Really bad freshman year...is there still hope?

[capsfan617]

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I finished my freshman year at Vanderbilt University with a 2.45GPA. Yes, very bad, I know. I won't waste time making excuses but please believe me when I say I have changed my habits drastically and am ready to kick a** these next 3 years.

First year grades:
C+ in Gen Chem 1
C- in Gen Chem 2
C- in Multivariable Calc
B in Gen Chem Lab 1
B+ in Gen Chem Lab 2

I am halfway through retaking Gen Chem 2 right now and based off my first 2 mid terms I am on track to get a B+/A-. I will be retaking Multivariable Calc in the fall. I plan on majoring in neuroscience with a minor in public policy or spanish.

I want more than anything to get into a top 20 med school and I hope this is still feasible with my first year grades. I was wondering what my plan of action (besides obviously getting the best grades I can) should be to maximize my chances of getting into a top 20 med school i.e, extracurriculars, research, etc.

Thank you in advance!

 

[Radon XP]

Is there still hope? Yes. Is there still hope for top 20 MD school? Not much.

 

[capsfan617]

Is there still hope? Yes. Is there still hope for top 20 MD school? Not much.

Can you elaborate a little more? Are you saying my bad grades freshman year (even though I am retaking the two C-s) singlehandedly ruined any chance of me getting into a top 20 med school regardless of every other factor in my application?

The reason I am asking is because I want to know what I can do to maximize chances at a top 20 med school. So I would rather someone give me the advice I need to maximize chances rather than just tell me there isn't much hope.

Also, does the fact that I go to an elite undergraduate institution help me in my chances?

 

[kmp0410]

Yes, but think about why you want to go to a 20 MD school, if its because of the prestige...then get over it and think about why you want to be a doctor.

Your a freshmen, and based on your grades you should be happy to be considered at any med school. Make straight A's (not B+'s) from here on out, score a 36+ on your MCAT (though it will be scored different when you take it), do meaningful research and then you can talk about a top 20 med school.

 

[TheBossDoctor]

Assuming you get a 4.0 for the rest of your college career (which is very difficult to do), your highest possible GPA is (2.45+4+4+4)/4 = 3.61. Which is enough to get you into some of the lower tier MD schools. But definitely not top 20. Don't see why you're dead set on top 20 though. All MD schools are good.

Also, unless you're a science major, your sGPA is probably gonna be pretty low since you won't have as many chances to up that.

In the mean time, aside from getting better grades, just volunteer a bit, get some clinical exposure, do research if its your thing, and follow your hobbies (only to a certain extent). Oh and make sure you do very good on the MCAT since a high score there might get schools to overlook your GPA a LITTLE (not completely).

 

[Radon XP]

Can you elaborate a little more? Are you saying my bad grades freshman year (even though I am retaking the two C-s) singlehandedly ruined any chance of me getting into a top 20 med school regardless of every other factor in my application?

It doesn't mean getting into a top 20 is impossible. You will need to really kill your classes from here on out and get your GPA as close to a 3.7 as possible. I don't know if that's possible (you can do the math).

Taking additional upper-level sciences will demonstrate to adcoms that you can handle the material. Just don't overwhelm yourself.

Getting a great MCAT score, assuming you fix your GPA, would be the best thing you can do to boost your chances IMO. Go for a 35+ (no easy task).

On top of that, start volunteering and doing research (most top schools are research-heavy).

It's possible. Only you know what you're capable of. That being said, I hope you're not "above" applying to non-top 20 schools if you really want to be a doctor.

Also, does the fact that I go to an elite undergraduate institution help me in my chances?

A little bit, maybe, but not much, and it won't overcome a low GPA/low scores

 

[The Buff OP]

 

[LianaStan]

The first thing you have to come to terms with is how much work it will take to improve that GPA. It does you no good if you simply just say to yourself I'm going to try harder. No, you have to go look up the GPA ranges of the top 20 medical schools, do the calculations, and realize for yourself that even with all A's, you will be pushing the 10th percentile in GPA acceptance. This is why I think while your intentions are sincere, the fact that you seem to be satisfied with a B+/A- in Gen Chem 2 shows that you do YET have a mature and strong enough mindset for seriously improving that low GPA. At your point, you should be satisfied with nothing less than an A because frankly B+s won't get you to where you need to be.

As for your question of whether it matters that you come from a prestigious uni, most people will tell you no and I tend to agree. Most likely it is not taken into account except when comparing the extremes.

Of course, this is all assuming you are still gunning for the top 20 schools. It doesn't matter to me your reason for wanting to go to top 20, but it does matter for you to recognize how difficult it truly is. This is not like applying to undergraduate school again.

However, if you are still adamant about your pursuit, here is what I think the best way to increase your chances of getting accepted at a top 20 medical school are:

1. Get your GPA up as high as possible so you fall within the 10th-90th range for your schools of choice.

2. Get a very high MCAT score. Aim for 95th percentile+. Most people's standards of 80th percentile (30) will not cut it.

