What should I do? Please Help.

[Catherine Mac]

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Hi Everyone,

I am a sophomore in undergrad college. I really want to apply to medical school and become a physician. But I've had a rough time with my science courses. All of my science courses were taken during Freshman year. During that time, I was juggling a 2hr commute to college and the usual freshman stresses. With all of the stress, I bombed most of my science courses during those two semesters. I decided to change majors from Biology to Psychology (I love it!); and now I am considering stopping my Pre-med classes (in order to attempt to save my gpa). Since considering stopping my pre-med classes, I have began researching potential options for me to reach my goal of becoming a physician. Honestly, I am in no rush to become a physician. My parents have taught me that learning doesn't stop after college, it continues forever. And that's my motto for my education. The option that I have really considered is taking a Post-Bacc program.

All suggestions and replies are greatly appreciated! I honestly have no idea what to do next. Thank you again for any replies.

 

[el_duderino]

Did you put this in the wrong forum, or are you a nontraditional student?

Why were you bombing your science classes? The most obvious thing to do is simply take them again.

 

[Catherine Mac]

Did you put this in the wrong forum, or are you a nontraditional student?

Why were you bombing your science classes? The most obvious thing to do is simply take them again.

Actually, I'm not sure if I posted this on the right forum. That was my first post. I would partially consider myself as a nontraditional student because I would be applying to medical schools a few years after graduating undergrad.

I wasn't doing well in my science classes mostly because of the stress of my commute.

 

[el_duderino]

You're just a sophomore. Take the classes again, and do well in them this time.

 

[FutureDrB]

Hi Everyone,

I am a sophomore in undergrad college. I really want to apply to medical school and become a physician. But I've had a rough time with my science courses. All of my science courses were taken during Freshman year. During that time, I was juggling a 2hr commute to college and the usual freshman stresses. With all of the stress, I bombed most of my science courses during those two semesters. I decided to change majors from Biology to Psychology (I love it!); and now I am considering stopping my Pre-med classes (in order to attempt to save my gpa). Since considering stopping my pre-med classes, I have began researching potential options for me to reach my goal of becoming a physician. Honestly, I am in no rush to become a physician. My parents have taught me that learning doesn't stop after college, it continues forever. And that's my motto for my education. The option that I have really considered is taking a Post-Bacc program.

All suggestions and replies are greatly appreciated! I honestly have no idea what to do next. Thank you again for any replies.

Welcome to the forums. First question, how is this possible? You'll need to take multiple science classes throughout your undergraduate career. I think we need more info on your situation.

 

[Catherine Mac]

Welcome to the forums. First question, how is this possible? You'll need to take multiple science classes throughout your undergraduate career. I think we need more info on your situation.

During my Freshman year, my advisor placed me into a mostly science schedule. In my first semester, I was taking Biology, Chemistry, Calculus, and all of the corresponding labs. I did not do as well as I wanted, and informed my advisor about my situation. My advisor suggested that I "figure this out myself"; and he placed me into the next level of Biology and Chemistry. During this time, I was still juggling with my long commute, as well as attempting to fix my mess from first semester. Nothing changed, and I didn't do my best again in those science class. I went back to my advisor, and he replied that it's my problem and that he can't give me advise because of his inexperience in being an advisor. I then went to my Dean, and discussed how to fix my academic mess from the two previous semesters. By this time, the academic year was ending and I was unable to talk to my Dean about other options. I decided that it would be interesting to explore psychology and I did very well in my course. Now, I want to prepare other options to present to my Dean when the academic year re-starts. The option that I am siding with more is a post-bacc program.

Thank you for any, and all, replies. I really appreciate it!

 

[popopopop]

Figure out how to study better, buy books on it, talk to smarter people, talk to tutors, talk to professors, do anything to learn how to learn. With that, quit taking more science classes until you know you can be at the top of the class. This may mean taking a break from school if need be and re-evaluating your goals realistically. Do you know what a post-bac entails? You don't have to graduate with your bachelor's in 4 years, the world won't end if you take 5 or 6 years to do so. You're only a sophomore, it's still so easy to change your gpa. Try changing your gpa when you have 100+ credits like I do lol.

 

[Catherine Mac]

@popopopop Would pursuing a Post-Bacc be a bad decision in my case? I understand that a Post-Bacc program entails pre-reqs for medical schools in approximately 2-3 years.

 

[Mars41]

You're still young bud. Retake your prereqs and get good grades. Grade replacement in the DO route is a beautiful thing. Get focused, get your act together and you'll be right back in the ballgame.

Ps. Lighten that course load and actually do well next time. Don't blow through the classes just to get the credits. Concentrate on actually learning the material.

 

[stickshifthonda]

Hi Everyone,

I am a sophomore in undergrad college. I really want to apply to medical school and become a physician. But I've had a rough time with my science courses. All of my science courses were taken during Freshman year. During that time, I was juggling a 2hr commute to college and the usual freshman stresses. With all of the stress, I bombed most of my science courses during those two semesters. I decided to change majors from Biology to Psychology (I love it!); and now I am considering stopping my Pre-med classes (in order to attempt to save my gpa). Since considering stopping my pre-med classes, I have began researching potential options for me to reach my goal of becoming a physician. Honestly, I am in no rush to become a physician. My parents have taught me that learning doesn't stop after college, it continues forever. And that's my motto for my education. The option that I have really considered is taking a Post-Bacc program.

All suggestions and replies are greatly appreciated! I honestly have no idea what to do next. Thank you again for any replies.

You're not at Rochester are you?

Anyway, I see that you're in no rush so here are my thoughts since I'm a year out of school and will do 2 gap years hopefully. I was a smart guy in high school doing very well in classes and loving science. Once I went to college I realized how smart everyone else was and I struggled to find a good way of studying. Sadly that didn't come until junior year. So first is to find a way to correctly study. Hint, it's not reading the book and then looking at slides. Honestly, studying for my MCAT was the biggest wake up call that my study habits were wrong. Others included organic chemistry and physics E&M.

While it's not the worst idea ever to enjoy your undergrad in psych and have a social life and maybe even study abroad or play sports, post-bacc programs cost a pretty penny. If you can re-integrate science courses into your undergrad that would be awesome. At this point I don't think it's possible just from the lack of time to get every pre-req in but get yourself back into the science mindset, and if you do succeed, take more pre-reqs, do summer classes if necessary, and get your grades up again. Even if you decide a post-bacc is for you, maybe take one hard science a semester to stay fresh.