MD Making up for sloppy 3.7 with excellent ECs?

[Deleted member 737595]

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Northeastern student here.

So I started college really confident that I would do well and thinking I would have a 3.9 to 4.0 GPA by the time I applied to medical school. I have a 3.67 right now in my sophomore year and having taken 66 credits and most of the pre-reqs.

What happened?

4 B's happened, with 3 of them in the pre-reqs. B in physics 2, B- in Stat, B in Biology 2. Everything else is A or A- except for First Year Writing, which is B as well.

Why did I get B's knowing I could get A's?

For lack of a better term, I was lazy, complacent and not as disciplined as I thought I would be. Most of the things that hurt my grades were NOT a lack of studying per se but rather missing classes because they were too early (bad excuse') or missing some sort of assignment. On attendence alone I could easily have a 3.8 right now.

Things are really changing with me with respect to work ethic and discipline, and I plan an shooting for straight A's from now on.

Anyways, I want some advice on where I should go from here. Here are the stats:

GPA: 3.67
BCMP: 3.62
ALL OTHER: 3.72

WORK:

Working at Biotech full time for 6 months from Jan-June of this year doing research in drug therapies. Very satisfying. No classes right now.

EC's
Music service club: President and Founder this year, still a work in progress. Goal is to have 40 members by end of this year. Currently 10 members. Playing music in nursing homes in the local area.

Musician at my local church: 4 hours/ a week since MIDDLE SCHOOL, probably my most important EC in terms of committment, will be around 600 hours for when I apply. IS THIS COMMUNITY SERVICE? I don't think so, just a regular EC right?

Shadowing Freshman year, around 40 hours.

EC's I'm starting right now:

ED volunteering at level 1 pediatric trauma center. Hope this will be fun and illuminating. Once a week for 4 hours till I graduate I hope.

Community service at homeless refuge in downtown Boston, serving breakfast to the homeless; this will help me get out of my comfort zone and interact with people I KNOW will be difficult but extremely important to becoming a physician. Not looking at potential hours, but planning for a serious weekly commitment once a week.

Classes coming up: this summer and fall I plan to take 24 credits and get all A's which, after thorough research into the classes and knowing full well my own ability and renewed passion for medicine. I plan to next year as well. MCAT in January.

Any advice?

 

[bertistheword]

You're a sophomore. If you do well the next two years you should have no problem bringing that GPA up quite a bit. If your GPA still isn't where you want it to be, MCAT is always a great qualifier and can counteract a subpar GPA. Just do well on that and you'll be OK!

 

[chemdoctor]

That’s not a sloppy GPA...

 

[Deleted member 737595]

That’s not a sloppy GPA...

For me, it is, relative to my potential. I could have earned straight-A's and a few A minuses if I had put in reasonable effort. By sloppy, I mean the fact that I let a few B's slide when they could have easily been A's

 

[Dr. Meliodas]

Golly gee willikers this will make for a great adversity essay

 

[chemdoctor]

For me, it is, relative to my potential. I could have earned straight-A's and a few A minuses if I had put in reasonable effort. By sloppy, I mean the fact that I let a few B's slide when they could have easily been A's

Yeah I see what you’re saying lol

 

[Microbug]

For me, it is, relative to my potential. I could have earned straight-A's and a few A minuses if I had put in reasonable effort. By sloppy, I mean the fact that I let a few B's slide when they could have easily been A's

would've, could've, should've. technically, everyone has the potential to be straight A students if they're less lazy and disciplined enough.

 

[Goro]

Musician at my local church: 4 hours/ a week since MIDDLE SCHOOL, probably my most important EC in terms of committment, will be around 600 hours for when I apply. IS THIS COMMUNITY SERVICE? I don't think so, just a regular EC right?
No. if yo're a religious person, you're supposed to do things for your church.

ED volunteering at level 1 pediatric trauma center. Hope this will be fun and illuminating. Once a week for 4 hours till I graduate I hope.

Community service at homeless refuge in downtown Boston, serving breakfast to the homeless; this will help me get out of my comfort zone and interact with people I KNOW will be difficult but extremely important to becoming a physician. Not looking at potential hours, but planning for a serious weekly commitment once a week.
All fine.
Love what you do and do what you love.

 

[Goro]

For me, it is, relative to my potential. I could have earned straight-A's and a few A minuses if I had put in reasonable effort. By sloppy, I mean the fact that I let a few B's slide when they could have easily been A's

Get over it.

 

[Deleted member 737595]

Musician at my local church: 4 hours/ a week since MIDDLE SCHOOL, probably my most important EC in terms of committment, will be around 600 hours for when I apply. IS THIS COMMUNITY SERVICE? I don't think so, just a regular EC right?
No. if yo're a religious person, you're supposed to do things for your church.

No, I’m not “supposed” to do anything but receive Holy Communion every Sunday and confess once a year and be on my merry way. I’ve been doing this as an exciting extracurricular that I’m happy to do, not because I’m required at all. I could choose to stop tomorrow and I wouldn’t get struck by lightning.

Are you saying this EC isn’t really that important, or that it’s simply not CS. That it’s not CS I’m fine with, but otherwise I think through this EC I get to exhibit initiative and commitment.

