Help?

[Ex.Cineribus]

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I don't know how to start this off without sounding stupid. I've come to a crossroads, had an "existential crisis" of sorts after having taken a philosophy class two semesters ago and doing nothing but studying philosophy which has really made me question anything and everything, breaking me down to the point of questioning what the point of even being alive is.

I'm a 22 yr old community college student in a computer science program with 40 credits and a 2.5 GPA who has never been good at school and doesn't come from much at all, but I want to believe that I can do good, that I can change if I really put my mind to it, which I don't believe I have ever done before. I want to believe that despite all of my shortcomings I can for once in my life dedicate myself to something, and that I'm not determined to go down the road that I'm secretly and dangerously going down currently. I don't want to continue the way I am. I want to change, but I'm having a hard time believing in myself. I want to believe that I can change my mindset - right here and now - and transfer to a university next year and have a fresh start. That I can start shadowing and volunteering. That I can dedicate myself to medicine and get 4.0 GPA. That I can go on to an MD school. That I can pursue the incredibly fascinating and mysterious field of neuroscience/neurosurgery. That I can prove myself and everyone else wrong. That I can help people, not hurt them. That I can look back on this post a decade later and not be in a prison cell, or depressed, but in a hospital wearing a white coat, giving people what I can't give myself, a life.

My plans up until a few months ago were to pursue computer science to study artificial intelligence, but the more philosophy I studied and the more I thought about it, the more I found that neuroscience and neurosurgery are really things that can have a life dedicated to without a moment to spare for a personal life - something I don't have which is pushing me more towards medicine. My interest in neuroscience/philosophy/the human brain/biology, combined with the fact that the only joy I seem to get is from helping people (buying groceries for my family and friends when they're struggling, etc), I think something that I could dedicate my life to like medicine would be perfect, despite having my depressed/cynical philosophical outlook on life and being introverted/self conscious, and never having done good in school. Plus I spent a fair amount of time in hospitals as a kid due to family medical issues, so it feels like a second home to me, which is influencing my decision. I want to believe that if right here and now I can decide to make this change, that I can do it. That it won't be for the money. That it won't be for the wrong reasons. That I can do it.

tldr: Even though I've got a low GPA now in CC, when you transfer to a Uni your GPA is reset, correct? A fresh start of sorts? I'm not transferring to a Uni after 2 years at a CC to fix my GPA, I'm doing it for financial reasons, but I realize the opportunity. I read a lot about "upward trends" and how they're a good thing, but would it actually be if I finish CC with a ~2.7 then transfer to a Uni to take my pre-reqs and get a really really high GPA to prove myself, start shadowing, volunteering, etc?

 

[Goro]

Is there a question you wished to ask? If so, can you do it without the Stephen King--length novella?

 

[Ex.Cineribus]

Is there a question you wished to ask? If so, can you do it without the Stephen King--length novella?

No, I guess not. I said at the end of my novella that a mod can delete this if it's not appropriate.

 

[Ex.Cineribus]

Is there a question you wished to ask? If so, can you do it without the Stephen King--length novella?

Ok I have a question to make this productive.

Even though I've got a low GPA now in CC, when you transfer to a Uni your GPA is reset, correct? A fresh start of sorts? I'm not transferring to a Uni after 2 years at a CC to fix my GPA, I'm doing it for financial reasons, but I realize the opportunity. I read a lot about "upward trends" and how they're a good thing, but would it actually be if I finish CC with a ~2.7 then transfer to a Uni to take my pre-reqs and get a really really high GPA to prove myself, start shadowing, volunteering, etc?

 

[PreMedMissteps]

Ok I have a question to make this productive.

Even though I've got a low GPA now in CC, when you transfer to a Uni your GPA is reset, correct? A fresh start of sorts? I'm not transferring to a Uni after 2 years at a CC to fix my GPA, I'm doing it for financial reasons, but I realize the opportunity. I read a lot about "upward trends" and how they're a good thing, but would it actually be if I finish CC with a ~2.7 then transfer to a Uni to take my pre-reqs and get a really really high GPA to prove myself, start shadowing, volunteering, etc?

Your GPA is never reset for med school purposes.

However, since you're a nontrad, and if you redeem yourself in the future with top grades, there may be a med school that will accept you. Time can heal wounds.

 

[Goro]

Your GPA is never reset for med school purposes.

However, since you're a nontrad, and if you redeem yourself in the future with top grades, there may be a med school that will accept you. Time can heal wounds.

This.

 

[Catalystik]

Even though I've got a low GPA now in CC, when you transfer to a Uni your GPA is reset, correct? A fresh start of sorts?

When you apply to med schools you are required to submit an original transcript from every post-high school institution where you attempted coursework. So even if your university doesn't record a grade on their transcript for those CC classes, the grades you earned will be calculated together with the university grades by the med school application service to create a composite application GPA.

So, you might like to start earning high grades now.

 

[PreMedMissteps]

When you apply to med schools you are required to submit an original transcript from every post-high school institution where you attempted coursework. So even if your university doesn't record a grade on their transcript for those CC classes, the grades you earned will be calculated together with the university grades by the med school application service to create your application GPA.

