Sophomore at UF, 2.8 GPA :/

[cmt2013]

I'm currently a psychology major. My GPA is a 2.82 overall. I'm pretty sure my science GPA is lower but I haven't even begun taking a lot of pre-med courses because I recently switched from nursing to pre-med/psychology back before last spring semester.

I'm one of those kids that really need to study in order to do well and even though I study a LOT, sometimes I just do horrible on exams. I'm starting to doubt my ability to become a doctor (Even though that's what I really want to do!). I'm not one to make excuses, but the high school I went to was a joke and did not prepare me for college but I somehow made it in UF. I also work a lot because I have to help pay tuition so I'm still having a tough time balancing work and school.

With my GPA being so low and the fact that I will have to continue working and will be struggling more than the average pre-med student, are my chances shot? I really don't want to do anything else with my life, so I hope you can give me some good news...

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[golgiapparatus88]

If you still have to take most of your pre-med classes, you need to ace them all. Even though you have a 2.8, an upward trend of 4.0 until you graduate will still look good. Aim for a high MCAT and probably look into SMP programs.

Edit: also, if you get secondaries maybe explain how you "grew" once you decided you wanted to become a physician. Just a thought.

 

[dontforgetxx]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=686716

 

[Catalystik]

For MD: If that 2.8 is the result of freshman year grades and you are a rising sophomore, then with a year of straight As, your GPA would rise to 3.4, and in two years it could be at a competitive 3.6 (the mean for acceptees being 3.66). So right now, the dream is still alive if you can turn things around. (If you have completed the sophomore year, you'd still need a lot of As and probably an extra year of college to get to a 3.5, with a higher MCAT score to compensate for the lower GPA, like a 32+.)

For DO: Your grades don't need to be quite so perfect and you can take advantage of the DO grade forgiveness policy by retaking low grades to raise your GPA. Entering DO student average GPA is 3.48. Average MCAT is 26.09.

Since you need to study and work a lot, take the minimum courseload that you can and still be full-time, as high grades are imperative if you want to be a physician. Don't get distracted by ECs, whiuch can always be gained later. It will become increasingly difficult to repair your GPA as more time goes by. So figure out where the problem lies. Visit instructors during office hours. Attend tutoring sessions. Do all the problems at the end of chapters.