How bad are these grades? Can I still fix my GPA?

[rs0147]

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I've just finished my freshman year of college, and, academically, it has turned out horribly and completely different what I expected. These are the BCMP classes I've taken and the grades I've gotten.

Bio 1: B- (class), A (lab)
(This hit me hard, because it's always been my favorite and best subject, and I'm also a bio major).

Calc 1: A
Chem 1: C+ (class), (A- lab)
Chem 2: B- (class), A (lab)
Stats 1: A

I currently have have an overall GPA of 3.35 and a science GPA of 3.29, which I know are far from pre-med standards. The classes that I've mentioned total 19 credits, and I'll be taken about 51 more science credits during my college career.

My question is: how bad will these bad freshman year grades look when I submit my AMCAS (I'm afraid that I'll look significantly less competitive with a bad start, even if I improve, since admission standards continue to rise)? Also, is it still possible to salvage my GPA (if so, how can I go about doing so)? I've realized my mistakes from this past year, but I'm still very worried.

 

[Iso4ane]

I've just finished my freshman year of college, and, academically, it has turned out horribly and completely different what I expected. These are the BCMP classes I've taken and the grades I've gotten.

Bio 1: B- (class), A- (lab)
(This hit me hard, because it's always been my favorite and best subject, and I'm also a bio major).

Calc 1: A
Chem 1: C+ (class), (A- lab)
Chem 2: B- (class), A (lab)
Stats 1: A

I currently have have an overall GPA of 3.35 and a science GPA of 3.29, which I know are far from pre-med standards. The classes that I've mentioned total 19 credits, and I'll be taken about 51 more science credits during my college career.

My question is: how bad will these bad freshman year grades look when I submit my AMCAS (I'm afraid that I'll look significantly less competitive with a bad start, even if I improve, since admission standards continue to rise)? Also, is it still possible to salvage my GPA (if so, how can I go about doing so)? I've realized my mistakes from this past year, but I'm still very worried.

I'll be like Simon Cowell and be brutally honest, since thats what everyone needs. Its not a good start, but its not the worst start I've seen.

If you can get straight A's in the rest of your classes you should be fine (quick off the top of my head calculation states this should get you above the 3.8 range), but you are going to need to step your game up. College classes within a major usually build on themselves and only get higher the further up you go.

And looking at your classes, (I don't know you schedule did you take a lot of Gen Eds.) But, you gonna have to plan your courses ahead. Namely, I noticed you took Bio I but not Bio II. At some colleges certain major required courses are offered only in the spring or only in the fall, and if you do not have the prerequisites, it can be hard to get into, and if do get into the course you will already be one step behind.

And lastly don't panic, just take it a step at a time, you still got three years left.

 

[BABSstudent]

I'll be like Simon Cowell and be brutally honest, since thats what everyone needs. Its not a good start, but its not the worst start I've seen.

If you can get straight A's in the rest of your classes you should be fine (quick off the top of my head calculation states this should get you above the 3.8 range), but you are going to need to step your game up. College classes within a major usually build on themselves and only get higher the further up you go.

And looking at your classes, (I don't know you schedule did you take a lot of Gen Eds.) But, you gonna have to plan your courses ahead. Namely, I noticed you took Bio I but not Bio II. At some colleges certain major required courses are offered only in the spring or only in the fall, and if you do not have the prerequisites, it can be hard to get into, and if do get into the course you will already be one step behind.

And lastly don't panic, just take it a step at a time, you still got three years left.

Good advice.

Let me add that it sucks you hurt yourself so soon. These were the easy classes that were supposed to bump up your GPA. Later, you will be taking harder 300 and 400 level courses and you won't have the buffering of GPA from easier classes.

To put it simply, you screwed up but you didn't screw yourself over entirely. You can still get a good GPA but now it is an uphill battle. Try not to make the hill any steeper. Fix what you did wrong and get better grades. It is that simple.

