Worth pursuing? (non traditional student)

[ksnmdoc]

---

Members don't see this ad.

So I, like many others, was so excited at 18 to bound out of my parents house and off to a state school. Coming from an exceptionally tiny town, where I floated through high school without ever trying, aced my ACTs without ever once studying, proceeded to have my butt kicked & HARD. I struggled for 2.5 years & pretty much held my own up until the last half (cumm going into my junior year was like a 3.2. Obviously not good, and definitely not my potential, but not awful). Then that final semester I tanked. Obviously other factors were at play besides just my utter lack of study skills & having never faced an academic challenge before in my life, but you guys don’t want my entire life story (just know that my relationship with my parents went incredibly rocky my first semester and ended with my mom nearly dying in my last). I was never a partier or had any sort of substance abuse if that’s what pops into mind. I was simply immature with way, way too much on my plate and no real concept of just how hard (or more apt: work intensive) university would be.

I left school. Moved abroad for 6 months. Learned a 3rd language. Discovered myself (and licked my battle wounds). Moved back to the area I grew up in. Fell in love (uh-oh), got married. I currently have a great job as a pharmacy technician in a great hospital (with a severe lack of providers). Everything is great. Except I want to go back. I’m mature enough & actually ready to take on school this time. My pathway is intended to be CC, state school, then (preferably DMU) D.O. school. In the long run, I’d like to be back at the hospital where I am now, as an OB, pediatrician, or family doctor.

My main concern is, is this even worth it? Possible? Obviously I’ll need to send a transcript from my first school. Those grades & GPA will drag me down. Will my application even land me an interview? I’m planning on redoing EVERYTHING (though it’s snot necessary. I have at least a B in every course up to Genetics & Organic Chem, & at least a C in everything up to Physics and Biochem, I didn’t fail every science course I took, I promise). The gap in time between dates of attendance and the change in GPA will hopefully tell my story for me, or at least buy me a chance to tell it myself.

But I need some reassurance that this is possible if I do it. Or a reality check if going back to school when I have a perfectly stable, well paying job is just going to be a waste of time and effort, because I wouldn’t stand a chance.

 

[brew]

I think it would help if you were to tell your cumulative GPA, # of credits, science GPA, and # of science credits.

Anything is possible. You can also get your feet wet by going to school during the day/night and work during the night/day, etc.

 

[de Ribas]

So I, like many others, was so excited at 18 to bound out of my parents house and off to a state school. Coming from an exceptionally tiny town, where I floated through high school without ever trying, aced my ACTs without ever once studying, proceeded to have my butt kicked & HARD. I struggled for 2.5 years & pretty much held my own up until the last half (cumm going into my junior year was like a 3.2. Obviously not good, and definitely not my potential, but not awful). Then that final semester I tanked. Obviously other factors were at play besides just my utter lack of study skills & having never faced an academic challenge before in my life, but you guys don’t want my entire life story (just know that my relationship with my parents went incredibly rocky my first semester and ended with my mom nearly dying in my last). I was never a partier or had any sort of substance abuse if that’s what pops into mind. I was simply immature with way, way too much on my plate and no real concept of just how hard (or more apt: work intensive) university would be.

I left school. Moved abroad for 6 months. Learned a 3rd language. Discovered myself (and licked my battle wounds). Moved back to the area I grew up in. Fell in love (uh-oh), got married. I currently have a great job as a pharmacy technician in a great hospital (with a severe lack of providers). Everything is great. Except I want to go back. I’m mature enough & actually ready to take on school this time. My pathway is intended to be CC, state school, then (preferably DMU) D.O. school. In the long run, I’d like to be back at the hospital where I am now, as an OB, pediatrician, or family doctor.

My main concern is, is this even worth it? Possible? Obviously I’ll need to send a transcript from my first school. Those grades & GPA will drag me down. Will my application even land me an interview? I’m planning on redoing EVERYTHING (though it’s snot necessary. I have at least a B in every course up to Genetics & Organic Chem, & at least a C in everything up to Physics and Biochem, I didn’t fail every science course I took, I promise). The gap in time between dates of attendance and the change in GPA will hopefully tell my story for me, or at least buy me a chance to tell it myself.

