Do I have a chance?

[JLP1414]

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Hi. Sorry if this isn’t the right area to post this, I’m new here.
I have an incoming sophomore in college with a 3.87 GPA, but a 3.3 BCPM GPA. Granted, I’ve only taken gen chem 1&2 and Ecol & ecol lab. I got a B in chem both semesters, but I was working 2-3 jobs while taking 16-19 credit hours each semester. This summer, I enrolled in a very accelerated one month biostatistics class, (I had taken stats in HS without problem). However, I’m working 2 jobs pretty much full time and I’ve struggled to make time for the class. Additionally, I couldn’t afford a fancy calculator, which was fine because on the HW she supplied us with tables for converting to T and Z scores. On the midterm she did not, (without warning). If you’ve taken statistics, you know that if your calculator cannot solve for T/Z scores and there’s no chart, you’re boned. Needless to say, I will probably be getting a B in this course, further lowering my BCPM gpa.
Do I still have a chance?
I’ve worked at Girl Scouts, have 200+ hours as a medical scribe, have volunteered at Flying Samaritans, and am actively in multiple clubs on campus. I will be Kaplan’s brand ambassador in the spring, and working for Gift of life (bone marrow donation program). I also have been working as a research lab assistant for the past 8 months and plan to continue.
I feel a little overwhelmed, but I don’t want to keep doing everything if I have no chance at medical school.
I’m weaker on science, I came from a rural area with high schools without labs.
I’m hoping to do well on the MCAT, I received a 33 on my ACT and 1460 on SAT.

Please advise as to if I have a chance (given my GPA) and if you have any tips or suggestions on becoming a stronger applicant.

 

[Dr panda]

Relax, and stop being nervous OCD student, this is not what people expect from their doctor. You have just finished your 1st year and have 3 more to go. You have to set priorities school > EC > job, being busy is not an excuse for poor grades. It is way too early to ask about your chances, come back in 2021 or something. Forget about ACT and SAT, MCAT is a totally different thing.
P.S. If you work multiple ft jobs, you should be able to purchase TI 84 or something on Ebay for $30, it is not that expensive.

 

[JLP1414]

Relax, and stop being nervous OCD student, this is not what people expect from their doctor. You have just finished your 1st year and have 3 more to go. You have to set priorities school > EC > job, being busy is not an excuse for poor grades. It is way too early to ask about your chances, come back in 2021 or something. Forget about ACT and SAT, MCAT is a totally different thing.
P.S. If you work multiple ft jobs, you should be able to purchase TI 84 or something on Ebay for $30, it is not that expensive.

Do you have any recommendations on what to keep/drop? Or how to do better in science classes? Additionally, I do need to worry about my chances because this is quite a bit of work and stress if I ultimately won’t get in and will need a backup plan.

 

[Catalystik]

Hi. Sorry if this isn’t the right area to post this, I’m new here.
I have an incoming sophomore in college with a 3.87 GPA, but a 3.3 BCPM GPA. Granted, I’ve only taken gen chem 1&2 and Ecol & ecol lab. I got a B in chem both semesters, but I was working 2-3 jobs while taking 16-19 credit hours each semester. This summer, I enrolled in a very accelerated one month biostatistics class, (I had taken stats in HS without problem). However, I’m working 2 jobs pretty much full time and I’ve struggled to make time for the class. Additionally, I couldn’t afford a fancy calculator, which was fine because on the HW she supplied us with tables for converting to T and Z scores. On the midterm she did not, (without warning). If you’ve taken statistics, you know that if your calculator cannot solve for T/Z scores and there’s no chart, you’re boned. Needless to say, I will probably be getting a B in this course, further lowering my BCPM gpa.
Do I still have a chance?
I’ve worked at Girl Scouts, have 200+ hours as a medical scribe, have volunteered at Flying Samaritans, and am actively in multiple clubs on campus. I will be Kaplan’s brand ambassador in the spring, and working for Gift of life (bone marrow donation program). I also have been working as a research lab assistant for the past 8 months and plan to continue.
I feel a little overwhelmed, but I don’t want to keep doing everything if I have no chance at medical school.
I’m weaker on science, I came from a rural area with high schools without labs.
I’m hoping to do well on the MCAT, I received a 33 on my ACT and 1460 on SAT.

Please advise as to if I have a chance (given my GPA) and if you have any tips or suggestions on becoming a stronger applicant.

Your ECs are lovely for someone with one year of college. No wonder you're overwhelmed. Unfortunately, no med school will appreciate your lineup of activities if you continue to earn mediocre grades in science. Your GPA is your first priority. I suggest you cut out any club that doesn't give you leadership or volunteer opportunities. And what is a Kaplan brand ambassador? Are you thinking this will help your med school application? And three part-time jobs are not doing you any favors. Trim out at least one of them.

That said, you are only a rising sophomore. You have three years to raise your BCPM GPA. That will be easy to do if you get your priorities straight.

 

[Dr panda]

Do you have any recommendations on what to keep/drop? Or how to do better in science classes? Additionally, I do need to worry about my chances because this is quite a bit of work and stress if I ultimately won’t get in and will need a backup plan.

