Very discouraged!

[cmt2013]

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I'm in my first semester at a new university taking post bac classes. I had previously taken the following at my first institute:

Gen chem 1: Withdrew once, got a C next attempt
Gen chem 2: Withdrew once, got a D in the next attempt
Bio 1: Withdrew once, got a C
Bio 2: C

Obviously, giant red flag with all the withdrawals and bad grades. I had a lot of personal struggles which is not an excuse. My cGPA is a whopping 2.8 and sGPA is a 2.28. I knew I had a long road ahead of me and tried to convince myself to go into something else besides medicine. I worked in a hospital for 2 years as a nurses' aide and just couldn't get the thought of becoming a doctor out of my head.

I debated A LOT about whether I should keep chasing medicine and ended up going for it, which is why I'm here now retaking bio 1, chem 1, physics 1 with the lab, and research methods.

So far I have an A in chemistry and physics lab and Bs in the rest of my classes.

I know I need to get As from here on out. I don't like to make excuses and I hate hearing myself say I'm struggling with more personal issues. I feel so stupid too because it kind of revolves around a boy 🙄 Before moving here, I was in a serious relationship for 4 years and then he broke it off right before I moved. He was a huge part of my support system and so for me to move to a town where I know absolutely no one and am really "on my own" has been challenging for me. I am just extremely unhappy, not just because of the breakup but I just feel discouraged and this feels like a confirmation that the cards are just not stacked in my favor. All my other friends have moved on with their lives and are working in the real world but I feel stuck. Some days, I feel like a part of me feels like I may just be happy becoming a nurse instead.

Anyway so I'm at a loss of what my next step should be. Besides school, I have been participating in some organizations and trying to find a job. I am gonna try to finish this semester to the best of my ability but I feel like my best just isn't good enough. 🙁

 

[NCOldie]

Now that you realize you're floundering, what are you going to do about it?
Personally, I suggest talking to a counselor about this. Don't feel stupid about faltering because a four year relationship ended. Not only did you end what was, to you, a serious relationship, but you also moved to a brand new area. I've been there, done that. It's very hard to make such drastic changes in the blink of an eye--especially if it was unexpected!

Now it's time to stop mulling over the past and move on. Make a strong, confident decision in what you want to do with your life.
If you still want to go to medical school, I believe it is possible. There are people who have struggled as you have and made it into medical school. You should strengthen your application as much as possible. (shadowing, possibly a medically-related job, clinical experience, volunteering...etc, etc...).
Identify if there are any other reasons, other than emotional, that may be hindering you from doing as well as you would like in pre-reqs. Go to tutoring or hire a tutor, create a study group in your courses. Not only would the study group possibly help raise your grades, but you may also form a bond with people that will help get you through this rough patch in your life.

If your best isn't good enough, then perhaps what you believe is your best isn't actually your best.
Good luck!

 

[Chip N Sawbones]

Keep retaking bad grades and apply to DO schools. The AACOMAS lets you replace bad grades, which will improve your low GPA in no time. For now, just keep working on getting the best grades you possibly can. Anything less than an A is unacceptable and will be a step away from med school, so study as hard as you can and go over the material as many times as you need to until you know everything. At some point before you apply you'll need to pick up some volunteer experience if you don't have any. You've already got plenty of clinical experience, so volunteer in whatever you're interested in.

 

[beBrave]

I'm in my first semester at a new university taking post bac classes. I had previously taken the following at my first institute:

Gen chem 1: Withdrew once, got a C next attempt
Gen chem 2: Withdrew once, got a D in the next attempt
Bio 1: Withdrew once, got a C
Bio 2: C

Obviously, giant red flag with all the withdrawals and bad grades. I had a lot of personal struggles which is not an excuse. My cGPA is a whopping 2.8 and sGPA is a 2.28. I knew I had a long road ahead of me and tried to convince myself to go into something else besides medicine. I worked in a hospital for 2 years as a nurses' aide and just couldn't get the thought of becoming a doctor out of my head.

I debated A LOT about whether I should keep chasing medicine and ended up going for it, which is why I'm here now retaking bio 1, chem 1, physics 1 with the lab, and research methods.

So far I have an A in chemistry and physics lab and Bs in the rest of my classes.

I know I need to get As from here on out. I don't like to make excuses and I hate hearing myself say I'm struggling with more personal issues. I feel so stupid too because it kind of revolves around a boy 🙄 Before moving here, I was in a serious relationship for 4 years and then he broke it off right before I moved. He was a huge part of my support system and so for me to move to a town where I know absolutely no one and am really "on my own" has been challenging for me. I am just extremely unhappy, not just because of the breakup but I just feel discouraged and this feels like a confirmation that the cards are just not stacked in my favor. All my other friends have moved on with their lives and are working in the real world but I feel stuck. Some days, I feel like a part of me feels like I may just be happy becoming a nurse instead.

