How to get a 3.5+ in undergrad

[jjeangi]

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I will be going to community college in the fall because I was the smart kid that never took high school seriously. I always skipped class, slept in class, hardly ever did my homework, smoked weed all the time, and quite honestly, didn't learn nearly as much as I could have.

I think everyone knows someone like this.

I know there's no magic bullet for success but surely there are some general tips that will help. I know that discipline is surely the first step.

Becoming the doctor means the world to me, and I know I can put in the work. Problem is, I don't know what it takes because I've never tried that hard in my life.

Seeing students that I KNOW I was smarter than (not a brag), make it to top universities depresses me, but motivates me to turn my ways around and become a success story.

Some advice please 🙁.

 

[angemon89]

Dont skip class or sleep in class. Do your homework. Smoke weed least of the time. Pay attention.

No different than what your elders (I'm sure) have been telling you all throughout your childhood. It's that easy.

That being said, going the CC college route is a perfectly acceptable route to take. In the end, you'll owe less money in loans 🙂

 

[jjeangi]

Dont skip class or sleep in class. Do your homework. Smoke weed least of the time. Pay attention.

No different than what your elders (I'm sure) have been telling you all throughout your childhood. It's that easy.

Easy? Shoot me haha. I know for a fact that getting good grades is going to be hard. :S

 

[Midwestern Blot]

Take class seriously and try hard.

 

[crose1023]

Easy? Shoot me haha.

How much studying is really required. Everyone is different of course, but I'd like a general idea so I can improve my ways and get myself mentally ready for the battle I will partake in in the fall.

Um well if you're pre-med, studying is usually required like.. all the time. I'd suggest getting a 4.0 at your CC so you can go on and get a bachelors and even if you don't get a 4.0 in the bachelors, you still have some help. Still try and get 4.0s in everything. It's really not that hard if you put the MAXIMUM effort in..

 

[jjeangi]

Question for those with a 3.5+:

How much studying is really required. Everyone is different of course, but I'd like a general idea so I can improve my ways and get myself mentally ready for the battle I will partake in in the fall.

So essentially, how much work did YOU have to put in? What kind of sacrifices did you have to make, etc...?

I know that everyone is different, and I might have to study less/more, but I think hearing the respective methods from those who've done it can only be good advice.

Thanks guys 🙂

 

[jjeangi]

Um well if you're pre-med, studying is usually required like.. all the time. I'd suggest getting a 4.0 at your CC so you can go on and get a bachelors and even if you don't get a 4.0 in the bachelors, you still have some help. Still try and get 4.0s in everything. It's really not that hard if you put the MAXIMUM effort in..

Good post and thank you. How many hours did you have to put in everyday?

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Sorry, I edited my post because I did not mean to include that in my reply to the other poster.

 

[kalbrecht17]

Question for those with a 3.5+:

How much studying is really required. Everyone is different of course, but I'd like a general idea so I can improve my ways and get myself mentally ready for the battle I will partake in in the fall.

So essentially, how much work did YOU have to put in? What kind of sacrifices did you have to make, etc...?

I know that everyone is different, and I might have to study less/more, but I think hearing the respective methods from those who've done it can only be good advice.

Thanks guys 🙂

Although my story maybe isn't typical. I've gotten one B in college. Stupid O chem II. But anyways. I don't put in a ton of time studying. the key is studying EFFECTIVELY. anyone can sit there and stare at a book for 5 hours but if you don't glean any true learning, you aren't any better for it. managing your time is key as well. when you know you have a test coming up, prep for it early, not just the night before.

 

[kalbrecht17]

I put in probably what averages out to 1 hour per day but for certain classes its way higher and then i study closer 2 hours per day.

 

[UrshumMurshum]

If your only goal is to get a 3.5+ in Ugrad then it's easy.

Step I: Go to number 1 party school in your state, ranked near dead last in everything academically.

Step II: Major in psychology, sociology, or some liberal arts degree.

Step III: For your premed prereqs, look up on pickaprof or something similar the most lenient graders for these courses. Take your prereqs with only these professors.

