Grades, and general advice

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>Ok so here's the deal, I have been wanting to post here for some time now about this and see how med schools would feel about my freshman year of college. Especially since it is wearing down on me as I am about to enter my exam week.
My college works off of the grade system A, AB, B, BC etc.</p>

<p>My grades last semester
Biotechnology - A
Education of Fine Arts -A
Gen Chem - BC
Organismal Biology - C
Choir (1 Credit) - A
18 Credits total
GPA for semester 3.22</p>

<p>This semester
Religion and Science- AB (Final Paper left)
English - AB ( Final paper + Oral Presentation left)
Organic Chemistry - C ( waiting on exam that I just took + final left + A in lab = 54% of grade )
Biology - D ( final exam left and lab was an A = 33% of grade )
Choir - A
Hospital Rotations (1 credit) - A
Current GPA this semester - 2.6667</p>

<p>I'm really scared because my grades are really low for what they should be. I have had a lot of problems with general test anxiety and depression this year and have been debating whether or not I am really meant to become a doctor for the first time in my life. I did really well in high school and did pretty well on my ACT but IDK. I am going to retake the class that I have a D in for sure this upcoming fall for a better grade.</p>

<p>My professors are telling me that I know my information really well in my science classes and do not understand why I am doing so poorly on my exams and have even chosen me for summer research because when they sit me down and fire questions at me I can answer them, but when I walk into that test room I just blank. I picked up a tutor and have been on near tears almost on a daily basis this semester because even though I am studying a lot and everyone keeps reassuring me I feel worse and worse because I know that I nowhere even close to the magic 3.5 and I think that I never will be no matter how hard I try.</p>

2

<p>It sounds like before anything else, you need to get your test anxiety and depression under control. These things are preventing you from doing as well as you need to be doing.</p>

<p>Does your school have a counseling center? If it does, you should make an appt there and start talking regularly with a counselor who will help you find ways to manage your stress levels and make a realistic plans regarding your future.</p>

<p>Medical school is one long series of high stakes, stressful exams (both in class and national standardized exams). Until you are ready and able to handle both the stress levels and constant testing, you are not going to be a good candidate for med school.</p>

<p>So take some time now, slow down and figure out what’s going wrong. Are you freezing up on tests for other subjects? Or just science classes? What’s different about tests in non-science classes and science classes. Or do you do well in non-science subject because they are paper-based, not exam-based? </p>

<p>You might consider postponing any more science classes until you’re confident you will be successful in them.</p>

<p>Medical school will still be there when you’re ready</p>