Anyway so I'm at a loss of what my next step should be. Besides school, I have been participating in some organizations and trying to find a job. I am gonna try to finish this semester to the best of my ability but I feel like my best just isn't good enough. 🙁

Try re-evaluating things a little bit. I suggest seeing a Psychiatrist before any kind of counselor.

 

[Goro]

Re-take all F/D/C science coursework.

then finish your post-bac (which could be DIY). This will prove to AdComs that you can handle the rigors of medical school.

Short of that, you should at least start shadowing and doing some volutneer work to show off youraltruism and humanism. Clearly, you have the patient contact expereince, which is great.

then ace the MCAT!

I'm in my first semester at a new university taking post bac classes. I had previously taken the following at my first institute:

Gen chem 1: Withdrew once, got a C next attempt
Gen chem 2: Withdrew once, got a D in the next attempt
Bio 1: Withdrew once, got a C
Bio 2: C

Obviously, giant red flag with all the withdrawals and bad grades. I had a lot of personal struggles which is not an excuse. My cGPA is a whopping 2.8 and sGPA is a 2.28. I knew I had a long road ahead of me and tried to convince myself to go into something else besides medicine. I worked in a hospital for 2 years as a nurses' aide and just couldn't get the thought of becoming a doctor out of my head.

I debated A LOT about whether I should keep chasing medicine and ended up going for it, which is why I'm here now retaking bio 1, chem 1, physics 1 with the lab, and research methods.

So far I have an A in chemistry and physics lab and Bs in the rest of my classes.

I know I need to get As from here on out. I don't like to make excuses and I hate hearing myself say I'm struggling with more personal issues. I feel so stupid too because it kind of revolves around a boy 🙄 Before moving here, I was in a serious relationship for 4 years and then he broke it off right before I moved. He was a huge part of my support system and so for me to move to a town where I know absolutely no one and am really "on my own" has been challenging for me. I am just extremely unhappy, not just because of the breakup but I just feel discouraged and this feels like a confirmation that the cards are just not stacked in my favor. All my other friends have moved on with their lives and are working in the real world but I feel stuck. Some days, I feel like a part of me feels like I may just be happy becoming a nurse instead.

Anyway so I'm at a loss of what my next step should be. Besides school, I have been participating in some organizations and trying to find a job. I am gonna try to finish this semester to the best of my ability but I feel like my best just isn't good enough. 🙁

 

[Etyan]

Education is an investment in yourself. You are paying the school for an opportunity to learn, and to attain the knowledge that can help you get to your desired career.

If you don't feel ready to make a commitment to your education now, there's no rush. Take some time off; find a rewarding side occupation and explore your new community. A year or two means very little over the span of a 40+ year career. Strive towards your future and give it your best shot.

 

[Balantidiumcoli]

Anyway so I'm at a loss of what my next step should be. Besides school, I have been participating in some organizations and trying to find a job. I am gonna try to finish this semester to the best of my ability but I feel like my best just isn't good enough. 🙁

I was in a situation similar to yours. I all ready had a degree and went back to school thinking that nothing but ambition and raging desire would be enough to get the grades I needed... but didn't quite work out that way (and my grades got considerably better the following year). I thought my best wasn't good enough either but when I busted my ass down and studied I was pulling A's in a bunch of the science classes I was taking full time including Orgo, Biochem, Gross Anatomy, Microbiology, Histology and Physiology (all of them, with the exception of Orgo, were actually taken with the pharmacy students where I'm at now). That said, the amount of studying was f'ing briutal. All of that said, listen to others and retake grades if you have to but I'm just saying it *can* be done and to warn you that it will take many future hours of your time to fulifil.

I actually have the stats to go to a DO school or an SMP if I so chose now but after a lot of reflection and soul searching, I'm not so sure that I want to do this anymore. It's to the point where even if I had the opportunity to go to the med school of my choice the amount of excitement that I'd be able to rouse would be 'I guess' in spite of spending the past 3 years of my life working towards this and the sacrifices made. But it definitely wasn't a waste of time and I have plenty more options (PA, pharmacist, and a few others) not to mention the steady gig I have now (I'm definitely one of the lucky ones).

Obviously it's up to you for which path you elect to go down but there is so much cooler **** to do in life then locking yourself in a room trying to memorize the reaction mechanism of glycine cleavage enzyme (but speaking as a chem dork, I think it's amazing ^^) in the vague hope you're going to convince some cabal of schmucks to look at your application which you poured the best of yourself and years of your life into and say 'yes'. But if medicine means enough to you (and medicine, not your ego which is what I think was what I valued and am learning to let go of), go for it!

 

[Being]

What are you, 23 or 24? It sounds like you have time on your side. I think a career in medicine is still within reach if you're willing to make the sacrifices.