GPA hole

[MeghanMD]

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So I am currently a marketing major at my local Uni with one class left to graduate. I have decided that I am 100% sure that being a doctor is what I want. My freshman year I took the gen bio sequence (3 quarters) and gen chem lab ( dropped the lecture). This summer I decided to finish my pre-med reqs at my school but I have changed my mind and plan on applying to a post-bac program instead. I took a 3 week gen chem class (that is a combo of I and II) and I think I may get a C 🙁

My sGPA is a horrifying 2.37
overall GPA is 3.43

I am completely devastated with my gen chem grade- I think doing the super intensive 3 week class was a big mistake but I am completely dedicated. I guess I'm asking what do I do now? Can I climb myself out of this hole?

 

[claduva94]

It will be very difficult with that sGPA but not impossible. You will have to do very well in the postbacc and kill the MCAT. Even then, MD may be difficult. You may want to consider DO with grade replacement?

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

So what's left?
Physics 1 and 2
Orgo 1 and 2
Biochem
Maybe 2 upper level bio courses
Math?
(And please avoid those crazy insane time constrained courses).
If this is the case, you still have much opportunity for improvement.

 

[zzxxzz]

For the other undergrads reading this thread, don't take summer intensive courses unless you know what you're getting into. I took A&P this way. 10 weeks for a year of coursework. 5 hours of class and 3-4 hours of studying M-R, 2 midterms every Friday. 2 finals every 3 weeks. You need to be doing nothing else.

OP, look into grade replacement for DO.

 

[allantois]

You are on the right path. Graduate with your BA degree and move on to science prerequisites through post-bac or smp. If you are going to rush those science courses, you are making a huge mistake which may not be undone.

 

[Annabell Lee]

For the other undergrads reading this thread, don't take summer intensive courses unless you know what you're getting into. I took A&P this way. 10 weeks for a year of coursework. 5 hours of class and 3-4 hours of studying M-R, 2 midterms every Friday. 2 finals every 3 weeks. You need to be doing nothing else.

OP, look into grade replacement for DO.

Are all summer classes like that? Would it be harmful to take an "easy"/nonscience class, like maybe an elective, over the summer?

 

[Kochanie]

For the other undergrads reading this thread, don't take summer intensive courses unless you know what you're getting into. I took A&P this way. 10 weeks for a year of coursework. 5 hours of class and 3-4 hours of studying M-R, 2 midterms every Friday. 2 finals every 3 weeks. You need to be doing nothing else.

OP, look into grade replacement for DO.

I love summer intensive, but yeah you can't focus on anything else.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

Are all summer classes like that? Would it be harmful to take an "easy"/nonscience class, like maybe an elective, over the summer?

Yeah, no need to worry about that sort of class.

 

[mehc012]

If your cGPA and sGPA are that far apart, I'm guessing that you have VERY few science hours.
I mean, in order to get that difference, you'd have to have 2x as many regular courses as science courses IF you got a 4.0 in all of your non-science (which I'm assuming is not what actually happened).
If you haven't taken many science courses, the sGPA might come up more quickly than you'd think. It won't be great, but it may be workable.

If all you've taken thus far is 3 quarters of science, then another 6 quarters will bring you to a 3.4 sGPA (if you get all As).
You need more than that anyway for prereqs.

I'd sit down and do the cold, hard, math, and see where you're actually sitting in terms of 'how many courses do I need to ace to get my GPA to x, y, or z?"

 

[Conflagration]

If your cGPA and sGPA are that far apart, I'm guessing that you have VERY few science hours.
I mean, in order to get that difference, you'd have to have 2x as many regular courses as science courses IF you got a 4.0 in all of your non-science (which I'm assuming is not what actually happened).
If you haven't taken many science courses, the sGPA might come up more quickly than you'd think. It won't be great, but it may be workable.

If all you've taken thus far is 3 quarters of science, then another 6 quarters will bring you to a 3.4 sGPA (if you get all As).
You need more than that anyway for prereqs.

I'd sit down and do the cold, hard, math, and see where you're actually sitting in terms of 'how many courses do I need to ace to get my GPA to x, y, or z?"

In the starting post, she says she's a marketing major with one class left to finish the degree. So I guess it's feasible that her GPAs would be that different.

Well, OP, you've said that you're a marketing major. How are you with numbers? If you need more classes to save that GPA and you don't want to take BCP courses, then consider some math classes. Math is included in your sGPA and has done wonders for mine. Does that sGPA include math?

DO grade replacement could work well for you, but if you're just now taking the general biology and chemistry, you have a lot more classes to bring that GPA up. Without replacement, assuming that the classes are of equal weight and you ace them, you could bring that sGPA to a 3.5925. Of course, that's an estimate, since I don't know your specific hours.

Good luck though, OP!

 

[masaraksh]

You do know that aside from grades/GPAyou need some kinds of extracurriculars/volunteer work. Without that you basically have no shot getting into med school even if you do ace all the classes and post bacs.

 

[mehc012]

In the starting post, she says she's a marketing major with one class left to finish the degree. So I guess it's feasible that her GPAs would be that different.

Well, OP, you've said that you're a marketing major. How are you with numbers? If you need more classes to save that GPA and you don't want to take BCP courses, then consider some math classes. Math is included in your sGPA and has done wonders for mine. Does that sGPA include math?

DO grade replacement could work well for you, but if you're just now taking the general biology and chemistry, you have a lot more classes to bring that GPA up. Without replacement, assuming that the classes are of equal weight and you ace them, you could bring that sGPA to a 3.5925. Of course, that's an estimate, since I don't know your specific hours.

Good luck though, OP!

I absolutely said that it was feasible that her GPAs were that different...provided she hasn't taken that many science courses. That is a GOOD thing.
It means that she likely has so few science courses that the prereqs alone could salvage her BCPM gpa.
Also, lol at a gpa 'estimate' with 5 sig figs.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

you could bring that sGPA to a 3.5925.

LOL -this made my day.

 

[Conflagration]

LOL yeah it's summer guys I forgot sig figs.

Alright, I should of stated "around a 3.6". My fault.

The fact of the matter is that she can still have a solid sGPA if she does well in her other classes.

 

[MeghanMD]

You guys are so helpful- I do have a lot of classes left, I also am shadowing an orthopedic surgeon this summer and have over 500 volunteer hours at a local hospital but of course I need more.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

You guys are so helpful- I do have a lot of classes left, I also am shadowing an orthopedic surgeon this summer and have over 500 volunteer hours at a local hospital but of course I need more.

What type of ortho surgeon?