HS to College question (please)

[PsyDoco]

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Hi,

I would like to know if there are any people in med school now that perhaps in high school did not excel and/or did not like math and was not the best at it.

I have always thought that no matter what, if you were to put in enough effort (study, practice, tutor, ect), and had the passion for it, you could achieve it...

My GPA is around a 3.6 UW, and 3.9 W, and well I have taken many AP classes, and usually got B's, but I received C's in AP BIO.

Is it possible to do well enough in college to get into med/grad school even if you weren't very strong in HS?

Sorry if this post isn't appealing to anyone.

Thank you for any replies 🙂

 

[ksmi117]

I'm gonna move this thread to hSDN, our high school forum.

 

[DrYoda]

Hi,

I would like to know if there are any people in med school now that perhaps in high school did not excel and/or did not like math and was not the best at it.

I have always thought that no matter what, if you were to put in enough effort (study, practice, tutor, ect), and had the passion for it, you could achieve it...

My GPA is around a 3.6 UW, and 3.9 W, and well I have taken many AP classes, and usually got B's, but I received C's in AP BIO.

Is it possible to do well enough in college to get into med/grad school even if you weren't very strong in HS?

Sorry if this post isn't appealing to anyone.

Thank you for any replies 🙂

a 3.6 is an "A-" average, I would call that strong.

I didn't do particularly well in highschool, and I did very well in college and am now in med school.

You get a fresh start academically in college, my recommendation is to work hard from the get go.

 

[EyEnStein 07]

Lets put it this way...i was ranked top 10 in H.S with good grades, SAT's and EC's.....however it all went downhill when started college 😳...will be making up for it though.

But anyhow, if what i did (the reverse) is possible...then surely what your talking about is possible as well.

 

[tennisball80]

Lets put it this way...i was ranked top 10 in H.S with good grades, SAT's and EC's

Seriously dude? Oh nvm

I thought you said "I was ranked top 10 in U.S. with good grades, SAT's and EC's

 

[PsyDoco]

Lets put it this way...i was ranked top 10 in H.S with good grades, SAT's and EC's.....however it all went downhill when started college 😳...will be making up for it though.

But anyhow, if what i did (the reverse) is possible...then surely what your talking about is possible as well.

wow really? that sucks.

How did you screw up?

 

[IndianVercetti]

I was a terrible student in high school, and am now pretty much on track, going into my junior year of college.

Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

One of the most important things to do in school (whether HS or college) is to learn how to learn. It sounds odd, but upper-level college classes and grad school/med school classes are as much about being able to handle large amounts of information.....as it is about the actual information.

 

[engineeredout]

I hated math in high school.

I took calc 1 my first semester of college. Failed it and had to retake it, which is pretty terrible as an engineering major.

Ended up graduating with a double major in engineering and math, and am currently in med school.

And oh yeah, I LOVE math and numbers and formulas. Wish there was more of it around here.

Moral of the story: Just because you dislike something now doesn't mean you can't grow to love it. For me the transition occured once I started taking higher level math classes. Calc 1 and 2 sucked. Calc 3 and 4 (multivariable and differential equations) were awesome, as were upper level stats.

 

[DarthBroosevelt]

Well first to answer your question, yes it is totally do-able. It is more than possible to get into medical school even if you did poorly in high school.

Second of all, and what I believe to be the most important... don't be so hard on yourself! A 3.6 GPA is nowhere near being a bad student. In high school I had cumulative GPA of 3.08 and I got into a perfectly good college and am now a very competitive medical applicant.

I hope this helps. Have a good school year and first and foremost, remember to have fun.

 

[Evergrey]

I was a terrible student in high school, and am now pretty much on track, going into my junior year of college.

Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something.

Yeah I'm with this guy. I never studied in school, never paid attention in class, and overall had no motivation or passion for school at all. I've definitely turned that around as I matured, and I lead a much more fulfilling life now that I (try to) put my full effort and entire heart into the endeavors I take on.

I was not good at math when I was in HS/middle school (was failing Algebra for a while in 8th grade, got a D on my AP Calc final in 12th grade, and I had to scramble to save myself from getting a C in Algebra II my 10th grade). Ultimately though this wasn't due to a learning disability or lack of intellect. It was due to a lack of focus.

When I went into college I got a B- in my first calc course. I told myself I hated science/math. I learned a lot of things over the next few semesters, pushed forward, developed a work ethic, discovered that I *LOVE* science and math, and never got a grade that low ever again. My GPA improved a LOT, and I feel fortunate to be sitting in the position where I'm reasonably sure I have a chance at getting into medical school.

No one can ever prevent themselves from falling down occasionally, but you always, always have the choice to pick yourself back up.

