Terrible Junior Semester Feel like giving up.... Help

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LabRat86

LabRat86

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Before my junior semester my BCPM GPA was 3.89

This semester

Physio = B+
Biochem = B+
Clinical Micro = A
Medical Micro = B
Stat = A
Pathology = A-

GPA for this semester = 3.53 That's a .35 drop in GPA

I honestly don't know what happened. I was so hard for two years and now this happens. I feel really tired of working so hard for just a chance.

I feel mentally exhausted and want to give up.....

This semester is even worst Hematology, Clinical Micro, Clinical Biochem. Genetics, Forensics..... I'm in a special program that requires me to take all these classes at once.

I need some advice. Thank You
 
Your grades are still excellent. You went from Outstanding to Very Good for one semester. It's no big deal at all, and the fact that you took all those hard classes concurrently will be noticed, and possibly something to talk about in your essay/interview. Just keep on trudging.

Before you worry too much, read those threads about people who work their asses off to get 2.9 or 3.1's and desparately want to go to medical school. Be thankful that you have some natural academic ability, and continue to work as hard as you can.

Say you end up with a 3.6 - 3.7 BCPM. That is a perfectly fine grade that will not keep you from admission to almost any school. Your ability to express your motivations, as well as having EC evidence to back those motivations up, are much more important.
 
LabRat86 said:
Before my junior semester my BCPM GPA was 3.89

This semester

Physio = B+
Biochem = B+
Clinical Micro = A
Medical Micro = B
Stat = A
Pathology = A-

GPA for this semester = 3.53 That's a .35 drop in GPA

I honestly don't know what happened. I was so hard for two years and now this happens. I feel really tired of working so hard for just a chance.

I feel mentally exhausted and want to give up.....

This semester is even worst Hematology, Clinical Micro, Clinical Biochem. Genetics, Forensics..... I'm in a special program that requires me to take all these classes at once.

I need some advice. Thank You
Click to expand...


Umm, your overall GPA is, I'm sure, still very good. I know this seems particularly bad (I remember a term when I was taking: Electromagnetic Theory I, Quantum Mechanics II, Circuits for Physicists, and Classical Mechanics I and I was just mentally exhausted when it was over, and my GPA wasn't exactly increased thanks to these classes). Your (small) hit to your overall GPA isn't going to sink you for your med school apps and you have plenty of terms left to do well. Seriously, go relax and stop being so hard on yourself. Then gear up for a few more terms of working hard before med school (when the real fun begins).

Good luck!
 
those grades aren't even that bad ! i had one semester where i got really sick, missed a bunch of midterms (actually passed out during one because i was so sick) and ended up pulling straight C's. Keep in mind this is the semester i took orgo and genetics... and adcoms are still looking at me favorably. I think the most important thing is NOT to lose hope and keep going.. work hard, and show those adcoms who is boss.
The people who don't get into med school are the ones who give up.
 
dizzyorange said:
Your grades are still excellent. You went from Outstanding to Very Good for one semester. It's no big deal at all, and the fact that you took all those hard classes concurrently will be noticed, and possibly something to talk about in your essay/interview. Just keep on trudging.

Before you worry too much, read those threads about people who work their asses off to get 2.9 or 3.1's and desparately want to go to medical school. Be thankful that you have some natural academic ability, and continue to work as hard as you can.
Click to expand...
Back when I was doing my Mech Eng degree, a semester like that would've been reason to celebrate. There'd be some heavy drinking going on after that.

Try to take some more BCPM classes (Genetics, etc.) and bring that number up. Try Astronomy. AMCAS has it listed as a physics course and its easy as ****. People will tell you that ADCOMS will see it as a GPA booster but most med schools aren't going to dig that deep into your record.
 
:::SMACK:::

You'll be fine. BTW, what are program are you in that has you take all those classes? Medical school?
 
You don't have anything to worry about. I got a B+ in both semesters of physiology (I'm a biomedical engineering major) and two A-'s and two B's in organic chemistry/lab. I did fine in gen chem lab (AP credit for lecture) and physics. I even got a B in my introduction to biomedical engineering class where the average grade my year was an A- (yay for my group failing the final project!) I got into Michigan's incoming class. You don't need a picture perfect transcript to go to medical school.
 
Clinical Laboratory Science at Stony Brook
It's a fancier name of studying to be a medical technologist 🙂
 
First of all, your grades aren't hurt...that's not an issue.
Second of all, I had a very tough semester once. My classes weren't quite as hard as the ones you took, but it was my first semester away from home (juco transfer), I took a couple very challenging classes, I worked several afternoons a week until 11 PM, I was in a long distance relationship (bad idea) and I got sicker than I have ever been in my life, and the illness lasted nearly two months. I questioned if it was worth it. If being a doctor is what you REALLY want to do, then it is. But you also have to realize that every semester in medical school is going to be strenuous, and you have to ask yourself if you're willing to do what it takes. If being a doctor is your dream, then hang in there! Some adversity will make you stronger. But if med school is not for you, it's better to figure that out now than two or three years from now. Good luck.
 
