Freshman wondering about chances..

[Trezsi]

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I realize this sort of post is quite common on this site, but I would greatly appreciate any advice. I am a freshman in college, but this is my 6th quarter as I chose to do the Running Start program and started college during the second semester of my Junior year in high school.
To make a long story short, I've always been very studious but lazy and at times unmotivated. I went through some personal hurdles but finally, about a month ago, I came to some realizations, one of which is that I, more than anything, want to become a physician. The problem is, prior to this epiphany, if you will, I began my science prerequisities and those grades obtained during unmotivated times on top of my year of Calculus grades have successfully killed my GPA. ( At this time it is a 3.15) I am continuing on with science and enjoy it immensely but I can't help but wonder if I should just retake all or most of these classes, as I'm only on my first year of general Chem & Bio before I continue on to Organic Chem and Anatomy, etc.
I'm also trying to revamp my study habits so any advice on these matters would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[Catalystik]

How many college credits do you have exactly? Did you get Ds or Fs in Calculus?

How have your grades been since you got motivated?

 

[hydraphoenix15]

The only thing that matters is the final result, tons of freshmen post here about things like "I got a C in my first Bio Class" or "My first semester sucked" and they get the same advice; you're no exception. If you wanna be a doctor, you'll be a doctor👍. Just keep shooting for straight As regardless of what you have now, no one else can give any better advice than that (maybe they can).

So you're a Freshmen with a 3.15? so you have 5 semesters including spring 2010 (now) to pull up your GPA, and even if you took 5 semesters of class already from high school to now, you can manage around 3.6, Anything 3.5+ is great, even though it's below average. Just a word of warning, the average matriculant's GPA has been skyrocketing these past few years, I wouldn't be surprised if it's 3.8 by the time you apply.

Few tips? Pace yourself, take down your classes semester by semester, you're in no rush you can take a gap year like many pre-meds do, there's absolutly nothing wrong with a gap year.

Start ECs NOW, go find a doctor to shadow or a clinic to hang around and stick with it until you get into med school, even if you go 2hrs/wk.

Rule of thumb is to not retake classes you've gotten at least a B-, if it's a C, either retake it, or even better, take an upper level version of it.

And TAKE ASTRONOMY! it IS a SCIENCE.

 

[Schemp]

He said he's a freshman, but he has 6 quarters which means he's at the end of his Sophomore year or beginning of his Junior year according to credits. In other words, you're probably graduating in 3 years or less.

My first piece of advice would be to drag it out and make sure you get those three years before finishing - it's much better than having to go back and apply/pay for post-bacc.

Second would obviously be to do well in the rest of your classes, and the MCAT when you decide to do it (no reason to take it for at least another year for you, probably two years). If you have 2-3 years of very good grades in both science and non-science classes, that will show that you've matured and are capable of doing well when the motivation is there, particularly in the classes that require you to apply the knowledge you gained in earlier science courses. The old stuff really won't matter by that point. Don't retake any classes unless you have below a C, as some schools do not accept a grade below C for their prerequisites.

Third, your statement about coming to the realization "a month ago" that you, "more than anything, want to become a physician" is not very meaningful yet. How do you know? I'm by no means discouraging you from the path you appear to have decided upon, but explore it more further. Do some meaningful extracurriculars. Take some really hard science classes. Shadow some doctors. Read some books. It's a tough journey and not a decision to take lightly.

That said, I wish you the best of luck and don't get too stressed out about all the hoops and hurdles along the way.

 

[Trezsi]

Thank you, all!
Catalystik, my average for the four Calculus courses I took (precalc 1-calc 2) is a 2.75. And so far I have 77 credits.
Last quarter was when I began my sciences and I got a 2.3 in Chem 1 and a 3.4 in Cellular Biology. I certainly don't feel I applied myself, especially not in Chem. More than anything, I had a couple "downer" people in my life who basically discouraged me from pursuing my dream but I'm not in contact with them any longer and realize I can definitely make it or at least give it my best shot, despite any hurdles that may come my way. I take full responsibility, however, and I guess through that time I realized just how badly I want this and I'm finally ready to give it my all.
I have already volunteered on and off in a nursing home and have shadowed my general practicioner for about a year now. I will soon start volunteering at the hospital and find other doctors to shadow as well, in addition to shadowing a family friend back in my country in Europe this summer just for the experience.
I guess my main question is about repeating these classes. I'm in Chemistry II and Zoology now and I've been doing well so far, so I figured if, at the end of the quarter, I have above a B it would be alright to move on without repeating since that would only really show "memorization" without actual learning. However, since I am "ahead" in the sense that I did Running Start, and at this point I don't care about the financial aspect since I definitely messed up, I would have no problem repeating the courses. I am fine doing either, would actually prefer to go back and retake so as to not leave any gaps in my foundation, but if this is unecessary at this point, that's alright as well.
Thank you for your patience and again, for all the advice!

