Overall Chances after a bad start?

[Ahadsz007]

Hello Everyone!

First time I have posted on here and I really would like insight and advice on where to go. I started off my time at my University really poor and ended up with roughly a 2.8 gpa as of now. I think I might change my major to something I am more interested in instead of Biology but will still be doing the pre-requisites for Medical/Dental School (Undecided). I took a calculator and it seems I really need to work my butt of for the next 3 years and then on top of that study for the MCAT (which seems to be getting harder), so I would like to know about my chances and what I should do?

I will be retaking the classes I did poor in again maybe to help my GPA and will try to shadow and get volunteer hours in. What do you all suggest for the latter part (app. how many hours?)

Any tips and encouragement would be great and I will not stop trying until I get to my favored profession, thank you so much!

Also any insight on DAT V. MCAT would be great too, but I am more worried about my chances for Medical School as that is my more favored profession as of now.

Thank you!!

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[October88]

Your only a freshman!

Get your GPA as high as you can. Hopefully it will be in the mid 3s by the time you apply and you should not lose hope!

As for volunteering and shadowing some people suggest specific numbers but if I were you I would try to find xlinical opportunities that you love early and will keep doing even after you get accepted into your dream school... that's what I did. But if you want specific hours.... maybe a feq hundred.or so clinical volunteer hours, some nonclincal volunteering, a few years research, 50 or so shadowing hours would be pretty standard. But I would just do what you love!

You still have a lot of time to succeed

 

[Ahadsz007]

Ok thank you so much for your advice I will keep that all in mind! Does anyone have any suggestions for a new major? And also whats the general rule of thumb for a bad grade in a class? Thanks!

 

[Dr Colbert]

Hello Everyone!

First time I have posted on here and I really would like insight and advice on where to go. I started off my time at my University really poor and ended up with roughly a 2.8 gpa as of now. I think I might change my major to something I am more interested in instead of Biology but will still be doing the pre-requisites for Medical/Dental School (Undecided). I took a calculator and it seems I really need to work my butt of for the next 3 years and then on top of that study for the MCAT (which seems to be getting harder), so I would like to know about my chances and what I should do?

I will be retaking the classes I did poor in again maybe to help my GPA and will try to shadow and get volunteer hours in. What do you all suggest for the latter part (app. how many hours?)

Any tips and encouragement would be great and I will not stop trying until I get to my favored profession, thank you so much!

Also any insight on DAT V. MCAT would be great too, but I am more worried about my chances for Medical School as that is my more favored profession as of now.

Thank you!!

Other than repeating that you are still OK, as long as you start getting A's now, I will also suggest that you figure out which profession you'd like to join. Dont base it on the test differences...

 

[Goro]

Can't discuss DDS as that's outside my knowledge base. For MD programs, you're goign to have to ace everything from here on in. No B's...As.

For DO programs, just repeat any F/D/C science courswork, as this does wonders for your GPA via AACOMAS grade replacement. Then maintain a solid 3.5 from here on in.

Then you're set.

Hello Everyone!

First time I have posted on here and I really would like insight and advice on where to go. I started off my time at my University really poor and ended up with roughly a 2.8 gpa as of now. I think I might change my major to something I am more interested in instead of Biology but will still be doing the pre-requisites for Medical/Dental School (Undecided). I took a calculator and it seems I really need to work my butt of for the next 3 years and then on top of that study for the MCAT (which seems to be getting harder), so I would like to know about my chances and what I should do?

I will be retaking the classes I did poor in again maybe to help my GPA and will try to shadow and get volunteer hours in. What do you all suggest for the latter part (app. how many hours?)

Any tips and encouragement would be great and I will not stop trying until I get to my favored profession, thank you so much!

Also any insight on DAT V. MCAT would be great too, but I am more worried about my chances for Medical School as that is my more favored profession as of now.

Thank you!!

 

[October88]

Ok thank you so much for your advice I will keep that all in mind! Does anyone have any suggestions for a new major? And also whats the general rule of thumb for a bad grade in a class? Thanks!

For a major I would choose one you love and one that comes easy to you so you can boost that GPA! Medical schools accept all different majors just make sure you get your prerequisites done!

 

[Jewels86]

I agree with everyone who wrote you...pick something interesting ~ journalism, computer science, marketing, sociology, Spanish, French ~ whatever you are naturally gifted at. For me, I like to write; I would have chosen journalism if I could redo it over.

Include your sciences within all of that and you'll be good!!

 

[Ahadsz007]

Sorry about the super late response (out of the country)! Thank you for all the helped me with this problem! I really was getting tense after a bad freshman year start. Also what is this AACOMS program? You can replace your bad grades? That would be awesome cause I had a bad grade in gen chem 2 and calc 1, but everything else was good. I hope to hear more soon. Thanks! As for my major I changed it to Health Policy Administration with a minor in International Relations I hope this will change my outlook to a more positive .

 

[Temperature101]

Sorry about the super late response (out of the country)! Thank you for all the helped me with this problem! I really was getting tense after a bad freshman year start. Also what is this AACOMS program? You can replace your bad grades? That would be awesome cause I had a bad grade in gen chem 2 and calc 1, but everything else was good. I hope to hear more soon. Thanks! As for my major I changed it to Health Policy Administration with a minor in International Relations I hope this will change my outlook to a more positive .

DO and MD use different application systems. DO schools use AACOMAS which uses your best grades if you happen to take a class multiple times... For instance, if you retake chem 2 and got an A, AACOMAS will use that grade only to calculate your GPAs... They will ignore the bad grade even if it appears on your transcript but it won't be factor in to calculate your GPAS. MD schools use AMCAS, which does not do that. The GPAs you see on ur transcript is most likely what will appear on your MD application.

 

[Ahadsz007]

Ah so then it might be best for me to apply to DO schools just because of that or do you still suggest trying for MD? I did very poor in those classes below even my standards so I could do that. Also can someone explain to me sgpa vs cgpa and how those play a role? Thanks!

 

[Ahadsz007]

Hey guys I retook chem 2 again, and yet again got a bad grade in it. Not even close to scratch. What do I do? Do I take it again for a third time? I studied harder was doing better overall then the final killed me. Any help or suggestions would be great. Thanks!

 

[Goro]

You have no chance for MD schools, but for DO programs you're going to have to work on your study skills. You should not be having troubles at this point. Your school shoudl have a learning center and education/learning specialists. Go seek out their help. If you have any test-taking anxiety issues, get them fixed.

Perhaps don't take summer courses.

Also, realistically, start thinking about other career paths.

Hey guys I retook chem 2 again, and yet again got a bad grade in it. Not even close to scratch. What do I do? Do I take it again for a third time? I studied harder was doing better overall then the final killed me. Any help or suggestions would be great. Thanks!