How Do I Recover From Bad Undergrad Grades? | Ask Dr. Gray Ep. 199

[@WhoIsBraden]

This is scarily similar to my journey... My difference being that I did a semester of college BEFORE joining the Air Force. During that semester I was directionless, and struggling with personal and financial issues and I *literally* could not have done worse. I joined the AF to keep myself from further ruining my GPA and to give myself time to figure out my situation. I joined as a Korean Cryptologic Language Analyst, but unfortunately got med boarded towards the end of my language training at DLI. I got med boarded after being convinced to seek diagnosis and help for potential ADHD after my teachers and MTLs (Military Training Leaders) noticed heavy ADHD tendencies, and I was NOT on course to pass that incredibly academically challenging course. I decided that it was worth the risk because the AF has become relatively progressive when it comes to mental health, and although they CAN medically discharge you for ADHD, they typically don't. Unfortunately during my screening for ADHD they also "flagged" me for an Anxiety Disorder, which is what led to me being medically discharged. During the time after starting ADHD therapy and getting pulled from class/being put on med hold, I EXCELLED. I went from scoring an average of high 30s/mid 40s on the daily quizzes, to scoring mid-high 90s, which is above average, in the course of 2 weeks. During that time that I was studying super hard and grinding/playing catch up, I fell IN LOVE with studying and just learning in general. I now have a DEEP desire to learn as much as humanly possible. I've always had an interest in the medical field, but never thought it was for me. Especially because I wanted to be a Doctor if anything, but didn't think med school was possible. However, after catching up as quickly as I did in those language courses, and talking to my psychologists/psychiatrist there on base about the grades and my desire to learn, they asked if I ever thought about going to med school. They said that the course there was the closest thing that they had ever seen to it, and they whole-heartedly believed that I was motivated enough to put in the effort to med school that I did in those few weeks after getting help with ADHD and sparking the starvation to learn, that I could do it without a doubt. That got me interested, so I've been looking into it for the last 8-9 months, and my life goal is now to become a practicing physician. I just reapplied to my college and am starting my major in Biology in a few weeks, as a pre-med student. I've been super stressed for the last couple of months since I've decided to dedicate my life for the next 4 years to grinding the HELL out of undergrad so that maybe, just MAYBE, I can convince med schools in the future to overlook that HORRIBLE semester. This video couldn't have come at a better time, and it couldn't have been a better message for me. Thank you Dr. Gray for making these videos as you give people like me hope by assuring us that if we put the work in and prove that we are capable, a rough patch isn't the end of the journey. But more importantly, thank you to to premed student in this video for sharing such personal details with us and being so open. I want you to know that you absolutely helped one person by doing this at the least. You have helped my anxiety and motivated that much more to put my head in the books and become a damned physician no matter what it takes.

[@venkatachengalvala4289]

The description says "she," but it should be "he."

[@hi-mj5oi]

she/her prns

[@edhcb9359]

Med school admins don’t see poor grades as being “unique”.

[@jaredwilliams6853]

Depends how bad, his story isn’t that unique though. Dr. Gray was right plenty of gpas that were bad for various reasons.

[@venkatachengalvala4289]

This comment is discouraging to the premed in the video, who volunteered to share his situation in front of KZbin. Please respect him.

[@richiemd777]

He was in the military at age 18. Was medically disabled. Had bad grades because of mainly balancing career, medical issues and school. I don't see why that's not unique. You're one of those who think high grades are everything. You'll be up to a very rude awakening once you get into residency.

[@edhcb9359]

@@richiemd777 The idea that people with poor grades somehow have better bedside manner and superior clinical skills is fantasy that underachievers love to tell themselves.

[@richiemd777]

@EDHCB I've seen very smart residents kill people in the hospital and even quit or get fired from the program. And people that talk like you are usually the culprit/victim. Intelligent and overconfident is usually seen is stupid and confident in the hospital culture. Very toxic environment and having balance, good work ethic (doing 48 hour shifts) and willingness to learn far exceeds an ability to interpret an arterial blood gas.