2.6 Freshman GPA

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cdm3413

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I didn't care then, now I do.
Uh oh.
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CodeBlu said:
Upward trend. Make use of it. Kill your sophomore, junior and senior years.

Take summer classes to out shadow the freshman year.

You'll be fine. Shoot for a 3.6-3.8 overall GPA and you'll be grand.
Click to expand...

Planning on it. Feel like this last year was a blessing in disguise, as I feel it's going to play as a motivation factor.

whoops~
 
time to head over to the sociology department and hand them an intent to declare form.
 
I can relate except mine is a 2.4. I will tell you this I will not be denied what I want. It's all about how much you want it and how hard you are willing to work for it. Like I said in my first post on this site if I make all A's from now on I will have a cGPA 3.5, sGPA 4.0. Decide a goal and reach it and the rest will fall in place.

Driven
 
cdm3413 said:
I'm already majoring in ceramics.
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caribbean-map.jpg
 
driven2011 said:
I can relate except mine is a 2.4. I will tell you this I will not be denied what I want. It's all about how much you want it and how hard you are willing to work for it. Like I said in my first post on this site if I make all A's from now on I will have a cGPA 3.5, sGPA 4.0. Decide a goal and reach it and the rest will fall in place.

Driven
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Thanks guy. :}
 
Just make sure that you don't end up with a 2.6 when you graduate.
 
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driven2011 said:
I can relate except mine is a 2.4. I will tell you this I will not be denied what I want. It's all about how much you want it and how hard you are willing to work for it. Like I said in my first post on this site if I make all A's from now on I will have a cGPA 3.5, sGPA 4.0. Decide a goal and reach it and the rest will fall in place.

Driven
Click to expand...

That was inspirational. Kind of a crappy gunner though 😛
 
Welcome to the club.
 
CodeBlu said:
You'll be fine. Shoot for a 3.6-3.8 overall GPA and you'll be grand.
Click to expand...

How can you end up with a 3.6-3.8 overall GPA if you get a 2.6 GPA your entire freshman year? The calculations don't add up
 
If you don't go 3.8-4.0 the rest of your time you are screwed.

30 x 2.6 = 78

30 x 4.0 = 120 - (3.3 cum)

30x 40 = 120 - (3.5333 cum)

30 x 4.0 = 120 (3.65 cum)

If you go 4.0 the next three years you still only have a moderately ok GPA

Yes, I know you low GPA people are super motivated, but statistics are against you. Your MCAT will determine everything.
 
rossbossss said:
If you don't go 3.8-4.0 the rest of your time you are screwed.

30 x 2.6 = 78

30 x 4.0 = 120 - (3.3 cum)

30x 40 = 120 - (3.5333 cum)

30 x 4.0 = 120 (3.65 cum)

If you go 4.0 the next three years you still only have a moderately ok GPA

Yes, I know you low GPA people are super motivated, but statistics are against you. Your MCAT will determine everything.
Click to expand...
Or go DO and take full advantage of grade replacement.
 
driven2011 said:
I can relate except mine is a 2.4. I will tell you this I will not be denied what I want. It's all about how much you want it and how hard you are willing to work for it. Like I said in my first post on this site if I make all A's from now on I will have a cGPA 3.5, sGPA 4.0. Decide a goal and reach it and the rest will fall in place.

Driven
Click to expand...


Did you make all Fs in your gen ed classes or something? How's this possible?
 
I had a 2.9 my first semester Freshman year. I was there to have a good time, and not a lot else. Some things changed, I found my motivation. Finished with a 3.75, and the first semester wasn't mentioned in interviews. And, your first year won't be either so long as you trend upward. They're well aware that there is an adjustment period to college.
 
cdm3413 said:
I'm already majoring in ceramics.
Click to expand...

Meh. My degree is in theatre.

MCAT iz EzY said:
How can you end up with a 3.6-3.8 overall GPA if you get a 2.6 GPA your entire freshman year? The calculations don't add up
Click to expand...

Rossbossss explains below.

rossbossss said:
If you don't go 3.8-4.0 the rest of your time you are screwed.

30 x 2.6 = 78

30 x 4.0 = 120 - (3.3 cum)

30x 40 = 120 - (3.5333 cum)

30 x 4.0 = 120 (3.65 cum)

If you go 4.0 the next three years you still only have a moderately ok GPA

Yes, I know you low GPA people are super motivated, but statistics are against you. Your MCAT will determine everything.
Click to expand...

That said... typical SDN talk that is the average matriculant's GPA "moderately ok". But I agree that your MCAT will carry a lot of weight for you, OP.

SU1989 said:
Did you make all Fs in your gen ed classes or something? How's this possible?
Click to expand...

IIRC, Driven hasn't started his science classes yet, so this current GPA is only for non-science stuff.
 
OP, Never count out an SMP. They are expensive, but if you can afford it you can use it to make up for academic shortcomings.
 
SU1989 said:
Did you make all Fs in your gen ed classes or something? How's this possible?
Click to expand...

Not all F's but some, and a couple of D's and so on. I never went a full semester and was too worried about other things to give a crap about my grades so I would just stop going and not drop classes. Believe it or not everyone isn't a 3.5+ student I would say those that are would be the minority not the majority.
 
