What would you do, how would you responded?

[UCLApremed]

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Dear fellow premeds,

As you know, we are who we are because of genetics, how we are raise, and the environment we are in. I just want to know if the way I responded to my life situations would be the way anyone would have responded. What would you have done differently and would you feel and responded to life situations the way I did?

I'm a senior right now and wonder if I ever get a chance to go to med school. I have a 3.83 GPA by the end of my sophomore year. The last 2 years was hell for me. To make a long story short, I was plague with many family and personal problems starting my junior year until now. To make a long story short, I almost lost three family members due to illnesses. Both of my family members faced near death medical problems. I found myself always in the hospital in between school days. I was never able to concentrate on school because of what was going on at home. After donating blood to the Red Cross, I found out that I was positive for Hepatitis B. I got so depressed thinking whether it will keep me out of medical school. Does it? With no money, I found myself financially unstable. My siblings was always fighting. I thought the illnesses would bond us together, but along with the financial problems we faced, the problems escalated and caused alot of arguments in the family. I often find myself crying to sleep almost every night. I wanted to try so hard to keep my GPA up but my mind was never into it even though I try to so hard.

I will be graduating in June with a 2.9 GPA. During the last 2 years, my grades went downhill. I received below 3.0 GPA for 4 straight quarters starting my junior year. It was only until this quarter that I finally redeemed myself and got straight A's again.

I guess it took me awhile to snapped out of this mess and renew my spirit again, although I realize that it may be a little to late to apply to medical school with such a low GPA. The more I thought about the last 2 years, I don't seem to remember why I responded the way I do. There were just so much chaos in my life that dampened my spirit. I don't know if anyone would have responded the way I did. When I evaluated myself, I realized that I was tested with so much unfortunuate circumstances, and I didn't step up to the plate and overcome them with grace.

I'm wondering if you guys were face with my drama, how would you reacted? Would you still be able to concentrate and continue to do well in school? I've gone through much and have learn so much about life and myself.

It's amazing how life is one dominoe effect after another if you let it. Now, I have to face an almost insurmountable task trying to get into medical school with my GPA. However, I am a stronger person now. You can put a hundred bullets into me and it won't hurt me the way I was hurt the last 2 years

 

[acab]

Originally posted by UCLApremed
I'm wondering if you guys were face with my drama, how would you reacted? Would you still be able to concentrate and continue to do well in school? I've gone through much and have learn so much about life and myself.

Dear UCLApremed,

To answer your question, I don't think I would've done any better. I actually don't think I'd be able to go to school in the first place, and probably would've taken time off.

But as I learned some time ago, that's past and you can't go back and change any of it. As you stated, you're a much stronger person today. Your level of maturity and endurance make you an excellent med school applicant. Unfortunately, as we all know, adcoms are number-driven. So I suggest you enroll in a master's program or take more courses (maybe an additional year) before you graduate so that you can bring up your GPA. And definitely present all the circumstances to adcoms when you apply, and how you benefitted from this hardship in your life.

Good luck!

 

[LP1CW]

I can't say what I would have done if I were you. We've all faced adversity; it's how we respond to it. You're still here, trying.

My mother is dying, will die this year, maybe days, maybe months. I felt like quitting, almost did. It's been hard. I understand your concerns, frustrations.

The fact that you've gotten A's this semester is great. I think you should take a year of postback work and continue to get A's. You'll never have a new and more recent set of grades. Also, really work hard to do well on the MCAT. Adversity is not an excuse, all of us hurt, suffer. Life is always difficult. It's how we respond. So, prove them wrong. Do well. Also, use the AMCAS personal statement as your chance to explain your situation. You have a good story. It may help.

Overcome your past, find success, believe in yourself.

 

[Wrigleyville]

You have to get your life together before you can worry about medical school. Don't worry about what has happened in the past, just focus on your goal, and how to get there from here.

 

[El Macho]

Originally posted by LP1CW
Adversity is not an excuse, all of us hurt, suffer. Life is always difficult.

Sure it is an excuse...it the reason why he did poorly. And it's not true that we all hurt and suffer. My life has been just dandy. I'm sure the adcom will apprecitate your situation; physicians should be familiar with the affect of a patient's condition on family members.
Your experience, actually, is a reason to admit you...it will help you empathize. Your gpa is a reason not to admit you, but you can correct that by taking some undergraduate classes post-bacc. I wouldn't take graduate classes because they won't pull up your undergraduate gpa. You will also have the attributes of determination and perseverance.

Will you be allowed to matriculate having been diagnosed with Hep B, though?

 

[jlee9531]

ive had my fair share of difficulties....

financial troubles, dad abandoning, watching my aunt get killed instantly by drunk driver, homelessness, terminally ill mother, having to support my family starting from a relatively young age.

sure my spirits were dampened at times and other times things seemed so ridiculous you couldnt help but laugh...but for the most part i was just too busy to even let it affect me. how to live, get food, find shelter, go to school, get grades, care for mom and bro...

yeah its tough, but i knew if i stopped doing the things i needed to do well then our family would not be here right now. the few moments i had to think...i just saw it as a test. borrowing from eminen...success was my only option, failure was not. it was motivation enough for me to keep on going.

you've been through a lot obviously. and you survived. that says a lot. you've experienced and im sure you have learned as well. have faith for if you want to become a physician, its gonna happen. unfortunately not all adcoms care for a hard life experience when it comes with low grades. so like the others have said...a post-bacc should defintely help you out to prove that your low grades are not because you do not know the material, but that you had much more important matters to deal with.

good luck man. i wish you the best.

 

[underAchiever]

I am sorry to hear of your loss, you have suffered setbacks, that so very few of us have faced, and that would have broken many. That you are still picking yourself up and getting A's is in itself commendable. If the dream of becoming a doctor still breathes and resonates with you, I would really recommand you keep going for it. Of course, you have to show improvment and do well in a post-bac, as has been suggested, and I think admission committees will not meet you with judgment but with understanding. May your wishes come true!