i need some help making decisions.

[ambibaby77]

Since I was young I wanted to go to Medical school. I just finished my freshmen year in college and my GPA is a 2.7. I had trouble in Chemistry this year, and only achieved a C+. I think I can do better. I have o-chem next semester, and I was always very good at o-chem in highschool. I just do not know what to do right now; My GPA is only a 2.7. If I bring my GPA up, and do well on MCAT's does anyone think I still have a good chance of getting into medschool right out of my undergrad? I am a certified nursing assistant right at a nursing home right now, so I work with patients a lot. Next school year I plan on working at one of the Pittsburgh hospitals. I do not know someone please give me some input on what you think about my situation PLEASE!!!

[dthomas]

Hi there,

I am neither a health professional nor am I a pre-med advisor. I am just a normal student like you who have been through this roller coaster ride quite a few times.

Well you have just begun your college education, and thus getting a C+ in Chemistry doesn’t end your career. You have three more years of college left, and if you try hard enough you can definitely pull your GPA up. It is definitely possible to hit a 3.5 despite having a poor start, but again, you’ll have to work passionately towards it in the coming year. Other thing that you can do is to re-take G. Chem. before plunging into the plethora of information in Organic Chemistry.
It is totally up to you, but I have learnt that many institution consider that as a + that a student is concerned about the grades. (Straight A’s are great; however, repeating a class for 1 C is not awful and often it helps)

In addition, I would suggest you to have a look at the admission statistics provided by Association of American Medical Colleges. Look at the average GPA and MCAT scores required for the state you are willing to apply and then comprehend what you will be against three years from now, and how hard you need to work in order to be there.

http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/start.htm

Also, it appears you’ve already started to add the medical related work experiences of your belt, which I must tell you are always a ++. Make sure that you volunteer at hospitals as this firsthand allows you to witness what you’ll be facing for rest of your life. Try to be involved with various students clubs, as it always looks good on your resume.

Just keep your chin up and work towards your goal.

Life has just started...can't give up this quickly. Can you ?


dt

[drmikey]

You have at least another 2 years before you apply to medical school or take the MCAT, so you need to stop worrying. A C+ in gen chemistry means absolutely nothing if you can get good grades in organic and other science courses. The admissions committe understands that every student (especially freshmen or sophomore) might struggle academically for any reason ranging from too much partying to having to work full time to support their family. Over the summer evaluate yourself in terms of why you earned a C+ in gen chem and why your gpa is only 2.7, especially if you think that you can do better. Try to figure out what you did wrong and how you can improve on it, and then use that to do better when you come back in the fall.

When I was in medical school I have met students that got C's in some of their pre-reqs science courses, and some of these students attended some of the better medical schools in the u.s. By the way, you mentioned that you were from Pittsburgh, do you attend the Univ. of Pitt? I graduated from Pitt in 2000, their biology and chemistry departments are very strong, and prepare you very well for standardized tests (MCAT, PCAT, DAT, etc.) as well as graduate school.

[Naveenanirada]

Life is cyclic.Has ups and down.Very similar to the seasons we have.A bad winter does not make the next springs & summers bad.If you cannot make it into the US schools, remember the slogan-"Think Local, act global."And simply head to the Carribean or Indian or European medical schools.Life is a map of vast networks and paths.
Goals can be acheived on any of these roads, only the destination remains constant.
Cheer up-all that has happened just a minute prior is water under the bridge, seize the next moments, go ahead, Victory awaits you!
Here's to a glorious life.Adios.

[stateofequilibrium]

A 2.7 in freshman year is a set back but by no means a death sentence. There are plenty of people who've done it. Though just a word of advice, the best way to get good grades is by taking easier classes. :-)

[grace]

I hear ya SOE, but how much easier can the classes get? She'll have to take Chem and O-Chem if she wants to get into med school.

[microphage]

Originally Posted by stateofequilibrium

A 2.7 in freshman year is a set back but by no means a death sentence. There are plenty of people who've done it. Though just a word of advice, the best way to get good grades is by taking easier classes. :-)

2.7.... thats nothing.

try 1. something...

And yet, I'm halfway done with med school...

The best way to get good grades is to STUDY HARDER.. not take easier classes.

[restlesseye]

Originally Posted by microphage

2.7.... thats nothing.

try 1. something...

And yet, I'm halfway done with med school...

The best way to get good grades is to STUDY HARDER.. not take easier classes.

1.something micro? you have become my personal hero.

[microphage]

[quote="restlesseye"]

Originally Posted by microphage

2.7.... thats nothing.

try 1. something...

And yet, I'm halfway done with med school...

The best way to get good grades is to STUDY HARDER.. not take easier classes.

1.something micro? you have become my personal hero.[/quote

and you dedicated your 1000th post just to me... I'm about to cry