New Student Introduction (Not Another Chances? Thread)

[newt0n]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hello. I am a new "pre-med" student and I already know the road ahead of me is rougher than most. I have a very low GPA (below 1) due to ignorance as a teen. I am just starting my bachelors degree so I do have time to make it up (I am aware that it will take almost the entire bachelors to raise my GPA above 3.0 status). I also plan to do some volunteer work, join clubs, and other extra curricular activities.

My question to you all is what suggestions do you have as far as extra curricular activities to make myself look better (as I need everything I can get). Also if I take my prerequisite classes (bios, chems, etc) can I start review for the MCAT early (as in 1yr, 2yrs, more?) and then dedicate 90 days prior to taking the MCAT to solid studying.

Basically I need a solid 3.5+ GPA on my bachelors to be anywhere near a3.0 cGPA. I also understand I need a very solid MCAT and a solid "brag list".

 

[murfettie]

uhm
don't study for mcat 1 year ahead. just learn your stuff really well during that period...
how in the world do you get a <1.0 GPA... whoa..

 

[newt0n]

uhm
don't study for mcat 1 year ahead. just learn your stuff really well during that period...
how in the world do you get a <1.0 GPA... whoa..

The long story short. My parents nearly forced me to go college or move out. I decided not to go. I failed all my classes for several semesters. I was an idiotic teenager.

 

[Richardh]

i would suggest to you to be involved in pre-med clubs that give you connections to clinics and hospitals where you can do volunteer work. it is favored to have some hands-on experience/patient interaction at a department. also it will be a great opportunity for you to get a letter of recommendation from a nurse or a physician while you're on the floor 🙂 having clinical research experience is also recommended. there, you will be able to sharpen your lab techniques such as data gethering, result analysis, etc. publishing a paper or presenting your findings on a poster later on is favored 👍 and again just like the volunteer experience, it will be great for you to get a letter of recommendation from your research professor 🙂

from my own experience i took the mcat after my sophmore year (right before i started my junior year). by that time (end of my sophmore year) i've already taken bio, general chemistry, and organic chemistry. during the summer of my sophomore year i took physics over summer school. as soon as i finished summer school around mid july, i studied for the mcat offered in sept so it is doable.

 

[newt0n]

Thanks for the helpful response. I will take all of that into consideration. Boy, I am tired lol. School in 3 hours and I have yet to sleep 😴

 

[ruraldocmom]

Clinical & volunteer experience is very important--try to get in a hospital or research--but most of all, do something you really care about, that gets you excited to show up. Just make sure that you don't let it get in the way of your studies. Med schools won't even look at you until the scores are high enough. If you jack up the GPA that is super-tough to recover from later on. If you don't get the right volunteer experiences--you can always make that up later in less time.

I used to counsel undergrads (a few were pre-med) and I saw this happen a lot--they were so focused on resume padding with activities, they missed the reality check that they wouldn't even be considered without the scores. The volunteering, crazy schedules, and just poor-time management, meant they were failing classes.

I'm all for volunteering--I even found that for me (in undergrad), it helped me focus better on my studies because I had a long-term purpose in mind. However, just make sure you keep your priorities straight--if the volunteer work is causing the grades to suffer--it maybe time to re-evaluate. Good luck!

 

[CW 2010]

Hello. I am a new "pre-med" student and I already know the road ahead of me is rougher than most. I have a very low GPA (below 1) due to ignorance as a teen. I am just starting my bachelors degree so I do have time to make it up (I am aware that it will take almost the entire bachelors to raise my GPA above 3.0 status). I also plan to do some volunteer work, join clubs, and other extra curricular activities.

My question to you all is what suggestions do you have as far as extra curricular activities to make myself look better (as I need everything I can get). Also if I take my prerequisite classes (bios, chems, etc) can I start review for the MCAT early (as in 1yr, 2yrs, more?) and then dedicate 90 days prior to taking the MCAT to solid studying.

Basically I need a solid 3.5+ GPA on my bachelors to be anywhere near a3.0 cGPA. I also understand I need a very solid MCAT and a solid "brag list".

I don't want to sound rough or discourage you. But why don't you try to take science classes, such as Biology, Chemistry and Physics (not introduction classes) and see how you succeed in them, before making long-term plans.

If you see that you are able to have good grades, then you can always sign up for volunteering at a local hospital for 4 hrs a week.

