Freshmen: STOP FREAKING OUT!!!!

[wahoo2010]

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I can't believe how many threads freshmen made and complained about their FIRST semester grades. First of all, RELAX!! You have a LOT of time. Anything can happen in your college years. It's important to learn from your mistakes, improve your study habits, and show improvement in your GPA. I have heard of stories about people getting 3.0 in their first semester and graduating with at least 3.6 GPA. Anything's possible. I even heard of people getting in with 3.0 GPA, even though they have something exceptional on their application. But just because you didn't do "well" as you wanted to, it doesn't mean you won't get in. There are other important aspects of medical school applications, including ECs, MCAT, and LORs. Second, get off SDN now. You're still young and have a long way to go before applying to medical schools. SDN's not helping you with your studying at all. It's not going to take your tests. It's not going to take your MCAT (although it has awesome study tips. You should look at them when you study for MCAT). It's not going to volunteer and do clinical research for you. It makes procrastination worse, and it also makes pre-med more neurotic after seeing all these insane stats on SDN (3.8+ GPA, 35+ MCAT). It won't help your academic performance. Third, you just finished your first semester of being pre-med. Now you are starting to see what you got yourself into. If you really want medicine, just do it. Don't ask us "I'm doing terrible...can I still apply to medical schools?" Duh. Yes. Only if you really want medicine. What if we say no? Are you going to stop because we said no? You make your own decisions, not us strangers. At last, if you stay on SDN (God help you), learn how to use "Search" function. I have seen same threads over and over and over and over. As you can see, you aren't alone. Many people are in your situation. They have same questions you have. Use their threads to answer your questions. Plus they post awesome advice. Just please stop making new threads about same things. I don't want to see another page of "Horrible first semester grades." No but.

EDIT: I know this thread isn't going to stop freshmen from asking for advice regarding their first semester grades. If this prevents one-just one-from posting the same thread, it will make my day.

 

[UAAWolf]

I can't believe how many threads freshmen made and complained about their FIRST semester grades. First of all, RELAX!! You have a LOT of time. Anything can happen in your college years. It's important to learn from your mistakes, improve your study habits, and show improvement in your GPA. I have heard of stories about people getting 3.0 in their first semester and graduating with at least 3.6 GPA. Anything's possible. I even heard of people getting in with 3.0 GPA, even though they have something exceptional on their application. But just because you didn't do "well" as you wanted to, it doesn't mean you won't get in. There are other important aspects of medical school applications, including ECs, MCAT, and LORs. Second, get off SDN now. You're still young and have a long way to go before applying to medical schools. SDN's not helping you with your studying at all. It's not going to take your tests. It's not going to take your MCAT (although it has awesome study tips. You should look at them when you study for MCAT). It's not going to volunteer and do clinical research for you. It makes procrastination worse, and it also makes pre-med more neurotic after seeing all these insane stats on SDN (3.8+ GPA, 35+ MCAT). It won't help your academic performance. Third, you just finished your first semester of being pre-med. Now you are starting to see what you got yourself into. If you really want medicine, just do it. Don't ask us "I'm doing terrible...can I still apply to medical schools?" Duh. Yes. Only if you really want medicine. What if we say no? Are you going to stop because we said no? You make our own decisions, not us strangers. At last, if you still stay on SDN (God help you), learn how to use "Search" function. I have seen same threads over and over and over and over. As you can see, you aren't alone. Many people are in your situation. They have same questions you have. Use their threads to answer your questions. Just please stop making new threads about same things. I don't want to see another page of "Horrible first semester grades." No but.

EDIT: I know this thread isn't going to stop freshmen from asking for advice regarding their first semester grades. If this prevents one-just one-from posting the same thread, it will make my day.

I am truely thankful I did not discover SDN until after my Junior year...don't think I could have handled 4 yrs of neuroticism lol.

Seriously though- your grades are important. VERY important. The guy is right- SDN will not help you with your grades. SDN tells you what you need to do as an applicant, mcat tips, application tips, etc.


