The way it looks now...I'm not getting in

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

SweetAnGiL

Junior Member
7+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
20+ Year Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2001
Messages
24
Reaction score
0
OK...so I'm in my second year of college..and my GPA is BAD. Really bad folks. It makes me want to cry thinking about it. Organic whipped my butt this semester. I'm definitely going to take these classes over, with the old grades counting as 1-credit electives...but they still won't be totally erased from my transcipt.

I figure after several semesters of 4.0s (at least 3)...I can get my GPA back to around a 3.5 or so. But the thing is, I'm TERRIFIED that I won't get into med school. What's a girl to do? If any of you all have any encouragment, advice, reality checks, all that good stuff..please...let me know! <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

Members don't see this ad.
 
You've only got three semesters in, right? Well, there's lots of time to change your GPA. Lots of people get into med school with C's in Organic Chemistry. It gets harder if you have a lot of them, yes, but it is possible.

You may want to try balancing some of your harder classes like Organic with easy A courses to keep the GPA up. There are stories around here about people with low GPAs that get in, but it generally seems to be the consensus that a 3.2 or 3.3 is sorta the minimum you need to have a shot.

The other thing that you'll want to do is make sure you have a ton of other stuff on your app that really stands out. Schools can forgive a low GPA if you have a lot (ie - not three afternoons...) of clinical experience, or have done some research, or something like that!

And, if there's anything to be learned from this board, it's that the whole admissions process is a crapshoot. There's no real way to tell ahead of time what's going to happen. So, just apply to a ton of schools when you apply, and hope things sort themselves out.

If you really want to be a doctor (and it seems like you do!) don't let a few bad grades get you down! If you got a D or something, you probably should retake that. I don't know anybody that's gotten in with a D in Organic. But there are people I know that get in with C's...

Anyway, I'm sorta the eternal optimist on this board, so listen to what others have to say! Good luck!

And welcome to SDN!
 
Hi SweetAnGiL,

You can definately do it if you show improvement from this point on.
Something to be aware of though---even if your school replaces bad grades if you retake them AMCAS (what the med schools see) does not.
I did really poorly my first semester at college (including an F, C and C+ a class) and it brought down my AMCAS cum GPA from about a 3.8 to a 3.5 which sucks (a 3.5 is good but the 3.8 would really have helped espec since my MCAT is only a 28). But I have found that schools will have mercy on you if you explain yourself and upward grade trends are looked on positively as well. Regardless there is always a way if Medicine is what you want (or so they tell me anyway-- I have yet to get in somewhere) Hope that helps--
 
Members don't see this ad :)
second year of college is not the time to get discouraged. although my overall gpa turned out okay by the end of college, my pre-med grades were horrendous. i have sore grades (C+) in more than one pre-med class, but after taking two years off after college to do some research, i have ten interviews and three acceptances from med schools and the year is not over yet!

i never thought that i would have such options, but i think in the end, my passion for medicine came through the activities that i was involved in since high school...

my advice to you is that you have to become proactive and demonstrate your interest in medicine. good grades are not the end all and be all. many interviewers commented on how they were impressed by my personal statement and recommendations, and i believe that those aspects of my application got me my acceptances.

stay strong and positive.
 
I know someone who made a D in organic the first time he took it. He got into med school several years ago when there were a lot more applicants. You for sure won't get in if you don't apply. ;)
 
What's a girl to do?

Well....Study your butt off of course! Do what you gotta do. I know it sounds really hard, and you're probably discouraged, but it can be done. I didn't get a single B my last two years at UCLA.
I'm not a super genius either. I'm the product of a junior college. My non sci gpa at the JC was only a 2.5. I raised it to a 3.6. Keep your head up, and don't let anyone tell you it can't be done. Stop partying, turn off the damn cell phone, and get to work. ;)

Good luck.
 
SweetAngil,
I shall give you a small piece of advice my friend once gave me when I was in your shoes. He said, "you don't sell yourself short and turn yourself down, you let THEM (med school) turn you down. Until then, you do everything in your power you can, to get in."

DO NOT SELL YOURSELF SHORT. If you read my transcript, you'd amuse yourself for 800 hours that I am actually thinking of applying. For over a year, I had C's on my transcript...I finally got my act together, and got nothing short of A's. At the end, my GPA is a bit short of a 3.5. Considering where I've been, I am happy to have a mediocre GPA.

To make things clear, now is the time to get your act together. You have to live, breathe, and sleep your pre-med classes, to prove to yourself and them that you can handle the rigors of med school. My suggestion is to find 2-3 study mates that think just like you, are serious about their work....and will kick your behind when you start slacking. Peer pressure is GREAT if done positively. You still have time, so you will be able to raise your GPA quite a bit. Keep your eyes on your goal....do what you LOVE, and things will fall into place. :cool: :cool: :)

Tweetie
 
Top