 

[newt0n]

Math is my strongest subject. I have had Biology, Chemistry, and Physics in high school and placed at a B or higher in each without studying or trying (as I said I was a little **** when I was a teenager). I have no doubt that Bio and Chem will be difficult but by no means will they be my hardest subject. I have a severe problem with English and History (yuck!).

 

[Buddhasmash]

How long have you been out of college? If the interruption in your higher education was long enough, you may be able to apply for academic clemency.

"Academic Clemency is a provision allowing a one-time, irrevocable calculation of grade point average and credit hours toward graduation to be based only upon work done after a prolonged separation from college. This provision is provided for undergraduate students who have gained maturity through extended experience outside higher education institutions, and are currently enrolled at Arkansas State University and have demonstrated acceptable academic performance following their return."

That definition is drawn from the Arkansas State University policy, but it's pretty standard across all universities. Basically, it's a process through which you wipe the slate clean and start completely over. If you spent five years or more between college attempts, I'd at least look into it. Go talk to your registrar about it.

 

[newt0n]

My first semester of FAIL was Fall 2005. My first semester of WIN is Fall 2010. DIFFERENCE = 5 YEARS

My last semester of FAIL was Summer 2006. My first semester of WIN is Fall 2010. DIFFERENCE = 4.25 YEARS

 

[Buddhasmash]

My first semester of FAIL was Fall 2005. My first semester of WIN is Fall 2010. DIFFERENCE = 5 YEARS

My last semester of FAIL was Summer 2006. My first semester of WIN is Fall 2010. DIFFERENCE = 4.25 YEARS

That's pretty damn close. The five year rule is not set in stone. It's just one of many fluid guidelines the review committee will use to assess your case. Iclaimed clemency after a three year absence and school transfer. You should definitely talk to your registrar about clemency, and pursue it vigorously. The worst they can say is no.

What have you gone through in the past four years to so radically change your point of view regarding your education?

 

[newt0n]

I was in the armed forces. The question is does this clemency effect the med school application? I still have to report all the grades regardless of if my undergrad school forgives them

 

[Buddhasmash]

I was in the armed forces. The question is does this clemency effect the med school application? I still have to report all the grades regardless of if my undergrad school forgives them

The personal growth and discipline you develop in the military is a fantastic justification for academic clemency. I would be highly, highly surprised if it wasn't granted, knowing that.

I'm just an undergrad, but based on what I've read in other threads and what I've been told by pre-med advisers, it works a bit like this: The first GPA the adcoms will see is the GPA on your college transcript. If you claim academic clemency, that means the first GPA they will see is the improved GPA. After reviewing your file, they will then see the old GPA from the pre-clemency schooling. The fact that your GPA dramatically improved after the clemency will actually look like a good thing, as it indicates your ability to grow as an individual.

If you don't claim clemency, the first GPA they see on your college transcript will be lower, resulting in a higher chance that they'll just drop your application in the reject pile without fully reviewing it.

The benefit is admittedly slight, but it's a no-lose situation. It would never be seen as a drawback.

 

[newt0n]

No doubt. I can not seem to find anything on my colleges website about clemency and not much pulls up from google either. Hmmm.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

The first GPA the adcoms will see is the GPA on your college transcript. If you claim academic clemency, that means the first GPA they will see is the improved GPA.

False. The first GPA that an adcom sees is your AMCAS BCPM and cGPA numbers on the coversheet of you AMCAS application. Most adcoms never look at you actual college transcripts as all the pertinent information is contained in your AMCAS application package. Clemency or no, those grades will be in your AMCAS application.

 

[newt0n]

False. The first GPA that an adcom sees is your AMCAS BCPM and cGPA numbers on the coversheet of you AMCAS application. Most adcoms never look at you actual college transcripts as all the pertinent information is contained in your AMCAS application package. Clemency or no, those grades will be in your AMCAS application.

This is what I originally thought. It still is not however all lost. Even tho my cGPA will be low regardless of what I do. I still have a good shot at getting into med school.

 

[katiemaude]

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Texas have a grade forgiveness setup? If you attend undergrad in Texas and go the grade forgiveness route, you could establish residency there and apply to that state's medical schools. Not only are they inexpensive in comparison to many state medical schools, but I'm wondering if they'd completely forgive your past GPA. There could be stringent rules about establishing residency there so I would look into that too.

 

[NontradICUdoc]

First thing is first. You need to have solid grades. Good ECs and volunteer work, while nice, do not compensate for poor academic performance. You have a hole to dig out of and that should be your first priority. Once you have been able to get your grades under control, then you should focus on some volunteer work.