GPA on track?

[hkdude97]

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Hey guys

I'm a freshman so still taking pre-reqs but my fall semester GPA was 3.94 and for spring i believe my GPA will be 3.675 (disappointing, i know). Is my GPA already kinda low for only being a freshman? I believe i just had a bad semester and am not planning on having that low of a GPA again. Taking orgo 1 in the summer by itself. Should i even be worried ?

Thanks

 

[PatchAdams25]

Hey guys

I'm a freshman so still taking pre-reqs but my fall semester GPA was 3.94 and for spring i believe my GPA will be 3.675 (disappointing, i know). Is my GPA already kinda low for only being a freshman? I believe i just had a bad semester and am not planning on having that low of a GPA again. Taking orgo 1 in the summer by itself. Should i even be worried ?

Thanks

Of course your GPA is fine lol you are a Freshman.... What is your accum like a 3.8? calm down... a 3.675 is not a "bad" semester

 

[hkdude97]

Of course your GPA is fine lol you are a Freshman.... What is your accum like a 3.8? calm down... a 3.675 is not a "bad" semester

thanks, also about how many hours of volunteering/shadowing do you think i should get this semester

 

[PatchAdams25]

thanks, also about how many hours of volunteering/shadowing do you think i should get this semester

Doesn't matter how much you get this semester... there is no set number, a firm understanding of what you are getting into by the time you apply is what is required.... Probably around 100 hrs or so (can be less or more depending on other clinical exp)... As a freshman you should start getting involved in things you like and expanding your comfort zone

 

[hkdude97]

Doesn't matter how much you get this semester... there is no set number, a firm understanding of what you are getting into by the time you apply is what is required.... Probably around 100 hrs or so (can be less or more depending on other clinical exp)... As a freshman you should start getting involved in things you like and expanding your comfort zone

thanks!!

 

[hkdude97]

Doesn't matter how much you get this semester... there is no set number, a firm understanding of what you are getting into by the time you apply is what is required.... Probably around 100 hrs or so (can be less or more depending on other clinical exp)... As a freshman you should start getting involved in things you like and expanding your comfort zone

but non-clinical volunteer hours should be in the hundreds right? like near 1000 or so

 

[PatchAdams25]

but non-clinical volunteer hours should be in the hundreds right? like near 1000 or so

There isn't a set number for any activities... You need to show admissions staff that you are competent (grades + MCAT), have compassion and empathy (through service to others), know what you are signing yourself up for (clinical exp/shadowing), and enjoy science (research or other endeavors).... No set number for any of these. It is about quality not quantity my friend.

 

[aalamruad]

but non-clinical volunteer hours should be in the hundreds right? like near 1000 or so

1000 is way above average

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[Dr.Sticks]

it'll go up
Messing up in freshman year looks bad on paper, but when you do the math it'll even out.

As for volunteering, I'm ending my freshman semester and have almost 200 hours of clinical volunteering done, about half in a hospital

From what the adcoms say just be consistent, and do it slowly over the course of college... That's what I'm basically doing

 

[eteshoe]

but non-clinical volunteer hours should be in the hundreds right? like near 1000 or so

No. Average tends to be in the 100-300 range. A thousand is fine if you have the time but not necessary

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

 

[Pasmal]

Hey guys

I'm a freshman so still taking pre-reqs but my fall semester GPA was 3.94 and for spring i believe my GPA will be 3.675 (disappointing, i know). Is my GPA already kinda low for only being a freshman? I believe i just had a bad semester and am not planning on having that low of a GPA again. Taking orgo 1 in the summer by itself. Should i even be worried ?

Thanks

Got a 3.2 my freshman year and I got in (after a lot of work lol). You will be fine.


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[AnatomyGrey12]

You my friend are destined for one of the non-big four Carib schools. Best of luck...

 

[bananafish94]

You have a 3.8+ GPA after your freshman year. Well done! If you continue to perform at this level you will be fine.

Also, a 3.67 semester is not bad. That's right about the average GPA for accepted students.

 

[MoDiddy]

Weak

 

[Turkishking]

Weak

Very weak

 

[tantacles]

If you're truly panicked, I strongly suggest you go to your pre-health advising office and ask if they have a paper copy of the MSAR. Take a look at median GPAs for medical schools, and then look at your cumulative GPA and see how you stack up. If there are >15 schools at which you are above the median, you're doing just fine.

