Where to even start?

[JDoctor]

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I've read a bit on the forums but I figured I would post this and see what response I will get.

I am 21 years old, in quite bad poverty, and have been dreaming of being a doctor since 7th grade. It's what I have always wanted to do for quite some time and I know I have the skills. Due to a mixture of circustances, I had a 2.66 GPA in high school and have yet to attend college although I will be attending an anantomy class at a junior college in about 10 days. I have read all the requirements for med school, but with someone with near to no money and such what would you say first thing to do would be to start my medical journey. I will do this, there is no other option.

 

[Goro]

Join the US military, serve your country, and go GI Bill.

I've read a bit on the forums but I figured I would post this and see what response I will get.

I am 21 years old, in quite bad poverty, and have been dreaming of being a doctor since 7th grade. It's what I have always wanted to do for quite some time and I know I have the skills. Due to a mixture of circustances, I had a 2.66 GPA in high school and have yet to attend college although I will be attending an anantomy class at a junior college in about 10 days. I have read all the requirements for med school, but with someone with near to no money and such what would you say first thing to do would be to start my medical journey. I will do this, there is no other option.

 

[JDoctor]

Join the US military, serve your country, and go GI Bill.

That's not something I'd like to do with current situation.

 

[Goro]

With your financial situation the way it is, you're going to have to get that squared away first.

Besides, the US Navy is a safe place to be.

 

[deleted577188]

Enroll in community college for a couple of years. You'll have minimal loans and this is also a good way to get adjusted to focusing and performing well at the college level. Be sure you keep your grades up.

 

[MrLogan13]

With your financial situation the way it is, you're going to have to get that squared away first.

Besides, the US Navy is a safe place to be.

I'd say the Air Force as well.

I would also say go Army. 😉

 

[gyngyn]

Those of us who began in extreme poverty had to rely on government aid (or service) to reach our potential.
There is no shame in this. We just pay it back in spades, with honor.
If the military is not your cup of tea, you will need to find another way to carve out a situation in which you can excel.
So far, you have not been able to do so.
Community college is an alternative to consider, but you will need to turn your academics around. Significantly.
Medicine is not for the faint of heart. Dreaming is not enough.

 

[JDoctor]

Those of us who began in extreme poverty had to rely on government aid (or service) to reach our potential.
There is no shame in this. We just pay it back in spades, with honor.
If the military is not your cup of tea, you will need to find another way to carve out a situation in which you can excel.
So far, you have not been able to do so.
Community college is an alternative to consider, but you will need to turn your academics around. Significantly.
Medicine is not for the faint of heart. Dreaming is not enough.

If I took a few classes, and aced them and got enough to go to a four year in a pre-med program I might be able to do it.

 

[NeuResurgens]

Start off by getting better grades. Examine your study habits and determine ways to improve.

 

[butternutsquash]

If I took a few classes, and aced them and got enough to go to a four year in a pre-med program I might be able to do it.

There's no four year "pre-med program". You pick a college major in anything you want while taking courses that are required and recommended by medical schools.

 

[gyngyn]

If I took a few classes, and aced them and got enough to go to a four year in a pre-med program I might be able to do it.

Any college can be a starting point for medicine.
As just noted, we are looking for applicants who have distinguished themselves in any field of study, and have learned enough in the physical and social sciences to do well on the MCAT. There is no universal pre-med program.

 

[northernlights15]

Any college can be a starting point for medicine.

Any accredited college. Don't go to a for-profit university!

 

[gyngyn]

Any accredited college. Don't go to a for-profit university!

Good point. I've been in the ivory tower so long, I forgot about this!

 

[Dral]

There's no four year "pre-med program". You pick a college major in anything you want while taking courses that are required and recommended by medical schools.

http://science.psu.edu/premed/majorinfo

 

[Lucca]

Unfortunately without financial stability at the outset the options are generally debt or service. Community college --> four year university is a good route to go but it will be an expensive one that you will most likely be facing alone and uphill. In order to decrease your debt you could choose to work during school to help pay your tuition and living expenses; however, you should not let a job get in the way of doing well in your studies.

The most important question to examine is if it is worth it for you. If it is, then it is a long road ahead.

 

[JDoctor]

There's no four year "pre-med program". You pick a college major in anything you want while taking courses that are required and recommended by medical schools.

there are pre med programs in the sense it has a grouping of correct classes.

if you were to do it again how would you do it?

how about programs with affiliated med schools? or uc Berkeley?

thanks for all the help.