Right now I agree the numbers are against us but as you said the MCAtwill have good weight but as i've learned and read over and over it isn't just your GPA now Im not saying a 2.4 or 2.6 will get you in a Med school because it won't but if you make the upward gains like a previous poster said have a great MCAt and have great EC's you will have a great chance.
 
rossbossss said:
If you don't go 3.8-4.0 the rest of your time you are screwed.

30 x 2.6 = 78

30 x 4.0 = 120 - (3.3 cum)

30x 40 = 120 - (3.5333 cum)

30 x 4.0 = 120 (3.65 cum)

If you go 4.0 the next three years you still only have a moderately ok GPA

Yes, I know you low GPA people are super motivated, but statistics are against you. Your MCAT will determine everything.
Click to expand...

.
 
Last edited:
rossbossss said:
OP, Never count out an SMP. They are expensive, but if you can afford it you can use it to make up for academic shortcomings.
Click to expand...

It depends on how well you do on the SMP too. Getting in doesn't guarantee anything, but it is useful to show that you CAN handle the rigors of med school, provided that your GPA is solid.
 
JohnnyRomanes said:
It depends on how well you do on the SMP too. Getting in doesn't guarantee anything, but it is useful to show that you CAN handle the rigors of med school, provided that your GPA is solid.
Click to expand...

I'm not going to need a SMP at this point.
Ridiculous to settle on a SMP after your first year.
 
cdm3413 said:
I'm not going to need a SMP at this point.
Ridiculous to settle on a SMP after your first year.
Click to expand...

It also is ridiculous to just say "I'm going to get a 4.0" after getting a 2.6. I think they were just trying to show you that you have options because more than likely you won't get a 4.0 the rest of the way through.
 
SissyAlice said:
It also is ridiculous to just say "I'm going to get a 4.0" after getting a 2.6. I think they were just trying to show you that you have options because more than likely you won't get a 4.0 the rest of the way through.
Click to expand...

Where did I express that I was getting a 4.0 "the rest of the way"?
 
cdm3413 said:
Where did I express that I was getting a 4.0 "the rest of the way"?
Click to expand...

You seem very combative, even though you created this problem for yourself. Enjoy sulking with your 2.6.
 
SissyAlice said:
You seem very combative, even though you created this problem for yourself. Enjoy sulking with your 2.6.
Click to expand...

Well, regardless, I will be a doctor, and in the same time, had much more fun than you did your freshman year. 😉
Enjoy sulking in your college apartments.
Alice + her Mac = <3
 
Let's be honest, while I'm sure you "didn't care then but now you do" and all that jazz, getting a 2.6 freshman year may be more than just a couple bad decisions here and there but actually something that may be a little more ingrained and resistant to change. Truthfully, bad habits such as studying only a few nights before a test die hard.

I would strongly consider taking more drastic changes now, such as changing degrees (BS to BA) or majors (Biology to a nonscience), taking as many cupcake classes as possible, looking into taking CC credits, or seeing if you qualify for an ADHD diagnosis. I would also spread my sciences out so I only take one "hard" science class and one "medium hard" class a semester. The other two or so classes would be graduation requirements (easy A's). Now is not the time to increase your science load.

I question whether most people can magically jump from a 2.6 to a 3.8+ -type grades in only one semester. Yes, it has been done before, but seeing as the odds are against you, just try to make it easy on yourself.

A big mistake I see is people getting caught in the vicious cycle of thinking that since they did poorly in gen chem, for instance, they'll try harder in orgo to show that they are capable of getting better grades. While admiral, if often fails spectacularly. Some of these students may only do slightly better (if any) in the more advanced classes, and they are now stuck with, for instance, C's in gen chem and B minuses in orgo. These grades are not good. They then think that if they continue to take the biochem series and get more low B's, they show improvement over their initial low grades. Their GPAs are now so low that they will be passed over by adcoms who don't really care at this point that you challenged yourself and did marginally better in biochem.

You are not really trying to impress adcoms right now with the difficulty of your program, but instead showing them that you have as good a numbers as possible. Seriously underload the next upcoming semesters in order to improve your chances of achieving those 3.8+s grades. You only have 2-3 years of classes left to do this, so the clock is ticking. Heed my advice.
 
At least anything you do from this point onwards will constitute an upward trend, assuming you don't continue down the same road.
 
Medicine4Bruhs said:
Let's be honest, while I'm sure you "didn't care then but now you do" and all that jazz, getting a 2.6 freshman year may be more than just a couple bad decisions here and there but actually something that may be a little more ingrained and resistant to change. Truthfully, bad habits such as studying only a few nights before a test die hard.

I would strongly consider taking more drastic changes now, such as changing degrees (BS to BA) or majors (Biology to a nonscience), taking as many cupcake classes as possible, looking into taking CC credits, or seeing if you qualify for an ADHD diagnosis. I would also spread my sciences out so I only take one "hard" science class and one "medium hard" class a semester. The other two or so classes would be graduation requirements (easy A's). Now is not the time to increase your science load.

