Specific Question: Why should I stay at this University

[glider95]

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I am creating this post, not in search of an answer (because I doubt there is one), but for relevant wisdom from people in relevant positions.

I am currently a freshman attending a top 4 engineering school (I say this not as a statement of conceit, rather to place the setting) with a major in Business MGMT. When I initially applied, I did not know I wanted to study to become a Doctor, instead I used my sport (Lacrosse) to get into the best possible school I could.

This Spring semester, I geared my classes towards the pre-med curriculum. However, I find that most of the classes, chemistry and physics in particular are geared towards engineering majors, and are at an extremely high level. My classmates and peers that have extremely high IQ's, and who are generally very bright individuals, are getting B's. At my school getting a B's in your classes will secure you an engineering job before the end of your junior year. The inherent problem I suspect I will have by the time I am applying to medical schools, is a lower GPA.

I am meeting with the Pre-Health Adviser on Tuesday to ask him a series of very specific questions. What does this university offer to Pre-Medical Students? How do I justify to AdComs my lower GPA? Why should I not transfer to a larger state school, that will offer more of an opportunity to pre-medical candidates?


To the SDN community:
I suppose I am asking of you; if you have any insight to this situation as a whole. Or maybe you have more questions I should ask the adviser. Anything at all would help.

 

[Classof2013PreM]

Although medical schools will take into account the rigor of your undergraduate school when evaluating your GPA, this will only have a marginal effect. It's definitely tougher applying from a school with grade deflation or an exceptionally smart/motivated study body. Just try your best to keep your GPA at a competitive level!

Another option would be to take your pre-med requirements at another less competitive university where you believe that you could earn higher grades (in summer courses or a post-bacc). Good luck!

 

[glider95]

Thank you for the response.

I've heard that taking all my pre-med classes at a separate university as an option from a few people. Wouldn't transferring make sense then as well?

 

[ballislife]

think about the other parts of the college you are at, do you enjoy it? Are you on scholarship for lacrosse? Like your friends/atmosphere?

After physics/chemistry I dont think there is any pre med courses that share a common link with engineering, you ll be taking o-chem,biol 1, anatonomy, biochem, genetics etc. Maybe the courses will be 'easier'. A couple Bs on your application wont kill your chances, if you are learning chemistry and learning physics then that should be good enough. If you've learned it but just feel the class is hard, you can still use that information on the mcat.

 

[glider95]

I do enjoy my college, and enjoy the people I am here with. I am not however on scholarship for lacrosse due to my division restrictions.

Isnt Chem I & II, Phys I & II, nearly a third of the pre-medical curriculum though? Would 4 science B's destroy or harm my sGPA significantly?

 

[rain4venus]

I do enjoy my college, and enjoy the people I am here with. I am not however on scholarship for lacrosse due to my division restrictions.

Isnt Chem I & II, Phys I & II, nearly a third of the pre-medical curriculum though? Would 4 science B's destroy or harm my sGPA significantly?

Well... If you got Bs in Chem and Physics at such a good school, you can surely do the math. If you get As in Orgo and Bio then you ought to be at a 3.5 already. An A in biochem would put you not in an outstanding spot, but at least where you're getting to be competitive. (Dunno if your school does a straight A=4 B=3... GPA or does A-=3.7 B+=3.3 kind of thing) Also, schools like to see a positive trend over time in grades, so it's best if your Bs are early on.

What is taken into account for your sGPA? Is it all science or just the med school prereqs? Math?

ETA: Maybe you should also ask the advisor about what percentage of med school applicants actually get into a school? I don't know if it's the kind of thing that's allowed, but if so, it might be good to find out what kind of science grades the accepted students had from your school. Do a lot of premeds with a few Bs in science still get in?