Freshman grades are a disappointment...

[hopefuldrmaya]

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Hi...I posted this elsewhere and then decided to make a new thread...
I'm new to this site (as in just found it and joined it in the last hour) so i don't know if this is the right way to ask about this...
I am a 17-year old rising sophomore at a top twenty university
I just saw my grades for my freshman second semester for intro bio and chem and found out I got a C+ and a C, respectively. Last semester I got a b in chem and a b- bio. In my other classes i have received all As and an A-, making my cum GPA a 3.2something...Unlike some other people who said their freshman grades were due to slacking off, I actually worked my butt off to get these grades, and I owe my performance to VERY minimal high school preparation because of the school I went to and trouble juggling the two classes while trying my best in my other reading and writing intensive classes....

I am planning on taking only 1 premed class (organic chemistry) next semester, so I will have more time to focus on it, and I am currently enrolled in calc I and calc II over this summer. I am certain I can get As and A-s in my other 3 classes for fall 07. However, I am worried about my chances for med school acceptance with these grades. I have wanted to be a doctor for as long as I can remember, but I also don't want to spend time pursuing something I will fail at. I really want to continue on the premed track, and I aspire to be a cardiac surgeon. Am I fooling myself by continuing on, working hard, and taking more science classes? Should I pursue a non-science major instead? Or should I just give up?
All constructive pieces of advice are welcome...

 

[geneticclone]

You should give up, Just give up. But first tell me what uni you go to so i can get your spot when you drop out. Thanks man. I owe you one.

 

[phluidradiation]

Dude, just chill. Do the best you can in your next classes. It's been repeated ad nauseam but here it is again- show them an upward trend in grades. As long as your higher level science courses have solid grades, you'll be ok. You still have plenty of time to make up for it. As time progresses you may learn more about yourself and what you want to do. Give it time and keep working.

Read through the site and you'll discover numerous threads that are eerily similar to yours.

 

[Tunn3lVision]

Or should I just give up?

You're asking the members of an anonymous forum if you should give up on your "life long" dream of becoming a doctor just because you didn't do so great first year of colllege? 😕

If you're that easily phased, I can assure you you have no chance of becoming a surgeon.

 

[pguin]

I know what the problem is...you're 17 so you completely forgot to go to your last two years of high school....its a common mistake but u definately need to go back and take bio and chem...and get laid, crash a car, and steal something while you're under 18!

Alright dont do the above things...just try harder and make sure your grades get better and you will be fine.

 

[hopefuldrmaya]

Thanks for your constructive comment phluidradiation. I checked out some of the other threads, and the difference is that while some of those people didnt try and partied their year away, I spent mine in the library, office hours, and review sessions. It kinda sucks when you actually tried and end up with grades that are less than expected. maybe some tips about what helped u guys do alright in your prereqs could be helpful...

(by the way geneticclone I was talking aout giving up premed, not my uni, so sorry to disappoint you)

And for the record, I started school early and that is why I will be 17 for the first few months of my sophomore year.

And I asked an anonymous forum about my situation because I wanted to get some advice or opinions from premed people who have gone through similar situations or at least know something about it...a lifelong dream isn't worth **** if it's impossible...and just cuz I ask for opinions doesnt mean I would change my life based on any random comment, so please dont judge my ability to become a surgeon on a post of just a few lines... I just wanted to hear some feedback from people that actually know a thing or two about med school...

Please, constructive and honest comments are very welcome and appreciated 🙂

 

[patrickd223]

Maybe you just had really hard or bad professors? It is kind of luck in college, unless you use pickaprof.com 😍

 

[doinmybest5840]

Hi...I posted this elsewhere and then decided to make a new thread...
I'm new to this site (as in just found it and joined it in the last hour) so i don't know if this is the right way to ask about this...
I am a 17-year old rising sophomore at a top twenty university
I just saw my grades for my freshman second semester for intro bio and chem and found out I got a C+ and a C, respectively. Last semester I got a b in chem and a b- bio. In my other classes i have received all As and an A-, making my cum GPA a 3.2something...Unlike some other people who said their freshman grades were due to slacking off, I actually worked my butt off to get these grades, and I owe my performance to VERY minimal high school preparation because of the school I went to and trouble juggling the two classes while trying my best in my other reading and writing intensive classes....