So freshman- here is all the SDN info you need to know right now
1) Get a 3.7+ GPA
2) Make sure you have various volunteering, shadowing/clinical, tutoring, and HOBBIES as well
3) Perhaps research soph/junior year...BUT FOCUS ON GRADES FIRST
4) Get a 30+ mcat.

There are the cliffs of SDN lol

 

[Global Warming]

I can't believe how many threads freshmen made and complained about their FIRST semester grades. First of all, RELAX!! You have a LOT of time. Anything can happen in your college years. It's important to learn from your mistakes, improve your study habits, and show improvement in your GPA. I have heard of stories about people getting 3.0 in their first semester and graduating with at least 3.6 GPA. Anything's possible. I even heard of people getting in with 3.0 GPA, even though they have something exceptional on their application. But just because you didn't do "well" as you wanted to, it doesn't mean you won't get in. There are other important aspects of medical school applications, including ECs, MCAT, and LORs. Second, get off SDN now. You're still young and have a long way to go before applying to medical schools. SDN's not helping you with your studying at all. It's not going to take your tests. It's not going to take your MCAT (although it has awesome study tips. You should look at them when you study for MCAT). It's not going to volunteer and do clinical research for you. It makes procrastination worse, and it also makes pre-med more neurotic after seeing all these insane stats on SDN (3.8+ GPA, 35+ MCAT). It won't help your academic performance. Third, you just finished your first semester of being pre-med. Now you are starting to see what you got yourself into. If you really want medicine, just do it. Don't ask us "I'm doing terrible...can I still apply to medical schools?" Duh. Yes. Only if you really want medicine. What if we say no? Are you going to stop because we said no? You make your own decisions, not us strangers. At last, if you stay on SDN (God help you), learn how to use "Search" function. I have seen same threads over and over and over and over. As you can see, you aren't alone. Many people are in your situation. They have same questions you have. Use their threads to answer your questions. Plus they post awesome advice. Just please stop making new threads about same things. I don't want to see another page of "Horrible first semester grades." No but.

EDIT: I know this thread isn't going to stop freshmen from asking for advice regarding their first semester grades. If this prevents one-just one-from posting the same thread, it will make my day.

No

 

[schrizto]

I think I'm one of the few freshmen on here who hasn't made one of these threads.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

im a freshman who's never complained about there grades..
though i do have a good gpa as it is..
but yes..
people need to stop panicking and drink some booze

 

[mybubbles14]

I am truely thankful I did not discover SDN until after my Junior year...don't think I could have handled 4 yrs of neuroticism lol.

True that! I can't imagine 4 years of the neurosis....😱

 

[VincentAdultman]

i am truely thankful i did not discover sdn until after my junior year...don't think i could have handled 4 yrs of neuroticism lol.

Seriously though- your grades are important. Very important. The guy is right- sdn will not help you with your grades. Sdn tells you what you need to do as an applicant, mcat tips, application tips, etc.


So freshman- here is all the sdn info you need to know right now
1) get a 3.7+ gpa
2) make sure you have various volunteering, shadowing/clinical, tutoring, and hobbies as well
3) perhaps research soph/junior year...but focus on grades first
4) get a 30+ mcat.

There are the cliffs of sdn lol

5) ???????

6) profit

 

[YouNeverKnow22]

im a freshman who's never complained about there grades..
though i do have a good gpa as it is..
but yes..
people need to stop panicking and drink some booze

👍

 

[Hifey]

Thank you for making this thread. Freshman definitely need to stop 1. freaking out and 2. coming on SDN!

One or two bad grades in classes will not significantly hinder your chances. If it happens in your freshman year, it just means that the next few years have to be academically great. I feel that Adcoms are especially understanding of it when it happens your first semester.

Getting off SDN is the best way to stay sane and not panic every time you don't get an A for the next three years. I recommend it for your sanity. I didn't even start coming on until the application process. good luck!

