<p>I am a premed college freshman this year, but I already have taken about 6 college courses during my high school career at the local community college because there is a special program around here that allows you to do that. When I took these classes, i didnt take many of them very seriouslly and I ended up with a 3.2 GPA there. I am taking courses there this semester in order to try to pull that GPA up before i transfer.</p>
<p>My question is, have i already messed up my chances of getting into med school? There is no way I can get a 4.0 now, even if i get all A's in every other class i take. None of the classes were pre-med requirements tho, except for maybe psychology....</p>
<p>Have i already ruined my chances?? </p>
<p>Thanks in advance for your replies.</p>
<p>I don't think so. You don't have to have a 4.0 gpa to get into medical school. The premed advisor at my school, Stanford, said that 3.3+ will probably be good enough for somewhere. I don't know about top-tier, but it doesn't mean that it is impossible for you to become a doctor if you are floating around 3.3.</p>
<p>Also, you can explain your grades on your medical school application, or your interviews. Be honest and say that while you did not take your classes seriously then, you have since matured and realize that it was foolish, and that your college performance reflects your maturity.</p>
<p>of course not, you only need your overally GPA to be in the 3.5 range to have a serious chance at getting in, and assuming you do well now that you're in college raising it above that should be manageable. Not taking any of your requirements at the community college while in high school was also a very good decision that further helps your ability to rebound.</p>
<p>Wow, that is great news. Thanks so much for your replies!</p>
<p>I had just heard some stories of people with a 4.0 or close to it, and not being able to get into their top schools...i was just worried. </p>
<p>Since I did take psychology, which in some cases is a requirement - would you reccomend retaking it? At least to prove that I can do better?</p>
<p>Depends what your grade was the first time. Actually, I would recommend retaking it because you are older and wiser =] and it'll be a different course if you take it at a different school.</p>
<p>I'm sure there are people with 4.0 who don't get in. When I was applying to undergrad, I was ranked 9th in my class and got into Stanford. The valedictorian of my class got rejected from UCLA.</p>
<p>Med schools care about grades, but they also care about who you are and what you have done to further your learning, for example volunteering.</p>
<p>you also have to understand that med school admissions is a very different ball game than undergrad. Good grades and scores only get you through the initial process, after that your interview in many cases becomes the most important part of your application. Furthermore, because medical schools, even the less prestigious ones, are so incredibly selective in their admissions decisions, it's perfectly reasonable that many schools will reject a lot of people with high GPAs.</p>
<p>3.3-3.5 are relatively low estimates. The average matriculant has a 3.6 GPA. A 3.2 in 6 courses isn't going to kill you. You have plenty of time to raise that but you should be aiming for 3.6 or above.</p>
<p>Great...I guess I shouldn't listen to the med school admission horror stories...haha</p>
<p>On a different note - does having a big name school for undergrad weigh in? Or is it just the schools academic standards?</p>
<p>1.) See thread "Good Premed Schools".</p>
<p>2.) And yes, you should very much listen to the horror stories - but you should realize that it's usually not grades that kill an applicant.</p>