Is it time to quit if you have to possibly retake 3 prereqs? (definitely 2)

[thisismyacct]

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I'm currently a sophomore with a GPA anywhere from 2.51-2.75. At my school I have a 2.51 but when I was in high school I took some dual credit classes and therefore my GPA from that time brings up what my GPA actually is. I took 13 credits and my lowest was a B-, highest an A for reference.

My freshman year was a ****show of epic proportions on all levels, but mostly academically. These were my grades in the prereqs:

• bio 1 and lab: B- and C+
• bio 2: B
• gen chem 1 and lab: D and C-
• gen chem 2 and lab: D and B-
• 2 other science classes (not prereqs): B and B+

This semester it looks like my grades in science classes might be:

• microbiology: C-, maybe a C
• orgo 1 and lab: D and C+ but I might be able to bring that D up to a C.

My poor grades can really be attributed to me being a lazy sack of ****. I realized that after last year but it never hit me until yesterday. In class I can grasp the concepts but because I don't study consistently enough, I don't do well. I also have difficult focusing and I'm going to the doctor's to get that checked out.

My point is I'm doing poorly because of a lack of effort but I can't seem to end my lack of putting in effort. The mental capacity is there, but not the drive and discipline to work at it

Obviously, I've dug myself into a hole. What makes this a tricky situation is that I want to transfer too so I need to keep my GPA at at least a 2.50 for that (and you know, a high GPA for the whole med school thing).

There's no guarantee I do better next semester. I'm also not set on becoming a doctor. I was talking with a distant relative of mine and he recommended dentistry for me, and I think he made some valid points so I'm seriously considering that but again, I haven't shadowed either jobs so I'm not sure yet. If I were to do something non-medical I would probably become a clinical psychologist.

My question is: should I just forget about medical or dental school and change my major and career plans? What would you do if you were in my shoes?

 

[Cawolf]

You should gain exposure to the fields so you can decide if these are careers you even want to pursue.

In addition, clinical psych is medical.

 

[holdthemayo]

First things first, it is not impossible to become a doctor (or dentist) with your freshman GPA. I had a lower GPA than that after Freshman year and currently (a decade later) have MD and DO acceptances. That being said, it took me years of hard work to get my back to where I could compete, I did very well on the MCAT, and even then most MD schools were simply out of reach. I knew, without a doubt, what my long term goal was and that was enough to keep me on track as I dealt with the process step by step. You aren't there yet... not even close.

You need to focus on working on yourself first. Even if you could get into medical or dental school now, you'd fail out. My advice is go to your college counseling office, or see a private counselor/psychologist. When I was in your situation, I needed to work on my motivations and taking responsibility for my life before I could even consider what I wanted to make of it.

Work on you. Get ONE semester of A's to prove to yourself that you can do it. Then start shadowing some doctors, dentist, psychologist, etc to figure out which you are interested in, but until you fix whatever is keeping you from achieving, all of these careers are out of reach.

 

[pseud0]

you're still a sophomore. I'd say try retaking Gen Chem 1 or something and see if you can get an A in both lab and lecture with all your effort put into it. If you still can't, there are other ways to work in medicine that don't require a high gpa to get into, as you know.

 

[thisismyacct]

First things first, it is not impossible to become a doctor (or dentist) with your freshman GPA. I had a lower GPA than that after Freshman year and currently (a decade later) have MD and DO acceptances. That being said, it took me years of hard work to get my back to where I could compete, I did very well on the MCAT, and even then most MD schools were simply out of reach. I knew, without a doubt, what my long term goal was and that was enough to keep me on track as I dealt with the process step by step. You aren't there yet... not even close.

You need to focus on working on yourself first. Even if you could get into medical or dental school now, you'd fail out. My advice is go to your college counseling office, or see a private counselor/psychologist. When I was in your situation, I needed to work on my motivations and taking responsibility for my life before I could even consider what I wanted to make of it.

Work on you. Get ONE semester of A's to prove to yourself that you can do it. Then start shadowing some doctors, dentist, psychologist, etc to figure out which you are interested in, but until you fix whatever is keeping you from achieving, all of these careers are out of reach.

Could you expand on that second paragraph? like what did you say to them when you went?

 

[stickgirl390]

I advise that you take a year off from school all together. Entering the "real world" of 9 to 5 work followed by paying bills could give you the motivation you're looking for.

I think you need to change your focus from your grades to your lack of motivation. Even if you did have the grades to go to medical school, is 4 years of (arguably) the most difficult academics out there really what you see yourself enjoying? Having a passion for medicine means you not only enjoy helping others, but also that you enjoy studying, and that school will not get the better of you.

Also, a non traditional route to medical school that shows maturity and life experience can help balance a low freshman GPA. Good luck!

 

[holdthemayo]

Could you expand on that second paragraph? like what did you say to them when you went?

Just tell them some version of what I've quoted below. You aren't motivated, aren't succeeding how you would like to, and feel like crap because of it. Your college counseling service probably has experience dealing with students in your situation. It might feel awkward to you at first, but you aren't the first student to have trouble figuring this stuff out.

You may decide that you don't want to be a doctor and end up a very content assistant director of human resources, but you won't get there either without figuring this stuff out.

My poor grades can really be attributed to me being a lazy sack of ****. I realized that after last year but it never hit me until yesterday. In class I can grasp the concepts but because I don't study consistently enough, I don't do well. I also have difficult focusing and I'm going to the doctor's to get that checked out.

My point is I'm doing poorly because of a lack of effort but I can't seem to end my lack of putting in effort. The mental capacity is there, but not the drive and discipline to work at it

 

[thisismyacct]

bump