Canadian pre-med, poor first semester, need advice/vote of confidence.

[Lectures]

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Hey guys,

So here's how my first semester of first year looked:

-Physics (0.5 cred no grade posted yet, but likely low-mid 70s)
-Physics lab (0.25 cred): 74
-Biology (0.5 cred): 79
-Biology lab (0.25 cred): 85
-Psychology (0.5 cred): 83
-Chemistry (0.5 cred): 73
-Chemistry lab (0.25 cred): 81

So I've calculated an OMSAS GPA of being in the 3.37-3.41 range. I know this first term is not at all to my best potential (left everything until the last minute and got punished for it) and I will definitely be improving it next term.

I just wanted to know if I will need to obtain consecutive 4.0s (or something similarly hard) for the next 5-7 semesters to offset my one bad term? Will it affect my chances in the long run? Any advice would be helpful! 🙂

 

[tennisball80]

I don't think Americans understand the Canadian grading scale. In the U.S., an A is about 90%+. But I know in Canada, an A might be a 80%+.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Well, looking at your percentages sort of made me do a double take, but I trust that you understand much better than I do how to calculate an American GPA from Canadian grades. If you got a 3.4ish this semester, don't worry! Your chances are in no way destroyed, even for an international applicant. You will have to improve your grades quite a bit to be competitive at US med schools, but you have plenty of time to do that. It looks like you may have taken a bit too much upon yourself for your first semester, so if I were you I would consider taking no electives if you're going to take three lab courses. It's good to have difficult semesters to show that you can handle rigorous coursework, but don't do it if it will harm your GPA! You will need to get a couple of semesters' worth of 3.8+, I think, to increase your GPA.

 

[Lectures]

Hi again,

Sorry for not clarifying but my primary interest is Canadian medical schools. Here in Ontario:
A+ = 4.0 = 90%+
A = 3.9 = 85-89
A- = 3.7 = 80-84
B+ = 3.3 = 77-79

Generally a competitive GPA is a 3.7+.

 

[Catalystik]

One or two great semesters will put you back on track. You really had a tough semester due to taking three sciences with lab. Can you space those out a bit next semester and save the second of one of the series for the next year?