How can I improve my GPA?

[HairElastic]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I just finished my first year of university and I ended up with a 2.9 GPA. Clearly, I know it's not good enough for my potential.. and I want to do better. I know I am capable of it. What are some tips you guys have when you were studying undergrad? Right now I'm geared towards a chem major, and I finished with a 3.5 GPA in chem alone, but it was the English credits that I took and second semester of math that really hurt my GPA. I did really well, and got an A in first semester calculus, but second semester calculus I got a C-.

I'm thinking about taking multivariable calculus next year, and C- is the pre-requisite which I have.. I know I'm not bad at math, it's just my professor I found personally wasn't a fair marker. Any recommendations on whether I should take multivariable calculus? I don't need it.

So basically tips on how to improve my GPA and your experiences on multivariable calc. Will first year really hurt me when applying for med school? I hope it doesn't.

 

[Ironmandoc]

I would get off of SDN and study.

 

[Praefectus]

Try to get an upward trend going, and your freshman grades won't have as much bearing. On the subject of studying, try to study for one hour for each of your classes every day because the best way to eat an elephant is taking it one bite at a time.

 

[JABWS]

If you're having trouble in calculus, it's probably not a great idea to take more calculus, especially since it isn't required. You're taking a lot of risk for very little reward, IMO. And you're going to kick yourself when the sociology major with a 3.9 GPA gets your spot in medical school because you chose to make everything unnecessarily difficult on yourself. Challenge yourself, but not to the point of preventing you from fulfilling your ultimate goal, which I take is to become a physician, not a mathematician.