3. Here's the kicker: Don't bother with doing the standard extracurriculars. You are in a desperate situation so you have to take desperate measures. You MUST find yourself an EC you can do that very clearly shows you did something extraordinary in the community that is healthcare related. So that means don't rely on simple clinical volunteering. An officer position in a health-related club is nothing. Doing random stuff in a third-world country for a few weeks means nothing. Ideally you would have all these things and more. Especially with top 20 colleges, they get to cherry pick from the best MCATs and GPAs in the nation. Use this to your advantage because they are looking specifically for standout ECs. You know, something like being a political spokesperson for improving healthcare quality for the underserved in your community and helping to lobby for new initiatives in bettering public health. Something big and significant that only 1% of applicants may have. Stop thinking cookie cutter and start thinking outside the box. My conversations with an adcom from a top 20 uni taught me this: they want to see that you TRULY care about people and the community, and because of this, they will take a chance on you despite your scores (as long as they are reasonable) if you can show that. Most importantly, they want to see that you have OVERachieved for your situation, so you better expect and crave the challenge.

I do wish you luck and hope your story becomes one of overcoming adversity rather than succumbing to defeat.

P.S. I just wanted to add, don't listen to the people with insincere posts. Most people have forgotten what it is like to have been a freshman and how not everyone is put into a situation that allows them to succeed academically. Take everything with a grain of salt. You know your own abilities the best. Also, look through the "What are my chances" threads. They are good for getting a check on reality.

 

[Strudel19]

You don goofed. Retake them and apply DO and you'll be fine.

 

[capsfan617]

Thank you everyone for the responses (besides the double face palm, that doesn't really help me with my situation).

I am not some elitist snob who is obsessed with prestige but I do want to shoot as high as I can and I think it will only motivate me more to do better the next 3 years. Obviously I will still apply to med schools other than top 20, but I want that to be my goal. A couple questions:

Would be it beneficial to take a year off after graduating to allow my senior year grades to factor in and give me the opportunity to get some clinical or research experience?

I am retaking the two C-s and I know AAMC averages the two and doesn't replace but that will improve my freshman year GPA a good amount.

Don't medical schools notice an upward trend, especially a significant one I am aiming for?, or is it all about the GPA number?

Also, Vandy has a great medical school and don't they give preference to their undergrads?

 

[kdangg4]

If you steadily improve for the next 3 years and explain why you didn't do too well during freshmen year, I think there is hope.

 

[deleted550985]

I am retaking the two C-s and I know AAMC averages the two and doesn't replace but that will improve my freshman year GPA a good amount.

Don't medical schools notice an upward trend, especially a significant one I am aiming for?, or is it all about the GPA number?

Also, Vandy has a great medical school and don't they give preference to their undergrads?

Med schools do notice upward trends. Yes it will soften the blow. No it will not make up for your freshman year performance, especially if you do anything less than stellar from here on out.

Not sure about Vanderbilt, but my university also has a medical school and gives very little preference to their undergrads.

Edit: Also, keep in mind that top 20s are still out of reach for many people with 3.9+ GPAs and good MCAT scores. They still need to have great ECs, and you'll need to have even better ones. I'm not saying you shouldn't try, but don't get your hopes up.

 

[LianaStan]

Thank you everyone for the responses (besides the double face palm, that doesn't really help me with my situation).

I am not some elitist snob who is obsessed with prestige but I do want to shoot as high as I can and I think it will only motivate me more to do better the next 3 years. Obviously I will still apply to med schools other than top 20, but I want that to be my goal. A couple questions:

Would be it beneficial to take a year off after graduating to allow my senior year grades to factor in and give me the opportunity to get some clinical or research experience?

I am retaking the two C-s and I know AAMC averages the two and doesn't replace but that will improve my freshman year GPA a good amount.

Don't medical schools notice an upward trend, especially a significant one I am aiming for?, or is it all about the GPA number?

Also, Vandy has a great medical school and don't they give preference to their undergrads?

Tbh, I personally do not care if people are elitist in what they want, but it does bother me if people act elitist when they do not have the stats to back it up.

I think it will be beneficial for you to take a year off and factor in senior grades. Your GPA is really too low for what you are aiming for. Also, you should be trying to find clinical/research opportunities immediately. Try to get into a research lab ASAP and then try to get a fellowship later on for next summer that will hopefully lead to your own independent project and some papers. These are NOT things you want to do simply in your gap year. You should be having clinical/research experience throughout the school year and summers starting now. I personally would get a research job to get paid while having that as experience to put down on your app, and also really focus on figuring out some awesome clinical EC you can do as I mentioned in my previous post.

Many medical schools do like upward trends. But you must get past screening first so you have to fall within their range. Like I said, if you can get within their range for GPA/MCAT, AND have killer ECs, you will have a shot at top 20 schools. Most people here have their heads stuck on just the numbers, but when looking at elite schools, as you are, the ECs are arguably even more important because elite schools get applicants with great numbers all the time (ofc, let me qualify this by saying numbers are important for being considered initially). Of course, everyone's opinion of what great ECs are is different. If you wanted to hypothetically quantify it, you would want ECs in the 99th percentile to make up for your 10th percentile GPA. I am of the opinion you can definitely make up for you lackluster GPA, but you MUST make up for it with other things. Unfortunately, the % of people in your situation that can make up for this may be very small, but it exists, so there is hope.

I am not too sure about your last question because I am not familiar with the school, sorry. However, on MSAR, it does say 22% of last year's matriculants attended that institution, so I will say yes, there seems to be a definite preference.