Low GPA Sophmore in College

[presci51]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi. I'm a sophmore and I've taken 49 credits so far (around 16 credits per semester on average). My freshman year was overloaded, even though I followed the guidelines for schedules given by my school. I was already discouraged the first semester after getting a C+ in Biology. The next semester, I picked up a C- in Gen Chem 2, despite picking up my grades.

While I was hoping to get all A's this semester, I got a C+ in Physics due to just the final exam alone, while I was focusing in Organic Chem. Unfortunately, I received an F in Organic Chemistry. There are no excuses for this. But I'm in the engineering section, and haven't gotten great classes. My GPA is a 2.8 at the moment with several C's.

I understand that there is little hope left in my application despite the fact that I'm a sophomore. Over the break (before I learned about my "F" on Organic Chemistry), I did a full-turn around in study habits. However, I'm not sure if any hope is left.

I am willing to work hard relentlessly, if an option exists for me to somehow get a strong application for Med school. I can't imagine myself in any other field. This is really the only thing I would enjoy doing. I probably have embarrassing visits with my adviser ahead of me.

Does anyone know if I still have a chance getting into med school if I work at it?

Edit: I hope I posted in the right section?

 

[Oso]

I think this may belong in the 'what are my chances' forum.

You'll have to retake the organic chemistry class you failed. But if you've only got 3 semesters of grades, I think you still have a chance. You'll really need to step it up and try to get mostly A's from now on. I think you really need to re-evaluate your study methods and take advantage of extra help. Ask around, see what other study methods people are using and find what works best for you. Take advantage of office hours, time before and after class, study groups, tutoring, etc.

Your main priority right now should be boosting your GPA, although you will also have to take part in extra curricular activities (shadowing, volunteering, etc.). You'll have to find a way to balance everything, I know it's not easy. You're still in the game, but prepare to work!

edit: you may also consider applying to DO schools; I know they replace grades if you retake a class.

 

[deleted407021]

. I can't imagine myself in any other field. This is really the only thing I would enjoy doing.

How much shadowing/clinical service work have you done? How do you know how much you would like to be a physician?

 

[presci51]

@Moderators : I'm sorry if this belongs to the "what are my chances" forum, please move it. 🙂 Thank you.

Oso, I've learn a lot, and plan on working hard. I've been asking my friends about their study methods. I am going to re-take Organic Chem (if they allow me to), and make use of tutoring.

Unfortunately, it's hard for me to do any extra-curricular activity, because my school takes the GPA into account for everything. There is almost an umbrella rule that you need a 3.0 GPA to participate in most activities, clubs, organizations, and events. Thank you for understanding. 🙂 I will find a way to balance everything. I'm just looking for a way to rescue my grades. I'm thinking about taking the MCAT in my senior year to give me time to focus on my GPA. I plan on deviating from the typical course schedule to re-take some classes. These are just ideas, and I don't know if they're the right ones.

I would prefer MD schools over DO schools (I know either requires hard work). Do you have any advice for what I should do with my classes? It's not typical to fail a class. And according to GPA calculations, it seems mathematically impossible to get the required 3.7 now? Thank you very much!


@BrainsIsCool , I haven't done that yet. Once again, a low gpa has been putting me off. However, I've done research into the field and I definitely know I want to go into it.

 

[Oso]

Do you have any advice for what I should do with my classes? Thank you very much!

What do you mean exactly?

And I guess wait until you reach 3.0 to participate in school sponsored activities, but I don't think that applies to shadowing. If you took your MCAT senior year, you would have to take at least one year off. In your case I think that may beneficial because it would give you more time to improve your GPA before applying, and you would have more hours of extracurriculars. Remember that extracurricular activities are an integral part of having a strong application, especially if your GPA/MCAT are below average. And you should definitely go speak with an advisor in terms of figuring out a course schedule.

 

[presci51]

I was asking if you had advice on what I should plan on doing (postbac, applying for a masters, etc)? Or if I'll have a shot to recover over the years left? I'm looking for an idea on what I should be expecting to do ahead. 🙂

Does one year off mean one-year without school? I never knew that shadowing would help an application (I've been told that it isn't useful before). I will try my best to volunteer in my school/community, and try shadowing.

I'm not sure if my adviser is going to be helpful. But I've set up an appointment.

I appreciate your time, Oso. 🙂

 

[deleted407021]

@BrainsIsCool , I haven't done that yet. Once again, a low gpa has been putting me off. However, I've done research into the field and I definitely know I want to go into it.

My concern is how can you say you can't imagine doing anything else and wouldn't enjoy any other field, when you don't seem to have any experience in a healthcare environment? Just doing research is not enough. That would be like saying I want to be a radiologist after reading up about it.

