Grades tank while applying?

[HawksWin]

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So...I just got into an MD school, and I'm thrilled.
I'm still in undergrad. But, this semester my GPA is about 2.6. My GPA before this semester was 3.8 with no individual semesters <3.6. A combination of factors (missing >10 days of class due to interviews in courses w/attendance-based grades, a health scare, getting sick during finals week and being unable to study enough for finals, deteriorating mental health) has led me to get grades I've never seen before. I have no idea how this happened. I mostly had the same study habits etc as I had had in all the previous terms. I never thought my grades would take this much of a hit.

The school that accepted me won't rescind my offer unless I get any Ds or Fs, so I'm safe in that regard. But, this makes me wonder what might happen if I get accepted someplace else in the coming months, would I potentially get one of those offers withdrawn? Obviously I'm not going to update any of the schools I'm still waiting to hear from with my grades.

But idk, does this happen often? Do other people get worse grades in the semester they are applying, or do they just power through with all As like normal? I'm just really worried because I feel like I didn't do anything wrong or differently than in the past (ie I went to class when I could, studied the same amount, etc) and did so badly. I've never considered the fact my grades would be bad enough to prevent me from having a medical career but now I'm starting to worry. Also, do schools ever rescind offers even if they say they won't? Like if the school I got into said I just had to pass my remaining courses with A/B/C, is there a chance they could rescind me even if I do that?

 

[Lannister]

It's normal for your GPA to drop slightly, but from 3.8 to 2.6 is pretty significant. It's definitely possible that a school could rescind your acceptance if it's their policy that you have to get at least a B in all your classes. But if the policy is a C or better, I doubt they would rescind your acceptance.

 

[piii]

It's semi normal for a student to get a c during this semester but all across the board poor grades is probably not too normal. As long as they're not below a C you'll be fine at the school you got accepted to. It might tank you at any school that asks for updates or learn about this semester before accepting you.

At some point you need to ask yourself if you want to end our college career on a high or a low note? Everyone has life **** going on, the onus is on your to overcome it.

 

[HawksWin]

I know everyone has life **** going on. I feel like I've had life **** going on in the past and always managed to deal with it and still do well in school. Idk what happened this semester. Attendance alone accounted for getting a C instead of a B in one class and a B instead of an A in another. I got one C and a couple Bs. Bs aren't horrible but Cs kind of are. Of course I want to go out on a high note. It just all happened so fast that I have no idea what happened. Next semester I'm going to make sure I don't screw up again and it *should* be easier since I won't be going to any interviews.

 

[chcash]

Missing 10 days is quite a lot of class, but you might want to talk to your professors beforehand in the future (with relevant paperwork) when it comes to interviews. I know almost any of my profs would be understanding when it comes to missing classes or exams for academic pursuits - whether it's a conference, an interview invite, or whatever else. It seems odd that you were penalized so heavily for attendance when you have perfectly reasonable and documented reasons for your absence. Did you speak with them about the interviews?

 

[xc_stallion92]

I have no idea how this happened.

I dunno, you offered quite a few excuses why you think it happened. That being said, I would imagine you'll be fine at the school you've already been accepted at. It's not like you failed every class you were in or something like that.

 

[f4reignbeauty]

Sorry to hear about your current grades. Are you planning on interviewing next semester as well? If so, I would be open with my professors and let them know that you are currently applying to medical school, and that there may be days where you cannot attend. I had classes where I literally missed lab sessions (where attendance is mandatory) but because I was open with my professor, he was understanding.

 

[12375711]

Idk about rescinding an acceptance, but a school I interviewed at asked for transcript once my fall semester grades were in and they mentioned in my post interview critique that I went from 3.7 and 3.6 semesters my whole college career to a 3.4 right before the admission council made their decision. That clearly wasn't the deciding reason for non admittance but they noticed it wasn't with my tendencies and it probably didn't help me any. I don't think they would rescind an acceptance but I wouldn't offer up my transcript for any schools waiting or making decisions.

 

[Lost in Translation]

Everyone has life **** going on, the onus is on your to overcome it.

I know it's bad to stigmatize mental illness but does anyone else think that there are too many "my grades suffered because I was going through [a mental illness]" posts? Like, what's the purpose of saying that? To win sympathy points? To put off responsibility on to something that might not even be a big deal? I went through a few depression stages, each lasting half a semester of longer, in college (centered around bad relationships) but my grades didn't tank because of them. Are people just less thick-skinned than they used to be?