But I need some reassurance that this is possible if I do it. Or a reality check if going back to school when I have a perfectly stable, well paying job is just going to be a waste of time and effort, because I wouldn’t stand a chance.

wow. If I would write my story, it would be 95% the same. When I was reading your post, I got a little freaked out as if someone posted for me.

I too aced HS all the way with all A's. Moved to state school. In 2.5 years I ended up with 3.2. Got married. Worked. Re-enrolled and got my bachelor's. last 2 years were like 3.9 and 3.8. I am finishing post-bacc.

It is possible. not easy. but definitely possible. just from now on inform yourself of what you need to do, do it right, don't be in a rush, take your time. Don't set your mind just on DMU.

 

[Robin-jay]

The main problem here is that youre a few years behind track.

With the projected amount of classes GPA increases you need, and MCAT preparation, among EC's (volunteering, research, etc.), you probably can't actually matriculate to medical school for about 3 years, and thats the ideal situation.

You have a wife. You wont be able to support here for at least 7-8 years.

2-3 years of GPA repair and MCAT, 4 years of medical school, before you can even make 50k as a resident. Thats the IDEAL situation for you. If I was a betting man, I'd probably say it will end up taking 3-4 years of GPA repair and MCAT success, and applying the right cycle.

If you're willing to potentially wait to graduate residency in 10 or more years, then this is the path for you.

However, I'm also someone who thinks that if you work hard enough, then you can do it! And if you really love the life a doctor (not the idea of being a doctor, but actually being a doctor), then spend all the years you can trying to earn an acceptance.

Just remember, Lake Erie had 15,500 applicants at their school alone, for about 400-ish seats? Someone can correct me if I'm wrong here. Its going to be competitive.

But my verdict: Go for it! I think people gain tremendous characteristics even in just the pursuit of medical school. It teaches sacrifice at its finest.

Also, I like this sentence:

"So I, like many others, was so excited at 18 to bound out of my parents house and off to a state school."

OP made me feel like I'm at the start of a teen movie.

 

[de Ribas]

The main problem here is that youre a few years behind track.

With the projected amount of classes GPA increases you need, and MCAT preparation, among EC's (volunteering, research, etc.), you probably can't actually matriculate to medical school for about 3 years, and thats the ideal situation.

You have a wife. You wont be able to support here for at least 7-8 years.

2-3 years of GPA repair and MCAT, 4 years of medical school, before you can even make 50k as a resident. Thats the IDEAL situation for you. If I was a betting man, I'd probably say it will end up taking 3-4 years of GPA repair and MCAT success, and applying the right cycle.

If you're willing to potentially wait to graduate residency in 10 or more years, then this is the path for you.

However, I'm also someone who thinks that if you work hard enough, then you can do it! And if you really love the life a doctor (not the idea of being a doctor, but actually being a doctor), then spend all the years you can trying to earn an acceptance.

Just remember, Lake Erie had 15,500 applicants at their school alone, for about 400-ish seats? Someone can correct me if I'm wrong here. Its going to be competitive.

But my verdict: Go for it! I think people gain tremendous characteristic even in just the pursuit of medical school. It teaches sacrifice at its finest.

Also, I like this sentence:

"So I, like many others, was so excited at 18 to bound out of my parents house and off to a state school."

OP made me feel like I'm at the start of a teen movie.

LECOM 2015-16
Applications: 8,526
First Year Enrollment: 389
Total Enrollment: 1,480
Total Graduates: 353
2016-17
Applications: 9,183
First Year Enrollment: 391
Total Enrollment: 1,497

 

[de Ribas]

The main problem here is that youre a few years behind track.

With the projected amount of classes GPA increases you need, and MCAT preparation, among EC's (volunteering, research, etc.), you probably can't actually matriculate to medical school for about 3 years, and thats the ideal situation.

You have a wife. You wont be able to support here for at least 7-8 years.

2-3 years of GPA repair and MCAT, 4 years of medical school, before you can even make 50k as a resident. Thats the IDEAL situation for you. If I was a betting man, I'd probably say it will end up taking 3-4 years of GPA repair and MCAT success, and applying the right cycle.

