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Help!
I have been certain that I want to be a doctor for at least 10 years now. There are no doctors in my family and I came to the conclusion of pursuing this career path on my own after becoming close friends with a classmate (and her sister) who have spinal muscular atrophy type II.
I was not the smartest high school senior and deposited at the first school that accepted me. I was later accepted to a school that was affiliated with a medical school but did not bother to change my mind. I have resented my spontaneous decision since the first week of class my freshman year. The school did not have a well established pre-medical committee and besides taking the pre-requisites and (kind of) joining a biology honors fraternity and pre-medical student organization, I did not get much experience while in college.
However, I was a NCAA Division I rower in college, worked part-time for 7 of the 9 semesters I was enrolled, was in a sorority for one academic year (resigned because they were disappointed that I chose homework over frat parties), and completed my BS Biology in three years (august 2006 to august 2009) but my grades suffered. A combination of too many things on my plate, the death of a family member, and an injury from my sport that left it almost impossible to write (aka take notes and tests), caused my cumulative GPA to barely be a 3.0. Side note, I have not attempted to calculate my science GPA yet simply because I fear for the number.
I am currently nannying for two D.O. doctors, I am applying to volunteer in hospitals nearby, I know the department chair of family medicine at the local medical school (I would soon like to approach her and ask if i can shadow), and I have been a lifeguard for the last 7 years. I have not taken a real MCAT and my practice MCAT scores have been average (if the ACT in high school is any indication of my science processing ability, I got a 35/36).
Although I would not mind retaking the classes that have tarnished my GPA, I work 56 hours a week (I work for doctors therefore I work doctor's hours) and cannot find local classes that fit into my schedule.
Please, please, PLEASE give me any and all advice as to:
I have been certain that I want to be a doctor for at least 10 years now. There are no doctors in my family and I came to the conclusion of pursuing this career path on my own after becoming close friends with a classmate (and her sister) who have spinal muscular atrophy type II.
I was not the smartest high school senior and deposited at the first school that accepted me. I was later accepted to a school that was affiliated with a medical school but did not bother to change my mind. I have resented my spontaneous decision since the first week of class my freshman year. The school did not have a well established pre-medical committee and besides taking the pre-requisites and (kind of) joining a biology honors fraternity and pre-medical student organization, I did not get much experience while in college.
However, I was a NCAA Division I rower in college, worked part-time for 7 of the 9 semesters I was enrolled, was in a sorority for one academic year (resigned because they were disappointed that I chose homework over frat parties), and completed my BS Biology in three years (august 2006 to august 2009) but my grades suffered. A combination of too many things on my plate, the death of a family member, and an injury from my sport that left it almost impossible to write (aka take notes and tests), caused my cumulative GPA to barely be a 3.0. Side note, I have not attempted to calculate my science GPA yet simply because I fear for the number.
I am currently nannying for two D.O. doctors, I am applying to volunteer in hospitals nearby, I know the department chair of family medicine at the local medical school (I would soon like to approach her and ask if i can shadow), and I have been a lifeguard for the last 7 years. I have not taken a real MCAT and my practice MCAT scores have been average (if the ACT in high school is any indication of my science processing ability, I got a 35/36).
Although I would not mind retaking the classes that have tarnished my GPA, I work 56 hours a week (I work for doctors therefore I work doctor's hours) and cannot find local classes that fit into my schedule.
Please, please, PLEASE give me any and all advice as to:
- how might my situation might come off to admission committees
- what to do to better improve my appeal
- how to stress less because grey hair at 22 (i've actually had grey hairs since 17 because of AP and honors classes in high school) is not working for me!