It just seems like a cop out.

 

[docycle]

Lol, and I was kinda worried about my 3.4 performance this sem....

I know it's bad to stigmatize mental illness but does anyone else think that there are too many "my grades suffered because I was going through [a mental illness]" posts? Like, what's the purpose of saying that? To win sympathy points? To put off responsibility on to something that might not even be a big deal? I went through a few depression stages, each lasting half a semester of longer, in college (centered around bad relationships) but my grades didn't tank because of them. Are people just less thick-skinned than they used to be?

It just seems like a cop out.

😱😱😱😱😱😱 did you just say people diagnosed with a mental illness might have lied their way into special treatment??????? 😱😱😱😱😱

Please just don't even be a doc. You haven't the slightest sympathy for these people and you have NO --- bro. Bro. BRO. You have NOOOOOOOOOOOO --- idea what these people are going through.

Brb hyperventilation due to my own mental illness problems.

......phew, k I think I'm good.

On topic: OP, just call the school up and find out what the deal is. Tell them the sich. They're gonna find out anyway. See if you can mitigate it. This is what adults do. You're an adult, right??

 

[pramirez184]

So...I just got into an MD school, and I'm thrilled.
I'm still in undergrad. But, this semester my GPA is about 2.6. My GPA before this semester was 3.8 with no individual semesters <3.6. A combination of factors (missing >10 days of class due to interviews in courses w/attendance-based grades, a health scare, getting sick during finals week and being unable to study enough for finals, deteriorating mental health) has led me to get grades I've never seen before. I have no idea how this happened. I mostly had the same study habits etc as I had had in all the previous terms. I never thought my grades would take this much of a hit.

The school that accepted me won't rescind my offer unless I get any Ds or Fs, so I'm safe in that regard. But, this makes me wonder what might happen if I get accepted someplace else in the coming months, would I potentially get one of those offers withdrawn? Obviously I'm not going to update any of the schools I'm still waiting to hear from with my grades.

But idk, does this happen often? Do other people get worse grades in the semester they are applying, or do they just power through with all As like normal? I'm just really worried because I feel like I didn't do anything wrong or differently than in the past (ie I went to class when I could, studied the same amount, etc) and did so badly. I've never considered the fact my grades would be bad enough to prevent me from having a medical career but now I'm starting to worry. Also, do schools ever rescind offers even if they say they won't? Like if the school I got into said I just had to pass my remaining courses with A/B/C, is there a chance they could rescind me even if I do that?

If nothing else, you can send a letter to the school explaining the situation. Would you rather they find out on their own or have you tell them? Either way, I think you will be okay.

 

[Lost in Translation]

😱😱😱😱😱😱 did you just say people diagnosed with a mental illness might have lied their way into special treatment??????? 😱😱😱😱😱

Please just don't even be a doc. You haven't the slightest sympathy for these people and you have NO --- bro. Bro. BRO. You have NOOOOOOOOOOOO --- idea what these people are going through.

Brb hyperventilation due to my own mental illness problems.

......phew, k I think I'm good.

If you don't have thick skin maybe you shouldn't be a doc, because you'll face much worse than me in clerkship and residency years. But you should already know this from shadowing.

Spoiler: What I think really happened

Unless you just trolled me a good one.

 

[Fedekz]

Lol, and I was kinda worried about my 3.4 performance this sem....



😱😱😱😱😱😱 did you just say people diagnosed with a mental illness might have lied their way into special treatment??????? 😱😱😱😱😱

Please just don't even be a doc. You haven't the slightest sympathy for these people and you have NO --- bro. Bro. BRO. You have NOOOOOOOOOOOO --- idea what these people are going through.

Brb hyperventilation due to my own mental illness problems.

......phew, k I think I'm good.

On topic: OP, just call the school up and find out what the deal is. Tell them the sich. They're gonna find out anyway. See if you can mitigate it. This is what adults do. You're an adult, right??

You'd be naive to think that no one lies about mental illnesses, uses it as an excuse, or exaggerates everything. Some (not all) certainly do.

 

[docycle]

If you don't have thick skin maybe you shouldn't be a doc, because you'll face much worse than me in clerkship and residency years. But you should already know this from shadowing.

Spoiler: What I think really happened

Unless you just trolled me a good one.