If you're willing to potentially wait to graduate residency in 10 or more years, then this is the path for you.

However, I'm also someone who thinks that if you work hard enough, then you can do it! And if you really love the life a doctor (not the idea of being a doctor, but actually being a doctor), then spend all the years you can trying to earn an acceptance.

Just remember, Lake Erie had 15,500 applicants at their school alone, for about 400-ish seats? Someone can correct me if I'm wrong here. Its going to be competitive.

But my verdict: Go for it! I think people gain tremendous characteristic even in just the pursuit of medical school. It teaches sacrifice at its finest.

Also, I like this sentence:

"So I, like many others, was so excited at 18 to bound out of my parents house and off to a state school."

OP made me feel like I'm at the start of a teen movie.

I agree with this. If you only have 2.5 years behind your back. I think it will take 3 years to get on track. Volunteering experiences, leadership, MCAT, shadowing and such.

If you make these years meaningful and interesting, it won't seem to long and waste of time.

It is doable.


If you want to go to healthcare but DO route is to far, you can look into PT, CRNA, NP, DPM.

 

[Robin-jay]

LECOM 2015-16
Applications: 8,526
First Year Enrollment: 389
Total Enrollment: 1,480
Total Graduates: 353
2016-17
Applications: 9,183
First Year Enrollment: 391
Total Enrollment: 1,497

https://www.usnews.com/education/be...6/10-medical-schools-with-the-most-applicants

"Among the 116 ranked medical schools that submitted these data to U.S. News in an annual survey, the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pennsylvania received the most applications – 15,475 – for the fall 2015 entering class."

Is this source wrong then? I think your source is more official.

 

[de Ribas]

https://www.usnews.com/education/be...6/10-medical-schools-with-the-most-applicants

"Among the 116 ranked medical schools that submitted these data to U.S. News in an annual survey, the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pennsylvania received the most applications – 15,475 – for the fall 2015 entering class."

Is this source wrong then? I think your source is more official.

I got this straight from AACOM website
Maybe your source combines both campuses. Because LECOM-B:
LECOM-Bradenton 2015-16
Applications: 6,778
First Year Enrollment: 196
Total Enrollment: 782
Total Graduates: 190
2016-17
Applications: 7,008
First Year Enrollment: 199
Total Enrollment: 784

 

[Robin-jay]

I got this straight from AACOM website
Maybe your source combines both campuses. Because LECOM-B:
LECOM-Bradenton 2015-16
Applications: 6,778
First Year Enrollment: 196
Total Enrollment: 782
Total Graduates: 190
2016-17
Applications: 7,008
First Year Enrollment: 199
Total Enrollment: 784

Ya, I think the usnews combined both campuses I think.

 

[de Ribas]

I think it would help if you were to tell your cumulative GPA, # of credits, science GPA, and # of science credits.

Anything is possible. You can also get your feet wet by going to school during the day/night and work during the night/day, etc.

I think his GPA is 3.2 so far based on 2.5 years

 

[ksnmdoc]

My cumm right now is lower than that. I definitely tanked my last semester. I passed one course. If I could wipe that semester, my entire gpa would go up .5 points or so. I’ll get my exact GPA in a moment.

I’m actually a she. A huge portion of my struggle freshman year (which I actually didn’t do too terrible at. Life was still salvageable at that point), was due to my parents disowning me for 6 months due to being gay. I honestly shouldn’t have then let them come back when they decided they could ‘forgive’ me, because that’s when I really started doing awful at academics. I was far more focused on ‘earning their love’ than I was on anything else.

Only reason my heart was set on DMU is that I can attend there with out needing to move my family. My wife has an amazing job without a degree, and moving could cost her that. & without the degree it’s not something easily found else where. It’s something we’d need to weigh, long and hard. But if she could keep her job, we wouldn’t need to worry about living expenses while I’m in school.

And I’ll break out a detailed GPA breakdown in my next post! I’m just on my phone right now and it’s difficult to toggle windows between my transcript.

 

[de Ribas]

My cumm right now is lower than that. I definitely tanked my last semester. I passed one course. If I could wipe that semester, my entire gpa would go up .5 points or so. I’ll get my exact GPA in a moment.