Step IV: Study sometimes before your exams.

Step V: Show up for your exams so you can get your A's on them

Step VI: Success! Congratulations, you have a 3.5+ GPA.

 

[crose1023]

Good post and thank you. How many hours did you have to put in everyday?

------
Sorry, I edited my post because I did not mean to include that in my reply to the other poster.

As an undergrad? Barely any. Still am an undergrad. Went to a state NY school for 3 years, dicked around, left with a 2.7. Taking another 4 years in undergrad to get my GPA up. Learn from my mistakes, you don't want to be in undergrad till you're 24 like I will be. Stepping my game up the next 4 years. I will be putting in MAXIMUM. Will probably be living in the library.

 

[iforget2]

Don't be afraid to go to professors for advice or help. You'll regret it later if you don't and end up getting a bad grade.

 

[jjeangi]

Am I at a gross disadvantage entering college because I didn't learn nearly as much as I could have in my last two years of HS?

 

[angemon89]

Am I at a gross disadvantage entering college because I didn't learn nearly as much as I could have in my last two years of HS?

Meh, not really.

As for amount of study time. Only you can be the judge of that. Some classes will be easier than others for you (obviously you will need to study more for that harder classes) and some professors will be harder than others.

For example, during finals last quarter I had both a genetics and ochem final coming up. They're both "hard" classes, yet I didn't have to study one bit for ochem because I was so above the class average that I would've gotten an A anyway. I dedicated all of my time to genetics. Pulled an A out of my ass on that one thank god. All I'm saying is that there's alot of factors that go into how much time you need to study.

In general: it's a lot.

 

[JABWS]

Am I at a gross disadvantage entering college because I didn't learn nearly as much as I could have in my last two years of HS?

Not at all. I finished in the top 50% of my high school class, and then went on to do very well in college. This Fall I'll be attending a top 20 medical school.

If you're as smart as you think you are, then all it takes is effort. From my experience, a little motivation goes a long way. Just take your schoolwork seriously when it counts, which is right now.

 

[jjeangi]

Reading other threads, forums, and this particular thread, I get the sense that anyone can get top marks if they actually want them. Correct?

 

[The kitchen sink]

I will be going to community college in the fall because I was the smart kid that never took high school seriously. I always skipped class, slept in class, hardly ever did my homework, smoked weed all the time, and quite honestly, didn't learn nearly as much as I could have.

I think everyone knows someone like this.

I know there's no magic bullet for success but surely there are some general tips that will help. I know that discipline is surely the first step.

Becoming the doctor means the world to me, and I know I can put in the work. Problem is, I don't know what it takes because I've never tried that hard in my life.

Seeing students that I KNOW I was smarter than (not a brag), make it to top universities depresses me, but motivates me to turn my ways around and become a success story.

Some advice please 🙁.

I find myself very similar to you. I turned it around in undergrad, and it worked out for me.

My best advice would be: Develop good study habits. For example, start studying for just a few hours a day, but make that time extremely effective. As you do this, you may be able to slowly change your mindset from 'OMFG I HATE THIS' to 'This isn't so bad'... I still feel the former more than the latter, because I know I developed crappy study habits from the beginning... I am still sort of a slacker but just so you know in med school, slacking won't really pay off, unless your just brilliant to begin with. Finding motivation is like an endless search in a labyrinthe for me, so I may be able to sympathize with you, but if you want something, you will change to get it.

 

[CaribbeanBlue]

If you're thinking about "Oh I'll put in X amount of hours", you're doing it wrong.

Honestly, just study for the amount of time you KNOW it will take to master the material. Everyone has different requirements because some people can memorize the Krebs Cycle in 10 minutes and remember it a week later, some people take about an hour of that everyday.

The goal you should be setting is learning to KNOW when you mastered material enough to get an A on the exam. If it didn't get you an A the first time, then you're not doing it right. That's what I learned my first year of college lol.