 

[Catalystik]

Catalystik, my average for the four Calculus courses I took (precalc 1-calc 2) is a 2.75.

And so far I have 77 credits.

Last quarter was when I began my sciences and I got a 2.3 in Chem 1 and a 3.4 in Cellular Biology.

I have already volunteered on and off in a nursing home and have shadowed my general practicioner for about a year now. I will soon start volunteering at the hospital and find other doctors to shadow as well,

From this time on, keep in mind that any B you get sets back your redemption process. If you could manage to get straight As for the next 77 credits, your cGPA will rise to 3.55, which, with a good MCAT score will make you competitive for med school application purposes.

As far as repeating classes goes: Only five schools at my last count require a full year of Calculus. A lot of med schools want a year of Calc, and many let you take either Calc or Statistics. No one will care about your grade in Pre-Calc. You don't need Calc for the MCAT. You don't need it if you take Physics that isn't Calc-based. If you got a B in Calc I, don't worry about repeating any of your math. If you got a B in the last Calc course you took, it redeems the earlier low grades. If you got Ds or worse in all the Calc classes, you could either repeat Calc I alone, or take Statistics (depending on the requirements of the schools you'd most want to target).

A C+ in Chem I can stand, provided you understand the material and can get an A or B in Chem II.

A B+ in Cellular Bio is fine. Don't retake it. Just get some As in other upper-level Bio classes.

Your ECs are terrific for your level of education. You should know that one does not put HS experiences on the med school application, unless one continues the activity into the college years; so continue with what you've mentioned over breaks at home so you can include all the hours. Hopefully the hospital you mention is near the campus so you can do that volunteering during the school year. But keep in mind that right now, your highest priority is to get straight As. Don't distract yourself with ECs until you've proven you can get all As. You will need to adjust your study style. You may need to ask for the teachers help or attend tutoring sessions. Do whatever it takes, as it will be increasingly more time consuming and expensive to repair a low GPA as you accumulate more credits. ECs can always come later. Fun can come later. Watching TV can come later. PC games can come later. Now go and study and make this goal happen.

 

[j4premed]

I realize this sort of post is quite common on this site, but I would greatly appreciate any advice. I am a freshman in college, but this is my 6th quarter as I chose to do the Running Start program and started college during the second semester of my Junior year in high school.
To make a long story short, I've always been very studious but lazy and at times unmotivated. I went through some personal hurdles but finally, about a month ago, I came to some realizations, one of which is that I, more than anything, want to become a physician. The problem is, prior to this epiphany, if you will, I began my science prerequisities and those grades obtained during unmotivated times on top of my year of Calculus grades have successfully killed my GPA. ( At this time it is a 3.15) I am continuing on with science and enjoy it immensely but I can't help but wonder if I should just retake all or most of these classes, as I'm only on my first year of general Chem & Bio before I continue on to Organic Chem and Anatomy, etc.
I'm also trying to revamp my study habits so any advice on these matters would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

I was in a very similar situation. Around the same GPA, started a year early with Running Start, went through life "hurdles" that negatively affected GPA...
My advice would be to just focus on study habits. The only thing about participating in Running Start that I don't like is that, although you have the brain for it, the maturity isn't quite as sharp yet as it would be if you were to wait to begin school. However, adcoms take it into account that you did begin young.
Just do your best and you'll do just fine! Get the GPA up as much as possible, even if it means taking some easier classes. Use resources--get a tutor if need be.
What's done is done. Look forward and move on. Try to enjoy the ride!(I'm assuming you enjoy school, so don't let the stress take the enjoyment away) 🙂
Good luck!

 

[Morsetlis]

And TAKE ASTRONOMY! it IS a SCIENCE.

I think it's barely physics...

I wouldn't waste my time with astronomy unless I actually LIKED astronomy. And I don't. I prefer calc-based physics for engineers.