Which "prior sins" on my transcripts will hurt me?

[thirdunity]

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I'm a community college student, preparing for transfer to UC Davis in about another year.

Prior to "getting serious" and deciding to go premed, and prior to getting a handle on my ADHD, I have had a really long history of Ws. Do the med schools look at Ws on my transcript?

From a few years back, I actually have a fail and a D in two classes - however, they were not transferrable classes, and my counselor informs me that the UC system only counts the grades of transferrable classes. I also have two fails from over eleven years ago, from my first year of college, in transferrable classes that are so obscure that I don't have much hope of being able to repeat them. I could simply not send for the transcripts from those districts, but I need the *other* grades I've gotten in those districts... one of them is where I completed English 101 (called 1a in some districts).

 

[Em&M]

I'm a community college student, preparing for transfer to UC Davis in about another year.

Prior to "getting serious" and deciding to go premed, and prior to getting a handle on my ADHD, I have had a really long history of Ws. Do the med schools look at Ws on my transcript?

From a few years back, I actually have a fail and a D in two classes - however, they were not transferrable classes, and my counselor informs me that the UC system only counts the grades of transferrable classes. I also have two fails from over eleven years ago, from my first year of college, in transferrable classes that are so obscure that I don't have much hope of being able to repeat them. I could simply not send for the transcripts from those districts, but I need the *other* grades I've gotten in those districts... one of them is where I completed English 101 (called 1a in some districts).

I think that at this point, you need to stop worrying about what happened in your past. Speaking from experience, once I quit beating myself up over what I "should" have done, I was much more focused on my future.

You are on the right track. Pretend that you are starting from scratch and you are going to make it REALLY count this time. Many, if not most, schools will look at your composite gpa and all of your college courses (maybe only in the last 10 years though... not really sure) but they will also clearly notice what you are doing NOW and what you are capable of NOW.

Formulate a plan. Get as much info on med school prereqs as you can and just start knocking them off! Get good grades (don't have to be all A's but a lot will definately help...) Start volunteering, start shadowing. Have something to show for yourself when you apply. Don't focus on your past mistakes, you can still get into med school. It has been written before but you need to prove that you really want this...BAD.

Have you thought of going the DO route? If you don't know much about it, start learning. They love non-traditional applicants and have historically been a little easier to get into (nobody really knows why because in the end, you can take the same boards and be licensed exactly like MD, it is basically just a difference in initials!)

All is not lost. I was serious, do not dwell on the past, it will only hold you down, sorry for the cliche but it is so true. Many people have had horrendous undergrad experiences for a multitude of reasons and have gone on to become outstanding doctors... and that also means that they were able to get into medical school... and you will too! 🙂

 

[njbmd]

I'm a community college student, preparing for transfer to UC Davis in about another year.

Prior to "getting serious" and deciding to go premed, and prior to getting a handle on my ADHD, I have had a really long history of Ws. Do the med schools look at Ws on my transcript?

From a few years back, I actually have a fail and a D in two classes - however, they were not transferrable classes, and my counselor informs me that the UC system only counts the grades of transferrable classes. I also have two fails from over eleven years ago, from my first year of college, in transferrable classes that are so obscure that I don't have much hope of being able to repeat them. I could simply not send for the transcripts from those districts, but I need the *other* grades I've gotten in those districts... one of them is where I completed English 101 (called 1a in some districts).

Hi there,
As the wise poster above stated, " Don't beat yourself up over things that happened in the past". You can't do anything about those grades or those Ws so let them go. The worst thing that can happen to you is that you have to explain them at an interview. You are in the process of having your academics together and that will be very evident on your more recent transcripts. Just keep doing well and stay focused.

Do not make the mistake of not reporting every class that you have ever taken above the secondary school level. You don't want to take any chances so report everything that you have no matter how obscure or from how long ago. If something happens to turn up later, you could be dismissed from medical school no matter how well you are doing.

Keep your GPA as high as possible and keep up the excellent academics. Many people in medical school have had to overcome more things than you have listed above. They have gone on to become excellent physicians so keep working toward your goal. You are more mature and you can produce loads of excellent grades. Live in the present and look toward the future!

njbmd 🙂