Help me! I'm a failure!

[ListofCraig]

Thought i'd make that headline for dramatization.

 

 

Anyway, I've already posted this once before. I would like to be a doctor, as I pretty much have no real goals or anything to push me in life except to help people. I know it sounds like BS, but I really don't even see the point in life. I can't work 9-5 doing a job that serves no purpose, making steel, working on plastic, making sure that the grass on your sidewalks is cut every second Thursday morning. Nothing like that pushes me except feeling good personally. And I want to do that as a Doctor. I want it for the financial security if I want to start a family, and the in independence doctors have compared to most professions. I couldn't have someone over me telling me what to do 10 hours in a day. Thats why entrepreneurship also very much interests me (but I see no point in doing a job that benefits no one but myself, I really don't think thats the point in life). I don't know why I have these feelings, but it just is, and the next paragraph might help explain why.

 

Well, my first year of undergraduate studies in Health Sciences was interesting. I'd try my best to focus, but I couldn't. My mind was always on other things. Those things always pushed me into anger and resentment for myself, and those around me. I couldn't get past these issues. It really had me going crazy inside. I didn't and couldn't focus on school. I ended up failing Biology and getting marks ranging from 50%-60% in the rest of my courses. Well, during the school year, I went to a Doctor. Apparently I was suffering from an anxiety disorder. First thing we do is get me medicated. Then next comes more medication, Zoloft. Well, we keep going and going until we get to this point where i'm taking a drug that I can feel is working for me (not that I stayed on any other drug for that long to even realize if it was working). Anyway, I got withdrawn from my faculty due to poor grades. I could have appealed, but it seemed like that was the best thing for me, to get withdrawn, be a part time student for a year, and then re-apply to a faculty. I KNOW I couldn't handle being a full time student so early, with this lingering over me, I had to start slow. Take it easy, taking a few courses to begin a semester, maybe one or two. Then maybe 3 the next semester, then be a full time student the next year. Right now I'm in semester 1 of this initiative, taking only a General Chemistry course that I dropped first year (which interests me very little, i do not like chemistry), needing a 83-85% on my final to hopefully get a B in the course. Anyway, my point is, what advice can you guys give me? And has my horrible first year ruined me, even though I was suffering from the anxiety disorder first year during which the issue for my lack of focus in school (I'd like to keep it personal and not specify which type of anxiety disorder).

 

Right now I'm in the first semester of a long process, the first stretch. And if I'm not ruined, I'm wondering what I should major in? I was figuring maybe an Arts degree? I realized Health Science is not the program for me, even though I do like it. I want to attain and reach for high marks, and I really like everything in school except for Math and Chemistry maybe. I like social sciences, languages, biology, all of that. Whats a good program for a premed? I see a lot of students getting in with Arts degrees to medical school, and it seems like a program I'd like. And is it better served to take a 3 year program or 4 year? I really don't want to spend too much more time in undergrad, so I'd like it to be a 3 year program, personally.

 

 

Thanks.

[Jochi1543]

What is your provincial residency?

 

It's always best to do a 4-year degree for medical school. Some schools will explicitly require one (Western), others will apply various favorable weighting formulas to your GPA if you've been in school for 4 years (U of Alberta).

 

 

It doesn't matter what you study, as long as you meet medical school requirements. Unfortunately, most schools want to see chemistry. I don't think most want math...I know Alberta wants you to take statistics, and Calgary also recommends math courses. I don't know much about the Ontario schools - I'm IP for U of A, and I knew that if I met the pre-reqs for U of A, I'd meet the pre-reqs for every other medical school in the country (except Manitoba, which requires a year of biochem, while AB requires 1 semester), so I never did much research beyond that.

[Jochi1543]

BTW, I would also encourage you to consider other careers that "help people," if that's your main motivation for becoming a physician. Nurse, speech pathologist, police officer, teacher, crime victim advocate, social worker all come to mind. Maybe you could do a bachelor of Social Work? I think that if you have poor GPA, it's especially important to consider backups, because you might not get in on your first try (or 2nd...or 3rd...I think there's someone on this forum who took 6 times before she got in!), and you will need something to do in the meantime.

[Madz25]

You can do your degree in whatever you like. It doesn't matter. For 3 year vs. 4 year degrees see the following thread:

 

http://www.premed101.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24136

 

Also, you should try using the search function. The topic of choosing an undergrad major has been discussed many times.

[ListofCraig]

What about my first year? Is there any way I can get that taken out of the equation when applying to medical schools? Even if I have a medical certificate to back it up?

[Madz25]

What about my first year? Is there any way I can get that taken out of the equation when applying to medical schools? Even if I have a medical certificate to back it up?

 

I just know that UBC wont look at university grades if they are from more than 10 years ago. The US looks at ALL post-secondary grades so your first year would be included. For Queens and UWO, you need 2 years that are above their cutoffs, your other years don't matter. I don't know how it works for other schools.

