I have a low freshman GPA and I already got a C on my first exam for Ecology, should I give up med s

[jorge921995]

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I got a 2.45 my freshman year because I was lazy and I failed chemistry. So I decided to take Ecology in the summer to get an A and boost my GPA. I learned from my mistakes and am busting my *** studying and reading the book. But I took my first exam today and got an 74.5. I am so depressed right now, I worked so hard for that exam. I feel like I should give up on med school.

 

[DrayDaze]

Try other studying methods. Maybe you should reconsider how badly do you want to go into medicine? It is only freshman year, so there is time for improvement, of course. If there is a will there is a way.

 

[ZedsDed]

Studying hard =/= studying efficiently. Reevaluate your methods, you still have plenty of time to make this up.

 

[Gandyy]

I had a friend who had a 2.7 freshman year. He ended up with a 30 MCAT and a 3.8 gpa. He got several MD acceptances.


Edit: He busted his ass from sophmore year and took summer classes. Bottom Line.. it can be done.

 

[Theafoni]

I'm gonna be forthright. If you're hispanic, I'd imagine you'd be fine. Just keep working hard and maybe even retake the courses you did poorly in.

 

[FutureDoc3094]

Just keep trying! There are people with low GPA's that end up going to medical school after completing a Master's or post bacc. You're early, so you can most definitely change your study habits and figure out what works best for you. You have enough time.

 

[jorge921995]

I'm gonna be forthright. If you're hispanic, I'd imagine you'd be fine. Just keep working hard and maybe even retake the courses you did poorly in.

I am hispanic, how does that affect anything, though?

 

[gyngyn]

I'm gonna be forthright. If you're hispanic, I'd imagine you'd be fine. Just keep working hard and maybe even retake the courses you did poorly in.

Many Hispanics are not under-represented in medicine.
Some are actually over-represented.
Language skills and commitment to service are still appreciated, though excellent stats will also be expected.

 

[Theafoni]

Many Hispanics are not under-represented in medicine.
Some are actually over-represented.
Language skills and commitment to service are still appreciated, though excellent stats will also be expected.

Really? Interesting to know.

 

[Goro]

Your school should have a learning or education center. Go seek them out for help.

NOW!

I got a 2.45 my freshman year because I was lazy and I failed chemistry. So I decided to take Ecology in the summer to get an A and boost my GPA. I learned from my mistakes and am busting my *** studying and reading the book. But I took my first exam today and got an 74.5. I am so depressed right now, I worked so hard for that exam. I feel like I should give up on med school.

 

[Goro]

Ahh, nothing like the smell of ignorance in the morning. Medical schools do no one any favors by admitting people who are likely to fail. If a URM applicant had a 3.2 GPA, that's a different story.

I'm gonna be forthright. If you're hispanic, I'd imagine you'd be fine. Just keep working hard and maybe even retake the courses you did poorly in.

 

[jb94mg]

OP, in how many threads do you need to be told basically the exact same thing? You were given good advice in this thread, which you made over a month ago. You're wasting your time taking an ecology course most likely, but I'd say that not being able to get an A in a biology course that's generally regarded as less rigorous won't reflect well on you. You need to try to take a couple pre-reqs (maybe General Chemistry/Physics and Bio I/II) in the fall and genuinely work as hard as you can, using optimal study strategies (look good strategies up online or go to your university's learning center). If that doesn't result in your doing well, then you should look into other majors/careers. Could an upward trend make up for your rough freshman year? Sure. But you'll need to have an upward trend in the first place for that to happen.

 

[Axes]

Ahh, nothing like the smell of ignorance in the morning. Medical schools do no one any favors by admitting people who are likely to fail. If a URM applicant had a 3.2 GPA, that's a different story.

How does an admissions committee incorporate affirmative action into the reviewing process?

 

[ZedsDed]

How does an admissions committee incorporate affirmative action into the reviewing process?

Not affirmative action, look it up.

 

[sharkbyte]

If you have two similarly qualified applicants and the committee's trying to decide which one to admit, sometimes the URM will have an advantage when competing against a similarly qualified applicant since that person's being admitted will result in a greater good than will admitting someone who will just make the class more homogeneous. The URM may be admitted over another applicant, even with slightly worse stats (but still good stats). Basically, being an URM will not up for academic ineptitude, but it will make a qualified student more appealing.

This is not how admissions works though. They are not deciding between two people who to pick for each spot. They are deciding from the entire pool which ones to interview and then which ones to offer acceptances to based on all the admissions factors.

I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure the whole "if you have 2 applicants then they'll pick X over Y because of A, B, C" is wrong. Maybe @Goro, @gyngyn and @LizzyM can chime in since they are on admissions committees.

 

[gyngyn]

This is not how admissions works though. They are not deciding between two people who to pick for each spot. They are deciding from the entire pool which ones to interview and then which ones to offer acceptances to based on all the admissions factors.

I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure the whole "if you have 2 applicants then they'll pick X over Y because of A, B, C" is wrong. Maybe @Goro, @gyngyn and @LizzyM can chime in since they are on admissions committees.

You are right.

 

[username456789]

If you have two similarly qualified applicants and the committee's trying to decide which one to admit, sometimes the URM will have an advantage when competing against a similarly qualified applicant since that person's being admitted will result in a greater good than will admitting someone who will just make the class more homogeneous. The URM may be admitted over another applicant, even with slightly worse stats (but still good stats). Basically, being an URM will not up for academic ineptitude, but it will make a qualified student more appealing.

That is very much one polarizing opinion and certainly not something one can state as anything close to 'fact.'

 

[Goro]

The wise LizzyM has discussed this at length.

The school asks "is this person someone we want in the class?"

"What does this person add to our class?"

Our Adcom rarely takes URM status into account, and we've rejected URM with poor stats. Our wily old Admissions Dean sometimes slavers over URM status, but if our institution were serious about recruiting URMs, we'd send him to the MBC UG schools to recruit.

How does an admissions committee incorporate affirmative action into the reviewing process?

Contrary to pre-med urban legend, it's never a zero sum game. Both qualified candidates would be chosen.

If you have two similarly qualified applicants and the committee's trying to decide which one to admit, sometimes the URM will have an advantage when competing against a similarly qualified applicant

This is correct.
The URM may be admitted over another applicant, even with slightly worse stats (but still good stats). Basically, being an URM will not up for academic ineptitude, but it will make a qualified student more appealing.

 

[jorge921995]

UPDATE:

I just took my second exam and got an 82. Still not what I wanted but definitely an improvement.

 

[Axes]

A definite improvement. Keep at it man

 

[jorge921995]

2nd update. I ended up with in A in the class! 🙂))))))

 

[aztlannation]

Just keep trying hard in school and become active around campus. Start looking for volunteering opportunities and try to shadow doctors. Try to find some research as well. I'm sure you will do fine! Don't give up on your dream.

 

[ZedsDed]

Just keep trying hard in school and become active around campus. Start looking for volunteering opportunities and try to shadow doctors. Try to find some research as well. I'm sure you will do fine! Don't give up on your dream.

That's all good but don't let your grades slip. Your grades need to be your priority from now till forever

 

[Hospitalized]

2nd update. I ended up with in A in the class! 🙂))))))

Be happy with the A, but don't be satisfied with your performance. You should always try to improve. I've had courses where one 74.5 on an exam would keep you out of an A because of how points are allotted.