Am I being too harsh on myself?

[deleted947805]

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I’m an undergrad freshman as a biochem major. I’m hoping I’ll get around a 3.8 GPA this semester. I’m also volunteering in a hospital and a nursing home 10 hours a week and will probably do this for the next four years. I’ll be shadowing a doctor and doing research next semester and travel to South Asia the summer of my sophomore year. But I still feel like I’m not good enough because my GPA is not a 4.0. I know that there is so much time for me to improve my GPA in the future and my MCAT also really matters, but this 3.8 is making me like I’m incapable. Do you think I am being too harsh on myself by stressing too much? I would highly appreciate it if you please give me an advice on what I should also do during my undergrad that will make me a more competitive applicant.

Thanks! 🙂

 

[954026]

Hiya! Ok sooo I have not yet been accepted to medical school so take my advice with a grain of salt-- but I have gotten some interviews including one at a "top" 10 med school. I would say a few things:
1. A whole lot can change during your 4 years in undergrad. Rather than focusing on how to create the perfect medical school app, focus on making sure you explore the parts of research or medicine that interest you. Also don't feel like you have to have everything mapped out right now. It sounds like the activities you are currently engaged in are a great first step, but I'm sure you'll find other things that interest you along the way that may change your trajectory. For ex, I studied abroad in Asia as well and found an interested in public health research... something I was not "planning" on doing at all before I went abroad.
2. 3.8 GPA is awesome! You should be patting yourself on the back rather than stressing about it. If you are concerned, however, I know for a fact that improvement is always a good thing. So if you have your heart set on the "top" med school then starting with a 3.8 followed by a steady improvement and a strong MCAT definitely won't hold you back.
3. Unfortunately, given how competetive medical school is nowadays even a 4.0 and a 520+ MCAT score does not guarantee anything. It's better to start to learn how to pace yourself now and be proud of 3.8 or else you're going to be in for years of dissapointments.
4. In your case since you seem super sure about med school, I would also look into some programs with early assurance agreements. For example, I am pretty sure that Mount Sinai has a program where you start medical school after your sophomore year of college and can bypass the mcat. If you maintain that 3.8 and keep doing what you're doing, I'm sure you have a good shot! Here's the link: FlexMed Early Admission | Icahn School of Medicine
5. It's easy to get wrapped up in all this as a freshman but I think you'll soon realize that you can get there without all the stress. And for real-- a 3.8 is awesome!! Congrats!

 

[mmmcdowe]

moving to preallo

 

[puahate]

Look at GPA acceptance stats.

 

[chaim123]

I’m an undergrad freshman as a biochem major. I’m hoping I’ll get around a 3.8 GPA this semester. I’m also volunteering in a hospital and a nursing home 10 hours a week and will probably do this for the next four years. I’ll be shadowing a doctor and doing research next semester and travel to South Asia the summer of my sophomore year. But I still feel like I’m not good enough because my GPA is not a 4.0. I know that there is so much time for me to improve my GPA in the future and my MCAT also really matters, but this 3.8 is making me like I’m incapable. Do you think I am being too harsh on myself by stressing too much? I would highly appreciate it if you please give me an advice on what I should also do during my undergrad that will make me a more competitive applicant.

Thanks! 🙂

Take a chill pill, and focus on getting through college first. A lot is going to happen in college, and plans will change. You're definitely over stressing, and need to slow take and take a moment to appreciate where you are in the moment.

 

[bushido]

yes, you're being too hard on yourself

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Do you think I am being too harsh on myself by stressing too much?

Yes. Being obsessed with your grades and feeling stressed and distraught over not having a 4.0 will burn you out. You’re just starting out on a very long road, and many a premed find themselves fleeing from the path because of burnout. Do your best, but try to enjoy yourself and not focus so much about being premed that you only do things that you think will help your application. That’s how you miss out on cool stuff (and much of that cool stuff actually makes you more interesting and unique).

 

[deleted947805]

What

moving to preallo

what is that?

 

[Osminog]

The average cumulative GPA for matriculants at the Yale School of Medicine is 3.8. According to the unreasonable standard you set for yourself, the average med student at Yale is "incapable." Chill tf out.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

What

what is that?

The premed allopathic forum. Allopathic med schools are MD schools. Since your question is a pre-med question, you are a premed, and it’s not specifically about osteopathic schools, it is more appropriate for the pre-allopathic forum.

 

[mmmcdowe]

moving to preallo

you had posted in school specific discussions. This isn't specifically about one school so I moved you to the general forum.

 

[Valtun]

My GPA as a freshman was a 3.8 as well. I'm a junior now applying this June and it's above a 3.9.

Don't stress out too much, a 3.8 in general is great. Keep on improving and don't think about it too much, you have a long road ahead.