<p>Hey Everyone,
So the thing is I'm OBSESSED with Harvard. I want to be an alumni so badly, of course high school didn't work out, but now I just finished my first year as an undergrad. and I feel like I can work really hard and raise my GPA for the next three years, but I can't seem to get over the fear, that even with all the hard work I will put into these next few years, a really high MCAT score and strong clinical and research experience, that I will most definitely not get into Harvard, because their average GPA is a 3.8. So I just need to hear from another persons point of view and opinion, can I still get in? And if yes, what can I do to undo this glitch in my life. Or does anyone know how I can become an alumni or something of that sort. HELP!!!!!!!</p>
Have I completely blown my chances of getting into Harvard Med. School with a 2.3 GPA as a freshman?
<p>Even if you get a 4.0 every semester for the rest of college you’ll still probably be around 3.5, 3.6. And it’s verrrry hard to get straight 4.0s especially with a pre-med curriculum, and especially because you haven’t really demonstrated that you’re capable of it. But honestly, the admissions rate makes it a pipe dream for pretty much anyone. My advice is to not be so obsessed with Harvard because in all odds you’re not going to be accepted-- it’s just the fact for everyone.</p>
<p>Get some kind of certificate from Harvard Extension. Maybe they have forums to ■■■■■.</p>
<p>Why are you so “obsessed” with Harvard? As far as med schools go, prestiege makes no matter, or so I was led to believe. It’s so hard to get into any medical school, save a dream school. I don’t want to smash your hopes, you could still hope…I guess. I’m not sure you’re even serious with that account name.</p>
<p>I haven’t started college yet so I can’t really give you any input on how you may bump your GPA. </p>
<p>OP= you signed up TODAY on CC to tell us you are obsessed with Harvard Med? Okie dokie I have better things to do…maybe clean the grout or wash windows.</p>
<p>As far as I know many with GPA=4.0 will not be accepted to Harvard and some other top 20 (if all other stats are super).<br>
I do not know who can help them or you and I never understood the obssession with Harvard any way.
Here is experience of my D. (and I am not in position to use anything else): 3.98/35, 3 years of Medical Research - poster presentation, 3 years of working for Gen. Chem prof as Supplemental Instructor, Summa Cum Laude, Phi Betta Kapa, 3 years of volunteering, various shadowing, leadership, graduated as a top pre-med in her class (received monetary award, otherwise, we would not know her stand). Applied to 8 Med. Schools, 5 in top 20 (at that time). Got accepted to 4, two in top 20. Rejected pre-interview from one in top 15, another in top 10 completely ignored her application (not a single communication from this school), put on hold at the third - in top 15, also put on hold at the 4th which is even more selective than most top 20s (free Med. School, accepts 30). She did not apply to Harvard or Yale…etc.
She was extremely happy with her results and had hard time deciding between her 2 finalists. She made a right choice for herself and is a 4th year Med. student.
She never played the GPA game in the UG, no any tricks of bumping it up. She had a very simple strategy of having an A in every class. She took lots and lots of very challenging top Bio classes. Three times her goal was derailed - she got A- in 3 classes of her Music minor. No regrets though about risk of having singing classes where she was required to sing duets with great singers who had previous voice coaching. Benefitted from these classes - developed a pretty decent voice herself.<br>
If you start calculating and aiming at specific Med. School, you will take the enjoyment out of the UG experiences. Than 4 years of your life will be a torture instead of being great memory for the rest of your life.</p>
<p>There is absolutely no one application statistic that could guarantee you admission to Harvard medical school. Maybe winning. The Nobel prize would, but no undergraduate student has managed to ever do that.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that, at a school like Harvard, they have enough qualified applicants where they could have an average GPA of 3.98 and an average MCAT score of 40, IF THEY WANTED TO, but they don’t, that gives you something to ponder.</p>
<p>Also, you have to really discover why you got such a low GPA, if you just tell yourself you will do better next time, your not addressing the issue that got you to this place.</p>
<p>You didn’t have to comment if your not even a college student @JustAQuest I still can hope right? nothing wrong with that. Actually my GPA was way lower than that my first semester, but I improved a lot my second semester so…yeah I am serious about this</p>
<p>Thank you for your advice @Jweinst1 I really appreciate it!</p>
<p>Thank you @MiamiDAP that was really helpful, so what med. school is your daughter in now? or did she graduate from, because I really want go understand well and start planning ahead for the future, but I really appreciate the advice so, definitely really helpful!</p>
<p>@rebeccar my GPA improved a lot in the second semester, so that could help right? </p>
<p>@GA2012MOM As a mom, shouldn’t you be a bit more helpful, than give a vague, narcissistic and sarcastic comment like that??? Like why waste your time, and comment when your not contributing any help to the matter? </p>
<p>Please I’m only looking for helpful contributions and opinions. If you have nothing nice to say than please don’t post or rather don’t even read my posts. Please and Thank you :)</p>
<p>looking for this poster under a bridge…</p>
<p>If I tell you you are a shoe-in, will that make you happy?</p>
<p>@FutureHarvardMD Not sure what “Or does anyone know how I can become an alumni or something of that sort?” means… Can you clarify? Other than graduating in some capacity you really can’t be an alumni… You may want to seriously try to realign your dreams with reality…this is not meant in a mean way, only you could waste a lot of mental energy and stress on an unattainable goal instead of working toward something more realistic. </p>
<p>@Sdgal2 no I understand, that I would have to have graduated at some extent, I’m just saying since I can’t obviously graduate from there with a first degree, like I don’t know if it’s possible to get into Harvard graduate school or do some post graduate work, I mean I really respect the institution as a whole you know what I mean?</p>
<p>The OP, albeit appearing to be living under a bridge, is asking specifically about one school to which I believe your dau did not apply. Her history, repeated yet again, is not relevant.</p>
<p>Alumni is plural, referring to more than one. You could become an alumnus or alumna.</p>
<p>I think becoming an alumni would require multiple personalities.</p>
<p>I do understand…it is very hard to let go of a dream…but maybe a different approach. What if you set your sights on someday teaching there? You certainly do not want to miss out on other dreams more within your reach because of an obsession- why don’t you table this idea for a year (tuck it away out of mind 
) and revisit it in a year when you have a clearer picture. If you’ve attained that 4.0, it may seem more doable; if not, you can start to readjust your goals a bit. </p>