Ok guys i need some advice on gpa. I am a second year premed student majoring in biology and have an over all gpa of 2.6. I have taken biology I and earned a lousy C and a biology II a B. Starting my freshman year I had to take remedial classes, so I am not the typical premed student. I killed high school with a year of home schooling so my grades have suffered some in college. This semester I currently have a C in chem.I, but I dropped the class last semester. I can pull chemistry up to a B possibly an A with hard work. Since I have taken remedial classes and have dropped chemistry once will this greatly affect my med. school acceptance? I have had the privilege of working as an e.r. tech for 2 1/2 years now. I have been greatly exposed to life in the emergency room and love medicine. There have been times that I've been in the operating room til 4 in the morning and would have class the next day which did not help grades either. I love surgery especially trauma surgery, and will consider a surgery residency if I get into med. school. I have completed 53 hours of my undergrad. and still have organic and physics to complete. My concern!! Will I be able to pull off A's in organic. I need advice on what to do and when should I start studying for the mcat.
I need advice!!
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A
A. Caveman
there comes a time in a man's life when he has to accept criticism, because otherwise he cannot grow. for you sir, this time is now.
i don't want my fellow SDNers to critize me for this. i'm giving this concerned fellow applicant exactly what he needs: a kick in the butt.
OK, Jlo. you must be getting bad grades because you don't study hard enough. do you think anybody in medschool admissions or in the medical community has room for a slacker?? and i DO hope that you're a slacker, because if you're getting bad grades because you're just not smart enough to do the work, then i feel even worse, and there'd be no point to this thread, and you'd have to give up your MD dreams (perhaps DO might work out--or carribbean MD) because it'll be TOUGH to get in here with those grades.
Forget about pulling that C up to a B or possibly an A "with some hard work," because you may in fact be incapable of the work it will take. i used to pull this bs line all the time also. "oh if i work hard i can EVEN get it up to THIS." yeah right kid, it won't happen. you might just be a Dreamer. you fantasize about doing better, but that's where it stops, because you're not willing to put in the work. you try...you'll go in the library and read for an hour, but then you'll just get SOOOO tired. and bored...and you'll just say "i'll do it tomorrow." well tomorrow is now today, and you are in BIG trouble. right? imagine how much worse it can get...because it will. Unless, you stop asking questions that you know the answers to, and start studying. you can do it. it's not too late for a nice upward trend in your grades. but i'm not gonna answer your ridiculous questions about when to start studying for the mcat, or this or that, because you HAVE NO NEED for answers to those questions. they are not issues. the only issue is that you're a slacker when it comes to studying (i hope, for your sake). or maybe you don't test well, or maybe you can come up with another comfortable excuse. because that's all you'll get credit for...coming up with excuses.
you wanted advice, this is the best advice anybody here can give you. unless you're waiting for some sweetheart to post a little "oh you'll do fine, just start preparing for the mcat now, and here's how...." you don't need that advice because the root of your problem lies elsewhere. i'd start unearthing that root because it's not too late, but VERY SOON IT WILL BE.
once you begin to solve your fundamental problem, specific answers to these lame ass "what tips can you give me for the mcat" questions will no longer be needed because you'll figure them out for yourself. now get off my leg and stop dreaming!!
I have a feeling i'm gonna be critized for this advice, although wake up calls like this are exactly what people like Jlo need.
i don't want my fellow SDNers to critize me for this. i'm giving this concerned fellow applicant exactly what he needs: a kick in the butt.
OK, Jlo. you must be getting bad grades because you don't study hard enough. do you think anybody in medschool admissions or in the medical community has room for a slacker?? and i DO hope that you're a slacker, because if you're getting bad grades because you're just not smart enough to do the work, then i feel even worse, and there'd be no point to this thread, and you'd have to give up your MD dreams (perhaps DO might work out--or carribbean MD) because it'll be TOUGH to get in here with those grades.
Forget about pulling that C up to a B or possibly an A "with some hard work," because you may in fact be incapable of the work it will take. i used to pull this bs line all the time also. "oh if i work hard i can EVEN get it up to THIS." yeah right kid, it won't happen. you might just be a Dreamer. you fantasize about doing better, but that's where it stops, because you're not willing to put in the work. you try...you'll go in the library and read for an hour, but then you'll just get SOOOO tired. and bored...and you'll just say "i'll do it tomorrow." well tomorrow is now today, and you are in BIG trouble. right? imagine how much worse it can get...because it will. Unless, you stop asking questions that you know the answers to, and start studying. you can do it. it's not too late for a nice upward trend in your grades. but i'm not gonna answer your ridiculous questions about when to start studying for the mcat, or this or that, because you HAVE NO NEED for answers to those questions. they are not issues. the only issue is that you're a slacker when it comes to studying (i hope, for your sake). or maybe you don't test well, or maybe you can come up with another comfortable excuse. because that's all you'll get credit for...coming up with excuses.
you wanted advice, this is the best advice anybody here can give you. unless you're waiting for some sweetheart to post a little "oh you'll do fine, just start preparing for the mcat now, and here's how...." you don't need that advice because the root of your problem lies elsewhere. i'd start unearthing that root because it's not too late, but VERY SOON IT WILL BE.
once you begin to solve your fundamental problem, specific answers to these lame ass "what tips can you give me for the mcat" questions will no longer be needed because you'll figure them out for yourself. now get off my leg and stop dreaming!!