Just to further clarify. Post-high school coursework would include dual enrollment credits or similar taken while in high school.

 

[Ex.Cineribus]

Your GPA is never reset for med school purposes.

However, since you're a nontrad, and if you redeem yourself in the future with top grades, there may be a med school that will accept you. Time can heal wounds.

Of course. I suppose I didn't mean "reset". I meant that your GPA doesn't carry over to University if I'm not mistaken, so if I got all A's my first semester at Uni, I would have a 4.0 GPA, not a 2.9 GPA raised from my last semester at CC which was 2.5.

 

[new_dood_don't_be_rude]

Well yeah university GPA would be 4.0 but the GPA you report to Medical schools would be different.

 

[gyngyn]

Of course. I suppose I didn't mean "reset". I meant that your GPA doesn't carry over to University if I'm not mistaken, so if I got all A's my first semester at Uni, I would have a 4.0 GPA, not a 2.9 GPA raised from my last semester at CC which was 2.5.

All your grades will carry over to your med school application (including CC).
Trend is important though.

 

[Ex.Cineribus]

All your grades will carry over to your med school application (including CC).
Trend is important though.

Yeah, I wouldn't want med schools to not see my CC grades even if I had the option, it will show a trend, and my story. I just know that if I had started at a Uni and had the 2.5 that I have now at a Uni - even getting straight A's until I graduate - I wouldn't even break 3.2 which is obviously unacceptable, whereas when I transfer I can have a "fresh start" as far as my GPA goes, so to speak.

 

[gyngyn]

Yeah, I wouldn't want med schools to not see my CC grades even if I had the option, it will show a trend, and my story. I just know that if I had started at a Uni and had the 2.5 that I have now at a Uni - even getting straight A's until I graduate - I wouldn't even break 3.2 which is obviously unacceptable, whereas when I transfer I can have a "fresh start" as far as my GPA goes, so to speak.

As long as your gpa exceeds automatic screens, someone will notice the change over time.

 

[Ex.Cineribus]

Well yeah university GPA would be 4.0 but the GPA you report to Medical schools would be different.

What GPA is reported? As far as I'm aware, when you transfer to a Uni, your GPA from CC doesn't, thus your new GPA is the one you've began building from scratch at Uni.

Is there a GPA that combines both CC and Uni GPA that I haven't heard of?

 

[Toutie]

What GPA is reported? As far as I'm aware, when you transfer to a Uni, your GPA from CC doesn't, thus your new GPA is the one you've began building from scratch at Uni.

Is there a GPA that combines both CC and Uni GPA that I haven't heard of?

Your CC GPA is your CC GPA
Your Uni GPA is your Uni GPA
Your med school application GPA is both combined. ( plus any college level courses you took in HS, or after Uni)

You have to enter every single college level course you have ever taken anywhere on your med school app.

 

[gyngyn]

What GPA is reported? As far as I'm aware, when you transfer to a Uni, your GPA from CC doesn't, thus your new GPA is the one you've began building from scratch at Uni.

Is there a GPA that combines both CC and Uni GPA that I haven't heard of?

Yes. AMCAS gpa includes everything since high school.

 

[Ex.Cineribus]

Your CC GPA is your CC GPA
Your Uni GPA is your Uni GPA
Your med school application GPA is both combined. ( plus any college level courses you took in HS, or after Uni)

You have to enter every single college level course you have ever taken anywhere on your med school app.

Well when you say both combined, you mean they're both reported, not that another GPA is created that is the average of the two?

 

[gyngyn]

Well when you say both combined, you mean they're both reported, not that another GPA is created that is the average of the two?

They are reported year by year and averaged at the time of application.

 

[Toutie]

Well when you say both combined, you mean they're both reported, not that another GPA is created that is the average of the two?

Yes, it is a GPA combined of every single college level course you have taken.

 

[Ex.Cineribus]

Yes, it is a GPA combined of every single college level course you have taken.

Thanks, do you know if other programs do that as well such as Masters and PhD programs, or is taking the average just something med school does.

 

[reaction mechanisms]

Your undergraduate GPA is compiled from every undergraduate class you took, be it at a CC or Uni. No program is going to disregard your CC credits. Time to face the facts.


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[Ex.Cineribus]

Your undergraduate GPA is compiled from every undergraduate class you took, be it at a CC or Uni. No program is going to disregard your CC credits. Time to face the facts.


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I don't want anything to be disregarded, I just want my GPA at Uni to reflect the effort I put in - at Uni.

 

[On_The_Way_Up]

Your GPA doesn't reset. Your cumulative is every school you've been to.

 

[On_The_Way_Up]

Of course. I suppose I didn't mean "reset". I meant that your GPA doesn't carry over to University if I'm not mistaken, so if I got all A's my first semester at Uni, I would have a 4.0 GPA, not a 2.9 GPA raised from my last semester at CC which was 2.5.

No. You have a cumulative and then your university GPA. But for summa Cumm laude and stuff they go off your cumulative GPA.

 

[Toutie]

I don't want anything to be disregarded, I just want my GPA at Uni to reflect the effort I put in - at Uni.