 

[Oso]

I was asking if you had advice on what I should plan on doing (postbac, applying for a masters, etc)? Or if I'll have a shot to recover over the years left? I'm looking for an idea on what I should be expecting to do ahead. 🙂

Does one year off mean one-year without school? I never knew that shadowing would help an application (I've been told that it isn't useful before). I will try my best to volunteer in my school/community, and try shadowing.

I'm not sure if my adviser is going to be helpful. But I've set up an appointment.

I appreciate your time, Oso. 🙂

Yes shadowing is pivotal, both for you personally and for your application. Like BrainsIsCool has been saying, shadowing gives you a glimpse of what it's like to be a physician. Without this, how can you really know that medicine is the career for you? This is why medical schools need to see that you've shadowed. They need to see that you've witnessed the day to day life of a physician and are still interested. I would aim for about 50-60 hours of shadowing spread across a couple different specialties.

As for a masters program or something, it all depends on how much you can bring up your GPA while in undergrad, so let's not worry about that now. For now let's focus on getting good grades and trying to do a little bit of shadowing.

A year or more off can be spent obtaining an additional degree, working, doing research, etc. Many applicants utilize it to fill in weak areas of their application, be it grades or some type of extracurricular activity.

In terms of participating in activities, do some shadowing, clinical and non-clinical volunteering, and perhaps try to do some research. Spend some time on SDN, you'll find little bits of information that will help you. Good luck.

 

[presci51]

Thanks BrainsIsCool.

I'll start looking into opportunities to shadow (both for myself and my application). I didn't know how much to aim for earlier. I'm going to do my best to cover 50-60 hours.

It would help if I could just focus on undergrad for now. I'm going to focus on grades and extra-circular activities.

Thank you very much for helping. 🙂 I hope to see you around SDN!

 

[Goro]

100% concur. You're not dead yet.

I think this may belong in the 'what are my chances' forum.

You'll have to retake the organic chemistry class you failed. But if you've only got 3 semesters of grades, I think you still have a chance. You'll really need to step it up and try to get mostly A's from now on. I think you really need to re-evaluate your study methods and take advantage of extra help. Ask around, see what other study methods people are using and find what works best for you. Take advantage of office hours, time before and after class, study groups, tutoring, etc.

Your main priority right now should be boosting your GPA, although you will also have to take part in extra curricular activities (shadowing, volunteering, etc.). You'll have to find a way to balance everything, I know it's not easy. You're still in the game, but prepare to work!

edit: you may also consider applying to DO schools; I know they replace grades if you retake a class.

 

[knv2u]

It seems to me that part of your problem is that you are overloading yourself with rigorous courses all at once. Try retaking the pre-requisite classes during the summers so you can focus on them and do well in them. If you apply to D.O. programs, grade replacement will help. You can still turn things around. M.D. is still possible, but a post-bacc may be necessary.

 

[papi89]

It seems to me that part of your problem is that you are overloading yourself with rigorous courses all at once. Try retaking the pre-requisite classes during the summers so you can focus on them and do well in them. If you apply to D.O. programs, grade replacement will help. You can still turn things around. M.D. is still possible, but a post-bacc may be necessary.

Second this, DO is probably more realistic but with enough hard work and a good turn around MD is probably still possible

 

[STLbamf]

Absolutely go DO, MD is a long shot with that F in orgo branding you like a leper. And I'm in no position to judge you or tell you you can't become a doctor, but if you are struggling this hard with such basic classes how are you going to survive a med school curriculum? Or even do well on the MCAT for that matter? Studying needs to become you
r first and only priority, you've REALLY stumbled out of the gate and need to dedicate every ounce of
yourself to replacing these grades and getting some nice EC's champ! I know tons of premeds who just Google "doctor salaries" and watch House or Greys Anatomy and just decide to be a cool rich physician without any real drive or passion for helping others through medicine. You need to get motivated and put all the crap that kept you from success in the rearview mirror, if this is really what you want go get it

 

[papi89]

Yeah I think the idea that you're going to like flip a switch and get all A's and crush the MCAT may not be realistic, but if you really want to be a physician there's nothing wrong with the DO.

 

[Mad Jack]

Straighten it up kid, or this will be your future. No premed advisor will touch an app like yours, so we're all you've got. Welcome to the SDN pain train.

Now, you need to retake anything you got a C+ or lower in that is a science. I'd you do this and get a B+ or higher in every course, with a cGPA and sGPA of 3.2, you stand a good chance of DO admission. You already have a fistful of fail in your app, so be careful about over burdening yourself with extracurriculars that will hurt your grades. If you must, take a gap year to beef up your app with some epic volunteering and a pile of dead foreign babies that have left your heart full of tragedy that can only be soothed through your becoming a physician, or do your personal statement will claim.