 

[PsyDoco]

Thanks for the responses =] So for me, I believe the reason why I had received a few C's in my AP courses, was due to a number of reasons:

1) Bad teacher in Stat 1st semester ...2nd sem, I received a B in both MPs with a good teacher
2) Lacked the will to do really good or care about the math course.
3) As you know, it sort of goes down hill from there once you slack 🙁

This year, my senior year, I am trying to test myself. I will try to get in the habit of studying everyday (as I know I will have to in college), and try and slip in the top 10% of my class...right now top 13%.

I just get frustrated at times when I do not get material that I need to study for (ie AP chemistry at times...)

 

[EyEnStein 07]

wow really? that sucks.

How did you screw up?

haha, well. I had different techniques in H.S...things were much easier and for AP exams i had the review books (easily understandable). Also i rarely put in too much effort because the classes were not too difficult for me. In my senior year where i had my highest average i barely studied for classes and still got by pretty well with AP exams.

Come college time....i didnt get to go where i wanted..so i was even less interested (the school i wanted to go to was too much for me to handle financially). I hated everything about the school (still do) and basically i got cocky and thought i could get by without studying.....I mean i did get by..but i didnt exactly make that high of grades (except for 2 classes which i pretty much already mastered concepts)..but yes to sum it up..bad study skills + disinterest.

Point is....no matter what happens...make sure you go to a school you like. I always talk about this when people ask "where should i go? X school or Y school? ...its very important to go to a school you like, have visited, met people who you believe you will fit in well with and etc...

However i do plan on changing around my study techniques and actually studying this semester.

 

[PsyDoco]

Oh ok...well you are at least lucky enough to have things come to you easier than most others. Ha, for everything except the social sciences, I have to study hard, get help with teacher, and all that in order for me to get an A. I never studied for my AP social studies classes and scored 4's on them and got A's, without studying..

However, about choosing a college, I agree. I do not think I could do well in an environment that I dislike. Just like with classes/teachers, if you hate it, your work ethic may fall and therefore the grades 🙁 I am sort of stuck though, looking at a flagship school (UMD: College Park) and UMBC (Un. MD Baltimore County). UMBC is good..smaller, science heavy and I like it a lot more..however, no body would respect that decision if I went there...I feel very pressured to go to College Park

:/

 

[EyEnStein 07]

Oh ok...well you are at least lucky enough to have things come to you easier than most others. Ha, for everything except the social sciences, I have to study hard, get help with teacher, and all that in order for me to get an A. I never studied for my AP social studies classes and scored 4's on them and got A's, without studying..

However, about choosing a college, I agree. I do not think I could do well in an environment that I dislike. Just like with classes/teachers, if you hate it, your work ethic may fall and therefore the grades 🙁 I am sort of stuck though, looking at a flagship school (UMD: College Park) and UMBC (Un. MD Baltimore County). UMBC is good..smaller, science heavy and I like it a lot more..however, no body would respect that decision if I went there...I feel very pressured to go to College Park

:/

Honestly, you need to decide for yourself or else your going to end up blaming people later on if you dont get to where you want to be from UMDCP...true that i have heard of UMDCP but never of UMBC..however that doesnt mean much. The school i wanted to go to was not even the highest ranked or the "best" one out of all the schools i did get accepted to. It was in the middle and where i wanted to be.

After visiting if you still feel UMBC is better (especially if they give you scholarships) then i see no reason why you shouldnt go there. Worst comes to Worst...you go to one, dont like it, transfer as i get the impression that you could afford both schools financially. In the end hopefully its you that makes the decision, and only you would know if the one your making is right or wrong. Keep in mind....going to a school just because of its name, is not always the wisest decision.

 

[PsyDoco]

Honestly, you need to decide for yourself or else your going to end up blaming people later on if you dont get to where you want to be from UMDCP...true that i have heard of UMDCP but never of UMBC..however that doesnt mean much. The school i wanted to go to was not even the highest ranked or the "best" one out of all the schools i did get accepted to. It was in the middle and where i wanted to be.

After visiting if you still feel UMBC is better (especially if they give you scholarships) then i see no reason why you shouldnt go there. Worst comes to Worst...you go to one, dont like it, transfer as i get the impression that you could afford both schools financially. In the end hopefully its you that makes the decision, and only you would know if the one your making is right or wrong. Keep in mind....going to a school just because of its name, is not always the wisest decision.

Yes, ha, many people have heard of UMDCP. UMBC is only known in MD. However, it has apparently been doing good. I have several friends at UMBC who love it, so I know it isn't terrible. But the way I see it, no matter where I go, as long as I can excel there, I think I have a pretty good shot at med school (given good GPA, MCAT score, class rank, ect.)

Also, I believe UMBC is more generous towards throwing money at students. Getting a scholarship at UMDCP is much much harder to obtain. I can only get academic scholarships.. By the way, what med school are you in? Or are you on your senior year?

 

[bunnity]

I found college bio to be a lot easier than AP bio. I'm sure it depends on the schools involved, but just work hard and see what happens; that's all you can do.