Struggling Sophmore Pre-med Undrgrad, Am I done?!

[alec10983]

Hey everyone! I've been reading a lot of discussions and they are awesome. But my concern for this discussion is because of the struggles i have been having the first year and a half of undergrad pre-med.

My major is Molecular Biology/Microbiology(Pre-med) and a Minor in Finance. My grades haven't been good, no F's or D's, but a bit too many C's. Here is what i have done so far:

Summer Freshman Year:
World Civiliazation- B+
Sociology- C

Fall Freshman Year:
Chem 1a- C
English 1- C
College Algebra- C
SLS 1501- A-

Spring Freshman Year:
English 2- A-
Chem 1b- C+
Biology 1- C
Film 1000- C+

Summer before Sophmore Year:
Art Appreciation- A
Philosophy-A

Cumulative GPA after this summer is 2.75, ridiculous, tell me about it. Never been more annoyed in my life at myself.

Fall Sophomore Year (Currently in now)
Pre-Calculus- B or C
Statistics- C+ or B
Speech- C+ or B-
American History- C or B

So after this semester, my GPA will most likely be around 2.71-2.79


As your probably thinking now, your saying how can this kid be getting C's in easy pre-reqs? I honestly have no idea why. But the fact is, i'm started to really get annoyed at myself because i know i have been studying, but i guess not enough.


So my question to you all is, Do i still have a shot of getting into a DO or MD school if i can possibly get my GPA up to a 3.3 or so? (I calculated something like that assuming future semesters of doing very well). And obviously a pretty good MCAT. Next semester i am taking Trigonometry, Chem 2, Microeconomics, and 2 easy electives. I also plan on taking both physics over the summer, different semesters of course, and each with an easy A elective.

I don't really have much volunteer work, but as for Extra Curriculars, i'm not sure if clubs count, but i've been heavily involved in an Investors club at school (minor in Finance) as well shadowing a surgeon a few times and looking to do so much more. Also in a fraternity, but being a sophomore, unable to get a big leadership role yet. I am definitely going to start volunteering now but is it too late to build a nice volunteer work resume for applications? Any suggestions if so?!

Also, with my minor, i may have to apply to schools later than August of Senior year, is that possible or would i have to wait all the way until the next August to apply?

Thanks so MUCH!!

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[TriagePreMed]

You're not "done for" by any means. You're still 2 years into your bachelors, but you need to turn things around quickly and possibly even invest a year in a post-bacc if MD is your ultimate goal. If DO is your goal, a 3.3 could get you there. More important than cGPA is how much your sGPA has suffered. Most applicants have a lower sGPA than cGPA. In your case, you can't afford that. You'll need to be about even. You also need to start pumping those EC because you need your application to be very well rounded to be considered.

How are you even allowed to take Chemistry? My school doesn't let you unless you finished algebra 2.

In any case, best of luck.

 

[alec10983]

Thanks for the response! I have no problem with doing DO, i've heard great things about it and from what i see, they are only getting closer and closer related, standards wise. Yea i do need to pump up just about all my grades. And as for chemistry, there is no algebra 2 in my school, unless its another name. I took algebra 2 in high school lol. But yea, i know i'm allowed to take it.

Would you think retaking one or 2 of those C's would help? My school has 2 "grade forgivenesses" which means you can swap any class and retake it, and it basically disappears from the transcript if you get a better grade. Or should i save those just in case the harder sciences/math courses ahead where i may need them?

 

[TriagePreMed]

Thanks for the response! I have no problem with doing DO, i've heard great things about it and from what i see, they are only getting closer and closer related, standards wise. Yea i do need to pump up just about all my grades. And as for chemistry, there is no algebra 2 in my school, unless its another name. I took algebra 2 in high school lol. But yea, i know i'm allowed to take it.

Would you think retaking one or 2 of those C's would help? My school has 2 "grade forgivenesses" which means you can swap any class and retake it, and it basically disappears from the transcript if you get a better grade. Or should i save those just in case the harder sciences/math courses ahead where i may need them?

Algebra 2 is the equivalent of what some call "intermediate algebra" or whatever is the last algebra course before trigonometry and/or pre-calc. No worries.

I would save those for now. You never know when you might get a D or an F. I know you'll work hard to never let that happen, but sometimes life has a way of taking you to rotten places. Better have a safe card if you get there. If it's almost at the end of your BA/BS, then retaking the chemistry might be a good idea. For not focus on the future and doing well on O.Chem and Physics. Those will be critical.

