Advice- Low GPA

[Fre3way]

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I am a rising junior at a top 50 university. My goal is to become a physician but I am not quite sure if I will be able to make the cut. I've talked with my advisor and I'm not sure if I'm getting the best advice given to me. They always have been optimistic and give positive feedback but I know my grades have been lacking behind a lot.

What would you suggest at this point? I am ready to buckle down for my last 2 years and focus on my academics. I am sure I can get a 3.75+ for the remaining semesters, possibly a 4.0 too. Is there any hope for me to become a physician? I am not too fond of Caribbean schools but as a last resort, I wouldn't mind going that route. Any advice/tips would be greatly appreciated.

CGPA: 2.2

Here are my prerequisite grades:
Bio I (Lecture + Lab combined): D; Retook and got a C+ (Should I retake it again?)
Bio II (Lecture Only): C- ; will retake this summer (Hoping for an A)

General Chemistry I: B
General Chemistry I Lab: B-
General Chemistry II: B-

Organic Chemistry I with Lab: F(fall semester); F(summer semester)
Organic Chemistry II with Lab: W (first time); never attempted 2nd time
Since I failed 2 times, even if i retake it and get an A, my average GPA for organic chemistry will be 1.33. Does this mean regardless of what I do, I can never apply to MD schools?

Physics I: B
Physics I Lab: A-
Physics II: C+
Physics II Lab: B

 

[ready2go2]

What lead you to this goal of wanting to become a doctor? You're not doing too hot in any of your science classes even after retaking it. Maybe you should rethink your life goals and start exploring others options...

Is it that you dislike the sciences or are you just doing poorly across all disciplines?

Why are you sure you can get a 3.75? Have you truly reevaluated your study habits?

 

[danorlan]

I am a rising junior at a top 50 university. My goal is to become a physician but I am not quite sure if I will be able to make the cut. I've talked with my advisor and I'm not sure if I'm getting the best advice given to me. They always have been optimistic and give positive feedback but I know my grades have been lacking behind a lot.

What would you suggest at this point? I am ready to buckle down for my last 2 years and focus on my academics. I am sure I can get a 3.75+ for the remaining semesters, possibly a 4.0 too. Is there any hope for me to become a physician? I am not too fond of Caribbean schools but as a last resort, I wouldn't mind going that route. Any advice/tips would be greatly appreciated.

CGPA: 2.2

Here are my prerequisite grades:
Bio I (Lecture + Lab combined): D; Retook and got a C+ (Should I retake it again?)
Bio II (Lecture Only): C- ; will retake this summer (Hoping for an A)

General Chemistry I: B
General Chemistry I Lab: B-
General Chemistry II: B-

Organic Chemistry I with Lab: F(fall semester); F(summer semester)
Organic Chemistry II with Lab: W (first time); never attempted 2nd time
Since I failed 2 times, even if i retake it and get an A, my average GPA for organic chemistry will be 1.33. Does this mean regardless of what I do, I can never apply to MD schools?

Physics I: B
Physics I Lab: A-
Physics II: C+
Physics II Lab: B

I also suggest you reevaluate your career goals. You will not get into med school with that GPA and you havent even taken the MCAT yet. Your best hope is to enroll in a masters program (MS in Basic Medical sciences or MS/MA in physiology or medical science ). You'll have to prove yourself then and achieve at least a 3.5 with at least 16-20 credits for your grad GPA to override your low undergraduate GPA

 

[POA AFLAT POG]

Maybe you look into a postbaccalaureate program.

Try to score higher from now on, one thing medical schools like to see is an improvement of your studies. On your personal statement you should mention how you were able to improve your grades too.

Either way you need to make some changes to your study habits. Good Luck!

 

[cerno]

DO route is possible if you retake and make good grades since they do grade replacement.

 

[CanIHazDopamine]

I think you should rethink your career goals. Failing Organic Chemistry twice is a huge blemish on your record, and if you cannot succeed in these early classes even after retakes, you may not be cut out to be a doctor. Maybe look into nursing or PA?

 

[Radon XP]

Unfortunately, even Carribean at this point is not guaranteed. But you have to be careful if you decide to do it. You need to do well if you go Carib, since you'll be going into extreme debt. This sort of performance is simply not an option if you want to get through all four years, let alone match.

Best of luck to you.

 

[iforget2]

It's always dangerous to believe you will get a certain gpa for any given semester. I would also say to reconsider your career goals, sorry. Especially after failing orgo I twice that is a big red flag for anywhere I'm sure. Try tackling ochem I again and see how that goes, but definitely don't take ochem 2 before taking 1.. Good luck

 

[csx]

DO route is possible if you retake and make good grades since they do grade replacement.

this

 

[Spinach Dip]

DO route is possible if you retake and make good grades since they do grade replacement.

Agreed.



Also, don't make any concrete decisions until you do your MCAT. Study for it A LOT. Push that score as high as possible.

It could mean the difference between a carribean school, and one with a little name recognition.

 

[inycepoo]

Retaking two classes only to get a C+ and F shows you are not going to make it through. Even if you squeak
into a med school (with a <3.0 GPA, the chances are...ah...), the amount of material there will eviscerate you. Not everyone is cut out for this type of academic work, sorry to say.

Reconsider your career plans. Get your study habits together if you want to get anywhere. (One does not need to ask to ascertain there is something very wrong with the latter.)