Personally, I studied at least 6 days/week in undergrad, some days being 6-8 hours, some being just a few hours as much as it took until I was comfortable with the material and ended up graduating with a 3.75 sGPA/ 3.6cGPA. It's not GREAT for medical school, but it's not going to keep me out of American schools. I have a girlfriend and a social life, but it took a **** ton of saying NO a lot of the time to hangouts and parties around midterms and finals, especially if you know a lot of people that aren't pre-med. It's honestly a bunch of willpower. If you ever get wrapped up in that "Well, my test is in 4 days... I can study tomorrow, YOLO!!!!"... at least if I did, I wouldn't perform well.

I don't know what it takes to get a 4.0 at a CC as I just went ahead to 4-year university.

 

[CaribbeanBlue]

Reading other threads, forums, and this particular thread, I get the sense that anyone can get top marks if they actually want them. Correct?

This is SDN... I would predict the average student on here gets a 3.7 GPA and a 33 MCAT score haha.

The average "pre-med" you'll meet in college is subpar to the people on this website in my honest opinion. Some of these threads, especially the ones regarding the MCAT, shoot my confidence sometimes haha.

 

[911 Turbo]

So how do you know you are smart OP?

 

[MiracleforMD]

Have a pulse.

 

[Davidasaurus]

Good post and thank you. How many hours did you have to put in everyday?

Ultimately it boils down to the class. I could play fruit ninja althroughout my gen-eds and walk out with an A, but on the other end of the spectrum I had to diligently take notes, consult the prof/TA, and practically no-life it to snag the same grade in Orgo/Physics.

Everyone goes at their own pace an excels in different classes. I have friends who struggle in Bio but excel in Chem/Physics, and vice versa.

Just keep your head on straight and keep your eye on the prize. Everyone starts off at a 100% in every class, and if you see that grade dipping too low as the class progresses, put in more work and utilize resources.

 

[jjeangi]

So how do you know you are smart OP?

I have an IQ of 143. I won't use that to justify me being "smart", because the choices I've made in my life certainly weren't.

Some things you just know, and when I talk to other people, I know I'm smart...I just do. Of course, there's always someone smarter. I don't pretend to be the next best thing.

I've just lacked motivation, willpower, and the ability to say no.

 

[CaribbeanBlue]

I have an IQ of 143. I won't use that to justify me being "smart", because the choices I've made in my life certainly weren't.

Some things you just know, and when I talk to other people, I know I'm smart...I just do. Of course, there's always someone smarter. I don't pretend to be the next best thing.

I've just lacked motivation, willpower, and the ability to say no.

To be honest,

I feel a lot of medical students are actually the opposite. A good number of them try very hard to get the grades and study a lot and are considered "book smart" as opposed to "naturally bright". Just work at the three things you just stated and you will probably turn it around.

 

[Hemorrage]

tip 1: have sex frequently
tip 2: study. study. study

 

[MedPR]

If you can't easily get As in community college you aren't smart. Not saying you're dumb, but you're not smart. I'm taking post-bacc classes at a CC and it's ridiculously easy.

 

[EnergyDrink]

I have an IQ of 143. I won't use that to justify me being "smart", because the choices I've made in my life certainly weren't.

Some things you just know, and when I talk to other people, I know I'm smart...I just do. Of course, there's always someone smarter. I don't pretend to be the next best thing.

I've just lacked motivation, willpower, and the ability to say no.

That's all? I think that's considered "below average" on the internet. 😀

If you're looking for motivation, stop claiming that you're smart, and realize that you haven't accomplished ****.

If you don't use your brain, nobody is going to give a **** how smart you think you are.

Sorry if I'm rude, but I feel like I'm scolding at a younger self. Good luck 🙂

 

[MonkeyDRuffy]

One thing: aim high. Yes, you may be satisfied with a 3.5 or so, but if you aim for a 4.0, and you really want it you will work hard for it.

Study habits really do vary by course (Physics vs. Biology). For a physics or organic chemistry or gen chem course one thing I stress is DO PRACTICE problems. IMO, they are essential in order to get that intuition needed to understand the concepts. Just reading a theory is not enough, you really need to practice it in different situations. For those courses, I would go through the textbook chapter read over the material and do practice problems. I usually studied out of the book, using the lecture notes as a guide.