 

[alec10983]

Oh yea, we were allowed to take a math placement exam which lets you skip intermediate, thats what most people did.

So i am hopefully going to start a good regiment of shadowing, like every week starting january. But i may get a few more before that and will hopefully switch from different areas time to time like different surgeries (have only shadowed podiatry surgeries so far) and hopefully some physicians and such. I'm also going to see if the hospital needs volunteer work, because i'm shadowing there anyways, so its convenient. Also taking classes this summer, most likely getting both physics out of the way as well with a couple easy electives. I'm hoping i can shadow one doctor for the whole summer, that would look nice right?

If i'm able to get the volunteer work from the hospital, should i still look for other work like food banks or Hospice and such? Or just really thrive at the hospital?

Also, i'm having a little trouble finding a research opportunity and to be honest, i'm not sure how to approach it because i am just a sophomore and don't feel like i know anything close to what is needed to be in a research facility and be able to actively participate. Is this how i am supposed to feel about research and just approach it as a learning experience?

Thanks so much, and sorry for so many questions, this is the best site i could have ever found!!

 

[TriagePreMed]

Try adding 1 activity first. Your priority is your grades. Once you have grade down, add another activity. Components that look good in an application:

Medical Volunteering
Shadowing
Research
Non-medical Volunteering
Tutoring
Leadership

You're not expect to do everything, but you can do everything if you want.

I don't know how your undergrad works for research. I know at Cal we have something called URAP (undergraduate research apprenticeship program). It would be best if you ask your activities office or a professor for help on this. Many times people just approach professors about lab opportunities.

Remember, grades first.

 

[alec10983]

To help raise my GPA, other than the science classes, is it bad to take some really easy random classes like a sport or something like that, over the summer when i take physics? Or does that look bad if its not related to your major/minor?

Also, for the summer, would it be better to shadow a doctor the whole summer when i take classes, OR should i do something else? Because i know a good amount of doctors who would be open to allowing me to do something with them the whole summer

 

[TriagePreMed]

To help raise my GPA, other than the science classes, is it bad to take some really easy random classes like a sport or something like that, over the summer when i take physics? Or does that look bad if its not related to your major/minor?

Also, for the summer, would it be better to shadow a doctor the whole summer when i take classes, OR should i do something else? Because i know a good amount of doctors who would be open to allowing me to do something with them the whole summer

If you have broad interests, college is the time to explore them. Medical school won't allow you to have the time to pursuit that. But remember, your science GPA is very important.

If I were you, I would look into doing research, but that's just a personal choice. I don't think there's a right or wrong answer when it comes to shadowing vs something else in the summer.

 

[alec10983]

For the sGPA, do electives for my major(molecular biology and microbiology) go towards that? They are all science classes, like (immunobiology, genetics, zoology, hemostasis, human anatomy, etc) just to name a few. I am assuming it does because its required to take 7 of those "restricted electives" to fulfill my major requirements. Or is the sGPA just the pre-reqs like physics, general bio, general chems, orgo, and maths?

 

[TriagePreMed]

For the sGPA, do electives for my major(molecular biology and microbiology) go towards that? They are all science classes, like (immunobiology, genetics, zoology, hemostasis, human anatomy, etc) just to name a few. I am assuming it does because its required to take 7 of those "restricted electives" to fulfill my major requirements. Or is the sGPA just the pre-reqs like physics, general bio, general chems, orgo, and maths?

Any BCPM class is sGPA.

 

[Goro]

A 3.3 GPA, an MCAT >24 and some good ECs will land you plenty of interviews at DO schools. 3.3 is on the very low end on MD schools, depending upon the school and your state. So yes, you'd better start doing the hospital stuff now, and forget the frat stuff. Show us your altruism. Find out if you actually LIKE being around sick people.

Your situation might also be not one of enough studying, but how WELL you're studying. Different people have different styles, so experiment with some until you find one that works for you.

So my question to you all is, Do i still have a shot of getting into a DO or MD school if i can possibly get my GPA up to a 3.3 or so? (I calculated something like that assuming future semesters of doing very well). And obviously a pretty good MCAT. .

I don't really have much volunteer work, but as for Extra Curriculars, i'm not sure if clubs count, but i've been heavily involved in an Investors club at school (minor in Finance) as well shadowing a surgeon a few times and looking to do so much more. Also in a fraternity, but being a sophomore, unable to get a big leadership role yet. I am definitely going to start volunteering now but is it too late to build a nice volunteer work resume for applications? Any suggestions if so?!

