Freaking out

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>Hey everyone, </p>

<p>So I joined this forum last year as a senior in high school when I was trying to decide where to go. This place is awesome...it really helped me out a lot, and I'm convinced I made the right choice (UNC).</p>

<p>But now I have another question, as I'm finishing up my first year. Obviously since I'm posting on this thread, I'm pre-med. I've been pretty committed towards this goal, but 2nd semester didn't go too well for me, and I got a few B+s. I've gathered from reading this (and other forums) that B+'s won't hurt you that much in the grand scheme of things, but I'm especially concerned, because those B+'s were in pre-req courses. Let me break it down:</p>

<p>Major: Biology and Physics</p>

<p>1st semseter GPA: 4.0
Bio 101 - A
Bio 101L - A
Differential Equations - A
Western Civilizations - A
Seminar about global entrepreneurship and public health - A</p>

<p>2nd Semester GPA: 3.386 (wince)
Organic I: B
Physics Mechanics: B+
Genetics and Molecular Biology: B+
Undergraduate research: A</p>

<p>Cumulative GPA: 3.693</p>

<p>I'm also currently taking Anatomy and Physics (Electricity and Magnetism) during the summer, though not at the same time.</p>

<p>I honestly have no explanation for those 2nd semester grades...I went into the final exams for all those classes with an A (or an A- for orgo). Final exams didnt go well for me, even though i studied my butt off for them. I'm definetely taking more challenging Bio, chem, and physics classes in my undergrad career, so will those offset these less than spectacular grades?</p>

<p>Oh, and I've also been involved in research since about the 2nd week of my 1st semester, and I was awarded an (apparently competitive) fellowship for that research this summer. Me being the lab 2-3 hours a day might have had something to do with 2nd semester grades, but once again, will this offset anything?</p>

<p>Sorry for the long post, and thanks in advance for your replies. </p>

<p>-Bali</p>

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<p>Bali- It seems that, in general, successful med school applicants aim for a GPA above 3.5 and the closer to 4.0 the better. So, no a few B+s will not kill you, esp if you go on to get A/A- to offset them. Just keep efforting for the As, try to review those exams and see what you may have done ‘wrong’ to turn 3 pre-exam As ointo post exam Bs so you can learn from he experience.</p>

<p>Regarding your “will this offset my lower GPA?” question…it’s like the old HS classic question, “should I take an AP class where I will get a B or anon-AP class with an A?” where the answer is AP with an A. You should have a strong GPA along with strong ECs.</p>

<p>And you will need to prepare for the MCAT and do well, hopefully 30+</p>

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<p>actually, you’re not going to get much, if any, credit for taking more challenging courses. College coursework is so professor dependent that it’s impossible for med schools to know what’s tough and what isn’t and if that really matters at all anyway. At my undergrad, the Honors sections were usually far easier than the general sections - generally more work, but the professors were better, had different expectations and more flexible.</p>