My Serious Concern!

[RajPatel]

Hi everyone, I am RajPatel's younger brother and am kind of interested in the medical field and may go pre-med in undergrad. I just finished my freshman year of undergrad at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. I have made a 2.62 gpa this yr. with the following grades: (1st semester) English Comp. I-C, Intermediate Algebra-B, Intro. to Sociology-B, and University 101-B
(2nd semester) English Comp. II-C, Pre-Cal Algebra-C, Chemical-Problem Solving(a refresher course for Gen Chem I)-C, and Theatre-A. I am definetely trying to do real well in college for a good undergrad gpa to have for a US med school and will work on trying to bring my current gpa up much higher. I'll definitely bust my *** for MCAT. On the other hand, I currently have in my mind to try to transfer from UAB to a more prestigious school like UNC, Vanderbilt, or University of Rochester during undergrad. My biggest concern is I know that pre-med courses will be tougher in UNC, Vandy, or Rochester than at UAB which may lead to lower grades even w/ hard-*** effort. UNC, Vandy, and Rochester are more prestigious and harder school than UAB. Also, I'm not that good of a test-taker..I studied well for the SAT, but only scored a 1000 max., not a 1200-1400! I assume that going to a more prestigious school w/ good preparation will lead to a higher MCAT score..rt? I'm afraid of making low grades at a prestigious school. Does an applicant with lower grades and lower test scores from a more prestigious, name-brand university have an advantage over an applicant with higher grades and higher test scores from a less prestigious university whose name isn't that well known? Do y'all think a pre-med from some place like Harvard or Johns Hopkins w/ a 2.0 gpa and 40 MCAT score or even 20(if he's still a naturally poor test-taker) w/ great extracurricular and hospital experience and nice recommendations would still have at least a chance towards any US medical school EVEN IF HE AT LEAST ATTENDED ONE OF THOSE NAME-BRAND SCHOOLS OR SOME OTHER TOP 25 UNDERGRAD SCHOOL AND TRIED HARD!? One thing I hate is how people try very hard in life and still not get the results they deserve! HOW UNFAIR! Also I don't understand how people usually assume that once people enter an ivy-league type university that their futures are set REGARDLESS OF HOW THEY DO IN THOSE IVY-lEAGUE COLLEGES! Finally, to have a chance for a US med school or the big 3 in the carribbean, do y'all think it's best if I transfer to the most prestigious undergrad school I could get into and do pre-med there or shall I stay at UAB and take the pre-med courses at the easiest community college nearby w/ intense prep for MCAT? Also, on the other hand, which specialties are not that competitve which include a nice lifestyle like not being stressed about major deaths and just working like 8 AM-5 or 7 PM on weekdays? Thanks for all of the time and please help me with whatever you can.

[stateofequilibrium]

despite the fact that I'm suspicious that this is still just Raj.. I'll be nice and respond.

First of all, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE use paragraphs. It makes it so much more easier to read.

With that being said, the first thing you want to do is really do some introspection on those grades. Understandably it's your first year, and most people goof up their first year, some spectaurlaly so and it can be made up. But you will want to know WHY you screwed up, and how are you going to make up for it. Not to mention, you're going to have to make up for those grades in a BIG way if you wish to transfer to a better university. Especially since it seems some of those courses are pre-reqs for core classes (like Algebra and your chemical problem solving course).

Of course school name does help add weight, and it does probably help make up for MINOR comparative deficiencies. Kind of like a consumer going for a well recognized brand name. As for life being unfair? Welcome to life. Life is INCREDIBLY unfair. I've prayed and wished for a photographic memory, but life sucks and I have to study till my eyes bleed to get those grades.

But a 2.0 GPA is just ridiulously low, regardless of the school. Though I've heard of people getting into big name medical schools with less than a 3.0, but don't let that fool you, they earned it.

In short, I recommend take the next year, work your butt off and see what type of grades you pull off. Then decide from there.

[Stitches]

If you had a 2.0 GPA, it doesn't matter which school you went to, what your MCAT score is, how much extracurricular activity you involve yourself in, you won't even make it to a decent Caribbean school.

My advice is that it doesn't matter so much which school you go to, just keep that GPA 3.0 or higher, so that you'll have a shot in the Caribs. And maintain a 3.6 and up if you want to try U.S.

[PnjbiJattMD2]

Originally Posted by RajPatel

Hi everyone, I am RajPatel's younger brother and am kind of interested in the medical field and may go pre-med in undergrad. I just finished my freshman year of undergrad at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. I have made a 2.62 gpa this yr. with the following grades: (1st semester) English Comp. I-C, Intermediate Algebra-B, Intro. to Sociology-B, and University 101-B
(2nd semester) English Comp. II-C, Pre-Cal Algebra-C, Chemical-Problem Solving(a refresher course for Gen Chem I)-C, and Theatre-A. I am definetely trying to do real well in college for a good undergrad gpa to have for a US med school and will work on trying to bring my current gpa up much higher. I'll definitely bust my gluteal for MCAT. On the other hand, I currently have in my mind to try to transfer from UAB to a more prestigious school like UNC, Vanderbilt, or University of Rochester during undergrad. My biggest concern is I know that pre-med courses will be tougher in UNC, Vandy, or Rochester than at UAB which may lead to lower grades even w/ hard-gluteal effort. UNC, Vandy, and Rochester are more prestigious and harder school than UAB. Also, I'm not that good of a test-taker..I studied well for the SAT, but only scored a 1000 max., not a 1200-1400! I assume that going to a more prestigious school w/ good preparation will lead to a higher MCAT score..rt? I'm afraid of making low grades at a prestigious school. Does an applicant with lower grades and lower test scores from a more prestigious, name-brand university have an advantage over an applicant with higher grades and higher test scores from a less prestigious university whose name isn't that well known? Do y'all think a pre-med from some place like Harvard or Johns Hopkins w/ a 2.0 gpa and 40 MCAT score or even 20(if he's still a naturally poor test-taker) w/ great extracurricular and hospital experience and nice recommendations would still have at least a chance towards any US medical school EVEN IF HE AT LEAST ATTENDED ONE OF THOSE NAME-BRAND SCHOOLS OR SOME OTHER TOP 25 UNDERGRAD SCHOOL AND TRIED HARD!? One thing I hate is how people try very hard in life and still not get the results they deserve! HOW UNFAIR! Also I don't understand how people usually assume that once people enter an ivy-league type university that their futures are set REGARDLESS OF HOW THEY DO IN THOSE IVY-lEAGUE COLLEGES! Finally, to have a chance for a US med school or the big 3 in the carribbean, do y'all think it's best if I transfer to the most prestigious undergrad school I could get into and do pre-med there or shall I stay at UAB and take the pre-med courses at the easiest community college nearby w/ intense prep for MCAT? Also, on the other hand, which specialties are not that competitve which include a nice lifestyle like not being stressed about major deaths and just working like 8 AM-5 or 7 PM on weekdays? Thanks for all of the time and please help me with whatever you can.

raj patel's brother,
no, with a gpa of 3.0 (which is extremely low) and less you have almost an impossible shot at ANY school in the us or even canada. i dont understand your logic of ''going to a name brand school vs a non name brand school'' wat the hell are you babbling about dude? all that matters is numbers.
you and your bro seem 2 be dummyes. haha