 

[JDoctor]

Unfortunately without financial stability at the outset the options are generally debt or service. Community college --> four year university is a good route to go but it will be an expensive one that you will most likely be facing alone and uphill. In order to decrease your debt you could choose to work during school to help pay your tuition and living expenses; however, you should not let a job get in the way of doing well in your studies.

The most important question to examine is if it is worth it for you. If it is, then it is a long road ahead.

i also would not mind debt. this will happen i just dont know how yet

 

[gyngyn]

I paid with service.
No regrets.

 

[LizzyM]

Start at community college. You can take 2 years of classes there for very little in tuition or you can attend part-time while working and take more than 2 years to complete the equivalent of two years of college. Start with one year of Intro Chemistry with Lab, one year of Intro Biology with Lab, and 1 year of physics with lab. Some people will tell you that med schools don't want to see community college credits but in situations like yours, they are understanding. You might also take courses in English composition (writing), Psychology, Sociology. Work with an advisor in terms of a major and what courses will meet the requirements for an AA or AS degree. Earn top grades and you may be able to earn a scholarship for college. With the credits earned at the community college you may need only two years of university studies to be ready for medical school. You may need to borrow for college and a college's financial aid office will guide you in applying for a financial aid package of grants and loans that will cover your tuition and living expenses. Be smart about borrowing. If you can't maintain at least a 3.3 GPA, stop borrowing and re-assess your study skills and your priorities and your career goals. There is no sense going into deep debt if you are going to have great trouble getting into med school (some might set that minimum GPA lower or higher -- the point is, don't throw good money after bad if you are not succeeding academically).

You might also consider if you would like to go to community college for a degree as a health care professional in a field other than medicine. That can make it possible to earn money while continuing your education.

 

[Affiche]

As usual, LizzyM's advice is on point.

I also began college in extreme poverty (literally living out of my car) and will be applying this cycle. I took out loans to cover what a full time job couldn't, but realize that by taking out loans you are betting on yourself. I agree with everything LizzyM said, but especially the advice to stop borrowing if your gpa is poor; you don't want to bet on yourself if you're giving yourself bad odds.

If you have any questions about the process of applying for loans, choosing a school or anything that would help get you started, feel free to PM me.

 

[altblue]

I didn't do well at all in high school as well, and my family is working class at best but in poverty in practice. 😉 I receive a full Pell Grant, and back a community college, I ended up maybe paying $100 for books every semester (and oftentimes you don't even need those!), but I'm also originally from a state with a low cost-of-living. There were interest-free loans available from the federal government should I have ever needed them.

That said, I did much better in CC but made SIGNIFICANT changes to my study habits as well. CC is harder than high school, and you really should consider going part-time for a semester or two should you attend to set your study habits straight. Meet with your academic advisor and come up with a reasonable plan to help you get to where you want to be. But you absolutely should go anyway - even if you find out you don't want to attend med school, just getting an associate's will be helpful!

Don't go into the armed forces if you wouldn't do so otherwise.

 

[JDoctor]

I am much different than I was in HS and i know i can keep my grades up. Thank you for all the information.

 

[altblue]

I am much different than I was in HS and i know i can keep my grades up. Thank you for all the information.

So was I, and I still had a difficult adjustment period. You'll really have to adjust to keep your grades up.

College is a different beast altogether, though. I didn't go to a particularly challenging school but it was really common for people of my background to stay for a semester or two and then drop. I'm not trying to belittle you - just please take this seriously and listen to your advisor, and seek out resources like tutoring, office hours at the first sign of trouble. Recognize that you may not hit the ground running and that you'll probably have to change things up as you go along.

Do these sorts of things and you'll do fine. 🙂

 

[JDoctor]

So was I, and I still had a difficult adjustment period. You'll really have to adjust to keep your grades up.

College is a different beast altogether, though. I didn't go to a particularly challenging school but it was really common for people of my background to stay for a semester or two and then drop. I'm not trying to belittle you - just please take this seriously and listen to your advisor, and seek out resources like tutoring, office hours at the first sign of trouble. Recognize that you may not hit the ground running and that you'll probably have to change things up as you go along.

Do these sorts of things and you'll do fine. 🙂

i will take that to heart. Thanks for support

 

[MrLogan13]

I paid with service.
No regrets.

Didn't know you were a vet. May I ask which branch?

 

[gyngyn]

Didn't know you were a vet. May I ask which branch?

My Dad and brother are vets.
I was not in uniform, Public Health Service.