I can't believe how many threads freshmen made and complained about their FIRST semester grades. First of all, RELAX!! You have a LOT of time. Anything can happen in your college years. It's important to learn from your mistakes, improve your study habits, and show improvement in your GPA. I have heard of stories about people getting 3.0 in their first semester and graduating with at least 3.6 GPA. Anything's possible. I even heard of people getting in with 3.0 GPA, even though they have something exceptional on their application. But just because you didn't do "well" as you wanted to, it doesn't mean you won't get in. There are other important aspects of medical school applications, including ECs, MCAT, and LORs. Second, get off SDN now. You're still young and have a long way to go before applying to medical schools. SDN's not helping you with your studying at all. It's not going to take your tests. It's not going to take your MCAT (although it has awesome study tips. You should look at them when you study for MCAT). It's not going to volunteer and do clinical research for you. It makes procrastination worse, and it also makes pre-med more neurotic after seeing all these insane stats on SDN (3.8+ GPA, 35+ MCAT). It won't help your academic performance. Third, you just finished your first semester of being pre-med. Now you are starting to see what you got yourself into. If you really want medicine, just do it. Don't ask us "I'm doing terrible...can I still apply to medical schools?" Duh. Yes. Only if you really want medicine. What if we say no? Are you going to stop because we said no? You make your own decisions, not us strangers. At last, if you stay on SDN (God help you), learn how to use "Search" function. I have seen same threads over and over and over and over. As you can see, you aren't alone. Many people are in your situation. They have same questions you have. Use their threads to answer your questions. Plus they post awesome advice. Just please stop making new threads about same things. I don't want to see another page of "Horrible first semester grades." No but.

EDIT: I know this thread isn't going to stop freshmen from asking for advice regarding their first semester grades. If this prevents one-just one-from posting the same thread, it will make my day.

 

[Techmed07]

High School

• Come back in a couple of years.

During School

• Take college grades seriously, you'll be thankful when application time comes.
• If you're asking to do something because it might look good on your application, chances are you aren't interested enough to commit to it right now.
• Go to office hours, even if you are getting an A in the class because rec letters need to come from somewhere.
• Overstudy your freshmen year in college. Better to get an A+ in all your freshmen classes then wonder if that was time well spent than screw up your freshmen grades and wonder whether you have a chance.
• Work hard to get a stellar GPA so you can count on the MCAT as additional evidence of your academic capability, rather than a stressful redeeming factor.
• Don't hesistate to take on a leadership role in your activities. The work you put into it will benefit you twofold, you will learn a lot about time management and build interpersonal skills.
• Don't think that a great MCAT will compensate for a low GPA.
• Clinical extracurricular activities show admission comittees you have been exposed to the realities of medicine and you can handle them.
• Pursue ECs you are passionate about, don't try to do a little of everything.
• Compete ONLY against yourself.
• Time is better spent pursuing a mastery of the course material rather than calculating the minimum grade you can get by with for a 90 or planning how to spread a rumour that the date for the final has been postponed (when in fact it hasn't.)
• Moderation is key. Take the time to enjoy college but keep in mind that your grades and ECs will be important in the future.
• Remember that medical schools do not want a textbook memorizing machine. What you do outside of class is just as important and what you do inside as far as growing into a well rounded, articulate prospective physician - you can't develop socially if you don't put yourself in social situations and some of the best things do talk about in interviews are interesting things you do for fun!

MCAT

• Don't take the MCAT until your full-length practice scores are exceeding your target score (generally accepted to be 30+ total, with nothing less than a 9 in any section).
• It's MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), not MCATs (Medical College Admission Tests) as there is only one test not multiple ones.
• Stop reading SDN when you're studying for the MCAT. It'll stress you out when you're inevitably reading those score report threads, and it seems like everyone's getting 36+.
• If you find yourself asking, "Should I use this book or that book?" it's a good sign that you should probably use both.

