How did I do first semester freshman year?

[TheLeadSeed]

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I am currently a freshman student at Towson University and am a Biology Major. I know that I could and should have done better, but I feel as if I am continually beating myself up for not getting a 4.0 this semester. The transition was honestly more difficult than I thought, and I had to balance commuting 30 mins, 18 credits, and being involved.

Here are my grades this Fall 2012 Semester:
Biology I: A-
Gen. Chem I: B
Gen. Chem I Lab: A
Honors English: A
Honors Calc. I: A-
Intro. to Logic: A

This leaves me with a cGPA of 3.687. A lot of people consider Towson as an easy school, so I feel like a GPA that low would not be considered acceptable to medical schools. I'm taking Bio II and Chem II next semester, and I will try my hardest to get the A's.

I am also a Senator for the SGA, in the STEM program, am in the honors program, and am hopefully a future Student Ambassador. I just need to start doing volunteer work/shadowing to get more experience. But honestly, being a doctor is what I want to do with my life, and i can't think of anything else I would do.

Any advice on my grades and how I stand? Also, any tips on how to become a better pre-med student and increase my chances for medical school? Thanks!

 

[Life Sucks]

I half assed it and got A's in all my classes , except composition with a B.
I'm not doing that ever again. Plus why are you tripping about a 3.67 G.P.A, it's just your first semster, geez.

 

[TheShaker]

Calm down, you'll get better at what you do and those grades aren't as bad as you make them out to be. ~3.7 is acceptable for medical school and you can still do well in other classes. Your low number of units makes your GPA very sensitive to change right now.

But seriously, relax.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

No one outside Maryland really knows how easy Towson is tbh. So a 3.86 is great, do some volunteering, and you're on the path to an acceptance.

 

[TheLeadSeed]

Yeah I guess, it's just I had a 4.0 all high school and expected to carry it to this semester. Obviously, that didn't happen, lol. I just want to make sure I didn't screw up too bad. Also, I want to make sure I'm on the right track, and if there is anything else I should do

 

[TheShaker]

Yeah I guess, it's just I had a 4.0 all high school and expected to carry it to this semester. Obviously, that didn't happen, lol. I just want to make sure I didn't screw up too bad. Also, I want to make sure I'm on the right track, and if there is anything else I should do

Just keep on keeping on. Wait until you feel fully adjusted to college before you stack more on your plate.

Also, those EC's sound like leadership activities but I question their legitimacy since they were given to a freshman...😕

 

[TheLeadSeed]

Just keep on keeping on. Wait until you feel fully adjusted to college before you stack more on your plate.

Also, those EC's sound like leadership activities but I question their legitimacy since they were given to a freshman...😕

Thanks! And yeah, the Senator position is legitimate; I was interviewed for it and was lucky to be one of the four freshman to get the position. I just want to get the leadership started and build up throughout the next few years!

 

[Pattycake25]

Your grades are fine - your GPA, while still solid, would actually have been much higher if it weren't for the B in chem, but even with chem being a prereq a B there isn't a serious problem. Your top priority should be doing whatever you need to do well in chem 2, though. Organic chem, another prereq you will be taking next year or the year after, builds on chem substantially, so you really need to be comfortable with the material to avoid playing catchup there (and orgo is very unforgiving on playing catch-up). Not to mention both chem AND orgo are on the MCAT (both current and future).

Take-home message: don't sweat it, you did well. You do need to analyze your chem performance however, because it needs to be improved.

Edit: Undergrad degrees aren't really "devalued" based on difficulty, so long as you aren't at a community college, so don't worry about Towson's reputation.

I am currently a freshman student at Towson University and am a Biology Major. I know that I could and should have done better, but I feel as if I am continually beating myself up for not getting a 4.0 this semester. The transition was honestly more difficult than I thought, and I had to balance commuting 30 mins, 18 credits, and being involved.

Here are my grades this Fall 2012 Semester:
Biology I: A-
Gen. Chem I: B
Gen. Chem I Lab: A
Honors English: A
Honors Calc. I: A-
Intro. to Logic: A

This leaves me with a cGPA of 3.687. A lot of people consider Towson as an easy school, so I feel like a GPA that low would not be considered acceptable to medical schools. I'm taking Bio II and Chem II next semester, and I will try my hardest to get the A's.

I am also a Senator for the SGA, in the STEM program, am in the honors program, and am hopefully a future Student Ambassador. I just need to start doing volunteer work/shadowing to get more experience. But honestly, being a doctor is what I want to do with my life, and i can't think of anything else I would do.

Any advice on my grades and how I stand? Also, any tips on how to become a better pre-med student and increase my chances for medical school? Thanks!

 

[TheLeadSeed]

Take-home message: don't sweat it, you did well. You do need to analyze your chem performance however, because it needs to be improved.

Thanks! Yeah, I slacked off in Chemistry; I literally studied Bio during Chem lecture 😳 This break, I'm going to touch up on Chem I stuff so I am more prepared come Spring. Thanks! I'm glad to know I'm doing some things right.

 

[TheLeadSeed]

Any more input, tips, and advice? Thanks.

 

[487806]

Any more input, tips, and advice? Thanks.

See the prereq grades link in my signature. Good luck.