<p>Hey all, I have a question for you.</p>
<p>I am now on academic leave of absence from Boston University, and will return as a first semester sophomore. Last year, I had a mental breakdown but decided to finish the year instead of leaving and making it up later on. Looking back, it was a terrible idea - I now have a 2.5 gpa. I have since took time to get everything in order; I've been to therapy, worked as an EMT, volunteered in a hospital, the works. As the spring semester draws nearer, I began considering my options (or lack thereof), leading me to my question. Should I transfer to a different school and therefore start a new transcript (most likely at Rutgers University), or should I work to salvage my grades at Boston? Natural ability is not an issue - my problem was my view on studying and my work ethic. I am under the impression that, if I were to transfer to a different school, I would still have to turn in the 2.5 along with whatever grades I earn at Rutgers. I don't know whether the grad schools look at the grades from each year, or whether they would see my transferral as giving up and doing better at a lesser school. Would I be better off with my Boston transcript hanging over whatever I earn from here on, or should I apply with the 3.4 or so maximum that I am now left with? My therapist worked in the admissions board at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and claims that med schools will consider what has changed since my freshman year, but I figured a second opinion would help.</p>
You choose what to say. For example : “I needed to step back and re-assess my priorities” sounds a bit better than “I went cuckoo for cocoa-puffs”. Of course, the key here is to make it happen. If you are healthy and committed to your success , and are correct that you do, in fact, have the horsepower necessary to excel in college classes and ec’s and volunteering, it’s time to do it. Good luck.</p>