Surviving Sophomore Year

[rs0147]

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Some of you may have seen me freaking out over my awful grades from my freshman year on another thread. Anyway, I've done some calculations to figure out how much damage control I have to do, and apparently, I need an A in every class between this summer and the next one to bring my GPA up to a competitive level (3.7-ish). During this period of time, I'll be taking Bio 2 and Orgo 1 (fall) , Orgo 2 + lab and Genetics (spring), Physics 1 + lab and Microbiology (next summer). So, this nearly impossible endeavor combined with the ECs I'm hoping to get involved in (AED and shadowing), puts me under a lot of pressure.

Do any of you have any general or class-specific survival tips to offer? Any and all are IMMENSELY appreciated.

 

[loltopsy]

Volunteer at a food bank or a shelter. Shadowing is also a must. Also, what's your GPA currently? Assuming a good MCAT, a 3.5 should, probably be enough, but yeah, 3.7 is a much more solid number.

My tip would be summer classes. They are usually taught by grad students (where I went at least), so they tended to be very very easy. I think my lowest summer class grade was an A-, and I probably took ~35 credits over the summer.

 

[Lamel]

Stay up to date with the lectures in those classes. Do the homework problems/practice problems from the lecture material the day before or the day of the lecture. Do as many problems as possible and LIVE the material; make connections in the real world (this applies to physics, orgo). This way you won't have to cram as much for the exams and will have a more solid understanding of the material.

For Microbio, start making a study guide from the first lecture. Add information to it lecture by lecture, then memorize it right before the exam. Making the guide will reinforce the material in your head, and then memorizing won't be too difficult.


These things have worked for me and netted me As in phys, chem, bio etc.

 

[rs0147]

Volunteer at a food bank or a shelter. Shadowing is also a must. Also, what's your GPA currently? Assuming a good MCAT, a 3.5 should, probably be enough, but yeah, 3.7 is a much more solid number.

My tip would be summer classes. They are usually taught by grad students (where I went at least), so they tended to be very very easy. I think my lowest summer class grade was an A-, and I probably took ~35 credits over the summer.

Thank you both for the advice.
I am taking summer classes this summer (before sophomore year) and next summer (after sophomore year).

This summer (only doing the second half), I'll just be taking a public speaking & a writing classes (college requirement). (6 credits)

For the fall, I'm taking Bio 2 + lab, Orgo 1, American Lit,& Intro to Medical Professions (13 credits)

For the spring, I'm taking Orgo 2 + lab, Genetics, Psychology, and Physician Shadowing. (15 credits)

Next summer (the whole thing), I'll be doing Physics 1 + lab, Microbio + lab, and Sociology. (12 credits)

My cGPA (used an AMCAS calculator) is 3.36; my sGPA is 3.31, which are results of poor grades in gen chem 1 & 2, bio 1, and a gen ed class. All of my other classes have been A or A-.

 

[Eiot]

Thank you both for the advice.
I am taking summer classes this summer (before sophomore year) and next summer (after sophomore year).

This summer (only doing the second half), I'll just be taking a public speaking & a writing classes (college requirement). (6 credits)

For the fall, I'm taking Bio 2 + lab, Orgo 1, American Lit,& Intro to Medical Professions (13 credits)

For the spring, I'm taking Orgo 2 + lab, Genetics, Psychology, and Physician Shadowing. (15 credits)

Next summer (the whole thing), I'll be doing Physics 1 + lab, Microbio + lab, and Sociology. (12 credits)

My cGPA (used an AMCAS calculator) is 3.36; my sGPA is 3.31, which are results of poor grades in gen chem 1 & 2, bio 1, and a gen ed class. All of my other classes have been A or A-.

Schedule looks ezpz to me.

 

[rs0147]

Schedule looks ezpz to me.

I sure hope it turns out to be. I tried to balance it as much as possible.

 

[Barcu]

Make sure that your ECs do not take away from classes. Yes you do need them, but it's much easier to add ECs later than to do gpa repair. Have something but don't overdo it.

 

[dlm2852]

what is your major? I'm going to be a senior at UF and i am getting research credit through the chemistry department. If you are in a lab or can get it one it's an easy A to your science GPA. But I think it has to be your major. Only chem credit if chemistry major. Getting an A in all those classes with be very hard to do.

 

[rs0147]

what is your major? I'm going to be a senior at UF and i am getting research credit through the chemistry department. If you are in a lab or can get it one it's an easy A to your science GPA. But I think it has to be your major. Only chem credit if chemistry major. Getting an A in all those classes with be very hard to do.

I'm a biology major.

 

[Scrotum]

Just go to class, do your homework and don't fall behind. Your class load isn't bad at all, but how did you manage to do poorly in Freshman Bio when you're a Bio major? That's definitely not a good start.

 

[phunky]

As long as you stay on top of lectures and reading, that doesn't seem too difficult. Certainly not impossible.

 

[Eiot]

Just go to class, do your homework and don't fall behind. Your class load isn't bad at all, but how did you manage to do poorly in Freshman Bio when you're a Bio major? That's definitely not a good start.

Read the bolded. You answered your own question.

 

[iforget2]

Remember that every single grade counts. Might sound obvious, but it's easy to think "oh this hw is worth less than 1% of grade so i'm not gonna work too hard on this so I can do other stuff". A lot of small grades add up in the end and you'll end up needing to work much harder studying for finals to make up for the accumulation of multiple bad grades that don't matter much individually. Speaking from personal experience

 

[survivordo]

Hopefully you have taken a solid look at exactly what caused you to do poorly last year. If you have identified points to improve and stay on top of your coursework then I don't see any reason you cannot rock that schedule. As others said, 3.7 is great, 3.5 will still get you in. Don't let the pressure get to you!

Survivor DO