I'm sorry but just no. Clerkships, residencies, and all jobs I will ever have need to accommodate me -- NOT the other way around. I (meeeeeee) am the one suffering here, and therefore I deserve my natural right, as described by Locke and Rousseau, to pursue medical studies no matter what insufficiency I may have.

Let me just ask you a quick question. Would you deny a person with amputated arms their right to be a surgeon? NO. You'd train them in the ways of surgery, but with them using their feet instead of their hands -- like that girl that can make a PB&J with only her feet, but this would just be with slightly more dexterity.

Spoiler: The best kind of secret is secretly telling someone your secret, thereby adding to their secret collection of secrets. Secretly.

I just trolled you a good one.
I thought the bro. Bro. BRO NOOOOO thing made that obvious lol.

Btw the surgery w feet thing I think might actually be possible. Some armless people are ridiculously dexterious with their feet. I would actually love to see this (maybe it's already happened??)

Course with that, nowadays, bionic arms might be a solution?

 

[docycle]

You'd be naive to think that no one lies about mental illnesses, uses it as an excuse, or exaggerates everything. Some (not all) certainly do.

I'm sorry but people need to understand that people with mental illness are suffering greatly and deserve our support. Discrimination on the basis of mental illness is worse than discrimination based on race, imo. Mental illness has nooooooooooooo possible effect on one's capability to carry out their employment duties (provided we're properly medicated....I think). Therefore, it is wrong to even suggest someone may be lying about the fact they have a debilitating mental illness. It just doesn't make sense. They only want the same access to jobs (absent effort/qualifications) as anyone else.

 

[Lost in Translation]

I'm sorry but people need to understand that people with mental illness are suffering greatly and deserve our support. Discrimination on the basis of mental illness is worse than discrimination based on race, imo. Mental illness has nooooooooooooo possible effect on one's capability to carry out their employment duties (provided we're properly medicated....I think). Therefore, it is wrong to even suggest someone may be lying about the fact they have a debilitating mental illness. It just doesn't make sense. They only want the same access to jobs (absent effort/qualifications) as anyone else.

 

[DrDre2017]

I know it's bad to stigmatize mental illness but does anyone else think that there are too many "my grades suffered because I was going through [a mental illness]" posts? Like, what's the purpose of saying that? To win sympathy points? To put off responsibility on to something that might not even be a big deal? I went through a few depression stages, each lasting half a semester of longer, in college (centered around bad relationships) but my grades didn't tank because of them. Are people just less thick-skinned than they used to be?

It just seems like a cop out.

I never thought of it like that; I just thought of it as people giving context... There are many reasons why one could be getting bad grades: not understanding the material, too busy, partying too much, etc., etc. The advice you'd thus give to the OP would be specific to his/her particular context. Granted, there's only one real piece of advice people could give (get counseling). But I think it's perfectly legitimate to note that maybe there are other circumstances contributing to getting poor grades. Even assuming that your depression was debilitating enough to be "a big deal" and you still managed to get all As, sometimes people just react poorly to things they've never experienced before and flounder for a bit before they get themselves together.

Plus, we could also say that the people who dealt with physical illnesses, family problems, overloaded schedules, and not understanding the material are cop-outs too. I mean, there are other people who have gone through those things and still managed to either power through or fix what needed to be fixed. Maybe all explanations are cop-outs, and if anyone is struggling in school, it's because he/she isn't working hard enough, plain and simple. But it never sounded like OP was making excuses; it seems like he/she knows that he/she reacted poorly to the events of the past semester and plans to change his/her approach next semester.

Maybe you were just thinking out loud about posts in general on someone's thread. But that's my two cents. I only bring it up because I've also been through depressive episodes, and so have some of my friends, and it's been interesting to see how some people can keep certain areas of their lives pristine (grades for me, social life for them) and be a train-wreck in everything else.

@HawksWin, I agree with xc_stallion92 that maybe you were able to deal with things before, but that in combination with missing so much class might have been more than you could handle, and "making sure you don't screw up" doesn't just mean working harder. You need to get what you can resolved pronto and have a game plan for the case where something else unexpected happens.

 

[HawksWin]

Wow, didn't realize this thread would turn into people debating the validity of mental health issues. For the record I don't think this is what caused my senior slump. 80% of it was attendance policies that I just couldn't get around. I don't think this was a result of me not being able to handle stress well, more like my professors didnt give a f that I had interviews....