:

**Med school requires that I disclose all transcripts which I intend on doing. The problem is that my transcript from the out of state university will not show a trail to my undergraduate state school. In other word the Fs and Ws are not taken into consideration for my state school I graduated from.**

I don;t give a crap that I failed/withdrew the courses and I will take that penalty with my cumulative GPA dropping lower than 3.4 to like a 3.1 or whatever.

What my conern is with honesty and integrity. I want to make sure that my the adcom doesn't try to get all concerned with the trail of grades from intitution. Again, I plan on disclosing all transcripts and I am not suggesting that I am hiding anything.

I just want your opinion on the matter. I just didn;t think of it at the time.
Am I making this too big a deal or what? Thanks for your help.

 

[NapeSpikes]

As long as you're going to stick with the truth and willing to apply with that cumulative gpa, you should be fine. A lot of universities don't transfer grades from other schools. For example, in the University of California system, they will take credits from other schools, but only UC grades are factored into the gpa. You have no credits to transfer because you got F's and W's, so your gpa on your transcript is made up of only your state school, as mine would be.

Of course, amcas will count the F's into your gpa, but it sounds to me like you've done nothing wrong at all.

So relax, save up some money, and good luck to you next year!

 

[HonestAbe]

Seriously because looking back I figured I still would have needed to provide transcripts despite when I reenrolled. Maybe it is too late here on the east coast and I am worrying too much.

 

[Daddydoc]

When you get interviews just explain your low grades the way you told us. I don't think any of them will care. You showed what you're capable of at your real school and on the MCAT.

 

[CoffeeFreak]

When you get interviews just explain your low grades the way you told us. I don't think any of them will care. You showed what you're capable of at your real school and on the MCAT.

Not to be a critic but I don't think you read the post correctly.....

THE OP'S CONCERN IS THAT HE OR SHE DID NOT TRANSFER THOSE GRADES BACK TO HIS OR HER UNIVERSITY WHEN THE OP RETURNED AFTER THE 2 YEAR BREAK...READ CAREFULLY KIND OF LIKE BELOW

STATE SCHOOL------LOCAL COLLEGE---------STATE SCHOOL
60 HOURS 24 HOURS ATTEMPTED 60 HOURS

The "Local College" attempt was not brought over to final attempt at the state school (get it?)...............

I comprehend what the OP is concerned about but don't think this is of great concern. So long as all grades are disclosed and there is no funny business I believe that should be penalty enough.

This is an interesting post....

 

[QofQuimica]

Ok, I also didn't pick up on that. I thought that HonestAbe was wondering whether s/he was being foolish to submit the OOS transcript even though s/he knew it was the right thing to do.

HonestAbe, if CoffeeFreak is correct about what your question is, then you have nothing to worry about. The community college credits of mine that I told you about were not on my main undergraduate transcript either, and I simply submitted the additional transcript to AMCAS. I actually had to submit *five* transcripts total to them, because I also spent a semester studying abroad in undergrad, and I have two graduate transcripts as well. 😱 (The study abroad credits do not appear on my main undergrad transcript either.) As far as I know, there is not any limit as to how many transcripts you are able to submit to AMCAS.

 

[CoffeeFreak]

Despite my sma$$ tendencies I seem to spot/ grasp main themes rather quickly.

Now that this little problem the OP is addressed shall we move along to real problems....like my that fact I need to work on my MCAT or else all this critical thinking is going to get me into law school rather than med school

Move along people...nothing to see here....let us not waste anymore energy and talent and move along to the MCAT section.

 

[CCEMTP2DOC]

This post lends me to ask a question. I will send all my transcripts,3 in all.
My grades are good and hence my GPA is good, but what about the W's. I realize that they will be on the transcripts and I have no problem explaining them to adcoms. But they won't be including in my overall GPA since they were dropped and weren't counted against my credits attempted. Is this correct? Thanks.

Rob

 

[CoffeeFreak]

I believe a W is a W so it won't count against you. However be prepared to explain why you have a W.

Don't be discouraged. I know of people who have entire semesters with Ws and got in. It is a slight blackmark against you but in the greater scheme of things they won;t care if it is explained with a good reason.

 

[angietron3000]

I believe a W is a W so it won't count against you. However be prepared to explain why you have a W.

Don't be discouraged. I know of people who have entire semesters with Ws and got in. It is a slight blackmark against you but in the greater scheme of things they won;t care if it is explained with a good reason.

I was under the impression that a W is counted the same as an F? (not sure where I got that idea so don't quote me on it!)

What if your W is in something important like biochem, after you've had a good GPA in lower level classes? I've never failed a class but I have a feeling I'll fail this one if I stay in it.. dunno if it's better to jump ship or pray for a C (which will bring down my GPA)

 

[CoffeeFreak]

A W is not an F....

 

[MiesVanDerMom]

A W is definately not an F. Just have an explanation they find acceptable. I have several W's simply because I missed the drop deadline myself (I would overschedule each semester so I could go the first day and see what classes I liked or not and then I'd drop the yucky ones. Often, I was a slow-poke). My research has re-assured me this will not be an issue.