MD & DO GPA repair (cGPA 3.07, sGPA 2.52, nsGPA 3.69)

[littlewarrior7410]

Hi guys, thank you in advance for giving me advice. Was looking for advice on GPA repair. I want advice because my GPAs are skewed. My cumulative is a 3.07, my science is a 2.52, and my non-science is 3.69. I'm worried about this being the huge red flag I know it is.

Courses that I earned below a B in. Should I retake these?

• Gen Chem 1 Lecture: B- (Summer 2014)
• Gen Bio 1 Lab: B- (Fall 2014)
• Orgo 1 Lecture: F, W, C- (Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2015)
• Orgo 1 Lab: C (Fall 2014)
• Physics 1 Lecture: W, F, C- (Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2015)
• Physics 2 Lecture: C (Spring 2016)
• Genetics: C+ (Spring 2015)

The circumstances are also wonky. I'm going to graduate in December 2017 because I'm held up by labs being offered only one time a year (fall or spring) and the Honors Thesis my program requires to graduate. I'm on a scholarship that also requires 30 hours of original credit per academic year (F/Sp/Su). This means that any classes I retake until the Fall 2017 semester do not count towards this 30 hour requirement. My university also has a 150 hour cap. If I accumulate more than 150 hours as an undergraduate, I will be charged out-of-state tuition for every additional hour after I hit the cap. The only way I can avoid going over is by going post-bacc when I get close, which is about the time I should be graduating. I am currently at 100 hours.

What I have left for my degree:

• Orgo 2 lecture
  
• Biochem lecture
• Human Physiology lecture (although this may look redundant since I've already taken A&P 1 and 2) (a lab section is offered for this class)
• Gen Bio 2 lab
• Orgo 2 lab
• Physics 1 lab
• Physics 2 lab
• (I am taking the labs for A&P 1 and 2 even though they are not required for my degree)

Where should I go from here in terms of GPA repair? Retaking in a DIY post-bacc? Retaking as many as possible while avoiding the 150 cap? Try for an upward trend and shoot for SMP?

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[kopftonmd]

The absolute first step is to ace the rest of your classes - all of them. But I might be a bit concerned about that - for example, if your best OChem I grade is a C-, you're probably going to struggle in OChem II. But if I read correctly that you can't retake all of these courses in undergrad, just try your best and retake what you can and try to work the rest out in a post-bacc. You have a long ways to go to be competitive, so keep that in mind.

 

[Toutie]

Before you even think about grade repair, you need to get yourself to your schools learning center ASAP and learn how to study. Retaking an F and getting a C- is NOT going to cut it. You need to retake classes and get A's. Get a tutor. To keep taking classes using your current study methods will just result in more C's (or worse).

 

[kopftonmd]

Before you even think about grade repair, you need to get yourself to your schools learning center ASAP and learn how to study. Retaking an F and getting a C- is NOT going to cut it. You need to retake classes and get A's. Get a tutor. To keep taking classes and using your current study methods will just result in more C's (or worse).

Tough love, but I do agree.

 

[littlewarrior7410]

The absolute first step is to ace the rest of your classes - all of them. But I might be a bit concerned about that - for example, if your best OChem I grade is a C-, you're probably going to struggle in OChem II. But if I read correctly that you can't retake all of these courses in undergrad, just try your best and retake what you can and try to work the rest out in a post-bacc. You have a long ways to go to be competitive, so keep that in mind.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm really trying hard to get all As from now on, as I know I have to generate an upward trend somehow. I'm thinking about sitting in an Orgo 1 class in the fall and keeping up with the material and self-evaluating. My program advisor is chemistry faculty, so I could offer to keep myself accountable to him. If I retake, it won't go towards the 30 requirement. So, you're right. Retakes count towards the 150 cap but do not count for my scholarship, if that makes sense. So you're recommending a DIY post-bacc by itself, or maybe a DIY post-bacc followed by an SMP?

 

[littlewarrior7410]

Before you even think about grade repair, you need to get yourself to your schools learning center ASAP and learn how to study. Retaking an F and getting a C- is NOT going to cut it. You need to retake classes and get A's. Get a tutor. To keep taking classes using your current study methods will just result in more C's (or worse).