For Biology, what I would do is preread (not necessarily memorize but become familiar with the material). I go to class jot down any important points the professor stressed. Then go back to the textbook and supplement my notes. Usually the professor takes figures from the textbook, I like to read the textbook explanation for the figures. Now a lot of people say you need to understand Biology and not just memorize and this is somewhat true. There is a lot of Chemistry and physics involved in Biology (concentration gradients and electrical gradients for instance). In order to understand you may need to review those concepts. Anytime a professor mentions an experiment try to understand what would happen if you altered or what would the result be in a hypothetical situation. Most importantly, know the language. Knowing the vocabulary in Biology is imperative to understanding it.

Now a course like English requires a different approach. The one I took was an essay based (and journals) course rather than any exams. Main thing for those is to do the research for papers early and to work on the assignment piece by piece rather than all at once. I also took advantage of any editing services my University provided. Also, my professor offered certain times when we could attend his office hours where he would provide some advice on your paper.

I hope this helps. The caveat is that this works for me, and it may not work for you, because you may have different skill sets, knowledge and experience.

 

[AestheticGod]

Um well if you're pre-med, studying is usually required like.. all the time. I'd suggest getting a 4.0 at your CC so you can go on and get a bachelors and even if you don't get a 4.0 in the bachelors, you still have some help. Still try and get 4.0s in everything. It's really not that hard if you put the MAXIMUM effort in..

I don't see how it's so crucial to get a 4.0 in a CC. I mean, it can't be THAT much easier then an university..

 

[DrMario13]

That's all? I think that's considered "below average" on the internet. 😀

If you're looking for motivation, stop claiming that you're smart, and realize that you haven't accomplished ****.

If you don't use your brain, nobody is going to give a **** how smart you think you are.

Sorry if I'm rude, but I feel like I'm scolding at a younger self. Good luck 🙂

Ah the truth

 

[Optimus Lime]

I did much worse than you in high school. The advice already given is good, the only thing I can suggest is that you START OFF STRONG. What I mean by this is... you're definitely going to get your study habits right, it's just a matter of how much time it takes to do it.

I started off CC with similar study habits as in high school, which didn't cut it. My cumulative GPA is 3.3 right now finishing up CC, which is TERRIBLE. I just recently managed to correct my study habits, but this doesn't change the C's I earned at the beginning.

If you can start off with good grades then you are good to go. No matter how hard you work, you can't change C's that you earned in the beginning. Start off well and don't make it harder for yourself later on. Also, if you're so smart, then you can do much better than 3.5, aim higher!

 

[Ignatius M.D.]

I have an IQ of 143. I won't use that to justify me being "smart", because the choices I've made in my life certainly weren't.

Some things you just know, and when I talk to other people, I know I'm smart...I just do. Of course, there's always someone smarter. I don't pretend to be the next best thing.

I've just lacked motivation, willpower, and the ability to say no.

Hey, we are twins. I tested into the gifted program with an IQ of 144 and then slept for years through my classes. I had to do a couple years at a CC to make up for my apathy and partying during HS. After a few years there I transferred to a top 20 university and did OK there, though it was much harder to maintain a high GPA. Most of the study tips already given are good enough. I'd recommend transferring to a state university where you can receive an affordable, solid education but won't be a victim of many factors that hurt smart kids at top unis (deflation, insane competition, etc.).

 

[chillaxbro]

Undergrad is a joke, I have a 3.8 without studying once. only do hw and go to class. but i prob wont get into med school because i was too lazy to do any extracurriculars

 

[Ignatius M.D.]

Undergrad is a joke, I have a 3.8 without studying once. only do hw and go to class. but i prob wont get into med school because i was too lazy to do any extracurriculars

B.S., Systems Management (Online); ITT Tech??

 

[chillaxbro]

B.S. biology but im switching to biochemistry next semester (my senior year) because it's supposed to be harder

 

[Ignatius M.D.]