Applications

• If you're asking questions about having to "study" after completion of med school, then you shouldn't be applying to doctorville.
• Take things one-step at a time, rewarding yourself along the way as this process is a marathon, not a sprint.
• APPLY EARLY!
• MDApplicants.com should be used to see on average what kind of people get into certain schools, but it's skewed extremely upwards and don't use a single profile as a ray of hope.
• When a school offers you an interview, learn as much as you can about the school, its focus, and its history. They have shown interest in you and you must do the same.
• Look at the mission statements of each school to see if you fit what they are looking for and to answer their secondaries
• Send Transcripts in MAY even if you don't want to start working on the AMCAS application
• A good personal statement takes time to write (1+ months) if it's been thoroughly edited and you've had time to reflect on what you really want to say.

Other

• Show a little cleavage.
• Show a lot of cleavage.
• Use the search feature before asking routine questions
• Take deep breaths.
• Believe in yourself.
• Don't ask other peoples' opinions of your chances unless you're prepared for an honest answer.
• Fat drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son.
• Slow down! Taking an extra year to do things well is much better than rushing through and having to deal with the consequences later.
• Learn some humility. If you haven't been beaten down to the ground yet, you'll get used to it during this whole process.
• When deciding what kind of prep material to use, sometimes its a good idea to go to amazon.com and read the reviews before you buy your material.
• The farther you go, the more you are in the public's eye. Treat everything you do seriously, respect everyone, and be aware that people will be critiquing you more and more

 

[osumc2014]

I think its important to not freak out after a bad semester, but realize that grades and MCAT do mean a lot! It's true people do get in with 28 MCAT, 3.2 GPA, but thats like 1 in 5000! and good grades will make your app process SO much EASIER! you ll get early interviews and rock those and sit back and relax. Whereas if your grades are lower, you could still get in, but you will suffer a ton through a year long process that will drain you...Just remember, 1 bad semester is ok, but let that be a wake up call and own the rest

 

[chrisski]

😕

 

[csmittyB]

Applications

• If you're asking questions about having to "study" after completion of med school, then you shouldn't be applying to doctorville.
• Take things one-step at a time, rewarding yourself along the way as this process is a marathon, not a sprint.
• APPLY EARLY!
• MDApplicants.com should be used to see on average what kind of people get into certain schools, but it's skewed extremely upwards and don't use a single profile as a ray of hope.
• When a school offers you an interview, learn as much as you can about the school, its focus, and its history. They have shown interest in you and you must do the same.
• Look at the mission statements of each school to see if you fit what they are looking for and to answer their secondaries
• Send Transcripts in MAY even if you don't want to start working on the AMCAS application
• A good personal statement takes time to write (1+ months) if it's been thoroughly edited and you've had time to reflect on what you really want to say.

Don't forget to apply broadly. A 4.0/37 doesn't guarantee that you will get into a "Top 10" school.

 

[chicubsfan]

I am truely thankful I did not discover SDN until after my Junior year...don't think I could have handled 4 yrs of neuroticism lol.

same here!

 

[metallica81788]

Thanks, OP - freshmen should take this advice. It's not the end of world.

If you want to do better, step up your **** and get off SDN.

 

[cubssox2000]

Thanks OP.

I've been trying to get my signature into as many of those threads that I can, but they just keep popping up!

 

[nuneyah]

You have prevented me from posting my first semester grades' horror story. I was going to call it "Why am I so STUPID?"

I hope I made your day! But when you make a 3.53 cGPA your first semester, you really just want to start hyperventilating. 👎

And I'm happy that I got to identify which profiles are the freshmen. WE'RE GOING TO BOND SO MUCH THROUGH THIS PROCESS, C/O 2017!
Hehehe. 😀

(But didn't we get such a crappy year? "Twenty-seventeen" doesn't exactly roll off the tounge.)

 

[bannie22]

My first year gpa was only 3.8🙁

 

[osumc2014]

You have prevented me from posting my first semester grades' horror story. I was going to call it "Why am I so STUPID?"

I hope I made your day! But when you make a 3.53 cGPA your first semester, you really just want to start hyperventilating. 👎

And I'm happy that I got to identify which profiles are the freshmen. WE'RE GOING TO BOND SO MUCH THROUGH THIS PROCESS, C/O 2017!
Hehehe. 😀

(But didn't we get such a crappy year? "Twenty-seventeen" doesn't exactly roll off the tounge.)

you sure did!