Im in such a mess...any advice?

[HighFlya]

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I took really easy classy for my first 23 hours of college credit in my first semester and high school combined for a 2.0 gpa. I had no motivation, had no idea what I was doing. I only took Chemistry as a science class and got a C in it. it was Gen Chem 1.

Now After messing up my first semester, I realized what I wanna do. I decided that its in my best interest to go to medical school with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. I am taking Chem 2 with lab and zoology with lab and Calc 1. I have A's in every class, Aced all my midterms.

Question is... is it too late for me? Even if I do make a 4.0 right now and keep a high GPA, its very unlikely for me to ever get a 3.5... any advice or insight?

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Question is... is it too late for me? Even if I do make a 4.0 right now and keep a high GPA, its very unlikely for me to ever get a 3.5... any advice or insight?

No, not too late. Make good grades. This isn't complicated.

 

[HighFlya]

No, not too late. Make good grades. This isn't complicated.

hmm true, that. but man i might end up applying to DO schools. i hear they are starting to be just as competitive as MD schools... will they see past the time frame where I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to do in life? I've always been a bright kid, I just never really applied to myself. I want to do so much, for myself grades wise, money wise (no scholarships at all no job at all and i live in a dumpster, cant get subsidized loans), fraternity wise I want to be the regional director or some high leadership position of my fraternity.

idk, i feel like i lost a lot of experience that could come handy, like study habbits. I could be saving hours by studying little but more efficiently to make the same A grades if i started out earlier.

 

[Barcu]

I took really easy classy for my first 23 hours of college credit in my first semester and high school combined for a 2.0 gpa. I had no motivation, had no idea what I was doing. I only took Chemistry as a science class and got a C in it. it was Gen Chem 1.

Now After messing up my first semester, I realized what I wanna do. I decided that its in my best interest to go to medical school with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. I am taking Chem 2 with lab and zoology with lab and Calc 1. I have A's in every class, Aced all my midterms.

Question is... is it too late for me? Even if I do make a 4.0 right now and keep a high GPA, its very unlikely for me to ever get a 3.5... any advice or insight?

Upward trends are good, and med schools will see that you have gotten good grades in later semesters, which bodes well for you.

If you can't get up to a 3.5, you may be out of luck at some schools that screen, but most would give you a look if your MCAT score is good, and you have solid ECs.

Most important is to keep your grades up. As much as we like to talk about a "holistic" process of med admissions, you gotta have the numbers. A good MCAT score will help make up for a lower gpa too. Then, find some ECs you enjoy (medical and non-medical) and devote yourself to them but never at the expense of grades or the MCAT.

Just so you know, it's never too late.

 

[deleted357625]

Nah it's not too late

 

[HighFlya]

Upward trends are good, and med schools will see that you have gotten good grades in later semesters, which bodes well for you.

If you can't get up to a 3.5, you may be out of luck at some schools that screen, but most would give you a look if your MCAT score is good, and you have solid ECs.

Most important is to keep your grades up. As much as we like to talk about a "holistic" process of med admissions, you gotta have the numbers. A good MCAT score will help make up for a lower gpa too. Then, find some ECs you enjoy (medical and non-medical) and devote yourself to them but never at the expense of grades or the MCAT.

Just so you know, it's never too late.

Thanks! Hey btw, how do I know which schools screen? Are there particular schools that only want high GPA's with no exceptions?

 

[Barcu]

Thanks! Hey btw, how do I know which schools screen? Are there particular schools that only want high GPA's with no exceptions?

I think most schools screen to a certain extent, but the bar is usually pretty low (like a 3.0 gpa).

I wouldn't worry about getting screened too much. I don't think any school is just going to throw your app in the trash without looking at it, but the gpa the first thing an adcom sees, and you might not get the look you think you deserve.

At this point, you just get your gpa as high as you can.

 

[HighFlya]

I think most schools screen to a certain extent, but the bar is usually pretty low (like a 3.0 gpa).

I wouldn't worry about getting screened too much. I don't think any school is just going to throw your app in the trash without looking at it, but the gpa the first thing an adcom sees, and you might not get the look you think you deserve.

At this point, you just get your gpa as high as you can.

damn, i see the game play, it looks like a high mcat score should kind of help me to getting a fair chance in the application cycle right?
also if i am not strong on a few concepts like in chem 1 such as thermodynamics or gas laws and they appear on the MCAT then whats the best advice? should i go back to the fundamentals explained in the textbook again or just focus on how they will be asking it on the MCAT?

 

[slatermd]

If you're done with the class, focus on how they will be testing it on the MCAT. Keep in mind that you will not be using a calculator for the test.

 

[ClueBooM]

Don't worry, You'll be fine. As long as there's an upward trend and you don't slack anymore, they'll see your maturation. 🙂

 

[tabascosauce]

a rainbow would never be without the first rain.

get an upward trend and more importantly learn from this experience your weaknesses and limitations so you can crush them.

 

[apumic]

Not too late but you do need to it around ASAP. The fact is that there are tens of thousands of people ready to take "your place," so you need to step it up. It is imperative that you perform well consistently from here on out. No more Bs. Avoid A-s. All As. Whatever it takes. Oh yeah...and get in the other stuff too (volunteering, clinical experience, research, etc.). It won't be easy, but it is possible.

You will have some explaining to do come interview time and a <3.5 GPA may get your app held back for awhile resulting in waitlisting and few interviews and acceptances. That being said, as long as you break 3.0-3.2, it's unlikely most schools will outright reject your app before looking it over thoroughly. Below a 3.0 is virtually impossible (for MD) w/o URM status or connections and highly unlikely even for DO.