Feel free to rebuttal 😉

 

[Microbug]

No, I’m not “supposed” to do anything but receive Holy Communion every Sunday and confess once a year and be on my merry way. I’ve been doing this as an exciting extracurricular that I’m happy to do, not because I’m required at all. I could choose to stop tomorrow and I wouldn’t get struck by lightning.

Are you saying this EC isn’t really that important, or that it’s simply not CS. That it’s not CS I’m fine with, but otherwise I think through this EC I get to exhibit initiative and commitment.

Feel free to rebuttal 😉

How come you only have 600 hours if you do it 4hr/week since middle school?

 

[Deleted member 737595]

How come you only have 600 hours if you do it 4hr/week since middle school?

Because I am counting from Freshman year. Otherwise, I estimate around 1500 hours since then

 

[Microbug]

Because I am counting from Freshman year. Otherwise, I estimate around 1500 hours since then

If a activity is continued from before college, you can count it together.

 

[Deleted member 737595]

If a activity is continued from before college, you can count it together.

Complete revelation to me! Also, that means I can count freshman year shadowing??

My premed adviser kept saying “has to be within 18 months of applying to be serious “! I’m confused

 

[Microbug]

Complete revelation to me! Also, that means I can count freshman year shadowing??

My premed adviser kept saying “has to be within 18 months of applying to be serious “! I’m confused

My jaw dropped at that within 18 months BS... Number 1 of being premed: NEVER trust premed advisers
I think we need a thread for things premed advisers say

 

[Goro]

No, I’m not “supposed” to do anything but receive Holy Communion every Sunday and confess once a year and be on my merry way. I’ve been doing this as an exciting extracurricular that I’m happy to do, not because I’m required at all. I could choose to stop tomorrow and I wouldn’t get struck by lightning.

Are you saying this EC isn’t really that important, or that it’s simply not CS. That it’s not CS I’m fine with, but otherwise I think through this EC I get to exhibit initiative and commitment.

Feel free to rebuttal 😉

It's not that important. Service to others less fortunate than yourself as what impresses us.

 

[Deleted member 737595]

My jaw dropped at that within 18 months BS... Number 1 of being premed: NEVER trust premed advisers
I think we need a thread for things premed advisers said

Except when they write your committee letter and require letter from an MD who’s seen you interacting with patients in a clinical setting to be from an experience within a year of the letter

 

[ciestar]

Complete revelation to me! Also, that means I can count freshman year shadowing??

My premed adviser kept saying “has to be within 18 months of applying to be serious “! I’m confused

Yeahhh, that is a lie.

 

[Deleted member 737595]

It's not that important. Service to others less fortunate than yourself as what impresses us.

Fair enough. I accept! I didn’t think it would be a huge deal, just though I’d mention it.

 

[treatem-and-streetem]

Northeastern student here.

So I started college really confident that I would do well and thinking I would have a 3.9 to 4.0 GPA by the time I applied to medical school. I have a 3.67 right now in my sophomore year and having taken 66 credits and most of the pre-reqs.

What happened?

4 B's happened, with 3 of them in the pre-reqs. B in physics 2, B- in Stat, B in Biology 2. Everything else is A or A- except for First Year Writing, which is B as well.

Why did I get B's knowing I could get A's?

For lack of a better term, I was lazy, complacent and not as disciplined as I thought I would be. Most of the things that hurt my grades were NOT a lack of studying per se but rather missing classes because they were too early (bad excuse') or missing some sort of assignment. On attendence alone I could easily have a 3.8 right now.

Things are really changing with me with respect to work ethic and discipline, and I plan an shooting for straight A's from now on.

Anyways, I want some advice on where I should go from here. Here are the stats:

GPA: 3.67
BCMP: 3.62
ALL OTHER: 3.72

WORK:

Working at Biotech full time for 6 months from Jan-June of this year doing research in drug therapies. Very satisfying. No classes right now.

EC's
Music service club: President and Founder this year, still a work in progress. Goal is to have 40 members by end of this year. Currently 10 members. Playing music in nursing homes in the local area.

Musician at my local church: 4 hours/ a week since MIDDLE SCHOOL, probably my most important EC in terms of committment, will be around 600 hours for when I apply. IS THIS COMMUNITY SERVICE? I don't think so, just a regular EC right?

Shadowing Freshman year, around 40 hours.

EC's I'm starting right now:

ED volunteering at level 1 pediatric trauma center. Hope this will be fun and illuminating. Once a week for 4 hours till I graduate I hope.

Community service at homeless refuge in downtown Boston, serving breakfast to the homeless; this will help me get out of my comfort zone and interact with people I KNOW will be difficult but extremely important to becoming a physician. Not looking at potential hours, but planning for a serious weekly commitment once a week.

Classes coming up: this summer and fall I plan to take 24 credits and get all A's which, after thorough research into the classes and knowing full well my own ability and renewed passion for medicine. I plan to next year as well. MCAT in January.

Any advice?

Your problem is literally stated in your post. Quit being lazy and get a 4.0 the last few years.

 

[coramDeo]

You have plenty of time to make up for that GPA! Just be more diligent in your studies, as you seem to know the source of your problems.