I am in 9th Grade (Currently have 86 average)

It’s still the 2nd semester for me, since my school started back up on the 5th of January. I’m doing really bad right now, and know that because I ended with a 92 average for my 1st semester, and now my grades just plummeted all of a sudden. My dream is to get into a med school and become a surgeon, but is this enough? Is there still time for me to raise that 3.0 gpa to something way better by the end of my freshman year? How can I do this effectively if at all it’s possible for me to raise that 86 average to a 90+ again by the end of the school year? I’m just really confused, idk what an “ideal” grade is…

I’m also not in any clubs, however I do voluntary service. Also, Video-games are a major factor for my low grades, and it’s sadly a terrible addiction I have. I play videogames for 5+ hours a day, and on the weekends 8+…and I can’t help myself but to care for my entertainment rather than studying for hours like most people.

Currently looking up some remedies for this terrible illness I got, to help propell that terrible grade I have right now. I’m going to try to make a change soon.

Are you in high school

Wait obviously you are, don’t worry about your GPA for med school! If you wanna go to a top college (not necessary for med school but hey always nice) then you should get it up to high 90s but high 80s low 90s is fine for almost any college in the country. COLLEGE GPA matters for med school they won’t see high school GPA because they don’t care.

And you can always turn video games into something useful… my brothers the same way and he builds computers which isn’t much but kinda cool haha

I’m not buying that videogames are a “terrible addiction.” Just turn the console off (or the computer, I don’t know). If you really want higher grades, you should work for them. There are no “remedies” for the “terrible illness” you’ve got. I wasn’t sure if you were serious or not at first, but you seem to be candid.

Get away from the monitor. Bury your nose in some books.

Didn’t know that Med schools don’t look at your HS gpa…but still if my mind-set changes(If I want to have a different profession), it’s good to have high 90’s, like you said, so I can prepare myself for the worst. I really do think that video games have been poisoning me though…I just really want to quit it and do something productive with myself. Sadly enough, I’m just too hooked to it; ya maybe I can use that to my advantage and create something cool based off of my experiences.(Still though, I’m looking to quit Gaming and start studying)

I’m really used to this because my brother is having the same issue- if you can’t do it on your own can you parents help? Maybe make sure you stay in a room without a TV/computer? Or go to the library an extra hour before or after school. He does it before and spends an hour studying without distraction

Thank you for the ideas! I’ve already consulted with my parents many times before, but overtime it starts back up again…(Me playing daily for hours) I’ll definitely try to get some tutoring at my school for atleast an hour.(It’ll help me not play games, and improve my learning at the same time)

Do what I say and you’ll forget about video games and improve your GPA, do this and almost any college will be accessible if you put in the hard/right work. I applaud your decision to better yourself, this is a decision you won’t regret not many people actively seek to do this. I started in 9th grade and haven’t looked back since. Now I’m smarter, stronger and more determined than ever.

While I never suffered from videogame addiction I used to play video games for 6-7+ hours a day, (even on school days) in middle school (I didn’t have many friends and the friends I did have I couldn’t really hangout with). Anyways as a child video games were all I had growing up. Black ops and MW3 was my life. It was fun but I knew I had to stop. Eventually I matured and started lifting (I highly suggest looking into lifting, it will change your life) so what did I do?? Simple. do what I tell you right here right now, and you’ll get over this “terrible addiction” Now turning off your video game console isn’t the best solution, you’ll always have that temptation in front of you. Here’s what you must do to be sober so to speak.

If you have a console, unplug it and give your controller to a friend. Having no access to Video games prevents you from playing them, eventually (for me it was 3 days) you’ll forget about video games.

If video games are on your computer delete them/remove the disk, and download chrome and get the chrome extension “strict workflow” or a similar app, with a push of a button, you have no access to video games. A smoker can’t smoke without cigerates, right?

Don’t play video games for roughly 20-30 days and you no longer will feel the tendency to play. Eventually it will become innate. If you need any help feel free to dm me.

I agree with lifting, if it is an option for you. Have you considered trying out for spring track? Drama club? Getting yourself out of the house may be the best distraction you need to quit the gaming bug.

Your future is wide ahead of you. Even if you don’t get an A average in freshman year, your sophomore and junior years will provide plenty of opportunity to raise your overall GPA, in plenty of time to get you into a great college, where you may decide to pursue pre-med.

Remember how you feel right now - a bit scared, maybe, but you also are realizing you still have a lot to learn. When it comes time to write a common app essay, you may have stumbled on a topic by realizing you have an addiction, or at least, you are spending more time than you think is healthy for you.

Good luck.