<p>Psedrish,</p>
<p>I am currently a freshman at one of the UC schools and currently have a 2.8GPA, but only four of my classes are calculated in that GPA. I still have 3-4 yrs. to finish college, but I've heard that if your freshman GPA is far below 3.0 there is no chance of you in getting into one of the better medical schools, such as UCLA, UCSF, etc. So, should I still consider a career in the medical field? I am really interested in the field and my E.A. is fine it is just my freshman GPA that will screw me over. I am confused and scared that I might end up without any career at all. Thank you.</p>
<p>There is no doubt that it might hurt you. However, if you show definite improvement, I'm sure you'll do fine.</p>
<p>If worse comes to worst, you can always enroll in a post-baccalaureate pre-med program like the one at Columbia. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.columbia.edu/cu/news/01/04/postbac.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.columbia.edu/cu/news/01/04/postbac.html</a></p>
<p>Thank you... any others?</p>
<p>Thank you for the encouragement. Do you know of any programs that mainly focuses on pediatric oncology/hematology or anything alike?</p>
<p>You're not going to get anything of the specificity until med school as far as I know. But you might want to email Columbia and GTown and others and see what they say.</p>
<p>Although I plan on getting good grades for the rest of my college career, I am afraid that I will not even come close to that goal. I mean, in reality, I am not even doing wonderfully in lower division classes, so how in the world can I get stellar grades in UD classes? It is not that I am stupid or anything, but I just do bad when it comes to tests. I know the material...it is just a matter of applying my knowledge to the questions...grrr...I really hate when I make simple mistakes. Any suggestions on how to survive Upper Division classes? Thank you.</p>
<p>Well, I never took science classes at the upper-div level, but I can tell you for one that you'll do better in them. Almost everyone does.</p>
<p>Thanx... can anybody, who has taken UD science courses, please give me some advice?</p>
<p>bump...</p>
<p>you are not screwed, just do better in school. freshman year is "adjustment year" and a stellar post-freshman year performance can mollify the harm done during freshman year. figure out what you did wrong in school this semester (time management is probably your biggest problem) and strategize for next year. frankly im surprised people are already recommending postbacs because thats just stupid to think about this early in college. the key is strategizing. don't repeat the mistakes of freshman year</p>
<p>Dr. Psedrish,</p>
<p>Can I have your opinion please?</p>
<p>flipp, I'm in the same boat as you. 2.8 after the first year and a little worried as well. At least I know I'm not alone trying to really improve the next few years. Good luck, man.</p>
<p>You can recover. A 4.0 for the next 2 years should do very nicely.</p>
<p>I have known kids who just could not hack the premed courses as undergrads. After tough freshman and sophomore year where they were not hacking it, grade wise, they switched to majors that had some easier courses that were preludes to premed requirements so that they did graduate with decent gpas. They then went to post baccalaureat programs such as the ones Ari listed, and then went to med schools. Others went to graduate schools and then to med schools.</p>
<p>For me at least, improved grades correlate with increased effort....I had a bad sophomore year...O Chem 1 and 2 really hurt me...but then I just buckled down this past semester and got a 4.0. And I had some pretty hard classes...including Intermediate Physical Chemistry.</p>
<p>Don't get me wrong, I'm proud of the 4.0, but I don't expect to get one the next three semesters to finish up my undergrad. But with a lot of effort, I think your grades will greatly improve. I only have a 3.25 GPA (ChemE) so I will probably need to do a postbac program or do an M.S. program first. For anyone who is reading this and thinking about engineering as a possible pre-med....I would highly advise against it. Go into professional cheerleading or something....ANYTHING BUT ENGINEERING....lol.</p>
<p>Thanx for the inputs... I still think it would be hard to get straight 4.0's even with a lot of effort. Sometimes effort doesn't coincide with what grades you'll end up getting. For example, in my Gen. Chem classes I have understood the materials but I've received bad grades on my midterms/finals. I am just a terrible test taker... w/ all of the careless mistakes (I know I'll keep making them) I think 4.0 throughout sophomore year is beyond expectation.</p>
<p>You may not be ready to take those ever so important pre med courses that are featured on the MCATs and where those grades are most important for med school acceptance. If that is the case, you might want to take some courses that can build you up to that level. Take a course load with classes that you can enjoy and do well, and perhaps one lead in type course--a bio seminar rather than the actual bio course, Physics topics rather than the real Physics. Some strong calc prep courses rather than calc itself. My girls struggled with those courses in highschool and I got them extensive tutoring then for those subjects, and then they audited the courses over the summer at local programs before taking them for a real grade at college. One is graduating from med school next month; the other has a 4.0 in a premed program and will be applying to med schools next year. But they were not naturals in the maths and sciences, so they had to take extra care and preparation for those all important courses. It is also difficult to balance a premed courseload with socializing in college which is important to some kids. My girls were low key enough that it was not an issue, but I know many kids are discovering themselves and a social life which is something very important to them. I did not do well in college despite being a stellar highschool student for a number of reasons. But once I left school for a couple of years and was in the workforce and taking courses, I was able to focus on the courses to the point where I did not get anything less than an "A" even with a full time job. Too much going on with me during those undergraduate years for me to do that. My son who graduated last year had a 2.something average with some D's in there. He has been taking courses this year-and says he has a 4.0, with a full time job, and a busy coaching position as well. College life and good grades just did not co exist for him. Too many other things going on. But you could probably get much better grades taking less intense courses, and pick those up later, when you mature.</p>
<p>This last post gives outstanding advice and insight! So, although it wasn't directed towards me, thanks for sharing jamimom. I am in awe with the quality of your post.:)</p>
<p>I'll say this, and not intending to be redundant, major in whatever you enjoy. Get EXCELLENT grades, as Psedrish said: "two years of 4.0 should do nicely." Look for a subject that you will 1) enjoy and 2) excell at. Graduate, work -which will prevent you from burning out-, and take the premed courses once you are more matured, with clarity of purpose, and motivated.</p>
<p>Best of Luck! :D</p>
<p>WF</p>
<p>Thanks for the thumbs up, Wildflower. Many students are just not ready to juggle a heavy courseload and the freedom that colleges allow. As a parent, I found that reality hard to swallow EVEN THOUGH I WAS SUCH A STUDENT MYSELF! It was incomprehensible to me that my kids whom I had given everything, every opportunity to be well prepared to excell in college, did not do so. And I was not being realistic in my expectations. Some kids just need that time. College is not just a time for academics, but when for self discovery, maturing, making mistakes, dealing with freedom, taking care of oneself, setting goals and limits for self, exploration in other areas.</p>