[ListofCraig]

I just know that UBC wont look at university grades if they are from more than 10 years ago. The US looks at ALL post-secondary grades so your first year would be included. For Queens and UWO, you need 2 years that are above their cutoffs, your other years don't matter. I don't know how it works for other schools.

 

With Queens, I could take a 3 year arts degree, and apply after my second year, correct, and thats all they'd look at? Well, I'd have to do the MCAT as well

 

 

Anyway, I'm not too disappointed with my situation. I did badly first year, and I hope to clean things up. I had something in my life that threw me in the gutter, and as long as I can pick myself up, I think thats something I can be proud of and that medical schools will take very seriously when looking at me.

[Madz25]

With Queens, I could take a 3 year arts degree, and apply after my second year, correct, and thats all they'd look at? Well, I'd have to do the MCAT as well

 

 

Anyway, I'm not too disappointed with my situation. I did badly first year, and I hope to clean things up. I had something in my life that threw me in the gutter, and as long as I can pick myself up, I think thats something I can be proud of and that medical schools will take very seriously when looking at me.

 

Yes, Queen's will take students after 3 years so you can apply after your 2nd year. But I'm not sure if they have a conditional acceptance the way UWO does. Your GPA from the first 2 years will have to meet the cutoff.

[ListofCraig]

Yes, Queen's will take students after 3 years so you can apply after your 2nd year. But I'm not sure if they have a conditional acceptance the way UWO does. Your GPA from the first 2 years will have to meet the cutoff.

 

 

Cool. Thanks.

 

 

The only thing I'm really concerned with is if I can have my first year not counted at any school, or disqualified due to the medical situation.The medication really has changed the way I think. It was a situation that took over my life, and now I'm getting over that hump, and I think it would be very reasonable if there was some way for the year to be disqualified, especially if I do well my next upcoming years. I just want the years where my true capabilities were shown, to actually count, not years where I was mentally unable and unstable.

[Jochi1543]

Yes, Queen's will take students after 3 years so you can apply after your 2nd year. But I'm not sure if they have a conditional acceptance the way UWO does. Your GPA from the first 2 years will have to meet the cutoff.

 

They don't have conditional acceptance, so you have to have a 3.68 overall or 3.78 in last 2 years to stand a chance.

[ListofCraig]

They don't have conditional acceptance, so you have to have a 3.68 overall or 3.78 in last 2 years to stand a chance.

 

 

So what does that mean? I can only apply after I finish the my degree (in terms of the last 2 years)? What about The University of Ottawa?

[ListofCraig]

One more question, for U of T, they only take years into account where I was a full time student, meaning 10 courses. My first year I only had 8 courses. Does that mean they don't look at that school year? And if they don't, does that mean if I get an interview, it won't come up?

[Jochi1543]

So what does that mean? I can only apply after I finish the my degree (in terms of the last 2 years)? What about The University of Ottawa?

 

For Queen's, basically yes - you will need to have 2 strong years by the time you apply. For Ottawa, they will weight your GPA, so that if you apply with 3 years behind your belt, your most recent year's GPA is multipled by 3, previous year by 2, and freshman year only by 1, so your more recent grades are given a lot more attention. BUT if you don't live in Ottawa, the cutoffs are high (3.8+), so you basically have to apply after 4 years, at which point your 1st year GPA will no longer even be considered; otherwise, it would probably prevent you from meeting the 3.8 cutoff even if it's only weighted at 1/6 of your total.

 

Basically, given all that, and that UWO requires a 4-year honors degree, I think doing a 3-year degree is a bad idea if you have bad grades in your first year.

[Jochi1543]

One more question, for U of T, they only take years into account where I was a full time student, meaning 10 courses. My first year I only had 8 courses. Does that mean they don't look at that school year? And if they don't, does that mean if I get an interview, it won't come up?

 

No, it means they won't use their weighting formula on you. If you had taken 10 courses, they'd apply the weighting formula, but you have to take 10 courses a year every year to be eligible.

[ListofCraig]

No, it means they won't use their weighting formula on you. If you had taken 10 courses, they'd apply the weighting formula, but you have to take 10 courses a year every year to be eligible.

 

I called them, and they told me they'd only take into account the years where I had a full course load. So I assumed my first year wouldn't count but my next years would.

 

 

About Ottawa, I do live in Ottawa (now). And I attend the University of Ottawa. So do you think The University of Ottawa's medical school is where maybe I should be setting my focus?

[Jochi1543]

I called them, and they told me they'd only take into account the years where I had a full course load. So I assumed my first year wouldn't count but my next years would.

 

 

Hmmm, the only way I can see this making sense is if you are not using your first year to count towards your new 4-year full-time degree. Like, I took some post-bac PT coursework, which wouldn't count, either, because it's not part of a degree program. But then for them to use a weighting formula, you have to have 10 courses a year for the entire duration of your actual degree program.

