How can I raise my 3.2 to a 3.9?

[Macromind101]

So I just finished my freshman year and ended up getting three C's (my school does not do +'s and -'s). Those classes were Stats/Biostats, Honors Gen Chem second semester and Introduction to Neuroscience. My cumulative GPA for my first year ended up being a 3.267. Obviously, this GPA is not going to cut it for med school applications. My goal is to raise my GPA to at least a 3.9 by the time I graduate. Obviously, this is going to be very difficult considering how badly I screwed up my freshman year. So I decided to turn my study habits around. I did not study very much this past year; I never paid attention in class and I always studied for tests last minute. Besides the obvious things that I can (and must) change about my study habits, I also decided for this summer to watch lecture videos for some of the more difficult classes that I am going to be taking next semester to familiarize myself with the content, those classes being Honors Organic Chemistry and Honors Introductory Mechanics. I am also going to be retaking the classes that I got C's in to raise my GPA and also to master the content as I will be needing them in the future. Assuming that I get A's in those classes the second time, my recalculated GPA will be 3.533.

But aside from my ramble, I was wondering what other things I can do to ensure that I get all A's from here on out. Like I said before, I plan on paying attention in class from now on, studying for exams at least a week before they are given out and watching lecture videos (like MIT for physics & math and UC Irvine for chemistry). But other than that, is there anything else that I can do to ensure that I do very well in my future classes? Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

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[I'mJustCurious]

What I like to do is review every day for classes and on weekends I'll study everything that I was taught for that week. By the time it hits a week or two before the exam it would be easier and faster for me to review for the exam.

 

[deleted577188]

I can't count how many threads exist asking this same question or some close derivative of it.

Your freshman year wasn't even bad. Chill out. And whoever told you that you needed a 3.9 for medical school probably isn't in medical school. If that's your personal goal, then fine. Otherwise, they are full of s*hit.

 

[jameshart]

Equate getting straight A's to getting accepted into medical school. Equate getting accepted into medical school to becoming a fully licensed physician. Equate becoming a fully licensed physician to fulfilling your childhood dreams. Therefore, equate getting straight A's to fulfilling your childhood dreams. Another method I personally used is to write down your classes at the beginning of every semester and next to your classes, write down the letter grade you want. Although this method does not directly translate into A's on tests, it impresses your subconscious with the idea of getting the grades you want. With that impression on your subconscious, you will feel more impulses to study to get the grades you want. Ultimately, you are going to have to study more, there is NO way around that. Getting a degree in a science is no easy matter, but neither is getting through medical school. If becoming a physician is your burning desire in life, you will do everything it takes to accomplish that dream. Honors classes or not, it does not matter, you need A's. No way around it. Study more.

 

[jameshart]

Other techniques for improved memory include studying right before you go to sleep, making comprehensive study guides for tests, and taking breaks in between study sessions (i.e. study no longer than an hour straight and then take a 15-30 minute break by exercising or doing something productive).

 

[Macromind101]

I can't count how many threads exist asking this same question or some close derivative of it.

Your freshman year wasn't even bad. Chill out. And whoever told you that you needed a 3.9 for medical school probably isn't in medical school. If that's your personal goal, then fine. Otherwise, they are full of s*hit.

A 3.9 GPA is the cutoff GPA for Summa Cum Laude graduation honors at my school.

 

[deleted577188]

A 3.9 GPA is the cutoff GPA for Summa Cum Laude graduation honors at my school.

Hahahaaaaaa

 

[HCHopeful]

My first question is this: Why are you still enrolled in honors classes if you were steamrolled by those your freshman year?

Otherwise, you just have to study to get A's. There's no secret to it other than hard work and time.

 

[mehc012]

A 3.9 GPA is the cutoff GPA for Summa Cum Laude graduation honors at my school.

You won't make that by graduation, sorry. Even if you get a 4.0 for the remainder of your time, you'll only hit a 3.8, assuming you take a similar number of credits each year.

If you then continue and do 2 full years of full-time post-bacc work, you still won't break a 3.9 (though you'll be above 3.85). The return on your time investment diminishes sharply as you continue.

