Freshmen Year: Bad Grades

[spdoctor]

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So I am currently a freshmen, this past November my grandfather passed away. It was right around the time of my third exam and final exam for chemistry. I ended up doing very poorly on both and got a D+ (this particular class at my school skips the C- and goes straight to D+ and so it is failing). I retook the class, did well on all three midterms, but had a major anxiety attack and a flashback of emotions and memories from the previous semester that made me do super bad on the final and thus failing again. I am going to retake the Gen Chem 1 class at a local state college near my parents home. I have decent grades (A's and B's) in the rest of my course, but this setback has really discouraged me. I really need advice as to what I should do and if this setback will really impede my chances at med school. I know med school acceptances get harder and harder each year, and I plan to add the reasoning for my poor grades in a personal statement, but I'd rather know now how badly it will affect my chances, and if there is anything I can do to make it up, and show that I can really make the best out of any situation sort of deal. Any advice would be truly appreciated. Thank you!

 

[Doudline]

Many freshmen drop the ball, it's not the end of the world.

1. Get your anxiety issues fixed - it won't excuse bad performance in the future;
2. attempt -and manage- to not get a grade under A- from now, especially in your prereqs;
3. get active outside of school with volunteering and other ECs - it's a nice change of mind from constant academics;
4. have fun!

edit: Don't mention it in your PS. Not worth it.

 

[Vain Brother]

don't worry about including it in your personal statement. life happened, you mis-prioritized your time, it's ok, that's what happens when you're 19 years old sometimes. you're a freshman. just get good grades from here on out

 

[spdoctor]

I do volunteer at the hospital and plan to volunteer every summer, Im also starting a scribe position and researching this summer and fall. I just really worried as to my gpa, even if I maintain a constant 4.0 gap (not likely-at best I feel as if I will get mostly A's and A-'s) then I will be obtaining a 3.6 ish gpa by the time I apply for med school. How likely are my chances with that for med school?

 

[Doudline]

Work on the rest of your app, and that 3.6 will get you in anywhere you wish.