 

[hkdude97]

it'll go up
Messing up in freshman year looks bad on paper, but when you do the math it'll even out.

As for volunteering, I'm ending my freshman semester and have almost 200 hours of clinical volunteering done, about half in a hospital

From what the adcoms say just be consistent, and do it slowly over the course of college... That's what I'm basically doing

doesn't it usually go down though since the upper-level classes are more difficult?

 

[hkdude97]

You my friend are destined for one of the non-big four Carib schools. Best of luck...

oh really....

 

[hkdude97]

Very weak

O...

 

[Turkishking]

O...

Step up your game

 

[hkdude97]

Step up your game

Will do.

 

[Dr.Sticks]

doesn't it usually go down though since the upper-level classes are more difficult?

Depends; I never really studied in HS so college was a huge difference to me because I had to actually review the handouts..
Took a few Bs due to that, but whatever.. So I'm going to say no, it'll still event out because going forward you're more prepared and ready and in with the rhythm and more like to get an A.
I so far have mostly As, and with my newly learned study method I hope to maintain it.

Also the other thing; You'll probably end up taking a ton more electives and they'll boost your gpa

 

[WBB97]

Hey guys

I'm a freshman so still taking pre-reqs but my fall semester GPA was 3.94 and for spring i believe my GPA will be 3.675 (disappointing, i know). Is my GPA already kinda low for only being a freshman? I believe i just had a bad semester and am not planning on having that low of a GPA again. Taking orgo 1 in the summer by itself. Should i even be worried ?

Thanks

I'm actually wondering something similar. I am currently a freshman at a very competitive college (top 10), and I'm finishing up my spring semester. I am very concerned however because I received a B in chemlab and a C in calculus 2. I know it's not the end of the world, but how badly will this affect my chances for med school? Is a mid to upper tier med school still an option? Should I retake the course I got a C in? I heard that as long as I improve and that my grades show an upward trend that I should be alright, but at the moment I can't help but worry like crazy about it. Thanks!

 

[eteshoe]

I'm actually wondering something similar. I am currently a freshman at a very competitive college (top 10), and I'm finishing up my spring semester. I am very concerned however because I received a B in chemlab and a C in calculus 2. I know it's not the end of the world, but how badly will this affect my chances for med school? Is a mid to upper tier med school still an option? Should I retake the course I got a C in? I heard that as long as I improve and that my grades show an upward trend that I should be alright, but at the moment I can't help but worry like crazy about it. Thanks!

I would say you'll be fine but I have to ask - do you know what you need to do to improve?

 

[WBB97]

I would say you'll be fine but I have to ask - do you know what you need to do to improve?

I actually did really well last semester, but I think this semester I just bit off more than I can chew. I'm taking 17 credits, while last semester I took 14. I'm also involved in 5 different clubs, 2 of which I have leadership positions in, and each of these clubs have weekly time commitments. I'm also doing research, and that's been a huge time commitment as well. I've been struggling a bit this semester with balancing my time, but I know I can do better next semester! I'm just feeling very panicked at the moment because I've had straight A's in high school, and I never imagined that I would get a C, and I am very worried about how badly this will affect my science GPA. At the moment I'm contemplating retaking the course. What do you think?

 

[eteshoe]

I actually did really well last semester, but I think this semester I just bit off more than I can chew. I'm taking 17 credits, while last semester I took 14. I'm also involved in 5 different clubs, 2 of which I have leadership positions in, and each of these clubs have weekly time commitments. I'm also doing research, and that's been a huge time commitment as well. I've been struggling a bit this semester with balancing my time, but I know I can do better next semester! I'm just feeling very panicked at the moment because I've had straight A's in high school, and I never imagined that I would get a C, and I am very worried about how badly this will affect my science GPA. At the moment I'm contemplating retaking the course. What do you think?

If you have time, you could retake the C - though for MD schools, they'll just avg your grades. More important than that is you need to drop some of your commitments. It's fine to have ECs but you are at college to get and education and specifically prepare for med school. Try to keep the clubs at no more than 3, take around 15 credits, make a research schedule. The real success in UG will come from achieving a solid GPA while balancing all the other responsibilities in your life - but there's no need to make that balancing act insanely difficult for yourself.

The straight A's in high school but not in college is quite common. Getting a C is not the end of the world but you now know your limits.