Again, take a breath, exhale, and take a heed. Your ECs are really nice (much stronger than mine LOL), however GPA/MCAT > ECs. I suggest choosing 2-3 activities and stick to it for a while; Goro has good guide about right ECs. Here is the rule of thumb:
1) Pick one good clinical position (which involves DIRECT patient interaction): hospice as an example. Aim for 300+ hours to be very solid.
2) Pick one good non-clinical position: Ronald McDonald house, AmeriCorps, etc. Hours are the same.
3) Do some research (don't overestimate it though).
4) Gain some leadership experience (there are multiple ways to do that).
5) OPTIONAL: get a job, you already have scribing position which is just perfect, stick to it if you like it, but set priorities – school > job. If you can't handle it, quit the job.
6) Get some shadowing (50 hours with primary care physician). Some people get 500+ with dermatologist which is pretty pointless, 50 is enough.
Get good grades, search for your school grade distribution database/archive and pick best professors. Do this every semester for every class, you don't want to run into tough-grader arts professor. Don't forget about ratemyprofessors. Maintain 3.7+ GPA and smash the MCAT.
In addition, don't forget to have fun and enjoy best years of life, attend parties, go on dates, meet with friends, travel, etc.

 

[Goro]

Do you have any recommendations on what to keep/drop? Or how to do better in science classes? Additionally, I do need to worry about my chances because this is quite a bit of work and stress if I ultimately won’t get in and will need a backup plan.

Go visit your schools learning or Education Center

 

[JLP1414]

Your ECs are lovely for someone with one year of college. No wonder you're overwhelmed. Unfortunately, no med school will appreciate your lineup of activities if you continue to earn mediocre grades in science. Your GPA is your first priority. I suggest you cut out any club that doesn't give you leadership or volunteer opportunities. And what is a Kaplan brand ambassador? Are you thinking this will help your med school application? And three part-time jobs are not doing you any favors. Trim out at least one of them.

That said, you are only a rising sophomore. You have three years to raise your BCPM GPA. That will be easy to do if you get your priorities straight.

Kaplan Brand Ambassador- work with pre med, pre law, and pre grad students to buy test prep materials. Compensated per hour, but also a “free” Kaplan MCAT yest prep as commission.

Thank you for your advice. I appreciate it.

 

[JLP1414]

Again, take a breath, exhale, and take a heed. Your ECs are really nice (much stronger than mine LOL), however GPA/MCAT > ECs. I suggest choosing 2-3 activities and stick to it for a while; Goro has good guide about right ECs. Here is the rule of thumb:
1) Pick one good clinical position (which involves DIRECT patient interaction): hospice as an example. Aim for 300+ hours to be very solid.
2) Pick one good non-clinical position: Ronald McDonald house, AmeriCorps, etc. Hours are the same.
3) Do some research (don't overestimate it though).
4) Gain some leadership experience (there are multiple ways to do that).
5) OPTIONAL: get a job, you already have scribing position which is just perfect, stick to it if you like it, but set priorities – school > job. If you can't handle it, quit the job.
6) Get some shadowing (50 hours with primary care physician). Some people get 500+ with dermatologist which is pretty pointless, 50 is enough.
Get good grades, search for your school grade distribution database/archive and pick best professors. Do this every semester for every class, you don't want to run into tough-grader arts professor. Don't forget about ratemyprofessors. Maintain 3.7+ GPA and smash the MCAT.
In addition, don't forget to have fun and enjoy best years of life, attend parties, go on dates, meet with friends, travel, etc.

Wow! Thank you.
I’m having a hard time balancing activities and have not really been participating in the “fun” parts of college. Do you have any tips for achieving balance?

 

[Dr panda]

Wow! Thank you.
I’m having a hard time balancing activities and have not really been participating in the “fun” parts of college. Do you have any tips for achieving balance?

Yeah, screw the job, worked great for me. Well, everyone is different, don't really want to get into that stuff, but girls (as I assume you are) usually can maintain more activities then boys at the same time, in addition, everyone is different and has different life experience. Basically ask yourself – what is my goal? (Answer: get in a med school) Now ask yourself – what should I do to get there? (you already now) Now drop everything that holds you back and just consumes your time. I suggest: devote 10 hours for job (if you really need it), 4 for clinical activities, 4 for non clinical, and 2 for leadership every week. Multiply total number of credits by 4 to get time you need to be exceptional student, and then just watch memes on this forum for the rest of your time (just kidding). At least that is what I do, except I no longer have a job (had it throughout my 1 year and ended up with similar stats as you). As of research, I suggest summer breaks to do some projects, you don't really need to have zillion hours of research unless you aim for Harvard/Stanford, usually those people take 1-2 gap years to devote it solely for research.
Also, don't forget about yourself, this process cause many people to burn out and having some hobbies and social life is what can save you from it. Go to gym, practice yoga, run, play ping-pong, whatever. Don't put yourself back, nobody of your friends and family wants you to burn out!

 

[MyOdyssey]

Wow! Thank you.
I’m having a hard time balancing activities and have not really been participating in the “fun” parts of college. Do you have any tips for achieving balance?

There are countless threads on this forum of premeds who screwed up their GPA and/or MCAT because they were too busy juggling 10,000 different things to actually bear down and study. Don't continue to be one of them. Focus on leadership, clinical volunteering involving patient contact, some research and nonclinical volunteering with the underprivileged.

Organic chemistry and physics are quite a bit harder than what you've taken so far. The MCAT will challenge you.

 

[Dr panda]

There are countless threads on this forum of premeds who screwed up their GPA and/or MCAT because they were too busy juggling 10,000 different things to actually bear down and study. Don't continue to be one of them. Focus on leadership, clinical volunteering involving patient contact, some research and nonclinical volunteering with the underprivileged.

Organic chemistry and physics are quite a bit harder than what you've taken so far. The MCAT will challenge you.

To second the above: it is a lot easier (and cheaper!!!) to get good grades from the first attempt than doing postbacc/SMP, so do not neglect it. You get in because you have right ECs, not because you have many.

 

[Osminog]

Save money by quitting your jobs. Gap years and SMP's are expensive.