freshman year and super stressed out

[PreVetGator]

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Hey guys,
I'm not really sure if this is the place for this, but I was hoping to get a few questions asked.
I'm currently a second semester freshman at UF and I've wanted to be a veterinary since I was a kid. I already have around 500 hours and I work at UFCVM in a research lab (started my first semester).
Last semester, I got a C, and a B+ and ended with a GPA of 3.33. This semester I'm taking Chem and Bio, as well as 5 other classes (only ends up being 14 credits), but hit a brick wall at the beginning of the semester. At first I thought it was just laziness coming out of break, but I lost all my motivation/work ethic and just recently realized it was more than just laziness, but came down to some other underlying problems, however, I fear it's too late to do well this semester in the two classes that are extremely important (Bio and chem) and it's possible I'll have to drop chem or will only get by with a C+, B-. I'm hoping to get at least B's in both but I'm extremely far behind. As these are prereqs and I didn't do that great last semester, is this going to take a toll on my application in the future? I'm trying to improve my problem I have now and it should be better by next semester, but if I do badly freshman year is it hard to make up? I know the classes are only going to get harder, and it worries me.

Thanks for any input.

 

[rockatiel]

#1. Breathe. You are a freshman. I started my college career with a 2.8 and I would have killed to be in your place then (and now as I work on my thesis due in a week). I worked my tail off from then on, and I have an acceptance.

#2. It can be hard to make up. I'm not going to lie to you when I say you need as high of a GPA as you can get. I had a 3.4 at the time of applying and I'm super surprised I got this far in one cycle.

#3. Do no not do NOT overload yourself with courses. That is the fastest way to burn out. Work hard but within reason.

#4. Classes can and do get harder but it's nothing you can't handle of you have confidence and a willingness to do well. Brush up time management, get tutoring, do what you need to do. If this is your dream, pull out all of the stops to make it happen. This isn't the worst thing in the world, and you can bounce back, but make a plan NOW and stick to it.

Good luck! PM me for any and all advice. Also, there's probably similar threads to this if you search them. It always helped me to learn from example 🙂

 

[supershorty]

I had a rough go at the beginning of my freshman year because I had a hard time adjusting to living 1000 miles from home. I think my GPA was a 3.3 or a 3.2 after my first semester. That compounded with a terrible semester during my junior year (I had an accident and had major surgery, and should have withdrawn from my classes but didn't because I was dumb) meant that I didn't have above a B+ in any chemistry courses, and struggled in some other prereqs. I retook some courses and that helped - and I got into vet school.

You'll be fine, just figure out what study method works best for you so you can study better in future semesters.

 

[rockatiel]

Also, OP, post your stats in the "what are my chances?" Sticky if you haven't already done so! Lots of people there to help out!

 

[dyachei]

Since this has been posted in the WAMC thread, I'm closing this separate thread.