I’m actually a she. A huge portion of my struggle freshman year (which I actually didn’t do too terrible at. Life was still salvageable at that point), was due to my parents disowning me for 6 months due to being gay. I honestly shouldn’t have then let them come back when they decided they could ‘forgive’ me, because that’s when I really started doing awful at academics. I was far more focused on ‘earning their love’ than I was on anything else.

Only reason my heart was set on DMU is that I can attend there with out needing to move my family. My wife has an amazing job without a degree, and moving could cost her that. & without the degree it’s not something easily found else where. It’s something we’d need to weigh, long and hard. But if she could keep her job, we wouldn’t need to worry about living expenses while I’m in school.

And I’ll break out a detailed GPA breakdown in my next post! I’m just on my phone right now and it’s difficult to toggle windows between my transcript.

DO schools value reinvention. If you can get good grades for the next 2-3 years, that new GPA will be viewed differently.

 

[ksnmdoc]

DO schools value reinvention. If you can get good grades for the next 2-3 years, that new GPA will be viewed differently.

That really is what I'm banking on. Here's the awful truth. cGPA: 2.69 (2.60 university, plus a few transfer credits from HS), sGPA: 2.28 before putting in the courses I failed (1.82 with those). Overall credits: 82. Science: 39.

TBH, I shouldn't retake (or wouldn't need to at least) gen chem 1 (with lab), intro bio 1 & 2 (with lab), they are all B's or better. I feel like at that point, it's a better showing for me to retake the courses I did exceptionally poorly at, and then higher level science courses to prove I'm capable of mastering any material, and that wasn't a truly me? Or that me now is not the me then.

If I had been in a better place, I would have withdrawn from that last semester. I had a full breakdown, because I kind of woke up in Oct and realized that I didn't even know who I was any more. I had sacrificed so much of myself to be what my parents wanted, what my abusive SO at the time wanted, and I couldn't even remember what I wanted. I stopped attending classes (which is the only reason I failed physics: I skipped over half the labs, I aced every single exam; same situation with Vert Zoo). I worked, all the time, and saved. And in February I was on a flight to Germany, where I cut out everyone from back home for the 6 months I was there. (And I'll stop telling my life story now haha)


Edited to add: So I was looking at my undergraduate college's page, and it is possible to request a retroactive withdrawal. Unfortunately I don't have an official documentation of what was happening. I sought a doctor at one point and she pulled me off my medication (that was working) and switched me to something else (pretty much exactly at the time I stopped attending classes), but it's not like I was in counselling or anything of the sort (though I was in the year prior, when I was on medication (for my adhd) that was working). So I feel as if it's a long shot, but would this make all the difference? Without that semester, my cGPA is 3.0 & sGPA is 2.28 (more salvageable).

 

[HanSoloYolo]

It's definitely worth pursuing if you're willing to put in the work. Just understand it's going to be a long road where you have to ace your future classes and do well on the MCAT. You should calculate how many credit hours of A's you would need to get your sGPA to over a 3.0, and I would aim for as high of an MCAT as you can. Best of luck! Rooting for you in whatever you decide.

 

[Goro]

So I, like many others, was so excited at 18 to bound out of my parents house and off to a state school. Coming from an exceptionally tiny town, where I floated through high school without ever trying, aced my ACTs without ever once studying, proceeded to have my butt kicked & HARD. I struggled for 2.5 years & pretty much held my own up until the last half (cumm going into my junior year was like a 3.2. Obviously not good, and definitely not my potential, but not awful). Then that final semester I tanked. Obviously other factors were at play besides just my utter lack of study skills & having never faced an academic challenge before in my life, but you guys don’t want my entire life story (just know that my relationship with my parents went incredibly rocky my first semester and ended with my mom nearly dying in my last). I was never a partier or had any sort of substance abuse if that’s what pops into mind. I was simply immature with way, way too much on my plate and no real concept of just how hard (or more apt: work intensive) university would be.

