W's?

[CCEMTP2DOC]

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I know W's aren't a good thing, but are they necessarily bad? I have several W's on my transcripts. 2 semesters from 1985(was young and dumb), 2 classes from 1999(adopted my 2 children from Russia and daughter had 2 surgeries). Started RRT program, sailed through first year, but dropped due to several surgeries for my daughter at Shriners Hospital in Erie, PA. Went back next year, dropped due to major abdominal surgery for myself. Much against my own thoughts, I went back for a third try, but dropped because I knew this isn't where I was supposed to be. I took a bit off and recollected myself. I will be graduating with a ~3.7 GPA, ~3.55 SCI GPA. 15 years in EMS, 13 as a paramedic, 8+ as a critical care paramedic, and 7+ as a EMD dispatcher. I will have shadowed ~200 hours . I am not ashamed of my W's. They happened for good reasons. I have no problem explaining what happened, I just want the chance. I test very well, so hopefully I will do ok on the MCAT. My grades are good. All A's and B's. Have/will have taken all the normal sci's plus Biochem, Genetics, Micro, and A&P. I will be 42 on application. Any and all thoughts will be appredciated. Thanks.


Rob

 

[supersash]

Hi Rob, I think schools look at older applicants a little differently. So hopefully, if you explain your situation right, they will see that you weren't being young and stupid (which isn't always terrible anyways), but that you were growing up and learning along the way (especially with adopting children).

What schools are you applying to?

I think you will be ok though. Good luck!!!

 

[CCEMTP2DOC]

Hi Rob, I think schools look at older applicants a little differently. So hopefully, if you explain your situation right, they will see that you weren't being young and stupid (which isn't always terrible anyways), but that you were growing up and learning along the way (especially with adopting children).

What schools are you applying to?

I think you will be ok though. Good luck!!!

I will be graduating in June and will be taking the MCAT in April. I will be applying very broadly. Mostly D.O.(personal choice), and probablt some close to home allopathic. Thanks for the encouragement.

Rob

 

[CCEMTP2DOC]

Hi Rob, I think schools look at older applicants a little differently. So hopefully, if you explain your situation right, they will see that you weren't being young and stupid (which isn't always terrible anyways), but that you were growing up and learning along the way (especially with adopting children).

What schools are you applying to?

I think you will be ok though. Good luck!!!

I will be graduating in June and will be taking the MCAT in April. I will be applying very broadly. Mostly D.O.(personal choice), and probably some close to home allopathic. Thanks for the encouragement.

Rob

 

[kovalchuk]

I think you're fine. The stories behind your W's are interesting, so when you explain them you'll distract whoever is listening/reading. Do well on the MCAT and you'll be competitive for both DO and MD schools. Best of luck!

 

[Luba Licious]

I had several, and they were never even mentioned. If they had been, my stories were not as good as yours. You'll be fine!

 

[thirdunity]

I have probably more W's than any of you combined. I dropped close to half my classes every single semester I was in school between age 18 and age 30. I didn't get my act together in school until I went through a course of therapy to help me deal with my school issues, about two years ago. I have some Ws from last year too - in that case, I blame leaving an uninhabitable, bad marriage during the school year.

I didn't have any idea of eventually heading to medical school back in the day, and the only excuse I have is "young and stupid".

 

[OnMyWayThere]

I got in with MANY W's from a few years back... wasn't even brought up at my interviews

 

[Krazykritter]

W's do not have to necessarily hurt you contrary to what my other post might have made you think. I know when interviewing students, we may or may not ask about them. If there are just a couple then you not likely to be asked about it, but w/ as many as you described, I (personally) would ask about it. You seem to have good reasons for withdrawing and could actually further your interviewing by showing that your family is very important to you. It always shows a great level of maturity (not so much of a problem w/ someone at your age) to be able honestly answer a question about a perceived weakness.

 

[thirdunity]

It always shows a great level of maturity (not so much of a problem w/ someone at your age) to be able honestly answer a question about a perceived weakness.

How would you advise someone who has *no good reason* to have a lot of W's? I have no real explanation for my track record of Ws beyond "I was an idiot who didn't take my life seriously, and I'm not an idiot now and I do take my life seriously."