Turning Everything Around

[ryan4706014]

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I sit here typing this as the realization sets in that I am likely to earn a C in Orgo I. C's have been the bane of my existance (C's in Physics 1, Bio 1, Calc 1, and a C- in Chem 1 [due to pledging], which I re-took and earned an A- in). I am at the end of my sophomore year at a difficult university in the southeastern US, and am looking at a 3.0 cGPA and a 2.8 sGPA. My pre-req's I still have left to take are Biochem, Genetics, Orgo II, Orgo Lab, Cellular and Systems Physiology, Microbio, and Microbio Lab. I will also be taking these BCPM courses to raise my GPA and fulfill some interests of mine: Behavioral Neuroscience, Neurochemistry and Pharmacology, Chemical Senses, Neurobiology of Learning, and Stats 2. If I apply myself and earn A's my next two years in these courses instead of partying with my frat brothers and smoking weed (yes I am an idiot), my cGPA will be raised to 3.52 and sGPA to 3.4. Provided I do this, and earn a mid 30's MCAT score, with 150 clinical volunteer hours, 50 hours shadowing, and 2 years of research, do I have a shot anywhere? Or have I shot myself in the foot for the last time, effectively ending my oh so slim odds at medical school? Because this feeling of helplessness/shame right now is overwhelming.

I realize all of this is easier said than done, but I know what I am capable of, and I know that my effort thus far has been sub-par to say the least. Would a sudden, drastic upward trend be enough to cover up for those terrible freshman and sophomore year grades?

"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."- Michael Jordan

 

[chemguy79]

There are quite a few if's in your post; Earn straight A's for the next 2 years (when you have a 3.0 GPA), earn a mid 30's MCAT score (which requires that you retain the material that you learned your first two years of college), 2 years of tangible research, etc.

What department are those courses in? If they're Psychology courses, I'm not sure that they will fall into the BCPM category.

If you do all of those things, it's surely possible that you can get accepted. However, given your current track record, it doesn't seem very probable. A two year track record of mediocrity and slacking off can be difficult to remedy. In addition, you will surely be asked why things went poorly during your first two years of college.

 

[candbgirl]

What makes you think you can get straight As for the next two years? You haven't gotten above a C in several of your pre-reqs( I know you retook a class and got an A but still). I'm not sure how your sGPA can even be 2.8 with all those Cs. I suppose what you propose is possible but it's not very realistic. Why don't you retake some of those Cs and see what happens. You'll need to have a good grasp of the content for the MCAT so it would be time well spent. Then move on to some of the higher level classes. You for sure have a really long road a head of you!

 

[Goro]

IF you can do all this, then yes, you will be competitive.

If I apply myself and earn A's my next two years in these courses instead of partying with my frat brothers and smoking weed (yes I am an idiot), my cGPA will be raised to 3.52 and sGPA to 3.4. Provided I do this, and earn a mid 30's MCAT score, with 150 clinical volunteer hours, 50 hours shadowing, and 2 years of research, do I have a shot anywhere?

 

[ryan4706014]

There are quite a few if's in your post; Earn straight A's for the next 2 years (when you have a 3.0 GPA), earn a mid 30's MCAT score (which requires that you retain the material that you learned your first two years of college), 2 years of tangible research, etc.

What department are those courses in? If they're Psychology courses, I'm not sure that they will fall into the BCPM category.

If you do all of those things, it's surely possible that you can get accepted. However, given your current track record, it doesn't seem very probable. A two year track record of mediocrity and slacking off can be difficult to remedy. In addition, you will surely be asked why things went poorly during your first two years of college.

They are in Psychology, but are based heavily on Biology (Bio 1 is a pre-req) and should be considered part of the BCPM. My main issue is doing nothing for weeks and then trying to cram in a matter of 1-2 days. This summer, I am getting a tutor for Orgo in order to prepare for Orgo II in the fall. These classes really aren't THAT hard, it is just a mater of being able to prepare in advance and NOT cram. It never works for higher level classes. As for things going poorly the first two years, I really have no excuse, but I'm hoping the drastic improvement in grades will be sufficient in showing interviewers that I "grew up" after that time period. And as for the MCAT, I plan on studying for a year after I graduate before I take it, in order to ensure I am properly prepared. Insufficient grades the next two years would result in me not even attempting the MCAT. Other than that, is PA my only other option?

 

[ryan4706014]

What makes you think you can get straight As for the next two years? You haven't gotten above a C in several of your pre-reqs( I know you retook a class and got an A but still). I'm not sure how your sGPA can even be 2.8 with all those Cs. I suppose what you propose is possible but it's not very realistic. Why don't you retake some of those Cs and see what happens. You'll need to have a good grasp of the content for the MCAT so it would be time well spent. Then move on to some of the higher level classes. You for sure have a really long road a head of you!

The fact that I do nothing for weeks on end, then decide to cram at the last second leads me to believe I can earn A's. Those C's are balanced out by A- in Stats 1, B+ in Chem II and Bio II, the A- retake in Chem 1, a B in Physics 2, and solid lab grades.

 

[chemguy79]

They are in Psychology, but are based heavily on Biology (Bio 1 is a pre-req) and should be considered part of the BCPM. My main issue is doing nothing for weeks and then trying to cram in a matter of 1-2 days. This summer, I am getting a tutor for Orgo in order to prepare for Orgo II in the fall. These classes really aren't THAT hard, it is just a mater of being able to prepare in advance and NOT cram. It never works for higher level classes. As for things going poorly the first two years, I really have no excuse, but I'm hoping the drastic improvement in grades will be sufficient in showing interviewers that I "grew up" after that time period. And as for the MCAT, I plan on studying for a year after I graduate before I take it, in order to ensure I am properly prepared. Insufficient grades the next two years would result in me not even attempting the MCAT. Other than that, is PA my only other option?

According to this link, your courses will not be considered BCPM. I may be mistaken, but I do not believe that Psychology courses, even if they are interdisciplinary, are considered to be BCPM. I have a student who is pursuing exercise science and his courses (including Exercise Science Physiology) are not considered to be BCPM as well. I'm presenting this information because I think that you will need to do some sort of remediation to improve your science GPA.

https://www.aamc.org/students/download/181694/data/amcas_course_classification_guide.pdf

 

[ryan4706014]

According to this link, your courses will not be considered BCPM. I may be mistaken, but I do not believe that Psychology courses, even if they are interdisciplinary, are considered to be BCPM. I have a student who is pursuing exercise science and his courses (including Exercise Science Physiology) are not considered to be BCPM as well. I'm presenting this information because I think that you will need to do some sort of remediation to improve your science GPA.

https://www.aamc.org/students/download/181694/data/amcas_course_classification_guide.pdf

Hmmm....I will contact my advisor and ask him. I know for a fact that the Behavioral Neuroscience is considered a biological science. And they are all listed under the Life Science category in my university. But I would have no problem taking General Virology, Immunology, Entemology, and Molecular Genetics instead.