I've talked with both my therapist and my academic advisor (the one mentioned above) and worked out what the problem was. As much as I hate to admit it, it was a failure on my part. I was pushing back against a controlling and strict mother and was making a partly conscious, partly unconscious decision to take some control back from my mother by wrecking my grades, and both my therapist and academic advisor agree that this is what was happening. So it's not so much study habits as I made the decision to do poorly. However, my school does offer sessions with a learning counselor through Learning Support Services. I think I do best by taking written notes and testing my knowledge through practice problems or answering questions about the material.

I'm also trying to figure out a long term goal as I want to keep doing school when I graduate, as I need to decide if I could apply for an SMP, apply as a post-bacc to my college, or leave pre-medical behind and do nursing or PA.

 

[Toutie]

So you're recommending a DIY post-bacc by itself, or maybe a DIY post-bacc followed by an SMP?

You shouldn't even be thinking about a post-bac or a SMP right now. You need to figure out how to ace the rest of your classes in your last year and a half you have in undergrad. That should be your primary focus. You can't afford for the hole you are in to get any deeper. Get help now. Go to the learning center at your school.

 

[Toutie]

I've talked with both my therapist and my academic advisor (the one mentioned above) and worked out what the problem was. As much as I hate to admit it, it was a failure on my part. I was pushing back against a controlling and strict mother and was making a partly conscious, partly unconscious decision to take some control back from my mother by wrecking my grades, and both my therapist and academic advisor agree that this is what was happening.

Okay, so what have your science grades been since you worked out the problem? Have they improved dramatically? Are you getting A's?

 

[littlewarrior7410]

You shouldn't even be thinking about a post-bac or a SMP right now. You need to figure out how to ace the rest of your classes in your last year and a half you have in undergrad. That should be your primary focus. You can't afford for the hole you are in to get an deeper. Get help now. Go to the learning center at your school.

I understand what you're saying, but I'm just looking for a general idea here. Yes, I am planning on trying my hardest for the rest of undergrad. But you often have to apply 6 months to a year in advance for things like a post-bac or an SMP, and I want to make sure I'm picking appropriate coursework for either or.

Okay, so what have your science grades been since you worked out the problem? Have they improved dramatically? Are you getting A's?

I don't have an answer for you because figuring this out happened about three weeks ago. I won't know anything until the end of the fall semester as I'll be retaking A&P 1 lecture, taking A&P 1 lab, Microbio lecture, Microbio lab, and a pathophysiology course.

 

[Toutie]

I understand what you're saying, but I'm just looking for a general idea here. Yes, I am planning on trying my hardest for the rest of undergrad. But you often have to apply 6 months to a year in advance for things like a post-bac or an SMP, and I want to make sure I'm picking appropriate coursework for either or.



I don't have an answer for you because figuring this out happened about three weeks ago. I won't know anything until the end of the fall semester as I'll be retaking A&P 1 lecture, taking A&P 1 lab, Microbio lecture, Microbio lab, and a pathophysiology course.

Okay, well good luck to you in your fall classes. Don't think that just knowing the source of the problem will be enough to resolve it. You still absolutely need to go to learning services too. Please come back at the end of the year with your fall grades and we can begin discussing the future at that point. Right now SMP's and post-bac should not even be on your radar. Rooting for you to get this thing turned around. Good luck, again. 🙂

 

[littlewarrior7410]

Okay, well good luck to you in your fall classes. Don't think that just knowing the source of the problem will be enough to resolve it. You still absolutely need to go to learning services too. Please come back at the end of the year with your fall grades and we can begin discussing the future at that point. Right now SMP's and post-bac should not even be on your radar. Rooting for you to get this thing turned around. Good luck, again. 🙂

Thank you so much, I genuinely appreciate it. Will do when I start research and summer school in the fall.

 

[candbgirl]

You most likely wouldn't be accepted at a SMP at this point so calm down and get your grades and studying under control. You should also check to see if med schools will accept C- grades in pre reqs. If not you'll have to retake Orgo I and Physics I again. Don't compromise your scholarships. Keep working towards your degree. All of the retakes( and there will be many) can be done after you graduate. But don't worry about that now. If you don't get As from now on there would be no reason to retake anything. Do the best you can and keep,focused on your goal.


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