I left school. Moved abroad for 6 months. Learned a 3rd language. Discovered myself (and licked my battle wounds). Moved back to the area I grew up in. Fell in love (uh-oh), got married. I currently have a great job as a pharmacy technician in a great hospital (with a severe lack of providers). Everything is great. Except I want to go back. I’m mature enough & actually ready to take on school this time. My pathway is intended to be CC, state school, then (preferably DMU) D.O. school. In the long run, I’d like to be back at the hospital where I am now, as an OB, pediatrician, or family doctor.

My main concern is, is this even worth it? Possible? Obviously I’ll need to send a transcript from my first school. Those grades & GPA will drag me down. Will my application even land me an interview? I’m planning on redoing EVERYTHING (though it’s snot necessary. I have at least a B in every course up to Genetics & Organic Chem, & at least a C in everything up to Physics and Biochem, I didn’t fail every science course I took, I promise). The gap in time between dates of attendance and the change in GPA will hopefully tell my story for me, or at least buy me a chance to tell it myself.

But I need some reassurance that this is possible if I do it. Or a reality check if going back to school when I have a perfectly stable, well paying job is just going to be a waste of time and effort, because I wouldn’t stand a chance.

Read this:

• Goro's Advice for DO Applicants in Absence of Grade Replacement (2016-17 cycle)

 

[ksnmdoc]

Read this:

• Goro's Advice for DO Applicants in Absence of Grade Replacement (2016-17 cycle)

Thanks Goro! I think I needed that first line. Relax. This *is* possible. Now all that’s left is to sit down with my wife and really discuss our plan of action. Moving, long distance, etc.

I am going to try to retroactively withdraw from that semester. I think I have more documentation than I realize, and I’ll miss all the shots I don’t take.

But my plan of attack is steadily forming.

 

[ksnmdoc]

It's definitely worth pursuing if you're willing to put in the work. Just understand it's going to be a long road where you have to ace your future classes and do well on the MCAT. You should calculate how many credit hours of A's you would need to get your sGPA to over a 3.0, and I would aim for as high of an MCAT as you can. Best of luck! Rooting for you in whatever you decide.

29 if I can drop that semester. 40 if I can’t. Both would put me right around a 3.02. About 12 of those would be pre-req retakes. Plus I haven’t taken A&P yet, so a good 9 or so more would be pre reqs as well. Then the additional coursework would be upper level sciences to prove myself. I have all my gen eds done, at a B+ or better, so I could focus almost exclusively on the sciences to finish out my degree. It’s just finding the appropriate load.

 

[de Ribas]

29 if I can drop that semester. 40 if I can’t. Both would put me right around a 3.02. About 12 of those would be pre-req retakes. Plus I haven’t taken A&P yet, so a good 9 or so more would be pre reqs as well. Then the additional coursework would be upper level sciences to prove myself. I have all my gen eds done, at a B+ or better, so I could focus almost exclusively on the sciences to finish out my degree. It’s just finding the appropriate load.

what you mean drop a semester?

 

[Wiggly Tuff Da Ruff]

What's your GPA - if you don't mind me asking?
Look, we're almost in the same boat. Sometimes I feel sad and desperate too. Tbh I just created my account to make sure I wasn't crazy for trying to pursuit this dream. People said i'm not, but most importantly I don't believe I am crazy for trying, and neither should you. It's normal to feel lost, that's what the whole human existence is about (not knowing all the answers). We can talk about your options for hours, but the most important thing is to ask yourself how hard you are willing to push.

My freshman year was horrible, I wish I could go back in time to take a year off after high school and just party full time since that is what I was interested at the time. However, we make mistakes. We learn. And we get up. If you want to be a doctor, take the pre-reqs. Maybe do a masters, postbacc program. Idk, i'm no expert but start looking your options. Otherwise just walk away. Whatever you decide to do, I wish you the best.

You and OP are both sane. People make mistakes. Sometimes those mistake have lasting repercussions (like bad GPA) but if you have the resources and a second chance to re-do, then follow your dreams and go for it. I messed up for 4 years and had to get my life back together. After a long time out of school, I went back and got my degree and got my pre-reqs with a near perfect GPA. Some people will trip up on their journey and fall flat on their faces but the key here is to get back up and look forward. Understand where you fell and pick yourself back up. GPA, pre-reqs, extracurriculars, MCAT are important but they're not impossible.
OP continue doing school and finish up that degree! You can do it.