Need a lot of Advice Please!!!!

[EbEvoVIII]

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Well here it goes........I graduated in 2007 and took a semester off. I started up school in January of 2008 and went for one semester. During tha time I received a 3.3 for four classes. I then went another semester (fall of 08) and received a gpa of 2.9. The classes during this time period I took were Trigonometry (C), Composition II (A), and Biology 157 (B). The Trigonometry really screwed my gpa and will the Biology "B" affect my chances? Right now I am at a cumulative of 3.1 gpa. I am starting my final semester Monday and these are the classes I am taking: Calculus I, Speech, Chemistry and World Religions. I am aiming to get straight A's this semester to improve my gpa. The problem is....do I still have time to get my gpa to a 3.8? Also, I work for Centegra Healthbridge Fitness Center and a pizza place seven days a week. I also volunteered for my work as a bell ringer during Christmas and I just became a BIG BROTHER for the Big Brother & Big Sister volunteer program in my community. My second question is, what should I do if I don't have the time at all to volunteer at a hospital? I have to pay my way through school by working full-time and studying really hard. Am I already screwed for medical school? I am only 19 years old turning 20 in May and need some insight! Please help me..........it has been my dream to become a doctor.......🙁

Also, I am transferring to one of these schools for the fall of 09':

University of Chicago or Urbana Champ.
Northern Illinois University
Marquette University
Northwestern University
Loyola University
Canisius College in Buffalo, NY

I AM LOOKING FOR ALL THE HELP I CAN GET!!!!

 

[DrYoda]

The problem is....do I still have time to get my gpa to a 3.8?

You'd have to do the math, but if you've only completed one semester it's probably do-able, and if not you can still get your GPA respectfully high.

My second question is, what should I do if I don't have the time at all to volunteer at a hospital?

It doesn't need to be at a hospital but you will need some "clinical experience" where you interact with patients and such. You don't need the hundreds of hours that some around here have, but you should definety get some.

A job in a medical setting could kill two birds with one stone.

 

[202781]

Well here it goes........I graduated in 2007 and took a semester off. I started up school in January of 2008 and went for one semester. During tha time I received a 3.3 for four classes. I then went another semester (fall of 08) and received a gpa of 2.9. The classes during this time period I took were Trigonometry (C), Composition II (A), and Biology 157 (B). The Trigonometry really screwed my gpa and will the Biology "B" affect my chances? Right now I am at a cumulative of 3.1 gpa. I am starting my final semester Monday and these are the classes I am taking: Calculus I, Speech, Chemistry and World Religions. I am aiming to get straight A's this semester to improve my gpa. The problem is....do I still have time to get my gpa to a 3.8? Also, I work for Centegra Healthbridge Fitness Center and a pizza place seven days a week. I also volunteered for my work as a bell ringer during Christmas and I just became a BIG BROTHER for the Big Brother & Big Sister volunteer program in my community. My second question is, what should I do if I don't have the time at all to volunteer at a hospital? I have to pay my way through school by working full-time and studying really hard. Am I already screwed for medical school? I am only 19 years old turning 20 in May and need some insight! Please help me..........it has been my dream to become a doctor.......🙁

Also, I am transferring to one of these schools for the fall of 09':

University of Chicago or Urbana Champ.
Northern Illinois University
Marquette University
Northwestern University
Loyola University
Canisius College in Buffalo, NY

I AM LOOKING FOR ALL THE HELP I CAN GET!!!!

You forgot to mention your immunization records, where you were born and how you felt on your first day of kindergarten.

In all seriousness
A) it does not really matter where you transfer to complete your undergrad
B)DONT have anymore semesters with a 2.9
C) Try to keep grades above a 3.5 (you dont need a 3.8+ to get into med school...but obviously it would not hurt)
D) looking at your EC's I can def. see you getting into a school based on those (looks like you are really involved)
E) If you get a 3.5gpa, 30+ MCAT you will get into an MD program assuming you will do clinical volunteering/shadowing.
F) keep up the good work kiddo!

 

[Mobius1985]

With a GPA of 3.1 after two semesters, you'll need to get as many As as possible from now on to get your GPA into the competitive range for med school application. If you get straight As next semester, you could get your GPA to a 3.4. After three more semesters at whatever school you transfer to, getting a straight 4.0, the best you could get is a 3.7. This would be quite competitive, but leaves you little room for lower grades (A-, at worst). If you really want to go to med school, your priority needs to be a high GPA. If this means taking a smaller courseload, then do it. If it means cutting work hours and taking out loans, then do it. You can always gain clinical experience later. If your GPA stays low for another year, it will take far longer to repair it (like years).

As of right now, you are not yet "screwed" and still have time to redeem your record.

 

[EbEvoVIII]

Thank you everyone for your help. I am glad I can still redeem myself but I am still a bit worried. I HAVE to work. I am helping to support my family so that is one problem on my list. Also, should I retake my Trignometry class and Biology class? At my local community college I have the ability to take that class over again and replace that grade being that it never existed.

 

[flip26]

Thank you everyone for your help. I am glad I can still redeem myself but I am still a bit worried. I HAVE to work. I am helping to support my family so that is one problem on my list. Also, should I retake my Trignometry class and Biology class? At my local community college I have the ability to take that class over again and replace that grade being that it never existed.

"No" on the retakes...AMCAS will see the grade and count it - no grade "replacements" for med school admissions purposes...

How are you going to go to a full-time 4 year university, afford the tuition, work to support your family, and make As? Something's gotta give, and it is probably going to be your grades...

 

[Mobius1985]

No one cares about a C in Trig, as it is not a prerequisite class, but Calculus is often required, so be sure to get an A in it. Getting a B in Biology I is OK, as you'll take more Bio in the future getting As to prove you've mastered it. If you repeat a class, AMCAS (MD school application service) will average the grades, but it will not disappear regardless of what your college's do to figure their own official GPA.

 

[EbEvoVIII]

Alright thank you so much guys! All of you have given me hope in succeeding to become a medical student. I can't wait to start school and study my ass off. I will be going today to get my hours cut off of my pizza job. I am also trying to become a pharmacy technician for Walgreen in my area....will that potentially help my resume? Wish me luck.....working 40 hours a week and I am off to get straight A's!!!!

 

[RecyclingBinh]

why do pre-meds these days want to be a pharm tech? that just takes away a lot of time from school.

Will medical school look hard into calculus 2&3? I took it freshmen year and got C's in it. 🙁 without those two C's my GPA could of been 0.2 higher!!!

fyi...those were my only 2 C's ever and i hate it!!!!

 

[EbEvoVIII]

Well it seems like an interesting job towards medicine and also wouldn't look good on the resume? Wouldn't becoming a pharmacy technician count as clinical experience? Don't worry RecyclingBinh, I am in Calculus I right now and it doesn't seem to hard.

 

[Catalystik]

A pharmacy tech only gains clinical experience if they teach/counsel patients about their medications. You might want to ask if that is a part of your job description.

 

[EbEvoVIII]

Alright will do! Thank you!