GPA difference

[Mahliah]

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Hello all,
Ive been reading through the threads here and have seen many success stories. What I have been seeing alot are the stories of students who have a very low science gpa, but end with a 4.0 or something near that in post grad programs.

I was wondering, what was the difference? Was it seeing the material again? Not taking it seriously in undergrad? Are the post grad classes any different from undergrad?

 

[0919mmk]

Hello all,
Ive been reading through the threads here and have seen many success stories. What I have been seeing alot are the stories of students who have a very low science gpa, but end with a 4.0 or something near that in post grad programs.

I was wondering, what was the difference? Was it seeing the material again? Not taking it seriously in undergrad? Are the post grad classes any different from undergrad?

For me it was definitely not taking my UG years seriously. I basically partied and played music, and didn't even know what my GPA was until I graduated. I found in my grad program (and studying for the MCAT etc) that having good work habits can be the difference between a 3.0 and a 3.9. That's it - focus, discipline, drive.

 

[phltz]

I had about a 3.0 as an undergrad and a 4.0 as a postbac. I'd chalk the difference up to a mix of factors. As an undergrad I lacked direction and discipline. I didn't know what I was doing or why. As a postbac, I had a clear goal, and I was willing to work hard for it. I was more mature and organized.

Not to in any way demean my postbac college, but my undergrad institute was a much more rigorous, demanding place academically. A lot of my undergrad Bs represented an amount of work and expertise that would earn one an A+++ at all but a small handful of other schools.

 

[snulma1]

As someone who had a sub 3.0 GPA (2.47 to be precise) it wasn't that I didn't get the material, it was a matter of not caring. I knew that a C was passing and didn't think I would want to further my career in medicine (worked as a paramedic for many years before this) so why put forth any extra effort. I don't regret it entirely as I had lots of experiences and friendships I still carry with me to this day. But I do understand that I seriously put myself behind an 8-ball. Luckily I rocked my post-bacc and the MCAT and proved that my undergrad was just immaturity combined with laziness.

 

[PostHaste]

For me it's 4 things:
1. Finally knowing what I want to do (medical school) and knowing what it takes to get there (4.0).

2. Not being a whiny UG baby. Who cares why you have to learn it, just learn it and move on.

3. Having peers who value hard work and responsibility vs. beer and sex.

4. Choosing to be in school as opposed to having to be in school as a checkpoint on the way to adulthood.

Most of my post-bacc material has been new to me but for some reason it seems so much easier to process and understand and use now. Bio 2 is a great example; most of the UGs in my class bitch and moan about having to learn about mold and plants while I'm thrilled to have learned why my bread molds faster in the pantry and why my tomatoes went all Godzilla on the garden last year.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

For me, it was plain and simple, L A Z Y! I have ~3.0, and basically Bs were good enough for me, why try to get an A, when I can have fun and get Bs. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Now, I'm not having ANY fun, in my job, because I have no desire to do it, and I tell people entering college that... Don't be like me!!! Don't end up in a crappy job!!! So, my loathing of my job has driven me to go back to Med school (or try my damnedest)...

 

[Mahliah]

Thanks for all the stories! & congrats

 

[0919mmk]

As someone who had a sub 3.0 GPA (2.47 to be precise) it wasn't that I didn't get the material, it was a matter of not caring. I knew that a C was passing and didn't think I would want to further my career in medicine (worked as a paramedic for many years before this) so why put forth any extra effort. I don't regret it entirely as I had lots of experiences and friendships I still carry with me to this day. But I do understand that I seriously put myself behind an 8-ball. Luckily I rocked my post-bacc and the MCAT and proved that my undergrad was just immaturity combined with laziness.

You know, I hear you, but this is a fallacy. I used to say the same thing, but came to realize that having friends/being social does not preclude getting good grades. Going out and getting wasted 4 times a week does (I can attest), but one can be disciplined, get good grades, AND have a healthy social life - I think this balancing act is part of being a responsible adult.

 

[n3xa]

The difference between my graduate (3.2) and ug+post-bacc (3.8-4.0) grades was mainly priority. Despite my advisor's warning about getting good grades, I managed to jump in on a hot project that needed just an extra bit of help on.

You can imagine which one I picked. It might bite me somewhere along the line, but I have no regrets.

I noticed that a lot of my friends that took high school very seriously ended up doing a lot more partying in college. For me, it was the opposite. I partied and worked all the time in hs due to issues at home. I didn't think college was even remotely possible for me. I applied because my childhood friend forced me to fill out that application.

Now my friends and I joke about how I love school so much I refuse to leave.

 

[Isoprop]

Attitude.

I went from feeling entitled to getting an A and blaming professors for being "bad at teaching" to realizing that education and learning is a privilege.

Also, I stopped being ashamed from making mistakes.

Went from a 2.8 student to a 4.0 student.