Bad freshman year, have questions, in need of advice.

[darkknight1]

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Hi, I would like some advice about the path to med school.

Ok so I am sophomore and sociology major with a 2.318 GPA.
This is because I came in to the school thinking I would do Comp Sci but it was boring and I gave up on it, so I didn’t start doing the pre-med requirements until last semester. My GPA is low because of the following:
Physics 1 : D
Biology: C
Computer Science: D
I am retaking Physics and Biology, so I am sure my GPA will go up.

My classes for the fall and summer are:
Biology
Chemistry
Physics 1
O-Chem 1
Psychology
2 Sociology classes.

I hope that I can get a 3.8+ GPA in the next semesters but realistically it will be around 3.4+.
Therefore, in theory my GPA will be around 3.3+ when I graduate.

I do not have a lot of volunteering but I plan to do more in the future, such as becoming an EMT and I just applied to volunteer at a children’s hospital.
My volunteering is the following:
Red Cross Blood Services Volunteer
Children’s Museum
I also went on a leadership retreat and am part of the Sociology club and an academic program.

Ok, so I have many questions I would like some advice:
I would also like to state that I am Hmong. I don’t know if this is important or not since there are a lot Asian pre-med students.
So my questions are:
1. I would like to take the MCAT my junior year (next spring), by then I would be taking Physics 2 and O chem. 2, is this fine? Or should I just wait till my Senior Year?

2. How do schools look at GPA, do they notice if the applicant is a junior, senior or post-graduate? I mean an applicant who is a senior may have a higher GPA than someone is applying as a junior, do they strictly go on GPA.

3. I really want to get into Med School after completing undergrad, so I was wondering why people wait until senior year to apply. I understand that it can help your GPA but is that all. Also, is it like applying to college where you can send a second transcript if I applied during my junior year.

4. So theoretically, by senior year, I would have around a 3.3+ GPA and I am sure I can get a 30+ MCAT, how are my chances? Alternatively I could go to Grad School and reapply but how does this help me, I mean I still have a low undergrad GPA, is it necessary to get a 3.5+ GPA in Grad School?

5. Any advice about volunteering or anything else would be appreciated.

Sorry for the long post. Thanks in advance to those would reply.

 

[BlueElmo]

Okay, the first question you need to ask yourself is, why did you end up with those bad grades in the first place? Family problems? Bad study habits? If so, you need to fix them ASAP.

 

[hoot504]

1. I would like to take the MCAT my junior year (next spring), by then I would be taking Physics 2 and O chem. 2, is this fine? Or should I just wait till my Senior Year?

No, you haven't 'doomed' yourself

In regards to this specific question, I would strongly advise against taking a heavy courseload while studying for the MCAT. Try taking it at the end of your junior summer, maybe...

 

[darkknight1]

Okay, the first question you need to ask yourself is, why did you end up with those bad grades in the first place? Family problems? Bad study habits? If so, you need to fix them ASAP.

yeah you're right, I really need to focus and study better. It was pretty much the transition from high school to college.