Almost a second semester sophomore...how bad is my situation at the moment?

[StressfulMD]

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Hi guys,

Finals are around the corner and I'm feeling super down and in the dumps.

I'm a sophomore finishing up the fall semester. I have a current 3.29 cGPA, 3.318 sGPA. Unfortunately, I'm looking at ~3.3cGPA, 3.24 sGPA after Orgo I+Lab and a 3 credit bio class after this semester.

This year has also been nothing but rejection after rejection. I was denied by my school's EMS, so I am an EMT with no job atm. Additionally, finding research has been particularly cumbersome, and it seems impossible to get a position in my current state.

Is MD still feasible for me at this point? It's my absolute dream just to get into even 1 MD school--what a huge blessing that will be if the time comes. I do plan on taking a gap year and taking the MCAT within that time, so I'm not applying junior year like some.

Any advice on what to do with myself with only 5 semesters left? I'm struggling with figuring what's wrong with me at this point--I had a very mediocre first semester of college, but drastically improved second semester, and now I feel like I am back to where I started.

 

[MCATISEZ]

Relax. Research and being an EMT is not necessary to get into medical school. Research seems more important, albeit not necessary. You have plenty of time to get more research experience, keep looking! Do some volunteering you’d enjoy. Get your grades a bit higher - you still have plenty of time. Trust me if you are thinking like this already... you’re life will suck more down the road. Be positive.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[rilte4]

Hi guys,

Finals are around the corner and I'm feeling super down and in the dumps.

I'm a sophomore finishing up the fall semester. I have a current 3.29 cGPA, 3.318 sGPA. Unfortunately, I'm looking at ~3.3cGPA, 3.24 sGPA after Orgo I+Lab and a 3 credit bio class after this semester.

This year has also been nothing but rejection after rejection. I was denied by my school's EMS, so I am an EMT with no job atm. Additionally, finding research has been particularly cumbersome, and it seems impossible to get a position in my current state.

Is MD still feasible for me at this point? It's my absolute dream just to get into even 1 MD school--what a huge blessing that will be if the time comes. I do plan on taking a gap year and taking the MCAT within that time, so I'm not applying junior year like some.

Any advice on what to do with myself with only 5 semesters left? I'm struggling with figuring what's wrong with me at this point--I had a very mediocre first semester of college, but drastically improved second semester, and now I feel like I am back to where I started.

Consecutive rejections can do a number on your mental state, especially during stressful times, so don't dissect or analyze. In the grand scheme of things - between EMS, research, and finals - finals are, by far, the most important.

You can absolutely get into medical school. Do your best to get out of your head, get your spirits up, and chug through finals.

 

[ReapPremed]

Extracurriculars can wait until your gap year. Focus on getting A's. There is no reason to rush to apply, especially if you are struggling with classes and can't even fit the ECs you want into your life. I'm in my late 20's and just got accepted.

Put your nose in a book, and when you're not studying relax and enjoy college. Your GPA can be salvaged, but the more B's you have under your belt that harder that will be. You don't want to be a senior with a 3.4 whose options are being a subpar DO applicant or doing an SMP.

 

[E.Hemingway]

I finished my second year with a 3.4, realized I needed to be more responsible if I wanted to make it into medical school, and decided to make school my top priority. Raised my GPA to a little over 3.6 by graduation and have gotten 6 IIs this cycle, so far. So it’s possible. It seems like you’ve made the realization, now you just have to commit to making school #1, developing effective study habits, and avoiding distractions. It would also help a lot to get involved in some sort of organization working with the underserved and work your way into a leadership position (if you aren’t already doing that). I think that matters more than research or being an EMT. Also try to get a bunch of clinical exposure, whether it’s through scribing, volunteering, or shadowing.

 

[JonathanHusky]

Hi guys,

Finals are around the corner and I'm feeling super down and in the dumps.

I'm a sophomore finishing up the fall semester. I have a current 3.29 cGPA, 3.318 sGPA. Unfortunately, I'm looking at ~3.3cGPA, 3.24 sGPA after Orgo I+Lab and a 3 credit bio class after this semester.

This year has also been nothing but rejection after rejection. I was denied by my school's EMS, so I am an EMT with no job atm. Additionally, finding research has been particularly cumbersome, and it seems impossible to get a position in my current state.

Is MD still feasible for me at this point? It's my absolute dream just to get into even 1 MD school--what a huge blessing that will be if the time comes. I do plan on taking a gap year and taking the MCAT within that time, so I'm not applying junior year like some.

Any advice on what to do with myself with only 5 semesters left? I'm struggling with figuring what's wrong with me at this point--I had a very mediocre first semester of college, but drastically improved second semester, and now I feel like I am back to where I started.

an easy way to get research experience is to look for research intensive courses... my senior year I took a class w/ a professor where he taught us about the ongoing work he was doing regarding ALS in his lab and we had a chance to contribute to it. you obviously won't have a chance at pub or anything but it helps you get a good understanding of the scientific method, trouble shooting, scientific writing, giving presentations, etc... I think adcoms are more interested in the fact that you have a general understanding of research rather than several years of intense research, that's more desirable for a top 20 school or something

 

[Goro]

Hi guys,

Finals are around the corner and I'm feeling super down and in the dumps.

I'm a sophomore finishing up the fall semester. I have a current 3.29 cGPA, 3.318 sGPA. Unfortunately, I'm looking at ~3.3cGPA, 3.24 sGPA after Orgo I+Lab and a 3 credit bio class after this semester.

This year has also been nothing but rejection after rejection. I was denied by my school's EMS, so I am an EMT with no job atm. Additionally, finding research has been particularly cumbersome, and it seems impossible to get a position in my current state.

Is MD still feasible for me at this point? It's my absolute dream just to get into even 1 MD school--what a huge blessing that will be if the time comes. I do plan on taking a gap year and taking the MCAT within that time, so I'm not applying junior year like some.

Any advice on what to do with myself with only 5 semesters left? I'm struggling with figuring what's wrong with me at this point--I had a very mediocre first semester of college, but drastically improved second semester, and now I feel like I am back to where I started.

Still plenty of time to recover.

 

[Albanian24]

I have faith in you 🙂 it's still early. If you want a little inspiration: I was around the same stats around your time sophomore year, slightly higher. I killed junior and senior year and brought it up, did summer research, and got a 509 MCAT, which isn't even super high. Spent lots of time polishing my essays and getting good letters.

I'm also sitting on 7 acceptances. I'm serious. Just work hard and set your eye on the prize and I promise you can do it!