Fortunately, you don't need to. So, since summa cum laude is already off the table for you...relax! Buckle down and do better, but don't beat yourself up over a cumulative 3.6+

 

[Salt Salt]

Disenroll from the honors courses you are signed up for, don't bother retaking those C classes unless you're applying DO, and get a strong upward trend in your gpa going!

Also, this may sound harsh, but before you get yourself set on a 3.9 and post on SDN asking how to get there, take the time to bother seeing if it's even mathematically impossible. Because assuming you're planning on 4 years of college and took the normal amount of credits this year, you can't get a 3.9 at this point. A 3.8 or so is the best you can get even if you ace every class.

 

[Goro]

Bribe the Registrar.

So I just finished my freshman year and ended up getting three C's (my school does not do +'s and -'s). Those classes were Stats/Biostats, Honors Gen Chem second semester and Introduction to Neuroscience. My cumulative GPA for my first year ended up being a 3.267. Obviously, this GPA is not going to cut it for med school applications. My goal is to raise my GPA to at least a 3.9 by the time I graduate. Obviously, this is going to be very difficult considering how badly I screwed up my freshman year. So I decided to turn my study habits around. I did not study very much this past year; I never paid attention in class and I always studied for tests last minute. Besides the obvious things that I can (and must) change about my study habits, I also decided for this summer to watch lecture videos for some of the more difficult classes that I am going to be taking next semester to familiarize myself with the content, those classes being Honors Organic Chemistry and Honors Introductory Mechanics. I am also going to be retaking the classes that I got C's in to raise my GPA and also to master the content as I will be needing them in the future. Assuming that I get A's in those classes the second time, my recalculated GPA will be 3.533.

But aside from my ramble, I was wondering what other things I can do to ensure that I get all A's from here on out. Like I said before, I plan on paying attention in class from now on, studying for exams at least a week before they are given out and watching lecture videos (like MIT for physics & math and UC Irvine for chemistry). But other than that, is there anything else that I can do to ensure that I do very well in my future classes? Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[Macromind101]

Disenroll from the honors courses you are signed up for, don't bother retaking those C classes unless you're applying DO, and get a strong upward trend in your gpa going!

Also, this may sound harsh, but before you get yourself set on a 3.9 and post on SDN asking how to get there, take the time to bother seeing if it's even mathematically impossible. Because assuming you're planning on 4 years of college and took the normal amount of credits this year, you can't get a 3.9 at this point. A 3.8 or so is the best you can get even if you ace every class.

But like I stated in the original message, if I were to retake those C courses and get A's the second time, the C's would be completely erased from my transcript (that's what my school does for three retaken courses for underclassmen) and my GPA would end up being 3.533 for my freshman year. I took that into consideration when making my end goal a 3.9 GPA.

 

[Salt Salt]

But like I stated in the original message, if I were to retake those C courses and get A's the second time, the C's would be completely erased from my transcript (that's what my school does for three retaken courses for underclassmen) and my GPA would end up being 3.533 for my freshman year. I took that into consideration when making my end goal a 3.9 GPA.

That's great! I would edit your original post, because you can't really tell that's what you meant from what you wrote.

Best of luck! 🙂

 

[NeuResurgens]

You don't need summa cum lauded to get into medical school.

Other than that, make your classes your priority. A lot of people get caught up in extra social pursuits or other activities when they should probably be studying. There's nothing wrong with these, but you need to be able to balance your life with school so that the priorities get the time and attention they deserve.

 

[mehc012]

But like I stated in the original message, if I were to retake those C courses and get A's the second time, the C's would be completely erased from my transcript (that's what my school does for three retaken courses for underclassmen) and my GPA would end up being 3.533 for my freshman year. I took that into consideration when making my end goal a 3.9 GPA.

OK, but on this site, we talk about GPA from an 'applying to med school' perspective. Retakes won't help you there. In fact, you'd be better off for med school rocking upper levels than you would be wasting time retaking intros.

 

[darkeon]

Get a calculator and do some math