 

[SteinmetzMD]

I'd say it isn't the end of your dreams. Just study hard and improve your grades. With your GPA, if you had a great MCAT and great extracurriculars, you could still have a fighting chance at state schools. Keep your head up and carry on 👍

 

[Snowdon48]

A science gpa of 3.29 can certainly be salvaged. It seems like you have recognized the problem so like BABS said, you have an uphill battle ahead of you but one that is winnable.

Keep in mind you have to improve your grades while your classes will only get harder. So buckle down! You got this bruh

 

[rs0147]

Good advice.

Let me add that it sucks you hurt yourself so soon. These were the easy classes that were supposed to bump up your GPA. Later, you will be taking harder 300 and 400 level courses and you won't have the buffering of GPA from easier classes.

To put it simply, you screwed up but you didn't screw yourself over entirely. You can still get a good GPA but now it is an uphill battle. Try not to make the hill any steeper. Fix what you did wrong and get better grades. It is that simple.

I'll be like Simon Cowell and be brutally honest, since thats what everyone needs. Its not a good start, but its not the worst start I've seen.

If you can get straight A's in the rest of your classes you should be fine (quick off the top of my head calculation states this should get you above the 3.8 range), but you are going to need to step your game up. College classes within a major usually build on themselves and only get higher the further up you go.

And looking at your classes, (I don't know you schedule did you take a lot of Gen Eds.) But, you gonna have to plan your courses ahead. Namely, I noticed you took Bio I but not Bio II. At some colleges certain major required courses are offered only in the spring or only in the fall, and if you do not have the prerequisites, it can be hard to get into, and if do get into the course you will already be one step behind.

And lastly don't panic, just take it a step at a time, you still got three years left.

I have taken three 3-credit gen ed classes, and I got an A, A-, and B- in them. Also, I've registered for Bio 2 and Orgo 1 in the fall (my school deters freshmen from taking Bio 1 in the fall, so I took it in the spring), and I've got a plan that will allow me to finish all of the courses I need for the MCAT/med school in time. By the time I finish the first half of my junior year, I'll be done with Bio, Chem, Orgo, Physics, Calc, Stats, Genetics, Microbio, Biochem, Psych, & Sociology.

Also, thanks for the advice. Unfortunately, I keep getting into situations where I screw up and then have to work even harder to fix it, which doesn't always work out in the end (eg: Chem). I'm hoping to prevent this from now on, and at least now I know how all of these classes work, so I know what I need to do to avoid screwing up from the get-go. I honestly can't see myself getting straight A's in every science course from now on, but I will definitely aim for it.

 

[jr93]

Some schools will probably want you to explain any C in a prereq, some won't care if your overall GPA is okay. A B- is Bio 1 would be a slight concern for me unless it's notably hard at your school. I'm guessing a large percentage of accepted applicants in here got an A in Bio 1 without a terrible amount of studying. I don't think anyone is too certain where things are going with the changes in 2015 so you probably should start dominating school right now because of the uncertainty. You'll be competing with kids that have almost all A's in prereqs and probably 3.7+ GPA's. That being said, I applied with a 3.22 and got in to MD so I can't bash GPA's too much but I do realize how important it is to certain schools.

 

[mirimonster]

I'm concerned that you've shown a fundamental issue with both of your core chemistry classes. IMHO, they like to see that if you didn't do well in the first semester, you figure out what went wrong and improve in the second semester. That means that Ochem and your MCAT will be that much more important to show that your chemistry knowledge is not lacking.

 

[kmp0410]

If you can figure out where you are going wrong, and improve, then you should be fine.

Still plenty of time to improve your grades, but it is going to get harder, not easier. So you will have to step your effort up, or do it smarter.

Just try to not let random B's in gen ed classes happen. I know I got a few of those, and thinking back they irk me.

Try not to let 'sC happen period, because a C drops your GPA more than an A raises it when your hovering around a 3.5 and taken 120 credits.

 

[OldGrandDad]

I've just finished my freshman year of college, and, academically, it has turned out horribly and completely different what I expected. These are the BCMP classes I've taken and the grades I've gotten.