I am planning on taking only 1 premed class (organic chemistry) next semester, so I will have more time to focus on it, and I am currently enrolled in calc I and calc II over this summer. I am certain I can get As and A-s in my other 3 classes for fall 07. However, I am worried about my chances for med school acceptance with these grades. I have wanted to be a doctor for as long as I can remember, but I also don't want to spend time pursuing something I will fail at. I really want to continue on the premed track, and I aspire to be a cardiac surgeon. Am I fooling myself by continuing on, working hard, and taking more science classes? Should I pursue a non-science major instead? Or should I just give up?
All constructive pieces of advice are welcome...

I think you still have a chance. Although you say you worked hard this past year, if you look back now, can you HONESTLY say you worked your absolute hardest? Are you sure you couldn't have put in more time or effort into those classes? Because if you can, then you can improve. I know it's hard to realize you're going to have to make some sacrifices to get into medical school (hey, at the end of my first year I had about a 2.75, but have since brought it up to a 3.34), but if this is really what you want, you will make sacrifices and find ways to improve. Get a tutor if you need it for certain classes. In classes where you have a choice, take the one you know will suit your needs best (e.g. if you suck at calc, take the non-calc-based physics if you have that opportunity). Don't jump ahead and take an upper-level course if there's a lower one that you know will help you (even if it is not a pre-med req). Make sure you find an advisor that knows about pre-med info and can help you plan out your schedule for the next two or three years and make sure you don't get too overwhelmed in any particular semester. Good luck!

 

[SupernovaNights]

I hear you, hopeful. I'm also a rising sophomore, although I did the opposite of what you did. I come from a top 10 high school, and went to a "decent" school, nowhere near the top 20. Still, don't let your grades get you down, and keep studying. 3.2 is not a good GPA, but if you just take the time to look at a few other people's freshman years, you'll be happy fast. You're far ahead of everyone else right now.

Make the most of your summer, get some good medical experience, and try harder next year.

 

[Auron]

When there is a will, there is a way.

 

[Green Pirate]

When there is a will, there is a way.

not really. I may have the burning will to marry a playboy playmate, but there's not the slightest chance of that happening, for several obvious reasons.

however, I do think that OP should keep trucking along, working to try to bring up that gpa and find a study approach that works best for him. Start preparing for the MCAT well in advance, becaue your MCAT score will be very crucial to show med schools that you are compotent in the subjects you earned lower grades in.

if you find yourself in this same position a year from now, perhaps consider alternative paths--would you be happy as a physician and not a surgeon? would you be okay with a D.O. degree?

Overall though, while 3.2 is a bit low, many individuals on this board have gotten into allopathic med schools with that gpa--they were just able to compensate for it in some other way. A high MCAT is a must. But for now, just focus on bringing that gpa up.

 

[Auron]

not really. I may have the burning will to marry a playboy playmate, but there's not the slightest chance of that happening, for several obvious reasons.

however, I do think that OP should keep trucking along, working to try to bring up that gpa and find a study approach that works best for him. Start preparing for the MCAT well in advance, becaue your MCAT score will be very crucial to show med schools that you are compotent in the subjects you earned lower grades in.

if you find yourself in this same position a year from now, perhaps consider alternative paths--would you be happy as a physician and not a surgeon? would you be okay with a D.O. degree?

Overall though, while 3.2 is a bit low, many individuals on this board have gotten into allopathic med schools with that gpa--they were just able to compensate for it in some other way. A high MCAT is a must. But for now, just focus on bringing that gpa up.

I disagree. If there is something one truly wants something badly enough and will do anything to get it - then they will. You may not be able to marry a playmate but I think I can If I wanted looking at my current gf, they're not divine entities. I've achieved things that many have told me were "impossible" or "you'll never get that" so please don't tell me what can be achieved by the power of will and hardwork. I've lived it. Unlike me, you appear to firmly implant in your mind what you "think" you can achieve right from the beginning and set your limits to what you can accomplish. That's rubbish. I set a goal and do whatever the hell it takes achieve it. I consider the odds, but I don't let it worry me. People have done it before in far worse circumstances, so what the hell is stopping me? I've been very succesful as a result of this atitude.

Of course I can't will myself a Ferrari to appear before me however, with hardwork I see no reason why I can't get one in the future.

