Feelind discouraged

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Hi everyone, this is my first threat on sdn. 🙂
As most of you know there's no grade replacement anymore and I feel like this new policy just killed my chances to become a doctor. As of now, my cGPA is 3.161, and my sGPA 3.161 as well (without grade replacement).

Should I just give up? I am feeling depressed and embarrassed, I truly regret being a party monster freshman that only cared about women and drinking. Huuuuge uptrend though,
4.00 GPA last 2 semesters
3.7 GPA Spring
3.9 GPA on the Fall
3.6 GPA Spring
And then my stupid freshman year - I got 1.9 on my first semester. Tbh I didn't even try, I barely went to class and missed exams/hw/etc

I do have good EC, letters of rec, research, clinical, etc.
I am planning on taking the MCAT next summer btw. I understand most of you will say kill your MCAT but it is easier said than done (I'll def try though).
any advice?

Your cGPA and sGPA are both 3.161? What are the chances. I think your upward trend is admirable.
 

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Do well on the MCAT (as you already know) but seriously make this test the most important thing in your life and only take it when you are 100% prepared and ready. Continue to improve your app in other areas like ECs and you should be okay if you apply very broadly! You have an upward trend which is great and your GPA is not bad its just on the lower end. Apply to DO schools as well and you'll definitely get in somewhere. Take it from someone who had a very very low GPA when applying. Also, if you don't get in somewhere on the first try theres always other options like SMP or masters at places that take candidates from their program if you maintain a certain GPA. I think tufts has one and many other schools.
 
Thanks for the replies, guys.
I feel a little bit happier now, I was freaking out. It kills me when I realize I had the potential to hold a really great GPA but because I wasn't emotionally ready for college, I dug my own grave.

I'm still trying to figure out how your cGPA and sGPA are the same to four digits.
 
Thanks for the replies, guys.
I feel a little bit happier now, I was freaking out. It kills me when I realize I had the potential to hold a really great GPA but because I wasn't emotionally ready for college, I dug my own grave.
Nice upward trend! Study hard and take the MCAT when you are hitting your target score.
 
Haha :dead:
I apologize, they are not. I just assumed they were the same (or at least very similar). I just checked though, and fortunately my sGPA is a bit higher than my cGPA - but not a significant change tho
Sorry for the confusion I will be more concise on my next threats.

Just call me a detective 😉

Its no big deal, I was just wondering how that was possible at first!
 
Hi everyone, this is my first threat on sdn. 🙂
As most of you know there's no grade replacement anymore and I feel like this new policy just killed my chances to become a doctor. As of now, my cGPA is 3.161, and my sGPA 3.161 as well (without grade replacement).

Should I just give up? I am feeling depressed and embarrassed, I truly regret being a party monster freshman that only cared about women and drinking. Huuuuge uptrend though,
4.00 GPA last 2 semesters
3.7 GPA Spring
3.9 GPA on the Fall
3.6 GPA Spring
And then my stupid freshman year - I got 1.9 on my first semester. Tbh I didn't even try, I barely went to class and missed exams/hw/etc

I do have good EC, letters of rec, research, clinical, etc.
I am planning on taking the MCAT next summer btw. I understand most of you will say kill your MCAT but it is easier said than done (I'll def try though).
any advice?

The MCAT is the easiest exam to kill. If you study the exam just as much as the material you can definitely rip through it. For psychology/sociology take an attack and memorize perspective on it. Watch the khan academy lectures, crush the 100 page notes from it on reddit, if you can take a general psych 101 class, I didnt do this but hearing your lecturer speak make resonate sounds in your head.
Biology, know the ins and outs of physiology, cell and molecular, and biochem. Cover your amino acids, thats super high yield.
For physics dont delve into the long and monotonous problems you did in undergrad.
Chemistry is chemistry, know your pka formulas etc.
Verbal was relatively easy for me after some practice, after each passage realize verbal is confusing because its somewhat opinion based. You will usually be able to narrow down the answers to two. Work through the problem and pick one, try to argue against it, if you cant argue against it you may have the right answer. The goal is to prove yourself wrong with your answer choice in verbal. Imagine yourself opening up the answer key and being shocked because the exam writer put some garbage answer.
 
Hi everyone, this is my first threat on sdn. 🙂
As most of you know there's no grade replacement anymore and I feel like this new policy just killed my chances to become a doctor. As of now, my cGPA is 3.161, and my sGPA 3.161 as well (without grade replacement).