Bio 1: B- (class), A- (lab)
(This hit me hard, because it's always been my favorite and best subject, and I'm also a bio major).

Calc 1: A
Chem 1: C+ (class), (A- lab)
Chem 2: B- (class), A (lab)
Stats 1: A

I currently have have an overall GPA of 3.35 and a science GPA of 3.29, which I know are far from pre-med standards. The classes that I've mentioned total 19 credits, and I'll be taken about 51 more science credits during my college career.

My question is: how bad will these bad freshman year grades look when I submit my AMCAS (I'm afraid that I'll look significantly less competitive with a bad start, even if I improve, since admission standards continue to rise)? Also, is it still possible to salvage my GPA (if so, how can I go about doing so)? I've realized my mistakes from this past year, but I'm still very worried.

Lol. That's really not that bad at all. Sometimes it is good to take a step back from SDN and take a deep breath of fresh air. Yeah, that isn't the best, and a 3.35 overall GPA would really screw you for MD programs, but you shouldn't be worried at all. Just do well going forward. If you average between a 3.6 and a 4.0 for the next three years your GPA will be between average and competitive for pretty much every school. Work hard, and do well on the MCAT and you'll be fine.

I did really poorly my first year (~2.3 overall) and graduated with ~3.4. Did it hurt me? Yes. However, I worked my ass off and got a >35 MCAT which helped a lot. I had half a dozen interviews and 1 MD acceptance with a few waitlists to go.


All in all, it is a setback, but not one that will totally derail your dreams. A big part of this process is working through failures. Embrace it, learn from it, and move forward.

 

[medic86]

It's just a setback.

Hell, I have 2 Cs, a F, and a WF, with some Bs.

I'm still on track for a high 3.6 (almost 3.7) with a potential for a 4.0 science GPA if I perform perfectly... and I'm a different person back from my first couple of semesters of college (6 years ago).

 

[Espadaleader]

I averaged a 3.38 for the first three semesters and averaged 3.8+ for the last 5. Reached 3.70. It's possible but you need to kick tail. Also don't let Cs happen.

 

[jr93]

Lol. That's really not that bad at all. Sometimes it is good to take a step back from SDN and take a deep breath of fresh air. Yeah, that isn't the best, and a 3.35 overall GPA would really screw you for MD programs, but you shouldn't be worried at all. Just do well going forward. If you average between a 3.6 and a 4.0 for the next three years your GPA will be between average and competitive for pretty much every school. Work hard, and do well on the MCAT and you'll be fine.

I did really poorly my first year (~2.3 overall) and graduated with ~3.4. Did it hurt me? Yes. However, I worked my ass off and got a >35 MCAT which helped a lot. I had half a dozen interviews and 1 MD acceptance with a few waitlists to go.


All in all, it is a setback, but not one that will totally derail your dreams. A big part of this process is working through failures. Embrace it, learn from it, and move forward.

You're probably a special case though. Had you not gotten a 35+, your grades would have been an issue to some schools and most people can't count on a 35 just simply by the tiny percentage of people that will score that high. Some schools care regardless of your MCAT because they may think you're a good test taker that doesn't try hard in school which they may screen for. I wouldn't say he has nothing to worry about but like you and others said, he shouldn't be affected by the SDN elitism either. In the end, do your best and apply to schools according to your stats. You have a lot of time before you have to worry about that. You're right in that new MCAT age group which could suck if you're grades are average or just below. It could be good too if you kill the MCAT versus people that won't be as prepared.

 

[Iso4ane]

You have also have to considered the rest of the field and who you are up against.

It like a long distance drag race, if that makes any sense. There are many people who are fast out gate and stay above the rest the entire time, Then there are those who hiccup later on, and depending how late can still do fine. Then there are those who hiccup early (Like yourself), and there are only two ways out: give up and quit (which I hope you will not do) or you can buckle down and get back in the game. You are already at a disadvantage and cannot afforf any major screw ups.