So I just finished my freshman year with a 3.5 overall and 3.2 sGPA. I thought i would get an A in Bio but nop got a B+. I feel like my Lab grades always hold me back, i got placed in a group of idiots in Bio and almost everything was group work so you can imagine and my chem instructor just never gives me As on my lab reports. Im a bio major and don't see myself doing anything post grad besides dentistry and my grades are not great. I feel so stressed and miserable that there is an actual possibility of not getting into dental school. I know I'm only a freshman but courses will only get harder. My main schools will probably be Tufts, Bu, UNE, NYU. Lets say i end up with similar GPA and a decent DAT 19 or 20 will i have a shot at these schools? is science GPA much more important than the overall GPA? Any suggestions on understanding lab work better and doing better on Lab reports?
so stressed please help
- Thread starter HM-boss
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You will be FINE. If i could give you any advice it would be to stop worrying on the future and just focus on the present. YOU don't know whats gonna happen. I got a 2.3 GPA my first semester and a 2.9 GPA my second semester. My second year I got an A in Ochem 1, Ochem2, Bio1, Bio2, Statistics 1, Statistics 2, Physics 2, and multiple other classes...... Don't let people scare you and stop scaring yourself. I did wayyyyyy worse than you my freshman year and since then I've never gone lower than a 3.7. Courses get harder but you adjust and learn. Science GPA is very important so keep the sciences as high as possible but don't let a still very good semester scare you. Keep an upward trend and just do better. Also, pick up those standards of yours. Don't think you'll get a 19 or 20. Reach for higher and stop discrediting yourself. Get those extra curricula's to round out your application and get close with some science teachers. Labs suck trust me everyone knows that and typically dental schools know your first year isn't that good. Just breathe man and stop stressing. DAY BY DAY.
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Relax! You got 3 more years to go, you have plenty of opportunities to raise your GPA and yup those schools are good for your stats but expensive. If you want to get a 19 on the DAT, I'm sure you will get a 19. If you want a 23, I'm pretty sure you'll get a 23.
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1. Relax. You're a freshman, you don't have many credits so good grades for the next 2 years will easily make up for average grades in your first year
2. Do not blame your lab grades on your lab mates, no matter how dumb or bad they are. In the real world, everyone you work with will eventually get on your nerves but that's pretty much reality and you're going to have to learn accountability.
3. It's too far out to say anything about your future prospects. My suggestion: aim high and don't settle. Tell yourself "I'm not getting anything less than a 3.7 from here on out" and "when I take the DAT I'm not going to get anything less than a 24." If you're strong mentally, everything else will come to you. Oh, and don't forget to have fun, you're only in college once. Do extracurriculars, volunteer, have fun nights with your friends. You'll be fine 🙂
2. Do not blame your lab grades on your lab mates, no matter how dumb or bad they are. In the real world, everyone you work with will eventually get on your nerves but that's pretty much reality and you're going to have to learn accountability.
3. It's too far out to say anything about your future prospects. My suggestion: aim high and don't settle. Tell yourself "I'm not getting anything less than a 3.7 from here on out" and "when I take the DAT I'm not going to get anything less than a 24." If you're strong mentally, everything else will come to you. Oh, and don't forget to have fun, you're only in college once. Do extracurriculars, volunteer, have fun nights with your friends. You'll be fine 🙂
Thanks a lot! your words really matter and really helpful! I really do need to start thinking more positively! Im hoping next year i get the hang of it and start doing better in the sciences. Your upward trend second year is totally inspiring!🙂
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Like everyone else has said, you will be fine brutha (or sista). I finished up my entire freshman year with a 2.9 overall gpa and even lower science gpa. Did some real soul searching, lived out of the country for 2 years, came back and dominated school for the next few years. The only difference between freshman year and the others was my mindset towards school. The upward trend was brought up in a very positive way in every one of my interviews. Like @ORamahiii said, set your goals high and you will surprise yourself when its all said and done. As for the tougher courses later on in undergrad...it's true they are tougher, but you will also become a better student. You'll find out how to study more effectively and use your time more efficiently. When you start those tough classes, go into it knowing you are going to dominate. Find some good study partners and you'll be good to go. Good luck, you will dominate in no time.
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You will be fine, AS LONG as you keep getting better each semester and by the time you finish undergrad you have a GPA of atleast 3.5 sGPA. If you need any assurance, my GPA was a 2 something at the end of my freshman year! and I got into dental school and aced my DAT.
R-E-L-A-X. Enjoy life, whats the point of being so stressed and then becoming a dentist, the journey should be fun.
Just curious.. how was your trend each semester and when did you apply?!
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Enjoy your time spent being in college. You won't ever get it back.
