Messed up first semester at NYU

[surtur1997]

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In my first semester at NYU College of Arts and Science, I ended up with a 3.324 GPA. I was wondering to what extent it ruins my chances of getting into a good medical school, and how possible it would be to bring this up to an acceptable level of 3.7-3.9. Also, would medical school look at my undergraduate school and take the rigor of its courses into account. My grade breakup was the following:

Principles of Biology I: B / 4 credits
General Chemistry I: B+ / 5 credits
Writing the Essay (Expository Writing): B+ / 4 credits
Freshman Seminar: A- / 4 credits

Overall: 3.324 in 17 credits
Any advice is appreciated!!

 

[WedgeDawg]

You have at least 5 more semesters minimum to raise your GPA. Figure out exactly why you didn't do as well as you wanted and go from there. It might help to talk to your professors, join a study group, or find a tutor. If your study habits aren't what they should be, talk to an academic or peer advisor.

FWIW, if you manage to get a 3.8 for 5 semesters, you'll end up with above a 3.7 overall.

 

[flyingeagle]

Hey! You have little to worry about. It was your first semester away from home at college, many people end up with lower GPAs than they expected. A 3.3 is not horrible for a first semester and you have plenty of time to bring it up to a 3.7-3.8. Now that you know what to expect next semester, work hard and focus on bringing that GPA up. Just try not to repeat a 3.3 again!

 

[ahc336]

Chill out

 

[Cytarabine]

I made a 2.8 something my first semester, like a 3.3 my second semester, then a 4.0 onward. I applied early decision to my state u, but could've likely gotten into a "better" though certainly not top tier school. You haven't done a whole lot to hurt yourself at this point. No, schools won't consider course rigor, and that class load wouldn't really be considered very rigorous regardless

 

[surtur1997]

Thanks a lot guys! My biggest concern is that I really would like to go to medical school in Manhattan, so Columbia, NYU, Cornell, etc... Would it still be possible to bring my GPA up enough to get into those schools?

 

[BluMist]

One thing at a time, figure out how to improve your GPA first before crafting your school list...

With that said, if (and big if) you maintain 4.0 GPA for the next 5 semesters assuming equal credits, you'd have a 3.89 cGPA for your application. That GPA would be fine anywhere.

Thanks a lot guys! My biggest concern is that I really would like to go to medical school in Manhattan, so Columbia, NYU, Cornell, etc... Would it still be possible to bring my GPA up enough to get into those schools?

 

[JustAPhD]

As @BluMist said, please don't skip to the future and just assume you'll get a 4.0 the rest of undergrad. Think of how to pull that GPA up first. Figure out what changes you can make to improve and implement those changes. That's the most important thing to do right now.

Good news is that there's still plenty of time left, and a 3.3 is no app-killer.

 

[whatever5]

I had that same GPA first semester. Even with a couple Cs and B-s in higher courses, I still managed to get 8 IIs and acceptances.

tl;dr - chill

 

[lets_operate]

I had literally the exact same experience with a lovely 3.4 and B- in General Chemistry my first semester. However, I now have a 3.8, so you can definitely bring it up!! For me, it was really learning how to study for particular classes. For instance, for chemistry, you really have to problem solve to do well, not just memorize the slides (which is what I came into undergrad thinking I could do). So just reevaluate your study habits, work hard, and you'll be fine 🙂 I got interviews at both Weill and NYU (although I haven't been accepted so take it with a grain of salt), but you definitely have a decent shot if you get your gpa up from now onwards.

 

[Turkishking]

It's not bad, you have time to bring it up. People start with a lower GPA and still pull it together and successfully matriculate into medical school.

 

[aklvkk]

-deleted-

 

[Shjanzey]

It's over. Sorry 🙁

 

[baratheonfire]

I had that same GPA first semester. Even with a couple Cs and B-s in higher courses, I still managed to get 8 IIs and acceptances.

tl;dr - chill

u got an mdapps?

 

[whatever5]

u got an mdapps?

no but feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

 

[ilovegrapesoda]

.

 

[cincincyreds]

In my first semester at NYU College of Arts and Science, I ended up with a 3.324 GPA. I was wondering to what extent it ruins my chances of getting into a good medical school, and how possible it would be to bring this up to an acceptable level of 3.7-3.9. Also, would medical school look at my undergraduate school and take the rigor of its courses into account. My grade breakup was the following:

Principles of Biology I: B / 4 credits
General Chemistry I: B+ / 5 credits
Writing the Essay (Expository Writing): B+ / 4 credits
Freshman Seminar: A- / 4 credits

Overall: 3.324 in 17 credits
Any advice is appreciated!!

Nobody said this was easy. Look, a 3.3 is good, just not good enough for medical school. You're gonna need to ace everything the rest of the way through. Maybe just take general chemistry II and take biology in the summer. Average medical school grades are 3.7, so you have a lot of work to do.

And as far as Manhattan medical schools, very tough to get an admission. The few people that get in are superstars. I've known them. And by the way, it is very difficult to take 2 science classes at the same time. As far as the essay classes I'm sure there is a place where you can have someone critique your essays. Those kind of classes are more difficult to achieve an A especially if you didn't have a good class on writing English in high school. Also it is very subjective.

You will also need to nail the the MCAT.

Basically, it will take a lot of focus to get a high GPA and MCAT. And forget about focusing on those medical students in Manhattan. You're current GPA won't even get you into a US medical school.

But the good news, you have time to improve, but you need to figure it out. You have a lot of work ahead. If it is tough now imagine what medical school is like. I thought I was good in college but competing with the superstars in medical school really put me to the test.