I have a feeling i'm gonna be critized for this advice, although wake up calls like this are exactly what people like Jlo need.
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First, taking remedial courses will not hurt you for getting into medical school if you performed well in all of your regular and advanced coursework. Dropping one course will not really hurt you if performed well in everything else. Your problem is that you have not had strong performance in the med school prerequisites. Okay, this is my opinion. But this is the route I took. I was at your same exact stage several years ago when I was a sophomore. I had earned a c in physics II and org chem I. I was not performing well enough to get into med school and I realized that I had some deficiencies which needed to be addressed. So I took a step back from the premed science courses and just tried to focus on bringing my gpa back up. I decided that the best route for me would be to gain some maturity or in your case a better foundation before trying to attack these courses. After I regained my confidence, I took another science course with a very manageable load and cut back on working as many hours. You have to figure out what is going on why you can not perform well in these courses. You need basically A's and B's in the science courses (with maybe a couple of C's) to get into med school straight out of college. If you dont have this then you will have to show recent strong performance along with good mcat scores. (I did poorly undergrad but later did a postbac and masters maintaining a 4.0, 4 acceptances so far) At this point, you can still do it but you have to address your deficiencies. If you are not prepared, do not keep plugging in these science courses and doing poorly. Maybe you should audit a course before you take it. Go and get some tutorial services. You have to do whatever is necessar to turn your academic performance around. If you show an upward trend and start knocking out A's in the rest of your courses esp. advanced science coursework, you can have a chance. Do not keep plugging through if you are not prepared. Address the problem!
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ah, leave it to A Caveman to welcome our new members <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />
Welcome to SDN Jlo. We're here to help. Cavey made some good points-you need to show med schools that you can excel in the sciences. After getting straight As from now on and maybe doing a post-bac or other grad work, you might be ok. Just remember that getting into med school is very competitive and people with less than a 3.0 will almost NEVER get in. So study hard and show them what you're made of!
I got a 2.8 my first semester, but I got a 4.0 second semester. You need to prove that you can do it first and worry about the next steps later.
Welcome to SDN Jlo. We're here to help. Cavey made some good points-you need to show med schools that you can excel in the sciences. After getting straight As from now on and maybe doing a post-bac or other grad work, you might be ok. Just remember that getting into med school is very competitive and people with less than a 3.0 will almost NEVER get in. So study hard and show them what you're made of!
I got a 2.8 my first semester, but I got a 4.0 second semester. You need to prove that you can do it first and worry about the next steps later.
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Caveman, I agree wholeheartedly with your advice. I hope his problem is just that he is a slacker. That was my biggest problem as an undergrad but I knew I was a slacker and a partygirl so I never asked any advice about it I just stopped taking the premed classes until I felt like I was ready to get my sh** together. So jlo be honest with yourself. B/c those grades really wont cut it. Caveman, is being real with you. I am just never as blunt as caveman probably from my years as a fifth grade teacher.
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Ain't it Funny that J. Lo isn't being real.
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
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If you want to become a docotr, start TODAY and don't look back. Aim for A's and B+'s in your classes and nothing less. You can do it if you want it bad enough, you just have to give it everything you've got. Worst comes to worst in the end, if you need more good grades on your transcripts, you can enroll in classes after you graduate college. But don't worry about this now, just get your act together starting today. Good luck.
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I just wanted to give A. Caveman a HUGE Thank You. I'm here reading SDN when I really should be studying... I actually said to myself "I'll do it tomorrow." Well I'm going to go hit the books.
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advice from an adcom member. drop the er job, study more, and get a grip on reality. we don't care how much you love trauma surgery if you don't have any science ability.
to respond to a previous response...i have seen numous acceptances this year go out to people with below a 3.0 and greater than a 2.6. however, you have to fill a niche to get one of those spots (ie. underrepresented minority, rural program). even saw a few slip in this year with sub 20 MCATs! and by the way, this does make me extremely pissy when a perfectly good candidate get passed over for a ***** that will have trouble in med school (no matter what niche they fill).
to respond to a previous response...i have seen numous acceptances this year go out to people with below a 3.0 and greater than a 2.6. however, you have to fill a niche to get one of those spots (ie. underrepresented minority, rural program). even saw a few slip in this year with sub 20 MCATs! and by the way, this does make me extremely pissy when a perfectly good candidate get passed over for a ***** that will have trouble in med school (no matter what niche they fill).
