<p>Ever since I was a little girl, I have always wanted to be a physician, but due to family issues, my grades first semester significantly suffered. I know it's one semester, but I guess I'm just afraid that it'll prevent me from getting admitted into medical school.</p>
<p>I am extremely driven and know that I have what it takes, but I'm just afraid that I've ruined my chances. Any help? advice?</p>
<p>How bad are we talking? You need to do the math on this yourself. Come application time, you'll want a 3.5-3.6 GPA at least. If that requires you to maintain a 4.5 GPA from now on, then you're in trouble. If you simply need a 3.7 from now on, then it's doable (although it will require you to change some things).</p>
<p>Well, I had some financial burdens with paying my tuition...due to my parent's(they're divorced and decided that the other should pay my tuition and so on and so forth)..so I had to work and go to school full time to pay for it myself...I guess it also didn't help that I'm at a private University that demands about 40k a year.</p>
<p>But I have tried evaluating my options...I am transferring to a state school next year, which is significantly cheaper.</p>
<p>It wasn't so much my study habits or ability that hurt me first semester, but time management between work and school.</p>
<p>This semester is going much better for me..all A's thus far. But I still have to salvage my 1.3 from last semester.</p>
<p>I guess I'm just a little scared is all.</p>
<p>In my opinion it would be very difficult for one semester to completely kill your chances at medical school, especially if it's your very first semester. Needless to say, though, you're going to have to be a LOT better than everybody else from here on out.</p>
<p>(By the way, you probably should have just taken out student loans rather than balancing such an extreme work schedule.)</p>
<p>It is mathematically possible for you to get your GPA up to 3.5+ before application time. The good news is you can get into medical school.</p>
<p>The real question here is whether or not you can maintain the dedication and work ethic required to get A's for the rest of your undergraduate years. You're the only one who can answer that.</p>
<p>My best advice is not to worry yet. Put all of your focus on your academics and try to redeem your GPA. How you do this semester will more or less determine whether med school is a realistic goal for you. Good luck!</p>
<p>I mean, I don't think a 3.4 is eliminated from all consideration. If the OP isn't feeling picky about which medical school -- which is the proper attitude -- then even a 3.0 could conceivably get in somewhere if the rest of the application was not just perfect but extraordinary.</p>
<p>...I didn't have a cosigner, so I didn't qualify for any student loans and my scholarship only paid for about 1/2 of my tuition. (I came to school thinking that my rents were going to fit the bill for the rest). </p>
<p>At any rate, I guess the rest of my undergrad will be long & hard...hopefully i'll be able to overcome this schmuck of a situation that i'm in.</p>
<p>ps: thanks for the replies!</p>