Formal Greetings and Grievences

[mq268]

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Hello. I'm a NYU Sophmore that is planning to graduate in 2010. A few thoughts have crossed my mind and I needed to work in what I should do to stay competitive:

- My GPA so far is a 2.8. I'm in the GSP program so my classes are mostly history based but the grades that pulled it down were Computer Science ones(C and C+ respectively, currently with a tutor).

-I'm currently in 3 clubs right now and want to apply for a summer program but I'm conflicted that my nearing Jaw Surgery may impeede the chance.

- Because of the GSP program, I may have to take a lag year. What could be something interesting I can take to make the lag year seem not a waste?

Thank you for listening and I would love to make friends in this forum.

 

[Mobius1985]

I don't know what GSP means.

If you want to stay competitive, your first concern needs to be getting a higher GPA. If you have about 45 credit hours now making up that GPA of 2.8, you'll need to pull straight As for the next 75 semester hours to have a GPA of 3.55. Keep in mind that a 3.6 is the average for those admitted to med school.

 

[DoctaJay]

Could you explain what the GSP program is?

 

[kami333]

Link

Seems like a 2-year liberal arts program for those who really want to go to NYU but don't get in?

My personal advice, bring up the grades, don't worry about extracurriculars too much, if necessary you can improve ECs significantly in 1 year, whereas GPA repair takes years.

The common things to do if you have free time, like a lag year, is to do research, volunteer in a clinical setting, etc. As long as you do something I don't think it is necessarily a waste, even if you end up waiting tables for 9 months to spend 3 months backpacking across Europe.

 

[mq268]

That's actually a common misconception. The program really is just more focused towards the humanities than other programs. A lot of students in GSP do just as good if not better than those outside of the program, statistically speaking. Although to be a bit of a negative nancy, isn't getting straight As for the rest of my college career REALLY REALLY Unrealistic? I mean things CAN happen through those years that affect my grade significantly. I also commute to school a few miles away (by train), which kinda isolates me from office hours in a way.

 

[Cegar]

It's not unrealistic. A lot of people who want to go to allopathic med school get almost all A's while they're in college.

And they work full time, volunteer, and do research.

And they walk ten miles in the snow and stuff like that.

 

[Mobius1985]

Although to be a bit of a negative nancy, isn't getting straight As for the rest of my college career REALLY REALLY Unrealistic?

Yes, it is unrealistic, considering how low your GPA is. But only you know how much you want to be a doctor. If you want it badly enough, you can do it. You will see inspirational stories on these forums from people who have resuscitated their GPAs from a black hole, and how they did it. Decide soon if it's worth the effort.

 

[Piyush]

I know atlest two people who were doing bad in their first or second year, but really pulled it through afterwards with straight As, and more ECs than what most of pre-meds do

 

[Mobius1985]

And they walk ten miles in the snow and stuff like that.

Cegar, you made me laugh out loud. Good one.

 

[87138]

2.9 GPA through my first 2 years.
[lightbulb]
3.94 the next 3 (involved transferring).

5 Allopathic acceptances.

 

[rcwhite007]

2.9 GPA through my first 2 years.
[lightbulb]
3.94 the next 3 (involved transferring).

5 Allopathic acceptances.

I am starting to realize that medical schools really like this. It shows how a student matures as they are in college. A trend upward like that shows them that you mean business. Congrats btw

 

[Cegar]

It's not exactly the ideal route though. I bet they still prefer people who keep a 3.94 all through undergrad.

Or maybe they don't. They're pretty weird.

 

[xrevision]

op, if medicine is really your passion then you need to get your head in the game. Raising that GPA by trying to get all A's would be a good way to start.

 

[mq268]

Hmm... true, very true. I'll do my best on this subject. My last semester grades were the following btw:

TOPICS IN MODERN SOCIETY 4.0 B 4.0 4.0 12.00

LATIN AMERICAN CULTURES 4.0 A 4.0 4.0 16.00

INTRO TO COMPUTER SCI 4.0 C 4.0 4.0 8.00

GENERAL CHEMISTRY I 4.0 B 4.0 4.0 12.00

GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LAB 2.0 A- 2.0 2.0 7.40