Also, with my minor, i may have to apply to schools later than August of Senior year, is that possible or would i have to wait all the way until the next August to apply?

Thanks so MUCH!!

 

[alec10983]

Yea, i'm definitely going to start the hospital stuff right away. Going to continue shadowing this one surgeon, and he is pointing me in the direction with some other specialties. And this summer, i'll be home taking classes and will try and shadow a physician for a few months. After exams, i am starting volunteer work, for a hospital, as well some other non medical volunteering.

I just calculated how many more classes i need to take to fulfill my major/minor and it came out to be

7 Science Electives required for my major
14 Science/Math Pre-reqs for my Molecular Bio & Microbiology
8 Finance Classes for my minor in Finance

Seems like a lot, so i have a feeling i may have to stay a 5th year to finish it all. BUT, it does give me many more science classes (21 lol) to redeem myself and start a new trend.

So the question from this part is, If i do have to stay another semester or 2, when are the times you can apply to schools? Is it only during the Fall like summer thru december? Or are their other times to apply? Or should i just wait the full 5th year and apply like i would have the end of my junior year?

Thanks!!

 

[alec10983]

Also, do you think it looks good if i had a nice internship over the summer for a major Hedge Fund, and will most likely get a LOR from him? Because i'm not sure if that counts as a hobby or something, but i have been involved in finance like the stock markets for years, and trading very often. Thats also why i am in a Young Investors Club at my school and will be taking a higher position in it soon. Also, my minor in Finance.

 

[TriagePreMed]

Also, do you think it looks good if i had a nice internship over the summer for a major Hedge Fund, and will most likely get a LOR from him? Because i'm not sure if that counts as a hobby or something, but i have been involved in finance like the stock markets for years, and trading very often. Thats also why i am in a Young Investors Club at my school and will be taking a higher position in it soon. Also, my minor in Finance.

If your goal is medical school, you need to work on that. Spending your time in finance is not going to impress anyone or show commitment to medicine.

 

[alec10983]

Really? You don't think it helps my resume at all having a nice hobby in finance that could definitely help in the long run?

And would you mind taking a look at the other reply i wrote?

Thanks!

 

[TriagePreMed]

I don't know if it will help. I don't think it will hurt. But honestly, if you want to go to med school, your EC right now are poor, so I would work on that. If finance is your thing, go into finance. Ultimately, I really doubt anyone will care about this hobby. It's like someone that does cross country in college. Sure, it shows dedication and they stick to something they like, but it's not going to make up for lack of volunteering or be a good reason to accept that person when something else is lacking.

Applications open every May and start going out in June. It's up to you when (what year) you apply. This kind of stuff you can look up on the AAMC website.

 

[Kape1one]

Bump!

I am in a similar situation so far and would also like some feedback.

Is it still possible to get into medical school with those many C's?

Thanks!

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

Try adding 1 activity first. Your priority is your grades. Once you have grade down, add another activity. Components that look good in an application:

Medical Volunteering
Shadowing
Research
Non-medical Volunteering
Tutoring
Leadership

You're not expect to do everything, but you can do everything if you want.

I don't know how your undergrad works for research. I know at Cal we have something called URAP (undergraduate research apprenticeship program). It would be best if you ask your activities office or a professor for help on this. Many times people just approach professors about lab opportunities.

Remember, grades first.

Listen to this man, you may have a long way to go, but there are people with worse stats in your position. You have 2+ more years to go. DO and MD and still in reach, Just ace all your upper level class, and DONT fall behind on the easy classes. There are meant to be "easy" for a reason. Then again, don't ever come into a class thinking that you are going to get an easy A.

 

[alec10983]

Yea I am really starting to change my way of studying and mindset on everything. Been having A LOT of family problems the past year so it has been a bit distracting and hard to focus on school because family is so important. BUT i am not making an excuse. I know that during med school distractions will come and go, and the school won't care and i need to learn how to overcome it.

So my schedule next semester is Chem 2, Trigonometry, Personal Finance/Investing, Overview of Medical Careers, Tennis.... lol.

Will be doing much more shadowing this semester on surgeons/other areas, will be finding volunteer work at a food pantry or shelter, also at a hospital. Will be looking for research this summer and also an internship for some sort of doctor this summer as well.