B.S. biology but im switching to biochemistry next semester (my senior year) because it's supposed to be harder

Either you are a genius, or you go to an easy university. I knew no one at my uni that didn't study and got a 3.8+. Even Rhodes nominees and Goldwater scholars couldn't do that. You'll probably get into med school, and I hope that you do, but you will be greatly humbled there.

 

[jjeangi]

If you can't easily get As in community college you aren't smart. Not saying you're dumb, but you're not smart. I'm taking post-bacc classes at a CC and it's ridiculously easy.

I haven't started yet. And this CC is no joke. Apparently many of the professors at the state university I hope to transfer to also teach there to make some extra dosh.

 

[MaenadsDance]

I started college at 16, with a mediocre high school GPA. I started school that early to get away from my crazy-ass family. I went from being the smart, lazy kid to one of the best students in school.

It took two things --

First, I loved the work. If you love what you're studying, everything becomes easier; it becomes easier to work, even to do the grinding work of memorization (I was memorizing ancient greek paradigms, not THAT different from the periodic table). You can, in fact, teach yourself to love what you're studying, even if you think "I'm not a math person" or, "I don't like chemistry." You do it by reminding yourself of all the brilliant people out there who think this stuff is just FASCINATING. You read up on the controversies and new discoveries in the field. Read biographies of famous researchers in the field you find boring. Obviously you don't do this so much that you aren't actually studying, but make the effort to find your work interesting, and you will be rewarded.

2. The other thing is, you have to WANT it. I didn't know I wanted to succeed until I almost thought I couldn't -- I was a victim of a crime about ten days into my first semester freshman year. I remember the Sunday it happened, exhausted from not having gotten any sleep the night before, staring at my homework. I could barely make heads or tails of it, and I had to read twenty pages for class the next day. I just wanted to go to sleep, to cry, to skip class the next day. I had a valid excuse, frankly. But I was pissed -- someone had tried to hurt me, had endangered the education I desperately wanted. And I was going to PROVE THEM WRONG. I was going to SHOW THEM that I was smarter, better, stronger, braver.

You say you're pissed and angry that you're in community college and not at -- what, Stanford? Well, stay pissed. Get even angrier. Every time you want to give up, think of how pissed you'll be if you don't get into med school because you don't work for it.



TL;DR version: love what you're studying, BE ANGRY.

 

[Cambino]

If your only goal is to get a 3.5+ in Ugrad then it's easy.

Step I: Go to number 1 party school in your state, ranked near dead last in everything academically.

Step II: Major in psychology, sociology, or some liberal arts degree.

Step III: For your premed prereqs, look up on pickaprof or something similar the most lenient graders for these courses. Take your prereqs with only these professors.

Step IV: Study sometimes before your exams.

Step V: Show up for your exams so you can get your A's on them

Step VI: Success! Congratulations, you have a 3.5+ GPA.

You're not even remotely funny.
Seriously 0/10.

 

[Ironmandoc]

I got over a 3.5 in undergrad by not joining SDN until after I was accepted to medical school...

 

[Optimus Lime]

I started college at 16, with a mediocre high school GPA. I started school that early to get away from my crazy-ass family. I went from being the smart, lazy kid to one of the best students in school.

It took two things --

First, I loved the work. If you love what you're studying, everything becomes easier; it becomes easier to work, even to do the grinding work of memorization (I was memorizing ancient greek paradigms, not THAT different from the periodic table). You can, in fact, teach yourself to love what you're studying, even if you think "I'm not a math person" or, "I don't like chemistry." You do it by reminding yourself of all the brilliant people out there who think this stuff is just FASCINATING. You read up on the controversies and new discoveries in the field. Read biographies of famous researchers in the field you find boring. Obviously you don't do this so much that you aren't actually studying, but make the effort to find your work interesting, and you will be rewarded.

2. The other thing is, you have to WANT it. I didn't know I wanted to succeed until I almost thought I couldn't -- I was a victim of a crime about ten days into my first semester freshman year. I remember the Sunday it happened, exhausted from not having gotten any sleep the night before, staring at my homework. I could barely make heads or tails of it, and I had to read twenty pages for class the next day. I just wanted to go to sleep, to cry, to skip class the next day. I had a valid excuse, frankly. But I was pissed -- someone had tried to hurt me, had endangered the education I desperately wanted. And I was going to PROVE THEM WRONG. I was going to SHOW THEM that I was smarter, better, stronger, braver.