Should I just give up? I am feeling depressed and embarrassed, I truly regret being a party monster freshman that only cared about women and drinking. Huuuuge uptrend though,
4.00 GPA last 2 semesters
3.7 GPA Spring
3.9 GPA on the Fall
3.6 GPA Spring
And then my stupid freshman year - I got 1.9 on my first semester. Tbh I didn't even try, I barely went to class and missed exams/hw/etc

I do have good EC, letters of rec, research, clinical, etc.
I am planning on taking the MCAT next summer btw. I understand most of you will say kill your MCAT but it is easier said than done (I'll def try though).
any advice?
You might have some trouble with MD, but for DO schools if you have good ECs and like everyone else is saying kill your MCAT, I think you should be perfectly fine. My stats are similar because of a similar situation freshman year. My most recent interviewer noted how low they were, but also how nice the upward trend is. Keep it up! If this is what you want, keep at it and it will happen.
 
I have a 3.1 GPA and I already have two DO acceptances. I had an upward trend similar to yours as well so I think as long as you do above average on the MCAT (500+) and check all your EC boxes, you should get some interview invites from DO schools as you have a good list. PM me if you want any details about my application.
 
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I have a 3.1 GPA and I already have two DO acceptances. I had an upward trend similar to yours as well so I think as long as you do above average on the MCAT (500+) and check all your EC boxes, you should get some interview invites from DO schools is you have a good list. PM me if you want any details about my application.
Wow, that's amazing! Congratulations.
Tbh I might pm you lol.
 
Good work on you upward trend!!!!! That is some impressive work ! Really!

Apply broadly, but i am sure you will get something! Head up and keep swimming!
 
Hi everyone, this is my first threat on sdn. 🙂
As most of you know there's no grade replacement anymore and I feel like this new policy just killed my chances to become a doctor. As of now, my cGPA is 3.161, and my sGPA 3.161 as well (without grade replacement).

Should I just give up? I am feeling depressed and embarrassed, I truly regret being a party monster freshman that only cared about women and drinking. Huuuuge uptrend though,
4.00 GPA last 2 semesters
3.7 GPA Spring
3.9 GPA on the Fall
3.6 GPA Spring
And then my stupid freshman year - I got 1.9 on my first semester. Tbh I didn't even try, I barely went to class and missed exams/hw/etc

I do have good EC, letters of rec, research, clinical, etc.
I am planning on taking the MCAT next summer btw. I understand most of you will say kill your MCAT but it is easier said than done (I'll def try though).
any advice?
Upward GPA trends are very good. If you do well on MCAT, then you'll find that there are MD (and all DO) that reward reinvention.
 
Your chances of becoming a doctor are not over. There is a big difference between you with a bad freshman year followed by an impressive upward trend and an applicant who was a steady 3.1-3.2 student all four years.

The bad freshman GPA doesn't go away, but your hard work the past few years will be noticed. I think most schools that appreciated reinvention aren't going to change just because grade replacement went away. I had a worse freshman GPA than you did and I am in my first year at an MD school and multiple DO acceptances. Make sure you don't take the MCAT until you are ready. A high score can put an exclamation point at the end of this comeback story.

My favorite thread when I was a pre-med: LOW GPA/MCAT Success Stories (Posts by Nontrads Already Accepted to Med School). I don't know if you are a non-trad, but hopefully it is still encouraging to read that this can be done after a rocky start. Congrats on the impressive upward-trend.
 
Thanks for the wise words of advice, mate. Also I forgot to mention I am an international student (European citizen) but I got permanent residency (green card). Not sure how this affects my chances
If you are applying with permanent resident card then I do not think that you are considered international student.
 
To the OP: if I'm reading the meta-message correctly, are you kicking yourself for the low beginning GPA? If so, I'd like to share this with you.

I had this young patient (I'm an ER Nurse), < 16 who was crazy drunk. Embarrassed as all gets, mostly because her parents were tearing her up for getting drunk. I had to do an IV on her and the parents decided to go out into the lobby, leaving myself (and said drunk's co-conspirator) together for a bit. This is what I told said drunk pt, "Who ever said they never got drunk at your age is a bonafide liar." She and her drunk besty busted out laughing and all went well.

We all have hangups from our past. Whoever says they don't, is a bonafide liar. Move forward with your goal.
 
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