Bad semester/Year- Is it too late?

[PremedKid98]

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I know this type of post pops up a lot, and for that I apologize, but I'm just trying to get an idea of where I'm at.

I'm done with my freshman year and start my sophomore year this fall, but I'm concerned I've already ruined my MD school chances.

Semester 1 GPA: 3.57
Semester 2 GPA: 2.93
Cumulative: 3.257

This last semester was really rough for me, and I dealt with a lot of stuff. Mental issues, poor studying, etc. I sat down midsemester and thought about how I wanted the rest of my life to go. So, I got help at my school's counseling center, and rearranged my study habits and time. My grades for the semester went up quite a bit. For this reason, I'm pretty confident that I won't have a repeat, and will see an upward trend. I honestly wasn't studying as much as I should have, and in ineffective ways, and spent a lot of time doing....absolutely nothing. Mostly just laying in bed feeling bad about myself.

Anyway, I've changed what I've needed to change, and I'm looking forward to improving my GPA over the next few semesters. But I'm concerned that no matter what I do, by the time I'd apply to MD schools, I just won't have the GPA, because it's already ruined. Is that accurate, or is an MD school something I still have a chance at?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Principia]

No, your GPA is not ruined. Calculating it out may make you feel better. Let's assume that you have completed 1/4 of your total credits (probably not exact, but it makes the calculations simpler). If you get a 4.0 the rest of your time in undergrad, you will end up with a hair above a 3.8 ((3.257 + 4.0 + 4.0 + 4.0)/4). If you average a 3.8 the rest of your time in undergrad, you will end up with a 3.66 by the same math. Future semesters will be weighted slightly more or slightly less depending on how many units you take compared to your freshman year. Neither of these GPAs rule out MD schools. So, mathematically, you are not finished.

So, I got help at my school's counseling center, and rearranged my study habits and time. My grades for the semester went up quite a bit.

This is the key. So many people ask this question and assume that they will "just be better" in the future without actually changing anything about their study habits or personal situation. These are the people that never improve their GPA. But, it sounds like you have a tangible plan to meet your goals. Make sure that you revisit this plan and adjust it if it is not working. You are not finished, but you probably don't have the luxury of another bad semester.

 

[deleted890552]

I know this type of post pops up a lot, and for that I apologize, but I'm just trying to get an idea of where I'm at.

I'm done with my freshman year and start my sophomore year this fall, but I'm concerned I've already ruined my MD school chances.

Semester 1 GPA: 3.57
Semester 2 GPA: 2.93
Cumulative: 3.257

This last semester was really rough for me, and I dealt with a lot of stuff. Mental issues, poor studying, etc. I sat down midsemester and thought about how I wanted the rest of my life to go. So, I got help at my school's counseling center, and rearranged my study habits and time. My grades for the semester went up quite a bit. For this reason, I'm pretty confident that I won't have a repeat, and will see an upward trend. I honestly wasn't studying as much as I should have, and in ineffective ways, and spent a lot of time doing....absolutely nothing. Mostly just laying in bed feeling bad about myself.

Anyway, I've changed what I've needed to change, and I'm looking forward to improving my GPA over the next few semesters. But I'm concerned that no matter what I do, by the time I'd apply to MD schools, I just won't have the GPA, because it's already ruined. Is that accurate, or is an MD school something I still have a chance at?

Thanks in advance.

You're fine. You can still get like a 3.8+ max depending on how well you do.

 

[Biochemistry69]

I assume you have 30 credits. If you go HAM from now on, it'll go something like this:
Freshmen Year: 3.257
Sophomore Year: 4.000
Junior Year: 4.000
Senior Year: 4.000

Cumulative GPA: 3.814

However, this world isn't perfect, and I don't expect you to 4.0 everything from here on out, as we're all human, we all make mistakes, and seldom do we exhibit mastery without stumbling a few times. You're not out of the game yet, and you can still get your self a shiny 3.7+ if you try.

 

[ekmf27050]

I didn't get an A in a science course until my senior year of college....

You good.

 

[Vkserop]

Well , What should I say? I remember I only got an A once 😀