And ace that MCAT, or all your work is for nothing. That's right, you could do all of the above, then end up with a 21, at which point:

Good luck. You're going to have to work your ass off, but it is possible if you are perfect from here on out.

 

[SomniusLumen]

Another thing worth mentioning is that you should definitely try and figure out why exactly you may not have done as well as you wanted. Is it because perhaps medicine is not the right career for you? Was it an unfortunate case of bad professors? If you can at least figure out what went wrong, then you have a stepping stone for improving. But like everyone else is saying: there is still hope.

 

[Blizzard18]

Not everyone is cut out for the mental load that is required for this. Not to be mean, it's just not for everyone. How are you so sure this is what you want? Do you have a reason other than parents and family ?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile

 

[Life Sucks]

If you show a positive trend, you got a chance. But please, go back and learn or get a tutor for that material. Because realistically, that MCAT will be your savior. Ace it, and it looks like you had a flop. Fail it, and well..

 

[engineer16]

My GPA dipped below 3 as a sophomore, it's not a death knell to your MD aspirations. I did engineering for undergrad, sophomore year can be brutal. If you can turn around your grades and retake o chem, you'll be well equipped for the mcat based on your studies. You have to prepare yourself for the prospect that you won't be ready to apply during your senior year, you will likely have to take some extra time for more classes to boost the GPA or to add to the other parts of your resume (research, volunteering, etc.)

 

[TexasSurgeon]

Hi. I'm a sophmore and I've taken 49 credits so far (around 16 credits per semester on average). My freshman year was overloaded, even though I followed the guidelines for schedules given by my school. I was already discouraged the first semester after getting a C+ in Biology. The next semester, I picked up a C- in Gen Chem 2, despite picking up my grades.

While I was hoping to get all A's this semester, I got a C+ in Physics due to just the final exam alone, while I was focusing in Organic Chem. Unfortunately, I received an F in Organic Chemistry. There are no excuses for this. But I'm in the engineering section, and haven't gotten great classes. My GPA is a 2.8 at the moment with several C's.

I understand that there is little hope left in my application despite the fact that I'm a sophomore. Over the break (before I learned about my "F" on Organic Chemistry), I did a full-turn around in study habits. However, I'm not sure if any hope is left.

I am willing to work hard relentlessly, if an option exists for me to somehow get a strong application for Med school. I can't imagine myself in any other field. This is really the only thing I would enjoy doing. I probably have embarrassing visits with my adviser ahead of me.

Does anyone know if I still have a chance getting into med school if I work at it?

Edit: I hope I posted in the right section?

I was also a sophomore last year and experienced a similar dip in grades. Let me be the first to tell you that virtually all applicants have 1 or 2 bad semesters. It can be corrected. Don't worry. Like you, was also an engineering major in my sophomore year and I quickly realized that engineering is a futile major for premeds. Stop thinking that you need a backup plan B and focus all your energy on plan A. Change your major to biochemistry or biology (I recommend biochemistry). Spend an additional 5th year in school and get as many A's as possible to mitigate these semesters. And most importantly, stop worrying about the grade, worry about learning it. Oh, and kill the MCAT.

 

[BlackDogBrownDog]

Hi, I jut want to add that, like you, I struggled in college- I had a 4.0 freshman year and ok a nosedive to finish with a 3.28 cum and a 21 mcat (I got a very low bio score). However, I spent a year busting my butt to retake any courses that I did poorly in, and also took 35 units of advanced bio and chem at my local undergrad college to show I could perform- I worked hard to finish these courses with As in all but Biochem (I got a B). I studied hard for the mcat and boosted my Bio score to an 11. I also have extensive clinical and shadowing experience, 700 hrs of volunteer, and have been involved in numerous leadership activities. Because of this I have awesome rec letters- 3 from physicians. I have attended 4 interviews (offered more but declined), have been accepted to 2 schools and will be hearing from the other two in 2 weeks. My point is- bust your butt to earn all As from now on- adcoms will recognize the upward trend, study like a crazy person for the MCAT, and get some awesome ECs. Each one of my interviewers asked me about my Gpa struggles and I took responsibility for not having the proper study habits and dedication and turned the situation into a positive- effectively illustrating why I learned from this and how I know I will perform well in med school because I learned how to study the hard way. Additionally, my range of ECs in a wide variety of fields interested them and gave us lots to talk about. I have no doubt that if you work hard enough, you will succeed. You have more than 2 years left- ace your courses and the McAt, apply broadly, and you will be just fine. Also, Definitley get shadowing experience- start now and don't stop until you begin medical school. They want to see commitment. Best of luck.

 

[BlackDogBrownDog]

I also want to add- maybe you should change your major to something more interesting to you- perhaps you are miserable in your classes, which may be why you are not performing well..