I also agree w/ Lizzy below me. Probably not a good idea to go biomed engineering if you have a troubled academic past. It's unlikely you'll be given much (any) grace for any form of engineering and at many schools engineering tends to destroy students' academic records. Pulling all As at this point is important and it is fairly unlikely you (or most anyone else) could pull this off with the engineering programs at many schools.

 

[LizzyM]

It's not too late and by my calculations, if you can pull a 4.0 from here on out you'll wind up with a gpa of ~3.6 which combined with 4.0 for several years and a decent MCAT will catch some adcom members' attention.

I would be a bit nervous about engineering as a major... engineering classes can be tough and lately I've not seen mercy being shown to engineering majors compared to other majors when it comes to gpa. Proceed with caution.

Along with good grades, work on time management, service to the community, and some exposure to clinical settings (shadowing, volunteering and/or a job in a hospital, clinic or nursing home).

 

[TjChamp]

Applied with 3.36 got accepted to 5 MD schools. It's never impossible.. just work towards it and you'll be fine (I had a similar situation).. my guess is they like to see the progress

 

[HighFlya]

It's not too late and by my calculations, if you can pull a 4.0 from here on out you'll wind up with a gpa of ~3.6 which combined with 4.0 for several years and a decent MCAT will catch some adcom members' attention.

I would be a bit nervous about engineering as a major... engineering classes can be tough and lately I've not seen mercy being shown to engineering majors compared to other majors when it comes to gpa. Proceed with caution.

Along with good grades, work on time management, service to the community, and some exposure to clinical settings (shadowing, volunteering and/or a job in a hospital, clinic or nursing home).

Thanks, see the thing is, people did tell me about my major being tough. But my dad is an engineer, and he graduated with a 4.0 at a top 20 engineering school. I really believe I have it in me, discipline and devotion to finish an engineering degree. Although you are right about being cautious about it. Still, I feel I would do better in it because I am interested in it. I can't see myself doing a life science major.

 

[HighFlya]

Applied with 3.36 got accepted to 5 MD schools. It's never impossible.. just work towards it and you'll be fine (I had a similar situation).. my guess is they like to see the progress

Congrats man, you just relieved my stress like no other...i was hoping I'd get atleast a chance for an interview with 1, just 1. you got accepted to 5. like i said, congrats.

 

[HighFlya]

Not too late but you do need to it around ASAP. The fact is that there are tens of thousands of people ready to take "your place," so you need to step it up. It is imperative that you perform well consistently from here on out. No more Bs. Avoid A-s. All As. Whatever it takes. Oh yeah...and get in the other stuff too (volunteering, clinical experience, research, etc.). It won't be easy, but it is possible.

You will have some explaining to do come interview time and a <3.5 GPA may get your app held back for awhile resulting in waitlisting and few interviews and acceptances. That being said, as long as you break 3.0-3.2, it's unlikely most schools will outright reject your app before looking it over thoroughly. Below a 3.0 is virtually impossible (for MD) w/o URM status or connections and highly unlikely even for DO.


I also agree w/ Lizzy below me. Probably not a good idea to go biomed engineering if you have a troubled academic past. It's unlikely you'll be given much (any) grace for any form of engineering and at many schools engineering tends to destroy students' academic records. Pulling all As at this point is important and it is fairly unlikely you (or most anyone else) could pull this off with the engineering programs at many schools.

What is considered an A-? does a med school determine that or the university? thanks for the tips and insight btw, yea i do have a lot of explaining to do if i get to the point where i have a chance to do so. all i can say is that i have matured. my friends tell me that they really did notice me working harder and harder. it really is no stress (the workload) because i am really motivated. the only thing that worries me is my mess up.

 

[LizzyM]

Thanks, see the thing is, people did tell me about my major being tough. But my dad is an engineer, and he graduated with a 4.0 at a top 20 engineering school. I really believe I have it in me, discipline and devotion to finish an engineering degree. Although you are right about being cautious about it. Still, I feel I would do better in it because I am interested in it. I can't see myself doing a life science major.

Go for it if it interests you and you think you can do well in it.

 

[HawaiiHereICome]

I took really easy classy for my first 23 hours of college credit in my first semester and high school combined for a 2.0 gpa. I had no motivation, had no idea what I was doing. I only took Chemistry as a science class and got a C in it. it was Gen Chem 1.

Now After messing up my first semester, I realized what I wanna do. I decided that its in my best interest to go to medical school with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. I am taking Chem 2 with lab and zoology with lab and Calc 1. I have A's in every class, Aced all my midterms.

Question is... is it too late for me? Even if I do make a 4.0 right now and keep a high GPA, its very unlikely for me to ever get a 3.5... any advice or insight?

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWaLxFIVX1s[/YOUTUBE]

Straight A's from now on k?

 

[apumic]

What is considered an A-? does a med school determine that or the university? thanks for the tips and insight btw, yea i do have a lot of explaining to do if i get to the point where i have a chance to do so. all i can say is that i have matured. my friends tell me that they really did notice me working harder and harder. it really is no stress (the workload) because i am really motivated. the only thing that worries me is my mess up.

I used some hyperbole earlier. That being said, grades are set by your institution, GPA by AMCAS. A- and B+s should be avoided because they'll make it tougher to raise your GPA. At this point, you're in a hole so you've gotta do really well now to get back out.

 

[HighFlya]

I used some hyperbole earlier. That being said, grades are set by your institution, GPA by AMCAS. A- and B+s should be avoided because they'll make it tougher to raise your GPA. At this point, you're in a hole so you've gotta do really well now to get back out.

wow...i wish someone wouldve told me this earlier...