Hello! I’m currently a high school sophomore, and I am extremely worried about the next two years. I want to go into medicine but I want to get in a direct entry program. However, my GPA right now is extremely low with just a 3.5. I’m not taking any AP’s either. My freshman year, I slacked off and ended with a 3.1 average. This year I’ve been getting straight A’s, so since I got an upper trend, I hope that can make it up a little. Next year, I’m planning to take AP Bio, AP English, Duel Enrollment Precalc, and whatever I can do to raise my GPA up to a 4.0.
Volunteer hours/Extracurricular/Clubs
Joined American Red Cross
Wrestled freshman year, placed at my first tournament
A DECA member for two years, I placed third at Districts
Did high school theatre for two years
Only have around 20 volunteer hours
So I have a couple of questions:
Is it too late to improve because of my situation? I know it was dumb and I regret everything from freshman year.
How many volunteer hours will I need to be competitive enough?
How can I get research experience?
What are some ways I can volunteer over summer? I am thinking about EMT but I’m not too sure yet.
Do I have to take the most rigorous courses including AP US History?
I can think of any possible advantages I have besides my demographic, I’m first generation and I wasn’t born in the United States. Also, I live in Virginia.
No need of despairing. Everyone learns by mistakes. Even if you hadn’t slacked off the chances of getting into a BS/MD program is very slim for anyone. It is perhaps more difficult to get into medicine in this route than the traditional route of doing undergrad and attempting (which > 95% do anyway).
Realistically speaking, I would say the chances of getting in with a close to 3.0 gpa in 1st year is very remote. If you had some genuine reasons such as family conditions or health or something on those lines, it may be considered by colleges/programs, but even then it is kind of doubtful.
Even if you maintain 4.0 for the next 2 years and half years, it will be what? Around 3.7 ish. Which makes it very tough, since most of the students in this track have close to perfect gpas and SAT/ACT scores and still no guarantees of getting into one. Unless you are from an under represented minority group (African American or Hispanic etc).
However I urge you to keep doing your best which will definitely help in getting into a good undergrad college and let you realize your dreams eventually. Try to enroll in as many service and volunteer activities as possible and shadowing physicians to get a feel of day to day life of a doctor and whether or not you really want to pursue this as a career.
Regarding research opportunities, try to reach out to local universities’ faculty by finding out about their research and sending emails and reach out to research institutions like NIH (which I believe has presence in VA?). Find out more about what they look out in candidates for selections and try to make your resume suitable to their expectations and needs. Also search on the internet for summer programs for high school students. A lot of these also have programs for high school students in summer, but the deadlines for applying may be well in advance. So check them out and see where you can fit in this year, if you still have time. In the worst case you can prepare for next year since you will have an idea of how to approach next time and better academic credentials too.