Withdrawal vs...

[JSainte]

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Hello all!

Was wondering if I could get a bit of advice. I've searched the forums and haven't found a situation quite like mine (go figure). 😱

Here's the run down. I have a B.A. in Public Relations and am currently doing Pre-Med pre-reqs. I'm 29, an EMT/911 dispatcher with plenty of patient care hours and volunteering (no shadowing... yet!)

I started at Northwestern doing Pre-Med:

Summer 2009:

Chem 1 & 2 (3 class sequence): Got C's and withdrew before the third because the two hour commute each way every day with work just wasn't working.

I go to Indiana University in Gary now and here is how it's been:

Summer 2011:

Biochemistry: W - My grandfather died the first week of class and then three weeks later my fiance got gravely ill and spent 3 weeks in the hospital (only a 7 week course).

Fall 2011:

Biology 1: B
Chemistry 1: A
Chemistry Lab: B

Spring 2012:

Biochemistry: W - Was told when I originally dropped I had one year to retake, found out three weeks in that was not true and my pre-med advisor (also the Biochem professor) and I agreed another "W" would be best as I didn't have Organic yet anyway.

Chemistry 2: W - New professor, she was awful, made many mistakes and I wasn't learning anything. Most people dropped, failed or got a C. (She since is no longer teaching that class - it was her first and last time).

Public Health: A

Biology 2: D - I got a promotion at work (did not want it, had no choice) and it caused my work schedule to conflict greatly with school and therefore, I bombed.

Currently I'm in Summer Session retaking Biology 2 and taking A&P and here is the problem...

I did awful on my first Bio Exam (going through a separation and attempting to move), and did much better but not great on the second (more of the same material). I'm pretty sure I can only pull a C because of that first exam. 🙁

Do I take another AWFUL "W" or take the C, suck it up and keep going. I'm pretty sure I know what's best but it's so awful to think I got a D, retook it and still got a C!

Sorry I know it's a lot just thought a background would help you to give more solid advice.

PS - Not working is not an option. If it were I'd be the happiest person to ever walk the Earth. 😀

😕

Thank you!!
Jackie

 

[Praefectus]

To be honest, it looks like you're between the hammer and the anvil on this. Adcoms don't like seeing more than 2 or 3 withdrawals, depending on the school. Are you fixing to go to an MD school or a DO school?

 

[angemon89]

It hurt me a little reading this. Sure you may have an extensive background but there are a lot of red flags when it comes to your grades.

Yes, you may have had real problems that affected your grades, but having more than just a couple of excuses is probably too much and admissions would probably expect you to get your act together.

 

[tiedyeddog]

I'd take the W here. Don't take anymore W's from now on.

Also, how were you able to take a biochem class before successfully taking a chem class and passing? Are you taking the righ t biochemistry?

 

[AestheticGod]

Came into reply that your post looks very professional and easy on my eyes. Will read now.

 

[AestheticGod]

Hmmm, well in all honesty you do have a lot of bad grades and withdrawals. Admins aren't going to like that at all. Are you planning on MD or DO? I would expect DO if you get your act together.

 

[JSainte]

Thank you all for your replies. Yes, it is a LOT of stuff going on. I don't want to get too discouraged but I do want to be realistic. I have no preference on MD vs DO. I don't want to just give up because I'm well aware I'll never be happy as a nurse and I'll never be able to support myself in EMS (hence my struggle now).

To whomever asked about the Biochemistry... somehow I fell through the cracks and was allowed to enroll in the class without the pre-req. That was my first Pre-Med class and I honestly had no idea. It was the only class offered and I figured, I'm an intelligent person, it's one class surely I can manage to learn it - which would have been the case if I had not spent 3-4 weeks of the 7 in hospitals.😳 I was veryyy irritated with the registrar's office for causing me an unncessary W on my transcript. Such is life.

Really, either way I go it's just awful, but I've never been a quitter so I don't think I'll start now. Just trying to figure out the lesser of two evils here. 😀

Nothing worth having ever comes easy, right? 😉