Dear redturtle831,

A case like yours is difficult, because our graduate school requires a
minimum GPA of 3.0. To make the best case for yourself for admission
to the SMP, we would need strong MCAT scores, and some additional,
significant course work with very high grades. It's tough to overcome
a health problem as you did, and it's unfortunate that it affected
your school work. I'm glad you're doing better now! It might take some
time to get back academically to a level that would allow admission to
a program like ours, and/or to medical school, but if you're
dedicated, you can do it.

Best,

Dr. Adam Myers

On Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 2:54 PM, redturtle831<redturtle831@...> wrote:
>
>
> Dear Georgetown SMP,
>
> I have just finished putting in my whole application for the program and was
> wondering what I should do now. I feel that my story is not unique but I
> would still like to have some advice about my situation.
>
> I just graduated from a local university with a 2.72 GPA and a 2.9 science
> GPA. However, my GPA had nothing to do with my lack of wanting to do well in
> school or struggles with academics itself. The summer before the start of my
> college career I was diagnosed with crohns disease and since that time I
> have not been able to compete at a high level until the mid way through my
> senior year.
> I was put through countless medications and even had my part of my
> intestines removed to help relive the pain and unfortunately the crohn's
> would keep flaring. It was an embarrassing college experience as I would
> have to sit near the door in all my classes so I could run to the bathroom.
> I had to go through our schools special accommodation programs for days that
> I would miss school or would have to miss tests because I would have
> "bathroom problems". Overall it was just a difficult and embarrassing
> experience. However, even with everything going on I still put as much
> effort,hard work, and patience that I could with the flares. This allowed me
> to have an aggressive upward trend my junior year even with the GI bleeds
> and colonoscopies. I was determined to prove to myself that I was a
> competent student. I felt that I would never escape the crohns and for the
> rest of my life I would be someone who would have to revolve his life around
> a toilet.
> One day however my prayers were answered and my insurance company, after a
> couple years of fighting, allowed me to receive a medication called
> Remicade(infliximab). This was the best thing that could have ever happened
> to me. For the first time I was able to sit in class for an hour straight
> without a bathroom break. I was able to concentrate and maintain a healthy
> weight. There were still some flares but overall I was happy with where my
> health has been. It has changed my life, but unfortunately the damage has
> been done to my GPA. Even with the GPA and crohns problems, I still
> continued to go to school, volunteered at local epilepsy camps, and worked
> overseas in clinics. I feel that I have the drive and finally with my health
> squared away I can finally be the competent student that I know that I can
> be.
> Now I know that regardless of what my story is, numbers and GPAs truly do
> count and I also know that the SMP is not a backdoor or a guarantee into
> medical school. I also know that the SMP is very competitive. All i know I
> is that the SMP will be my one chance to prove myself as a A+ student. I
> have no doubt that I will be able to pull amazing grades here but I guess
> what I was wondering is would I be a good fit? I understand that the SMP
> program evaluates students individually but also on the applicant pool at
> large.
> So, my question is with my unique experience am I a good candidate with an
> upward trend? Also, if I don't get in, should post bac programs be my next
> choice? The problem is my scores or GPA has never been because I was too
> lazy or wasn't putting in the time, I just physically wasn't able to do so
> even if I mentally wanted to. I just hope that the SMP program does see my
> passion and takes my story into account when evaluating my grades when the
> committee is making a decision on my future.
>
> Best Regards.
>
>



--
Adam Myers, PhD
Associate Dean for Graduate Education
207 Basic Science Building
Georgetown University Medical Center
Washington, DC 20057