Screwed up freshman year

[Geraldgreen1144]

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I got a 1.955 gpa first semester and will be getting around a 3.0-3.15 this semester with an overall that should be between a 2.65-2.7 or higher once after I take my two summer courses (genetics and gen chem 2).

my first semester grades were horrendous bc i was focused on someone I liked and they used me and I just screwed up by doing their work. I started seeing the dean and resources about 1/3 into second semester and it helped me a lot. I know how to make schedules and study now but I did a lot of damage at the beginning of second semester.
First semester grades:

Gen chem 1: D
Gen chem 1 Lab: B-
Bio 1: C
Bio Lab: A-
Calc 1: C
Spanish : C (fml)

but my second-semester grades should be

Bio 2: C+/B-
Bio 2 Lab: A-
Chem 1 retake: B-
English: A
Religion: B/B+/Possibly A-

Are my chances absolutely shot at a DO or MD?
I have around 75 hours of volunteering but no clinical yet as this is my first year in college.
I am half hispanic/half Asian if this is of any help and plan on going to help out in those communities in some way.

 

[Nugester]

It isn't shot but will be hard. Do well in an additional 1-2 years of post-bacc classes + rock the MCAT. I'd apply mostly DO with select MD schools (like state). Refer to Goro's guide: Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention.

 

[CorgiLoaf]

The good news is you are only a Freshman with around 33 credits so far.
If you take a gap year, then you have 3 solid years to work on your GPA. If you get A-/A in another ~120 credits of classes, you could graduate with a 3.5-3.7, which isn't an app killer by any means. Of course, this is easier said then done.

 

[Geraldgreen1144]

If I do take a Gap Year, wouldn't I need to start paying loans right away? I may sound like a complete **** but do you think it's possible I can do this without a gap year?

 

[CorgiLoaf]

If I do take a Gap Year, wouldn't I need to start paying loans right away? I may sound like a complete **** but do you think it's possible I can do this without a gap year?

Yes, you'll need to start paying loans beginning January of your gap year, but this is a small concern. The monthly payment is completely fine if you get a full-time job.

Run your numbers through a GPA calculator and see for yourself. You could get a ~3.5 if you receive straight A's through Junior year. A gap year will alleviate some of that stress, and honestly repaying loans should be the least of your worries. Some people have had to spend tens of thousands of dollars and years to fix their GPAs post-bacc. You still have a chance to avoid that outcome.

 

[The wise one]

Who is your advisor??? Why would they let you take 5 science classes???

 

[deleted859689]

Who is your advisor??? Why would they let you take 5 science classes???

?? Science classes include the labs. I’ve taken up to 3 science classes with labs in one semester and did fine (orgo, bio, compsci).


More importantly OP should go to his/her academic help center. These grades are worrisome to me and from experience as a teacher and tutor, grades like these are hard to come back from just because say you get a D in orgo 1. Once you take orgo 2, some of those some concepts are rehashed. It’s hard to relearn all that information and tellIng yourself it’s easy to get a A in a class with a D in a pre-req might give you limited milage. OP needs a tutor or a visit to the academic help center, or maybe needs to take some time off to re-evaluate. Worst case is the trend continues, but if you take time off and reorganize yourself it might help.

I find it hard to get below a C in any class, even the ones I never went to. That said i had a little over a 3.0 undergrad sGPA. I did an SMP and was in graduate school before applying.

 

[The wise one]

It's his first semester. His very first.

?? Science classes include the labs. I’ve taken up to 3 science classes with labs in one semester and did fine (orgo, bio, compsci).


More importantly OP should go to his/her academic help center. These grades are worrisome to me and from experience as a teacher and tutor, grades like these are hard to come back from just because say you get a D in orgo 1. Once you take orgo 2, some of those some concepts are rehashed. It’s hard to relearn all that information and tellIng yourself it’s easy to get a A in a class with a D in a pre-req might give you limited milage. OP needs a tutor or a visit to the academic help center, or maybe needs to take some time off to re-evaluate. Worst case is the trend continues, but if you take time off and reorganize yourself it might help.

I find it hard to get below a C in any class, even the ones I never went to. That said i had a little over a 3.0 undergrad sGPA. I did an SMP and was in graduate school before applying.

 

[deleted859689]

It's his first semester. His very first.

Gen chem, bio, calc, spanish. 2 science classes with lab.

 

[Geraldgreen1144]

?? Science classes include the labs. I’ve taken up to 3 science classes with labs in one semester and did fine (orgo, bio, compsci).


More importantly OP should go to his/her academic help center. These grades are worrisome to me and from experience as a teacher and tutor, grades like these are hard to come back from just because say you get a D in orgo 1. Once you take orgo 2, some of those some concepts are rehashed. It’s hard to relearn all that information and tellIng yourself it’s easy to get a A in a class with a D in a pre-req might give you limited milage. OP needs a tutor or a visit to the academic help center, or maybe needs to take some time off to re-evaluate. Worst case is the trend continues, but if you take time off and reorganize yourself it might help.

I find it hard to get below a C in any class, even the ones I never went to. That said i had a little over a 3.0 undergrad sGPA. I did an SMP and was in graduate school before applying.

1/3rd into second semester, I started meeting with me dean regularly and seeing academic advisor for help. We made study schedules and studying habit advice and since then I've been doing pretty well. My grades aren't all As this semester because I screwed up the beginning of the second semester when I thought I can get through this myself but boy was I wrong. With that being said, I will continue to follow and make schedules accordingly and meet with an advisor as a check-in.

 

[Blueprint Med School]

I got a 1.955 gpa first semester and will be getting around a 3.0-3.15 this semester with an overall that should be between a 2.65-2.7 or higher once after I take my two summer courses (genetics and gen chem 2).

my first semester grades were horrendous bc i was focused on someone I liked and they used me and I just screwed up by doing their work. I started seeing the dean and resources about 1/3 into second semester and it helped me a lot. I know how to make schedules and study now but I did a lot of damage at the beginning of second semester.
First semester grades:

Gen chem 1: D
Gen chem 1 Lab: B-
Bio 1: C
Bio Lab: A-
Calc 1: C
Spanish : C (fml)

but my second-semester grades should be

Bio 2: C+/B-
Bio 2 Lab: A-
Chem 1 retake: B-
English: A
Religion: B/B+/Possibly A-

Are my chances absolutely shot at a DO or MD?
I have around 75 hours of volunteering but no clinical yet as this is my first year in college.
I am half hispanic/half Asian if this is of any help and plan on going to help out in those communities in some way.

It's reallyyyyy hard to mess up enough to close the door completely as a freshman (we're talking academics). We were all young and dumb, just to various degrees. It does mean that you've used up a bunch of leeway that other students would likely sprinkle across 4+ years.

Turn it around, crush the MCAT, and put together a good resume. It can be done, now you have to do it. Good luck!

David D MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors

 

[Damson]

It isn't shot but will be hard. Do well in an additional 1-2 years of post-bacc classes + rock the MCAT. I'd apply mostly DO with select MD schools (like state). Refer to Goro's guide: Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention.

what are you talking about? he's just done his first year of undergrad

he's got three more years of classes to raise his GPA to 3.7+ without issue if he's got what it takes. no post-bacc needed if he rocks it from now on

 

[Geraldgreen1144]

what are you talking about? he's just done his first year of undergrad

he's got three more years of classes to raise his GPA to 3.7+ without issue if he's got what it takes. no post-bacc needed if he rocks it from now on

I have a 2.57 after my first year and off probation. I can get a 2.85 if I get As in both of the science classes I am taking this summer.