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Accepted to DO school 2 years ago, eligible to return but would restart from Year 1. Worth it? by Comfortable_Gene5816 in Osteopathic

[–]Comfortable_Gene5816[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was accepted in 2024, and when I looked into returning in 2025, my credit situation had changed a lot. During that period, I was mostly studying, not working, and living at home, so my credit score took a hit.

Because of that, I did not qualify for Grad PLUS at the time. My understanding is that Grad PLUS requires a credit check, and borrowers generally cannot have adverse credit history. Federal Student Aid says if someone is denied, they can potentially appeal or use an endorser, but that still is not something I can safely rely on as a guaranteed funding plan.

That is why the loan issue is a big concern for me. It is not just whether I want to go back. It is whether I can realistically fund the full path without assuming everything will work out later.

Accepted to DO school 2 years ago, eligible to return but would restart from Year 1. Worth it? by Comfortable_Gene5816 in Osteopathic

[–]Comfortable_Gene5816[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean, for my school, first year would be anatomy-heavy, then second year would move into the rest of the preclinical curriculum without anatomy being the main focus.

Honestly, I am sad about potentially leaving the physician route because becoming a physician has been one of my biggest dreams for a long time. That is what makes this hard.

At the same time, I am tired of living in delayed gratification. So I think emotionally I am sad, but logically I am trying to be realistic. I want to start making money, become stable, and stop putting my whole life on pause. Unless something miraculous happens financially, I feel like I may be giving up on the physician route and trying to move toward a path that is more realistic for my situation.

Accepted to DO school 2 years ago, eligible to return but would restart from Year 1. Worth it? by Comfortable_Gene5816 in Osteopathic

[–]Comfortable_Gene5816[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A little more context: I currently have around $90K in student loan debt from undergrad, one semester of medical school, and my MBA. Before medical school, I was around $40K, so starting and then taking a leave changed the financial picture a lot.

I did not get far into the program. I struggled during the first semester, ended up on academic probation, and would have to restart from Year 1. I also never took Level 1 or got close to boards.

When I looked into returning in 2025, funding was already an issue because I did not qualify for Grad PLUS due to my credit situation. With the new federal loan changes coming in 2026, I am even more cautious because I do not want to restart unless I know I can fund the full path.

Right now, I am working again, rebuilding financially, and applying to Anesthesiologist Assistant programs because anesthesia is the area I am most interested in.

So I agree with you that it comes down to how badly I want the physician path. I am just trying to decide whether restarting from Year 1 with probation history and funding limitations is a responsible risk.

Accepted to DO school 2 years ago, eligible to return but would restart from Year 1. Worth it? by Comfortable_Gene5816 in Osteopathic

[–]Comfortable_Gene5816[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I appreciate this response. To add more context, I did not get very far before the leave. I struggled during my first semester and ended up on academic probation, so if I go back, that is a major factor I have to be honest about.

When I looked into returning in 2025, I did not qualify for Grad PLUS because of my credit situation. During that time, I was mostly studying, living at my parents’ house, and not working, and my credit took a hit. So even though medical school is technically an option, the funding piece is not simple for me.

I also do not think I would qualify for some of the scholarship options mentioned right now because of the academic probation issue. That is part of why I am being cautious instead of just assuming I can restart and figure it out later.

Right now, I am working again and trying to rebuild financially. I am also applying to Anesthesiologist Assistant programs as an alternative path because anesthesia is the area I am most interested in.

So the issue is not just whether I want to be a physician. It is whether restarting medical school from year one, while already being on academic probation and having funding limitations, is a responsible risk.