You say you're pissed and angry that you're in community college and not at -- what, Stanford? Well, stay pissed. Get even angrier. Every time you want to give up, think of how pissed you'll be if you don't get into med school because you don't work for it.



TL;DR version: love what you're studying, BE ANGRY.

Great post.

 

[jjeangi]

Thanks for the outreach guys. Even the little things such as previewing the material before class have been fantastic advice, and definitely something I will try.

 

[tn4596]

I don't see how it's so crucial to get a 4.0 in a CC. I mean, it can't be THAT much easier then an university..

going from my state university to my local cc is night and day. they have to dumb down the material and inflate the grading scale because the students at cc are just not as bright

 

[jjeangi]

Why the few sarcastic/bitter posts? I was simply looking for honest advice. You really didn't have to post if you didn't want to help me...

 

[911 Turbo]

Either you are a genius, or you go to an easy university. I knew no one at my uni that didn't study and got a 3.8+. Even Rhodes nominees and Goldwater scholars couldn't do that. You'll probably get into med school, and I hope that you do, but you will be greatly humbled there.

Eh.... some people don't find medical school to be that difficult.

Why the few sarcastic/bitter posts? I was simply looking for honest advice. You really didn't have to post if you didn't want to help me...

Do you know many people I've met who thought/claimed they were smart but were actually complete *****s? A lot. So I approach these threads with caution.

 

[AestheticGod]

Why the few sarcastic/bitter posts? I was simply looking for honest advice. You really didn't have to post if you didn't want to help me...

Just ignore those posts. Some of them just have a ****tty personality and doesn't know how to talk to people.

 

[angemon89]

In regards to the CC comments: I have no idea what community college you guys went to but my CC BCMP classes were actually hard.

 

[NightGod]

Best advice I can give: front-load your studying for every class until the first test then adjust downward from there. It's a LOT easier to spend way too many hours the first two weeks of class and adjust once you see how the first test goes than to try and work in the other direction. I just finished two years at a CC after a two decade break and got a 4.0 all the way through, so don't fool yourself into thinking that you can use not learning anything in high school as an excuse. You'll likely have to work harder because of it, but it's definitely not impossible if you put in that hard work.

Do school like they're paying you to be there. Don't skip class for anything but the most critical of reasons: car accident, funeral, hospital stay. As one of my professors was fond of saying, "college is the only place I know of where people actively try to get less value for their money."

angemon89 has another great piece of advice: keep track of where your grades are and what you need to be doing to maintain As. Learn what policies professors have for drop tests/grade replacement (if any) and take full advantage of it. I've had classes where I needed to show up for the final and basically spell my name right on the top of the page to get an A and I've had others where I needed to own that final to lock in the A-guess which class got my attention when it came time to study?

Also, since you're going to a CC as a transfer student, make sure to make an appointment with the counselors and be sure you get your academic plan on track: get all the classes you need to get your associate's degree and make sure those classes will transfer to the school you plan to switch to before you take them.

What state do you live in?

 

[lobo.solo]

There is no specific formula for a 3.5 GPA other than doing the work. The amount of work you will have to put in depends on the class, the professor, the school, and you. You will have to gage how hard you have to work to earn those As. Also you should shoot for a 4.0 all the time, at least that's what a person with an IQ of 143 should do...good luck

 

[The Heisenberg]

I too was looking for a formula for success, and I realized there isn't any formula out there. I think college success comes from within. If you are able to fight pressures of living life as a traditional teen, take matters seriously, and persevere for success then you should be quite alright.
Being too late as it is for me to fix up my GPA, one thing I do regret not doing is actively meeting with professors to figure out questions I had on the subject. Wish I did that in Orgo II...but yea, even if they seem unapproachable, it's their dang jobs!
Something my dad always tells me "Never EVER be ashamed to ask for help."