For those of you premedical students with 4.0's in your prerequisites...

[xnfs93hy]

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What strategies did you use in your classes to attain that GPA?

 

[jla314]

study

 

[scapermoya]

What strategies did you use in your classes to attain that GPA?

don't go to a hard school. or sleep. or have fun at all.

seriously though, don't focus so much on something like a 4.0 in prereqs at the detriment of the rest of your application. a 4.0 with a 40 on the MCAT and weaksauce ECs/letters --> no med school for you.

 

[Sunbeam]

strategies are going to vary by professor- there is no one way to get a 4.0 in science classes. I would ask people who have had the class in the past what they thought worked, but everyone is different and some things will work better for you than others. Studying a lot is definitely a good start, but like scapermoya said, grades aren't everything. Keep them high but make time for ECs.

 

[FloatOn]

Aim for nothing less than perfection and it'll work out in the end. You might not have gotten a 100, but a 95 is still pretty sweet.

 

[meerkatmd]

Aim for nothing less than perfection and it'll work out in the end. You might not have gotten a 100, but a 95 is still pretty sweet.

this. also, old tests are money.

 

[YouNeverKnow22]

drink

 

[mmmcdowe]

don't go to a hard school. or sleep. or have fun at all.

seriously though, don't focus so much on something like a 4.0 in prereqs at the detriment of the rest of your application. a 4.0 with a 40 on the MCAT and weaksauce ECs/letters --> no med school for you.

I just had a long chat with one of the admissions deans at my school about this. They call them "unidimensional candidates" here, and his opinion was that he would be terrified to admit such a candidate, let alone go to that candidate when he/she was a doctor.

 

[boaz]

What strategies did you use in your classes to attain that GPA?

 

[Zona Pellucida]

So dependent on the professors.

 

[scapermoya]

people like to focus on numbers because it's easy to rank them, but that doesn't neccesarily mean that they are the most important (or even very important).

i have come to understand that the quantitative things like GPA and MCAT just get your foot in the door. the rest of your app is what makes or breaks you.

that being said, you have to be adaptive. you have to reach out to your peers, especially older ones who have been through the classes. use tools like ratemyprofessor to schedule your classes, aiming for easier profs when you can. there is no one golden strategy.

old tests are the bomb though. many profs are lazzzy mofos. 👍

 

[Hybrid1]

I finished undergrad with a 4.0. Setting very high goals worked for me. I would aim for 100%. If I didn't get it, I still ended up with a very good score. Also, it helps to actually be interested in the classes. Do lots of practice problems, try to link topics together, etc.

Aim for a 4.0 only if you want it for yourself. I do not think it necessarily helps in gaining admission to medical school because you really need to prove that your application is balanced (and that you are not completely weird...)

 

[FloatOn]

I finished undergrad with a 4.0. Setting very high goals worked for me. I would aim for 100%. If I didn't get it, I still ended up with a very good score. Also, it helps to actually be interested in the classes. Do lots of practice problems, try to link topics together, etc.

Aim for a 4.0 only if you want it for yourself. I do not think it necessarily helps in gaining admission to medical school because you really need to prove that your application is balanced (and that you are not completely weird...)

On the other hand, kind of weird = quirky = interesting = good.

 

[Hybrid1]

On the other hand, kind of weird = quirky = interesting = good.

True! 👍

 

[Beta Cell]

Gosh darn double post, lol

 

[Beta Cell]

I just had a long chat with one of the admissions deans at my school about this. They call them "unidimensional candidates" here, and his opinion was that he would be terrified to admit such a candidate, let alone go to that candidate when he/she was a doctor.

I definitely study a lot and work hard, but it would be nearly impossible to keep my sanity if I didn't go out and get involved around campus and have a social life. I can't imagine how anyone else would either. Though I suppose you could easily have a social life, no EC's, and still appear undimensional. Interesting...

people like to focus on numbers because it's easy to rank them, but that doesn't neccesarily mean that they are the most important (or even very important).

i have come to understand that the quantitative things like GPA and MCAT just get your foot in the door. the rest of your app is what makes or breaks you.

that being said, you have to be adaptive. you have to reach out to your peers, especially older ones who have been through the classes. use tools like ratemyprofessor to schedule your classes, aiming for easier profs when you can. there is no one golden strategy.

old tests are the bomb though. many profs are lazzzy mofos. 👍

I completely agree there!

 

[YouNeverKnow22]

people like to focus on numbers because it's easy to rank them, but that doesn't neccesarily mean that they are the most important (or even very important).

i have come to understand that the quantitative things like GPA and MCAT just get your foot in the door. the rest of your app is what makes or breaks you.

that being said, you have to be adaptive. you have to reach out to your peers, especially older ones who have been through the classes. use tools like ratemyprofessor to schedule your classes, aiming for easier profs when you can. there is no one golden strategy.

old tests are the bomb though. many profs are lazzzy mofos. 👍

veryyyyyyyyyy true

 

[apumic]

Go to class. Go out and hang w friends after class. Remember you had a lab report due in the lab immediately after your next class 10 min before class starts. Do lab while prof lectures. Memorize important things prof says while you do your lab report. Turn lab report in at lab. Repeat the next day.

J/k...

To be successful takes several things: 1) a goal and plan, 2) hard work, and 3) natural ability. Figure out what works for you. Play to your strengths. If you're unsure of your strengths, take an inventory (such as the StrengthsFinder or the CPI). Utilizing your strengths will help you succeed. The other study suggestions mentioned are also a good idea -- esp. those pertaining to figuring out what the prof wants/cares about....

 

[s1lver]

First sem = 3.4 GPA
Second sem = 4.0 GPA

Things that I did differently:

* Started using Google Calendar
* Went to all the classes and tried to sit near the front
* Studied even if there's really not much to study


Oh, and RateMyProfessor! <3

 

[mvenus929]

Practice tests were my friend. I'd do the test, then go back and look at the answers and figured out what I did wrong for the ones I missed. Of course, my professors actually released the old tests and the answers, so that probably helped.

 

[BBender716]

Do well early in your courses when other people are just getting into test mode. The key to As apart from the obvious (studying) is to ace the early exams and complete ALL homework and small stuff. At least that was my formula...

 

[Techmed07]

First sem = 3.4 GPA
Second sem = 4.0 GPA

Things that I did differently:

* Started using Google Calendar
* Went to all the classes and tried to sit near the front
* Studied even if there's really not much to study


Oh, and RateMyProfessor! <3

I always sit near the front of the class. It is a habit now. I am going to check out this google calandar you speak of...

 

[BBender716]

I always sit near the front of the class. It is a habit now. I am going to check out this google calandar you speak of...

Google Calendar/iCal is super convenient for exams.