my first semester in college i received a 3.19 GPA iam currently majoring in bio in hopes of becoming a physician.should be worried guys? these are my grades.
General Biology-B
General psychology-B
UNIV-A
Rhetoric and Comp- A
College algebra-C
Yes, you should be worried. Your BCMP grades are below par for med school.
You need to figure out what you’re doing wrong (probably still trying to study like you did in high school–which doesn’t work in college) and fix it.
Your algebra grade indicates you need to do serious work on improving your math skills. Do NOT take chemistry or physics until your math skills are stronger. Consider whether you need to repeat algebra so you can gain a better set of foundational math skills for going forward.
The good news is that you have lots of time to remediate your GPA and med school adcomms view favorably a strong upward GPA trend.
Is that algebra class a sub-100 level class?
What level of math did you take in high school?
What were your SAT or ACT test scores?
Is this a univ or a CC that you’re attending?
The fact that you weren’t able to get an A in psych is a red flag.
What is UNIV? and is that a one credit course?
well this semester has been just me getting used to everything to be quite honest i figured out i needed to change my study habits from highschool in college transiton when i failed a couple of my exams and from there on i did decently well on other exams. what im trying to ask is is it still possible to get a 4.0 and im taking chem 1 bio 2 sociology next semester .
in high school i wasn’t bad but i wasn’t excellent! took all basic classes by that i mean didn’t take any AP courses or anything. im trying to do everything i didn’t have the mind to take upon in high school in college but obviously college algebra isn’t my strong suit and i need it to excel. next semester im aiming for all As
im taking chem 1 lecture and lab taking bio 2 lecture and lab taking ,sociology,stats and rhetoric 2
i need postive motivation to keep going forward
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Are you asking if it’s possible to raise your cum GPA to a 4.0?
The problem is that you will need to take Calc at some point and that relies very much on good Algebra skills.
Are you signed up for the right Chem? Isn’t Calc I either a prereq or a co-req? I didn’t know you could take Gen Chem w/o Calc I.
Are you signed up for the right Chem? General Chemistry?
Neither super intro gen chem, nor the gen chem you place into with an AP chem 4 or greater require calc at Brown.
lol…I think @iwannabe_Brown is saying that he thinks Calc is req’d as well.
The bad news is you’ve begun to dig yourself into a hole as to your med school aspirations. The good news is your hole isn’t that deep yet. So first of all take a deep breathe. There is a saying that periodically pops up that getting into med school is a marathon, not a sprint. Agreeing 100% with post 1 above: “you need to figure out what you’re doing wrong….fix it.” If this in part means taking a less demanding schedule in the upcoming semester (eg dropping chem for say a GE) to help you “fix it”, then so be it. If this in part means slowing down and waiting to apply until after college, so be it.
“i need postive motivation to keep going forward “
You finished first semester with 3.19 GPA. S finished first year with GPAs below 3.2 He spent the next 3 years doing what it takes to get into med school and did. So you can recover.
“what im trying to ask is is it still possible to get a 4.0”
If you’re asking if you can still get a 4.0 overall by graduating time. No that boat has sailed. If you’re asking if you can get a 4.0 in every future semester, yes, but that’s on you fixing your deficiencies. And if it helps S did not get straight As in his last 3 years of college. At this point every non A hurts your chances.
Good luck.
I’m going to be blunt, but I think this is a time when bluntness is needed IF you truly want to meet your goals.
You don’t seem to have the high school foundation to be doing premed prereqs. Typically those who succeed took the rigorous route in high school, because the “regular route” is often filled with courses where teachers just pass kids along w/o concern whether they’re really learning and getting a college prep foundation.
I suggest only taking ONE science class in the spring (bio)) and getting your math skills improved. At what point will you be able to take Calc? Do you still have to take pre-calc?
Was Algebra II the highest math completed in high school? If not, what was?
Are you at a CC? If so, I think you should plan on staying for at least 3 years while working on your foundation. Then when you’re ready to really do well, tackle the premed prereqs.
The fact that you didn’t get an A in Bio I, your major, is telling. As you mentioned, you needed to improve your study skills because your skills from high school were weak.
If you truly want to go to med school, then you need a better strategy otherwise you’ll weed yourself out.
I must have miswrote, because I specifically meant that calc is NOT a pre-req or co-req for chemistry at Brown. You have to go beyond orgo before calc is a requirement. I’d assume that’s generally applicable but maybe I’m wrong.
Ah…I can’t remember either way. I am concerned that this student isn’t prepared for Gen Chem or other prereqs.
I just looked up my kids’ school. Calc is one of a few options for req’d prereqs, so lower “college level pre-calc” math courses also suffice. If the “college math level” is lower than Calc I, then 3 credits must be complete and 3 credits can be concurrent.
You and all other pre-meds should start worrying on the very first day of college. This worry should result in plan that calls for aiming at A in every single class. Apparently, it did not happen. So, you better start worrying now and never stop. Your worry should produce the goal of an A in every single class. Sorry, I am not aware of any other options.
all of you guys are absolutely incredible thank you so much for your time. As for jugulator20 your awesome you answered each one one of my questions very postive and kept it blunt. and mom2collegekids your awesome as well thanks for the bluntness it is very well needed !