[Julie]

Also, for programs, why not consider psych? It has much of the stuff you were looking for in a career (helping people, independance, a buisness aspect, and a sort-of financial stability... not like a physician's salary, but totally enough to have a familly - plus you'll actually have time to spend with your family, more than most of med professionnals do...), so it could be a good back-up carreer (although it's true that getting into a psych PhD or PsyD program can be as hard as getting in med school, but... at least it's another option). The degree requires no math & no chemistry, but does involve some anatomy & many humanity sciences courses. Depending on your personal learning style, getting good marks is usually quite feasible.

[ListofCraig]

Hmmm, the only way I can see this making sense is if you are not using your first year to count towards your new 4-year full-time degree. Like, I took some post-bac PT coursework, which wouldn't count, either, because it's not part of a degree program. But then for them to use a weighting formula, you have to have 10 courses a year for the entire duration of your actual degree program.

 

 

Well, I will be applying for a new degree. I was initially in Health Sciences, and now i'm going to get an Arts degree, or whatnot.

[ListofCraig]

Also, for programs, why not consider psych? It has much of the stuff you were looking for in a career (helping people, independance, a buisness aspect, and a sort-of financial stability... not like a physician's salary, but totally enough to have a familly - plus you'll actually have time to spend with your family, more than most of med professionnals do...), so it could be a good back-up carreer (although it's true that getting into a psych PhD or PsyD program can be as hard as getting in med school, but... at least it's another option). The degree requires no math & no chemistry, but does involve some anatomy & many humanity sciences courses. Depending on your personal learning style, getting good marks is usually quite feasible.

 

Eh, if I'm not a Physician, I'm an entrepreneur. But anyway, besides that, I do WANT to be a physician. Your a University of Ottawa medical student, so I was wondering, maybe theres some advice you can give me and tell me in regards to the University of Ottawa admissions process? As in, what are they looking for? And is it an advantage I'm a University of Ottawa undergrad student?

[tooty]

About Ottawa, I do live in Ottawa (now). And I attend the University of Ottawa. So do you think The University of Ottawa's medical school is where maybe I should be setting my focus?

 

Absolutely not. Focus on all Ontario schools, and even keep the requirements of out-of-Ontario schools in mind too. The only advantage you'll get as an Ottawa resident is in the GPA cutoff, everyone is on even playing field for everything after (EC's and interview) in their selection process.

[Guest Genuine]

So wait a minute, if I am only taking 8 classes this year... I won't be eligible for UofT medical school unless I transferred to another program? Is this the same with every school? I hope not...

[Jochi1543]

Eh, if I'm not a Physician, I'm an entrepreneur. But anyway, besides that, I do WANT to be a physician. Your a University of Ottawa medical student, so I was wondering, maybe theres some advice you can give me and tell me in regards to the University of Ottawa admissions process? As in, what are they looking for? And is it an advantage I'm a University of Ottawa undergrad student?

 

Julie applied as a French speaker, which is a bit different. It has fewer people per spot. Do you speak fluent French? If so, you might have more luck with the French stream.

 

I don't know TOO much about Ottawa (grades not high enough for OOP, so I never applied), but I believe they are very focused on ECs once you make the GPA cutoff.

[ListofCraig]

Julie applied as a French speaker, which is a bit different. It has fewer people per spot. Do you speak fluent French? If so, you might have more luck with the French stream.

 

I don't know TOO much about Ottawa (grades not high enough for OOP, so I never applied), but I believe they are very focused on ECs once you make the GPA cutoff.

 

Oh, really? Well, I'm starting on Hospital Volunteering in the upcoming semester, and am also doing some community patrol thing for my University, so I hope to get started with that.

 

One of my main issues, in this whole thread, is that there has to be SOME way to disqualify my first year. I have valid medical certification to explain the situation, and can get more specific one, but it doesn't seem fair that I was under the stress of anxiety disorder and have to suffer in the future because of something I'm already in the process of getting over. Yet, I guess nothing in life is fair, and even more so, not much in being a premed is fair as well.

[Jochi1543]

 

One of my main issues, in this whole thread, is that there has to be SOME way to disqualify my first year. I have valid medical certification to explain the situation, and can get more specific one, but it doesn't seem fair that I was under the stress of anxiety disorder and have to suffer in the future because of something I'm already in the process of getting over. Yet, I guess nothing in life is fair, and even more so, not much in being a premed is fair as well.

 

I dunno, I also had a problem in my senior year (still pulled a 3.73 with 26 credits), but even though I could provide medical documentation, schools like UWO or Dalhousie refused to count that year for their 3.7+ requirements.

[ListofCraig]

I dunno, I also had a problem in my senior year (still pulled a 3.73 with 26 credits), but even though I could provide medical documentation, schools like UWO or Dalhousie refused to count that year for their 3.7+ requirements.

 

Why did they refuse to count it? Do you mean they counted it as a year where you did not pull off a 3.7? Or they didn't count the year and your assessment?

 

 

Also, did you speak to them and tell them about your situation?