I went on a rant. The person below me quoted it. Than I regreted it. Than I didn't. Than I though well this person is probably just a prisoner to their own perfectionism and I shouldn't be so harsh. Than I regreted thinking that.

You went down .7 on your total GPA. Your GPA is still a 3.8. Which means you are highly competetive. Your fine.
 
Chin up! It's always a bummer when you don't get the grades you wanted (and we all want only A's) but your grades are totally fine. Chill out.
 
UFGatorMed said:
Yeah. Wow. Those are some bad grades. Just throw in the towel now. I mean just think... What if you get ANOTHER B+. I MEAN WHAT THE &%$#!:scared:

God you piss me off.
Click to expand...

Whoa, for someone who is used to getting good grades, I can see why the OP would be a little dissappointed. The guy isn't making excuses or even complaining about his situation. He's just looking for some advice, as he feels his next semester will be even harder.
 
gatorsbball said:
Whoa, for someone who is used to getting good grades, I can see why the OP would be a little dissappointed. The guy isn't making excuses or even complaining about his situation. He's just looking for some advice, as he feels his next semester will be even harder.
Click to expand...

Yea, I'm really afraid that I will be heading towards a slippery slope. The competition in this program is really intense and the courses are all curve. I feel like I'm drowning in work :scared:
 
Do you take any humanities courses?
 
We took all the humanities course in freshman and sophmore years. The average age in my program is 23. I hate being a 20 year old student competing who older people, they made me feel stupid. 2 of them actually have master degree... 🙁
 
LabRat86 said:
We took all the humanities course in freshman and sophmore years. The average age in my program is 23. I hate being a 20 year old student competing who older people, they made me feel stupid. 2 of them actually have master degree... 🙁
Click to expand...

Competing?
 
Yea, all the courses are curved, so in order to get an A or A-, I have to be at the top 5 or 6 spots of the class. Class size is only 23. Wonder if adcom will consider the amount of science classes I have to take at once?
 
Were you originally planning on applying to medical schools? This sounds pretty intense. Do you have time to do anything other than study?
 
Well in my sophmore year I was a Gen Chem TA
Now I'm in Americorp, probably going to have to finish the hours during summer
Volunteered at Pathology Lab over summer
Team Leader (Head volunteer) at Blood Bank
Probably going to find some research job before I graduate

The good thing about this program is I'll have alot of clinical experience (no patient interaction though)

Rough 175 hours of experience for each Lab department
Microbiology Lab
Hematology Lab
Blood Bank/Coagulatio Lab
Chemistry Lab
Cytogenetic Lab
Around 60 hours of phlebotomy training (probably get certified over summer)

I'm taking this major as a backup plan in case I dont make it to medical school. I'm guarantee a job with this major as a Medical Technologist as there is currently a shortage
 
LabRat86 said:
Before my junior semester my BCPM GPA was 3.89

This semester

Physio = B+
Biochem = B+
Clinical Micro = A
Medical Micro = B
Stat = A
Pathology = A-

GPA for this semester = 3.53 That's a .35 drop in GPA

I honestly don't know what happened. I was so hard for two years and now this happens. I feel really tired of working so hard for just a chance.

I feel mentally exhausted and want to give up.....

This semester is even worst Hematology, Clinical Micro, Clinical Biochem. Genetics, Forensics..... I'm in a special program that requires me to take all these classes at once.

I need some advice. Thank You
Click to expand...

Same exact thing happened to me last semester. Bs and B-s across the board. Just hang in there, and focus on next semester. 3.5 is still decent.
 
I think when you apply to medical school adcoms will consider your grades knowing how many hard classes you took. However, I know (from personal experience) that it is worth it to slow down, take less classes during one time and really achieve your full potential (if you do in fact wish to get all A's, personally I think B+s are kinda cute. They show you're smart, but totally human too.) Take this as a learning experience and when you get an interview (if they ask about this semester which they probably will not because your grades are freakishly good and so is your GPA then you can tell them about how you learned your lesson not to take too many demanding courses at one time blah blah blah.) My real advice: get a glass of vino, watch some good election coverage and go to bed early. Good luck!
 
lol, I wish I can do that, but all the courses are sequenced, so the classes are only offered once a year 🙂 If I take time off. I wouldn't be able to take the next one and I'll be held back for a year.
 
I'm taking this major as a backup plan in case I dont make it to medical school.
Click to expand...
You mean as a *career* or just UNTIL you get to med school? 🙂
 
I realize that you don't have the perspective to understand how ridiculous this thread seems to many of us.

