First Semester Final GPA - 3.0 GPA.

[AC3600]

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Hello,
I am an URM freshman female at WUSTL(Washington University in St Louis) and I just finished my first semester with a 3.0 GPA. I am freaking out right now because I have always wanted to be a doctor. I know I can do better next semester, but I am worrying about this semester now. My problems had to do with studies, partying a bit too much, professors, and taking exams. How worried should I be? Can I still attend a top medical school? I understand my problems but not how to move forward.

 

[Lannister]

Work your butt off for the next 7 semesters and you'll be fine. One bad semester won't kill you, as long as you improve.


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[MoDiddy]

It is good you have identified where you could have gone wrong. You can definitely still attend a top medical school but you are going to need to pull that gpa up, find methods to help you improve for next semester

 

[aldol16]

A bad first semester won't quash your chances at a top med school. A strong upward trend is looked a favorably and WashU is a good school. But don't use URM status as a crutch - do well and you will be rewarded in the end, URM or not.

 

[doc05]

Don't worry too much. And just remember that not everyone needs to be a doctor.

 

[MalenurseRN]

Like the others have said, one bad semester isn't going to hurt you. Focus onndoing very well in future semesters, get some healthcare experience (volunteer at a free clinic, shadow, etc.), but don't let it cause your grades to slip. In the end, your grades and MCAT are most important. I just got a C in physics 1. My first and only C, but I only have 1 prereq left. It's about the overall application. I've been an RN for almost 3 years, volunteer at a clinic that provides free primary and preventative care for people who cant afford health insurance. My cumulative GPA is a 3.9 and my science is a 3.8 (was much higher before the C). You can do this. It's normal to under perform in your first year. Demonstrate an upward trend and you got this!

 

[AC3600]

Like the others have said, one bad semester isn't going to hurt you. Focus onndoing very well in future semesters, get some healthcare experience (volunteer at a free clinic, shadow, etc.), but don't let it cause your grades to slip. In the end, your grades and MCAT are most important. I just got a C in physics 1. My first and only C, but I only have 1 prereq left. It's about the overall application. I've been an RN for almost 3 years, volunteer at a clinic that provides free primary and preventative care for people who cant afford health insurance. My cumulative GPA is a 3.9 and my science is a 3.8 (was much higher before the C). You can do this. It's normal to under perform in your first year. Demonstrate an upward trend and you got this!

But is it normal to underperform to this extent? I mean I know I can get hopefully get 4.0s from now on, but I feel like I fabulously ****ed up my first semester.

 

[MalenurseRN]

But is it normal to underperform to this extent? I mean I know I can get hopefully get 4.0s from now on, but I feel like I fabulously ****ed up my first semester.

You messed up and it sucks! You have to have to do better in future semesters. An upward trend is key because you will be able to demonstrate that you accurately identified the problem, corrected it, and able to handle the workload. You can bounce back from a 3.0. You have a lot more classes to take. If you can demonstrate an upward trend, do well in upper level science courses, and do well on the MCAT you will be fine. You're going to make a lot of mistakes along your journey of becoming a doctor. I still make them as a nurse, but it's a part if the learning process. This is a learning experience for you. Show them you learned by doing well.

 

[efle]

A lot of students get blindsided at first by WashU academics, don't freak out. You now have the advantage going into next semester of knowing what to expect, so it's just a matter of trying as hard as you can (and maybe partying a little less) and seeing where you fall then. As URM your target GPA to apply with is not going to be inaccessible because of a first semester 3.0! Even with a ~3.1 / 31 you'd have 75% odds. Do as well as you can next semester with GenChemII / Bio2960 and if you can make As there, then you're in good shape for keeping a GPA up to par for top med schools.