<p>This is my first semester as a freshman: i'm a physics major</p>
<p>Archaeology & Human Evolution Main Campus B-<br>
Calculus I Main Campus C-<br>
Int to Worlds of Mus Main Campus B+<br>
General Univ Physics I Main Campus B+<br>
Physics Seminar A</p>
<p>My overall gpa is a 2.80. the medical school i wish to attend, the 2009's incoming class had a cumulative gpa of 3.54, so that's my goal. </p>
<p>pretty sad i can't retake that calc grade. brough me down .40 points =[
i mean- i absolutely know i'll do better next semester, but i can't help to feel VERY discouraged. i don't know why i didn't do as well as i hoped- :( feel like crying</p>
<p>would it help if i signed up for two classes over the summer online to fulfill my gen eds? i knowwwww i could get A’s just focusing on two subjects- especially during the summer when i’m not doing much. so that’d be like 6 credits. HELP</p>
<p>The Physics is your best grade, which confirms your choice of physics as a major.</p>
<p>Many students find that taking geneds in a concentrated summer format allows them to concentrate better and get better grades…might be a good way to pull your gpa up to your expectations relatively fast.</p>
<p>I don’t believe math is specifically covered on the MCAT exam, although it may be part of the science questions.</p>
<p>First semester freshman year is always a tough one–so much to adjust to. Have a good cry, figure out what changes need to be made and then get back on the horse and start the new semester with a fresh slate and move on.</p>
<p>Don’t give up on med school until you see how you do in chemistry. That’s usually the wash out subject. :)</p>
<p>I know you’ve probably heard this before, but more than half of those entering freshman intending to go the pre-med route wind up choosing a different path. This is something you may not know…med school applicants apply to on average 15 med schools, and more than half of them will not be accepted anywhere. My point is that competition is fierce. You still have time to pull up your GPA if going to med school is what you truly want to do; however, I feel so many young people like the idea of becoming a doctor more than the profession itself. Make sure it’s something you really, really want, and if not, give yourself permission to walk away from the idea and move on to something that might actually make you happier. Good luck!</p>
<p>Can you retake Calc and replace the grade? Are you using your school’s resources like office hours, math labs, and tutoring? I’d suggest keeping very close track of your assignment/quiz/test grades (hopefully they just post them on Blackboard or something similar for you) throughout the semester and being very proactive about seeking help from profs/TAs/study groups/tutors.</p>
<p>of course it’s the “idea” (i don’t know how to do the bold print) of being a doctor that kids like–what else would attract them to ANY profession? 18-19 year olds don’t have any way of knowing what being a physician (or anything else outside of some job they may have had in high school part-time) is ‘really’ like until they decide to go for it.</p>
<p>Physician here. Relax about being premed- an intention, not a major. You need to understand a lot of math for physics- be sure you get a firm foundation for your intended major so you can do well in physics courses requiring calculus. Chemistry undoes many potential medical school applicants. Excellent grades in following semesters will replace a lousy start, concentrate on the future and ignore the past that you can’t change. For now plan your schedule to include courses needed for medical school admissions and your major. See how you are doing at the end of next semester and plan your third semester based on who you are then.</p>
<p>I got info from my medical school recently detailing what is currently looked for in medical school applicants. Along with grades and test scores they now talk about extracurricular activites related to medicine and volunteering in medical settings locally (not the trip to elsewhere only the rich can afford). It may turn out that your true love is physics but not medicine so consider nonmedical work as well as being a physician. The 3.54 you quote is a mark to try to exceed, not meet with future courses.</p>
<p>There are plenty of jobs with prestige and that require using your brain- be open to alternatives. Chances are that less than one half of students entering college interested in premed will change their minds- and only around one third of applicants will get into medical school.</p>
<p>i am open to being in the nuclear field also. but i’ll meet the requirements for that through my major… i want the option of med school tooo. i’m not hung up on premed.</p>
At our school you can retake up to 4 classes and replace the grade, but only if the original grade was a D or below. The original grade still appears on the transcript but is not calculated into the GPA. However, my understanding is that medical schools will recalculate the GPA to include that original grade. (My daughter started off premed as well but got torpedoed - or torpedoed herself - by a couple of the prereqs)</p>
<p>(My D1–now a MS1–was a math & physics major. She also didn’t have a string of stellar grades. She had one F, a couple of Cs and ended up with 3.44 GPA.) A slow start in college is not an application killer for medical schools. If you can show a strong upwards trend in your grades and get a couple of very, very good LORs, then apply carefully, you may be able to find a medical school for you. </p>
<p>And while you may have a medical school “in mind”, it’s foolish and counter-productive to plan on that school and only that school. When (and if) the time comes, you will need to apply widely to a variety of schools. (Everyone does.)</p>
<p>If you are open to nuclear (as was D1–her field of research was high energy/proton irradiation), take a look at Medical & Health Physics programs. Due to recent changes in federal law regarding oversight of cancer irradiation facilities, there is a huge demand for professionals in this field, both at the MS and PhD level. </p>
<p>As a physics major, your math skills will be of utmost importance. You need to re-take Calc I or at least have a firm understanding of what areas you had problems with so you can strengthen those areas by doing self-study remedial work on your own. Math will be your very best friend all thru your physics program.</p>
<p>(Unfortunately allopathic–MD-- medical schools do not allow grade replacement, even if your school does. Both the original grade and the retake will be included in GPA calculations when you apply.)</p>
<p>And I’ll second somemom’s suggestion to come visit the Pre-med forum. Lots of helpful people (med residents, med students, pre-med hopefuls, parents of med students)</p>
<p>this site is a little bit difficult for me to navigate- not sure how to find the pre-med forum. but, i know what steps to take to ensure i get to where i want to be. </p>
<p>and i’ve taken calc before, i did well and got a 93 in the college course i took senior year- but my professor’s calc course is HEAVY on theory. heck, i talked to my student advisor, head of the physics department, and he just told me to keep my head above water in calc. that more than half the kids were failing- said just know how to solve problems, that’s all that he really cares about. </p>
<p>so i’m not worried about my math background interfering with my physics, because i’m where i should be with that. only reason my grade was sub-par in physics was because my lab professor was brutallllllll. but i did some research on my professors and the classes for this coming semester and i think i’ll be fine. </p>
<p>i felt panicked yesterday baha. but thanks forrr all your help, i really appreciate it; got some great tips</p>