If you make a marked improvement, it will be noticed and taken into consideration. Your last couple years are absolutely more important than your first couple. But ultimately they all do still count.

 

[reaction mechanisms]

I don't want anything to be disregarded, I just want my GPA at Uni to reflect the effort I put in - at Uni.

I transferred from a community college to a university and when I view my degree evaluation it shows my university GPA and my Overall GPA (CC and Uni). So if that's the satisfaction you're looking for..

But for medical school admission purposes, they care about your overall GPA.


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[cactusman]

No. You have a cumulative and then your university GPA. But for summa Cumm laude and stuff they go off your cumulative GPA.

Do you mean cumulative and BCPM? Honors awards usually exclude all transfer course grades, so it would be university GPA rather than cumulative.

 

[Ex.Cineribus]

Do you mean cumulative and BCPM? Honors awards usually exclude all transfer course grades, so it would be university GPA rather than cumulative.

I suppose I don't care that my cumulative GPA would be low, so long as someone will see my CC GPA and my Uni GPA separately and know that somewhere along the path, I changed, and they don't just see a 3.2 cumulative and throw me to the side.

 

[new_dood_don't_be_rude]

Upward trends are great. That being said, you will get screened by a computer if your cumulative GPA is below a certain threshold. Try to raise it above a 3.2 if possible

 

[bbbcccppp]

It is complicated. There are definitively neurosurgeons who had 2.50 at community college But Not a lot. I like to tell people to start treating every B like an F if you are trying to redeem a low GPA. I also think that you may want to take this one day at a time and not get ahead of yourself. A 3.8 over your next 80 credits would average to a 3.37 which should get you in to MD or DO medical school if you do well on the MCAT and have good extracurriculars


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[new_dood_don't_be_rude]

It is complicated. There are definitively neurosurgeons who had 2.50 at community college But Not a lot. I like to tell people to start treating every B like an F if you are trying to redeem a low GPA. I also think that you may want to take this one day at a time and not get ahead of yourself. A 3.8 over your next 80 credits would average to a 3.37 which should get you in to MD or DO medical school if you do well on the MCAT and have good extracurriculars]

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I doubt neurosurgeons were getting C's in their science classes at CC

 

[Ex.Cineribus]

Upward trends are great. That being said, you will get screened by a computer if your cumulative GPA is below a certain threshold. Try to raise it above a 3.2 if possible

I just pulled that number out of thin air, I don't know what my cumulative gpa will be in a few years when I graduate from Uni - I have a 2.5 now with about 45 credits completed so plenty of time left even at CC, but I would hate to think that even if I turn it all around right now and do extremely well from here on out, and when I transfer to Uni, I could still be screened out by a computer because I did poorly at CC before I knew what I truly wanted.

 

[new_dood_don't_be_rude]

Google a GPA calculator and see where four semesters of 4.0s will get you. This is a career path that's going to take 8+ years and put you 300k in debt. You should spend one hour plugging ALL of your grades into a spreadsheet to get your GPA, and then you need to assume you are going to have all 3.7+ semesters (maybe one B/semester, but aim for all A's) in the next couple years and see how it affects your current GPA. And saying that you don't know what your GPA will be in a few years won't cut it because you are going to need an A in 80% of your classes to have a shot.

 

[plasticdiscoball]

Best of luck with your future goals, but please also make sure that you are being realistic. If you have a 2.7 GPA at CC, what makes you think you can transfer to a university and immediately start getting 4.0 semesters, while also shadowing/volunteering/etc.? It's not going to happen by magic. You need to figure out what you're doing wrong, fix it, and absolutely kill (I'm talking literally get straight A's) for at least a few semesters at your CC before transferring.

I'm saying this not to discourage you -- I truly do hope you succeed -- but, if you do decide to move forward with your application, you have absolutely no room for mistakes anymore.

 

[Ex.Cineribus]

Best of luck with your future goals, but please also make sure that you are being realistic. If you have a 2.7 GPA at CC, what makes you think you can transfer to a university and immediately start getting 4.0 semesters, while also shadowing/volunteering/etc.? It's not going to happen by magic. You need to figure out what you're doing wrong, fix it, and absolutely kill (I'm talking literally get straight A's) for at least a few semesters at your CC before transferring.

I'm saying this not to discourage you -- I truly do hope you succeed -- but, if you do decide to move forward with your application, you have absolutely no room for mistakes anymore.

Thank you for not sugar coating, I do understand how hard I'm going to have to work, or at least I hope I do. I know that if I give up my other activities that weren't necessarily "productive", and focus solely on this, I can do it. It won't be like before, it can't be. I'll eat sleep and breathe it. I'll live at the library. I have to.

Even though I've been going to CC full/part time for the past two years and have ~45 credits, I still have ~2 years of math left to do at CC before I can transfer because I'm going for a comp sci degree, so I do have a lot of classes left that I can try to do well in to raise my GPA before I transfer, I just really have to buckle down. I think that's another thing that has been discouraging me, is that it feels like it's been a lifetime and I only have 45 credits. I'm not going to let that stop me anymore though.