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A. Caveman
Cassidy, do adcom members ever talk about what people here say? has any specific person ever been affected by what was said here? and what school are you an adcom member at?
you're welcome beckesita!
you're welcome beckesita!
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I must say Jlo, that it's scary How You Remind Me of myself. I'm sure that you're anxious to Get This Party Started, but first, lemme tell you about My Sacrifice. One day I realized that In The End nothing really matters, and that Wherever You Will Go girls will be saying What About Us? Now, I know U Got It Bad and the future's so Blurry and at times you'll feel like you're Crawling In The Dark.
For example, I'd meet a girl, and be like DAMN! I Can't Get You Out Of My Head for up to 7 Days at a time. I knew that I had no time for a Girlfriend, because I didn't want No More Drama. I said it'll happen Whenever, Wherever, but for the time being I had to say Bye Bye Bye, cause I needed to Escape and wash my Hands Clean of all the distractions!
Now if you do the same, a few years down the road, Emory may show you some Southern Hospitality and say Welcome To Atlanta! Then you can Ride Wit Me! Until then, remember that you're a part of Youth Of The Nation and if Everything You Want or all All You Wanted was to become a physician, then don't be left Standing Still. And Don't You Forget It. Peace out.
For example, I'd meet a girl, and be like DAMN! I Can't Get You Out Of My Head for up to 7 Days at a time. I knew that I had no time for a Girlfriend, because I didn't want No More Drama. I said it'll happen Whenever, Wherever, but for the time being I had to say Bye Bye Bye, cause I needed to Escape and wash my Hands Clean of all the distractions!
Now if you do the same, a few years down the road, Emory may show you some Southern Hospitality and say Welcome To Atlanta! Then you can Ride Wit Me! Until then, remember that you're a part of Youth Of The Nation and if Everything You Want or all All You Wanted was to become a physician, then don't be left Standing Still. And Don't You Forget It. Peace out.
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OMG!!! Papa Smurf, that is sooo freakin hilarious!! I had no idea this was your hidden talent!! I'm still in disbelief...I can't believe you came up with this!! <img border="0" alt="[Wowie]" title="" src="graemlins/wowie.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[Wowie]" title="" src="graemlins/wowie.gif" />
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Papi you crack me up! <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />
<img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> - Joined
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I taught Papi everything he knows
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<img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> That was cool
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•••quote:•••Originally posted by A. Caveman:
•it's not too late for a nice upward trend in your grades.
you wanted advice, this is the best advice anybody here can give you... because it's not too late, but VERY SOON IT WILL BE.
•••••Caveman hit the nail on the head this time. You need to get the GPA up NOW. Study HARD from today on out, no more excuses. You need to show you are capable of the work! You still have a little over two years to show a really nice upward trend in your grades. That could be enough, provided you start now. Get off the computer and go open your books...Go...NOW!
•it's not too late for a nice upward trend in your grades.
you wanted advice, this is the best advice anybody here can give you... because it's not too late, but VERY SOON IT WILL BE.
•••••Caveman hit the nail on the head this time. You need to get the GPA up NOW. Study HARD from today on out, no more excuses. You need to show you are capable of the work! You still have a little over two years to show a really nice upward trend in your grades. That could be enough, provided you start now. Get off the computer and go open your books...Go...NOW!
A
A. Caveman
hey racergirl what do you mean THIS TIME? i'm ALWAYS right on the money.
i'm so money, and i KNOW IT TOO. maybe i could be a little more sensitive, but then i wouldn't be as effective....
i'm so money, and i KNOW IT TOO. maybe i could be a little more sensitive, but then i wouldn't be as effective....
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•••quote:•••Originally posted by Scooby Doo:
•I taught Papi everything he knows •••••Actually, Scoob, you were "conceived" in 1969, and Papa Smurf is 542 years old.
(sorry jlo)
•I taught Papi everything he knows
•••••Actually, Scoob, you were "conceived" in 1969, and Papa Smurf is 542 years old. (sorry jlo)
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•••quote:•••Originally posted by ThingAMaJig:
• •••quote:•••Originally posted by Scooby Doo:
•I taught Papi everything he knows •••••Actually, Scoob, you were "conceived" in 1969, and Papa Smurf is 542 years old.
(sorry jlo) •••••I'm not 542 years old! 245? Perhaps. :wink: Yeah, Scoob taught me everything I know, especially about women. No wonder I'm striking out left and right these days. Scoob, stick to dishing out advice in your field of expertise: guys :wink:
• •••quote:•••Originally posted by Scooby Doo:
•I taught Papi everything he knows
•••••Actually, Scoob, you were "conceived" in 1969, and Papa Smurf is 542 years old. (sorry jlo)
•••••I'm not 542 years old! 245? Perhaps. :wink: Yeah, Scoob taught me everything I know, especially about women. No wonder I'm striking out left and right these days. Scoob, stick to dishing out advice in your field of expertise: guys :wink: Similar threads