I question whether most people can magically jump from a 2.6 to a 3.8+ -type grades in only one semester. Yes, it has been done before, but seeing as the odds are against you, just try to make it easy on yourself.

A big mistake I see is people getting caught in the vicious cycle of thinking that since they did poorly in gen chem, for instance, they'll try harder in orgo to show that they are capable of getting better grades. While admiral, if often fails spectacularly. Some of these students may only do slightly better (if any) in the more advanced classes, and they are now stuck with, for instance, C's in gen chem and B minuses in orgo. These grades are not good. They then think that if they continue to take the biochem series and get more low B's, they show improvement over their initial low grades. Their GPAs are now so low that they will be passed over by adcoms who don't really care at this point that you challenged yourself and did marginally better in biochem.

You are not really trying to impress adcoms right now with the difficulty of your program, but instead showing them that you have as good a numbers as possible. Seriously underload the next upcoming semesters in order to improve your chances of achieving those 3.8+s grades. You only have 2-3 years of classes left to do this, so the clock is ticking. Heed my advice.
Click to expand...

I sincerely appreciate the honest feedback. That said, in lieu of studying and going to office hours/help sessions, I made a conscious decision to go out and party nights before mid-terms. I wasn't trying; however, I wasn't oblivious. I now have decided to step up my game, et cetera, yes mhm, but I feel that minimal effort and getting a 2.6 is pretty fantastic. I see peers trying and are doing worse off and thus I have confidence that if I make school a top priority, as it should be, I will certainly be able to redeem my frosh year.

Also, no need to prove myself on here. I use advice on sdn more casually than some. Thanks again.
 
I made bad choices after bad choices myself, my last semester I attended which was the fall of 2009 I made the Chancellor's List even though it was still gen eds because I did bad at first in Gen Ed's. Do what you gotta do and make non-believers into believers.
 
I had a 2.6 sGPA and a 2.85 cGPA my first three semesters of college. I maintained a 3.96 sGPA/cGPA for the rest of my undergrad years (another 6 semesters, I took 4.5 years tograduate) and finished with a 3.65 cGPA, 3.55 sGPA. Not amazing by any means, but with an upward trend and 37R MCAT, I fully anticipate having a good number of interviews at US Allopathic medical schools this year.

If you realize (like I did) that anything less than perfection from now on will prevent you from succeeding, it'll be a great motivator to get you going.
 
rossbossss said:
👍👍👍 OP that 2.6 is going to keep you from getting an american MD
Click to expand...

hardly, if he busts his ass and puts in the effort for the next 3 years, that 2.6 can easily be explained in a personal statement. OP do your best and strive for excellence these next 3 years of undergrad and you will definitely see the fruits of your labor. Never lose hope! (unless 2.6 is your graduating GPA, then you can lose hope 😉 )

also, try to beef up your EC's to something extraordinary so they will help to show your interest in the field
 
typicalindian said:
hardly, if he busts his ass and puts in the effort for the next 3 years, that 2.6 can easily be explained in a personal statement. OP do your best and strive for excellence these next 3 years of undergrad and you will definitely see the fruits of your labor. Never lose hope! (unless 2.6 is your graduating GPA, then you can lose hope 😉 )

also, try to beef up your EC's to something extraordinary so they will help to show your interest in the field
Click to expand...

If you kick ass you'll barely have to include it in your personal statement. I limited my explanation to two sentences (Final Note: I'm sure the application review committee will notice that my academic performance suffered my freshman year, a period during which a protracted infection affected my health and my grades. During this time, my spirit remained strong and my resolve intact, and, after recovering, I maintained a 3.96 science GPA through graduation.). Let the results speak for themselves.
 
rossbossss said:
👍👍👍 OP that 2.6 is going to keep you from getting an american MD
Click to expand...

This is, with all due respect, ignorance.

Medical schools take into account a bad first semester of bad first year. You don't necessarily have to get a 3.8-4.0 every semester going forward either. They'll look at what you've done since this year as opposed to the total.
 
MalibuPreMD said:
I had a 2.6 sGPA and a 2.85 cGPA my first three semesters of college. I maintained a 3.96 sGPA/cGPA for the rest of my undergrad years (another 6 semesters, I took 4.5 years tograduate) and finished with a 3.65 cGPA, 3.55 sGPA. Not amazing by any means, but with an upward trend and 37R MCAT, I fully anticipate having a good number of interviews at US Allopathic medical schools this year.

If you realize (like I did) that anything less than perfection from now on will prevent you from succeeding, it'll be a great motivator to get you going.
Click to expand...

Thanks - I'm hopeful. My shabby GPA is already motivation enough. Congrats on your success.


typicalindian said:
hardly, if he busts his ass and puts in the effort for the next 3 years, that 2.6 can easily be explained in a personal statement. OP do your best and strive for excellence these next 3 years of undergrad and you will definitely see the fruits of your labor. Never lose hope! (unless 2.6 is your graduating GPA, then you can lose hope 😉 )

also, try to beef up your EC's to something extraordinary so they will help to show your interest in the field
Click to expand...

Will do. 🙂
 
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