 

[StephanieZ]

How were you even allowed to enroll in Ochem II if you failed Ochem I? Not to mention you failed it twice 😕 What's changed to make you so sure you can pull off a 3.5+ for your last two years? I'm sorry, but no. At this time I think you should be reconsidering your career goals. Maybe take some time away from school, work a little bit, and come back to academia later. That's all I can say.

 

[deleted303591]

Study Help:

* Guaranteed 4.0 has a program for getting straight A's. But, you are not going to like the amount of work this requires. This program was created by a chemical engineer and this individual has seminars at my school each year.

* Cal Newport has a few books out about success, but they do not emphasize structure, which is probably what you need. How to Become a Straight A Student is a good book, if used in combination with the Guaranteed 4.0 plan.

* IF you have self control and will not use your iPhone for texting or internet browsing (set the phone to airplane mode regardless), you can use interval timers to study, such as the Pomodoro technique. I use Focus Time on my iPhone.

Medical School:

* DO is your only hope, as your record is too blemished at this point of time.

 

[La Presse]

Study Help:

* Guaranteed 4.0 has a program for getting straight A's. But, you are not going to like the amount of work this requires. This program was created by a chemical engineer and this individual has seminars at my school each year.

* Cal Newport has a few books out about success, but they do not emphasize structure, which is probably what you need. How to Become a Straight A Student is a good book, if used in combination with the Guaranteed 4.0 plan.

* IF you have self control and will not use your iPhone for texting or internet browsing (set the phone to airplane mode regardless), you can use interval timers to study, such as the Pomodoro technique. I use Focus Time on my iPhone.

Medical School:

* DO is your only hope, as your record is too blemished at this point of time.

👍

 

[deleted303591]

Guaranteed 4.0 consists of Bullet Point Reading (BPR) (book notes), Bullet Point Notes (BPN) (class and professor-provided notes), and Bullet Point Corrections (BPC) (corrected graded material, that you correct in bullet point form).

Basically you have a binder for each class, with dividers with sections for BPR, BPN, and BPC.

Bullet Point Reading (BPR):

* BPR Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYsuN6VYHpU

* BPR Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuYsaL5o5VM

Bullet Point Notes (BPN):

* BPN Your Professor's Notes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yiikL3MZ3c

* Streamlining your BPN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IujUC6tla1U

Bullet Point Corrections (BPC):

* Bullet points, 3-5 words, of graded material, put in chronological order, in your binder, in the BPC section
____________________________________________________

Equation Notetaking (Breaking down equations for bullet point reading and Bullet Point Notes):

* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j1BpAV31xY

Finding Your Seat:

* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS9APjZ5qhY

Stress Relieving Activities:

* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nHxISOj0e4

Staying Awake in Class (LOL):

* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTF4YRWUryo

 

[487806]

I am a rising junior at a top 50 university. My goal is to become a physician but I am not quite sure if I will be able to make the cut. I've talked with my advisor and I'm not sure if I'm getting the best advice given to me. They always have been optimistic and give positive feedback but I know my grades have been lacking behind a lot.

What would you suggest at this point? I am ready to buckle down for my last 2 years and focus on my academics. I am sure I can get a 3.75+ for the remaining semesters, possibly a 4.0 too. Is there any hope for me to become a physician? I am not too fond of Caribbean schools but as a last resort, I wouldn't mind going that route. Any advice/tips would be greatly appreciated.

CGPA: 2.2

Here are my prerequisite grades:
Bio I (Lecture + Lab combined): D; Retook and got a C+ (Should I retake it again?)
Bio II (Lecture Only): C- ; will retake this summer (Hoping for an A)

General Chemistry I: B
General Chemistry I Lab: B-
General Chemistry II: B-

Organic Chemistry I with Lab: F(fall semester); F(summer semester)
Organic Chemistry II with Lab: W (first time); never attempted 2nd time
Since I failed 2 times, even if i retake it and get an A, my average GPA for organic chemistry will be 1.33. Does this mean regardless of what I do, I can never apply to MD schools?

Physics I: B
Physics I Lab: A-
Physics II: C+
Physics II Lab: B

I'd forget everything about med school first and focus on improving your grades. Your academic record is a disaster and the retakes aren't helping you.

 

[plumhill]

Your grades aren't simply a case of lots of B's and C's...you're literally failing courses here. That is going to be concerning for ANY medical school within or outside of the US. So you need to first aim to PASS your classes (namely Organic). Literally quit everything else you're doing for a while and begin living in office hours, help sessions, tutoring, whatever you can do to get at least a B+ (and ideally an A) in these classes. So it looks like you need to retake Organic and the second semester of Bio. For Organic I would consider looking into supplementary materials to help you get more simple explanations. Khan Academy videos and "organic Chemistry as a Second Language" were immensely helpful for me.

If you can retake all classes where you got lower than a C-, you may be able to use grade replacement for DO schools. That's your only viable hope at this point in time. MD is out, and I would urge you to try and avoid Carib (although you may not be able to)

EDIT: to answer your question re Bio I - I would retake it if I were you, just to prove that you CAN get an A.

 

[inycepoo]

On second thought, "reconsider" is too light of a suggestion. The real suggestion is to change your career goal. Science and academics are obviously not your thing.