The Op's situation is quite simple: he must set the goal, say attain a 4.0 from now on and do whatever it takes to achieve that goal. It can be done. If the OP HAS THE WILL to raise his gpa and do well on the mcat, he'll dramatically improve his chances of success.

 

[littlealex]

Or should I just give up?
All constructive pieces of advice are welcome...

Oh please don't just give up. Hell it is way way too early for that. I'd recommend getting some extra help, if you feel that you suffer from a mediocre high school education, then boost your studying skills and fundamentals during the summers. Studying is a learned skill, thats why so many people have upward trends.

It is not difficult to do well if you're willing to put in the work. Study smart, learn the material. If you need to, pick an easier major (yes some majors are significantly easier than others) and do well in it.


Moreover, you're quite young so you have time to decide. If I were you, I'd work as hard as I can for 2 more years and see where I am at. If you can't pull yourself up, then consider going Pre-Dental or something.

Not everyone is meant to be a doctor, but hell, its way too early to even consider giving up.

 

[hopefuldrmaya]

So what majors do you recommend? I am thinking of still going with a science major so that I could have ample opportunity to up my science gpa. Right now I'm looking at an interdisciplinary science program that will allow me to take classes in different departments including bio, chem, psych, philosophy, and anthropology (so I can have many different classes to choose from and be able to concentrate on diffterent subject matters that interest me.) Feedback?

 

[armybound]

major in a subject you like and are good at, because you'll be taking a lot of classes in that subject.

 

[anotherpremed]

major in a subject you like and are good at, because you'll be taking a lot of classes in that subject.

First of all- deep breaths, you're doing fine. Seocondly Armybound is right. Choose a major that you love, that you do well in and it will boost your gpa. if you ar constantly fighting curves in science classes and getting frustrated, you might boost your science gpa but your overall may not be as high as possible. Look back over your frosh year which was your favorite class? Go talk to that prof about choosing a major- leave the doctor thing out of it. I've always thought that I have the rest of my life to do science and only these 4 years to study the other things l love.

Another important point for you is that you are only 17. A great candidate for taking a year or two off before med school. You say you had a crappy high school experience- why not take that and go do something about it via Teach for America? Med schools love stuff like that. Esp. for someone like you- med schools need to see maturity, and it'll be harder to convince them that you are ready for medical school when you are applying at 19.

SO calm down, take classes that you love, and volunteer a lot. Get everything you can out of your college experience- including the occasional party. Take a year or two off and get a masters, do service, or research. Then apply. Your application will be stronger- not just because you had a weak freshman year, but because you gained life experience. I think this would be true for anyone as young as you.

 

[lacesoutdan]

It's so early in the game for you that nothing you've done so far is that hard to compensate for later on. One year of a 3.2 is not that bad and you have plenty of time to bring the GPA up. However...if you really are busting your butt and your prereq grades consistently suck, maybe you should ask yourself if you're smart enough for this, at least in an academic science sense. I don't think that not seeing the material before in high school has very much to do with it. If you're studying hard and you can't beat out the kids at your school who are getting C's...things aren't going to get easier on the MCAT. Then again, maybe you just haven't yet figured out how to study...hopefully you can figure it out...something to think about.

 

[anotherpremed]

It's so early in the game for you that nothing you've done so far is that hard to compensate for later on. One year of a 3.2 is not that bad and you have plenty of time to bring the GPA up. However...if you really are busting your butt and your prereq grades consistently suck, maybe you should ask yourself if you're smart enough for this, at least in an academic science sense. I don't think that not seeing the material before in high school has very much to do with it. If you're studying hard and you can't beat out the kids at your school who are getting C's...things aren't going to get easier on the MCAT. Then again, maybe you just haven't yet figured out how to study...hopefully you can figure it out...something to think about.

don't be such a downer. no one knows how to deal with huge college classes freshman year.

 

[DrReo]

I am also a sophmore (54) credit and am 17. If you're willing to give up this easy, it isn't your dream. Just put the extra effort in. There's always away for help. And, don't blame it on your college preperation. I took chemistry I and II with only a semester of high school chem. just dedicate yourself. 👍

 

[lacesoutdan]

By the way - obviously I don't know you, but my guess is if you went off to college at such a young age you really ARE smart enough and you just think you're working harder than you actually are.

 

[lacesoutdan]

Studying is a learned skill, thats why so many people have upward trends.

Definately. Good point.