It's okay to be disappointed because you, yourself, are not happy with your performance. If you know that you could do better, and you don't feel like you accomplished that, then, OK.

But do not feel bad because you think this is going to severely hurt your medical school prospects. Not a chance. Come back when you have a 2.9 year!
 
Vihsadas said:
I realize that you don't have the perspective to understand how ridiculous this thread seems to many of us.

It's okay to be disappointed because you, yourself, are not happy with your performance. If you know that you could do better, and you don't feel like you accomplished that, then, OK.

But do not feel bad because you think this is going to severely hurt your medical school prospects. Not a chance. Come back when you have a 2.9 year!
Click to expand...
Yes, this thread does seem ridiculous.

Personally, I'm shocked by how restrained the responses have been. Except for the one rant which was subsequently edited out, y'all have actually been really nice to the OP.

I'm pretty tired of all this sincerity, though. It's time to lay it on the OP for being so myopic. I think the OP's overall GPA might still be higher than my best quarter's GPA.

.... then again, that's not saying much.
 
Dude, one semester I got a 2.9...
You're going to be fine.
 
LabRat86 said:
Before my junior semester my BCPM GPA was 3.89

This semester

Physio = B+
Biochem = B+
Clinical Micro = A
Medical Micro = B
Stat = A
Pathology = A-

GPA for this semester = 3.53 That's a .35 drop in GPA

I honestly don't know what happened. I was so hard for two years and now this happens. I feel really tired of working so hard for just a chance.

I feel mentally exhausted and want to give up.....

This semester is even worst Hematology, Clinical Micro, Clinical Biochem. Genetics, Forensics..... I'm in a special program that requires me to take all these classes at once.

I need some advice. Thank You
Click to expand...

You're fine.
 
brianmartin said:
You mean as a *career* or just UNTIL you get to med school? 🙂
Click to expand...

As a career, they told me that there is alot of mobility with this major. Hope I'm not being lie to :laugh:
 
I hope you are kidding because your grades are excellent.
 
When I read your thread title I thought this...

Physio = B-
Biochem = D+
Clinical Micro = C
Medical Micro = B
Stat = C
Pathology = C+

That is a terrible semester.

Then I saw this...

Physio = B+
Biochem = B+
Clinical Micro = A
Medical Micro = B
Stat = A
Pathology = A-

And remembered this is SDN.

Your grades are great, you need to put things in perspective. What your consider a bad semester is the average GPA for people entering medical school. That means people are getting in with below that.

You have nothing to worry about.
 
I'm sorry if I have offended anyone. It's just that I'm a typical male Asian with typical ECs. I was told that it's really hard for someone like me to get into medical school and I really have to perform.
 
LabRat86 said:
I'm sorry if I have offended anyone. It's just that I'm a typical male Asian with typical ECs. I was told that it's really hard for someone like me to get into medical school and I really have to perform.
Click to expand...

If you think your ECs are weak buff them up.

Also your race or gender can't hurt your ability to get into medical school.
 
If you feel like giving up now, what will you do once you're in med school? My entire junior year has been terrible just basing it on my schedule.

This semester is:

Orgo II
Orgo II Lab
IDEAS Lab (biomedical engineering lab)
Computational BME
Research (13 hours a week)

I'm not joking when I say that each class is easily 8-10 hours a week between class and work. Then throw in studying for MCAT, volunteering, and other groups, and it's very time consuming.

You just have to stay focused on the big picture. Come this time next year everything will be better!
 
I hate people like you in general, but I'll bite.

You have excellent grades. At this point, you have demonstrated that you are a strong applicant. Your GPA will still likely be above a 3.6/3.7 so just keep up the hard work and start prepping for the MCAT. You're still sitting pretty.

LabRat86 said:
Before my junior semester my BCPM GPA was 3.89

This semester

Physio = B+
Biochem = B+
Clinical Micro = A
Medical Micro = B
Stat = A
Pathology = A-

GPA for this semester = 3.53 That's a .35 drop in GPA

I honestly don't know what happened. I was so hard for two years and now this happens. I feel really tired of working so hard for just a chance.

I feel mentally exhausted and want to give up.....

This semester is even worst Hematology, Clinical Micro, Clinical Biochem. Genetics, Forensics..... I'm in a special program that requires me to take all these classes at once.

I need some advice. Thank You
Click to expand...
 
I wish I was having a terrible junior semester like you.
 
OK seriously, I understand you are disappointed in yourself right now. But come on! If this gets you down this much you're going to have a heart attack if you ever get a B-. You've got to take a deep breath and calm down. And understand that a lot of people on this website consider your grades, (including this semester), to be very high, so it tends to bug people when you sound full of dispair and hopelessness when many would be thrilled to have your grades.
 
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