Getting in? (Freshman)

[Medmon]

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Hi! I have a quick question/predicament.

I am currently a "freshmen" at a top 20 college. Coming out of high school I had top of the line stats (4.0 GPA, 5.2 weighted, 2300 SAT etc). My father went to a private college that was fairly small and though I got into better schools I decided to go there as it is somewhat of a family tradition. This school was completely different then any school I had attended before (high school, middle school etc). Essentially it was a party school where almost no one cared about their grades and eventually I got extremely flustered (I was a bit naive going into college =/) and for two semesters did extremely badly in my classes (2.5ish GPA).

This next year after talking to someone I had done lab research with, I was accepted into a very good public university on their credit. At the moment I am classified as a freshmen as the only credits I allowed myself to take were my AP credits from high school and college classes I took while in high school (all together thats about 28 credits). I am doing research at my university (and I should have published work by next year). I work at a local grocery store, I shadow in my spare time, I am in several clubs, I have and intend to maintain a 4.0 GPA (at least so far I have straight A's in this semester) and I have volunteer/patient hours and a summer med program already set up. I intend to make sure I can be the best candidate I can be with absolutely no lapses. In short, I feel like I have forged myself anew and am doing pretty well in terms of time management, getting my life together.

So essentially my rather longwinded post boils down to, am I still capable of getting into med school?
I understand that I may have and probably have ensured I cant get into a top tier med school, but what about other med schools?

 

[InanelyHighNut]

Upward trends always seem impressive.

Besides, you can tell them about how you matured in that short time.

Good luck!

 

[J ROD]

You will be fine as long as you keep a 3.75+ GPA the rest of the way. AND kill the MCAT.

You seem to have the smarts to pull it off. Plus, get in the regular clinical experience, volunteering, shadowing, etc.

 

[Stratego]

You do know that you'll be required to submit the coursework transcript with the GPA of 2.5 to AMCAS when you apply to med schools, even though you didn't transfer it to your current school, right?

Even so, I figure that with four semesters of 4.0 at the new school, you could have a GPA of 3.5, and with six semesters, it could be 3.62, which is competitive. So, absolutely, you have a shot at allo med schools if you keep up the excellent work you've begun.

 

[J ROD]

You do know that you'll be required to submit the coursework transcript with the GPA of 2.5 to AMCAS when you apply to med schools, even though you didn't transfer it to your current school, right?

Good catch!! I read over that fast....

You dont get rid of that 2.5 GPA but you have plenty of time to bring it up!!

 

[Medmon]

Wow thank you for the immediate replies! That is certainly good news to hear and takes a load off my shoulders! =)

So I understood that I would still have to show that GPA.. how exactly is that done? Do I have to get a transcript from that school for every school I apply to?


Quick question on EC's:
I volunteered in high school at Duke and I had direct and often individualized contact with patients which was amazing and reinforced the reason why I wanted to go into med school. I can't imagine that this is the sort of thing that med school would want since its the sort of thing high school students do. Is there something else they are looking for and do I have the wrong idea of this? What should I do to ensure I get "patient specific interaction?" I don't think it would be polite to get in contact with a volunteering program and tell them I want direct patient contact..


Thanks for the help!

 

[J ROD]

You have to submit transcripts for every college you have been to.


That kind of patient contact is good!! Exactly what I would look for.

I looked for anything that allowed me to be around patients....moving patients, cleaning them up, doing vitals, or just talking to them..

In fact, if you go back to Duke, you can use that experience on your AMCAS, since you continued your activities into college. More gravy.....

I told the volunteer folks exactly what I wanted. Patient contact!! You are helping them out!!

 

[riverjib]

Freshman year is practically irrelevant. As long as you prove that you're committed to medicine and show that freshman year was a fluke, it really has no bearing on your future. You HAVEN'T ruled out your chances anywhere. I know people who have gone to Harvard, Duke, and Mayo with less than perfect scores but interesting stories, or great EC's.

 

[J ROD]

Freshman year is practically irrelevant. As long as you prove that you're committed to medicine and show that freshman year was a fluke, it really has no bearing on your future. You HAVEN'T ruled out your chances anywhere. I know people who have gone to Harvard, Duke, and Mayo with less than perfect scores but interesting stories, or great EC's.

It does has bearing but it can be overcome with an overall competitive GPA and strong upward. But, it does not disappear. You need to work hard...🙂