<p>I am not very familiar with universities that fit your criteria, however, I know that SUNY New Paltz has a strong biology dept. and would consider a 3.1 gpa. My son transferred there from a top private university and really likes it. Take a look -
[State</a> University of New York at New Paltz: Biology Department](<a href=“http://www.newpaltz.edu/biology/]State”>SUNY New Paltz | Biology)</p>
<p>I’m sure there are other schools as well. Maybe someone else will chime in who is more familiar with possibilities for you.</p>
<p>I was just talking about Cornell and Emory. Sorry for the misunderstanding. I don’t know much about utoronto, university of British Columbia, or Mcgill.</p>
<p>thanks transferstudent2, but even if they accepted my grades from next sem, and i applied with a 3.1, CALS expects at least a 3.4 gpa for most of its transfer students. i think its pretty unfortunately clear that Cornell is a lost cause.</p>
<p>and cloutclout, thanks for the input, but since im already a second semester sophomore, i dont think i can apply to emory or cornell after this year anyway.</p>
<p>You should not think of yourself as an underachiever. We all are sometimes exposed to situations that make it hard for us, but we define ourselves not by how often something like that happens but by how we deal with those things.</p>
<p>As much as I would like to tell you that staying at your college, work for an extra semester and talk to Cornell - I am not going to, because it frankly won’t get you anywhere. There are schools in the US educational system that would really CARE about your situation but Cornell is too busy and has too many great people applying to give you a chance at that point.
But don’t see that as the end. I would suggest that you change your environment completely. Sit down and think outside the box. What is your dream? What do you want to become? Where do you see yourself in 10 years from now? It is not a bad thing if you don’t know because that only proves that you were so fixed on Cornell that nothing else came to your mind.</p>
<p>Believe me, I know how you feel. I have been there. I am from Austria and after I graduated High School I went to university there. But I failed miserably. I would go out, drink, see my friends, sleep in every day - anything but taking care of my school work. After a semester I realized that life is too short to not do what you love and I needed to stop. I knew that a complete change in environment was gonna help me turn around and get my life back on track - and my studies.
I came to California and started studying at a community college and I am applying this semester to UCs and other good schools.
The key is to close your eyes, not let anything influence you, your family, your previous ideas, your fears - just think of what you would do if there was no such thing as college. A friend of mine went to Africa, to help build schools for poor children for a year and she said that it has changed her entire viewpoint on life. I know that this sounds very extreme but this might just be what you could do as well. </p>
<p>I think your best shot to get into a university of your choice is to change your direction right NOW 180 degrees. Your grades are poor. No additional semester or essay will change that and get you into Cornell, a school that rejects people with 4.0s.
In my opinion the best would be to drop out, do something else that is VALUABLE and IMPRESSIVE for a year or two and then go back to college WHEN YOU FEEL 100% READY TO GIVE YOUR ALL AND PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE AGAIN. You might even be able to apply for academic renewal by then…
The key is to change your position right now and when it is time to apply again to demonstrate HOW MUCH YOU HAVE CHANGED OVER THE LAST YEAR OR TWO. THAT YOU ARE IN FACT NOT COMPARABLE ANYMORE TO WHAT YOU HAVE DONE A YEAR OR TWO AGO. That whatever you did has changed you as a person and that you know now where you you stand in life and how this can contribute to the school you wanna go to. </p>
<p>I hope I helped you a little bit with my suggestions. If you wanna talk feel free to write me an email since I know how you must feel - Ive been there. But its not the end of the world or your career. You just need a plan. My email address is <a href="mailto:fslcal@hotmail.com">fslcal@hotmail.com</a></p>
<p>The best of luck for you and think positively. Because the last thing Cornell wants is someone who tells them how depressed he is. </p>
<p>Thank you for that post Franz. That was really inspirational to say the least.</p>
<p>Truth is, I know what I want to do in life. I want to go to med school and become a doctor.</p>
<p>Cornell has, is, and will forever be a dream of mine. I must accept this fact, though as depressing and as troubling as it maybe. This is going to take some time. </p>
<p>I appreciate the suggestion that you gave me about taking some time off. Many people have told me likewise and told me how it benefited them. I am sure that your experiences during that time were indeed beneficial. As lucrative as it may seem, understand that I cannot take time off now, its just not a feasible option for me. Your absolutely right that nothing should stop from chasing my dreams, however sadly we don’t live in an ideal world. My parents are paying for my college and they won’t be the least bit thrilled with that idea. Not to mention it would make me apply to med school at the age of 24 or 25.</p>
<p>Perhaps what it comes down too is that I must accept that maybe im just not good enough as I thought. Perhaps schools like Cornell and Emory were just never meant to be for me. After spending time hoping for the opposite, accepting this view is hard and painful. But I must do it to keep moving on I suppose.</p>
<p>You may always PM me, if you have any specific suggestions.</p>
<p>Be careful what you wish for. My whole life I dreamed of going to the university of Michigan and was very upset when I didn’t get in during high school. I worked my ass off during college for a year, got a 3.8, and later was admited to Michigan. However, this “dream school” hasn’t lived up to it’s billing for me.</p>
<p>I don’t get why it’s not feasible for you to take some time off from school and get your priorities straight. What good will it due if you continue at this pace with a 2.8 and waste all your parents hard earned money. </p>
<p>I hope your able to see past this “dream school mentality” and look at it more like “dream profession” which is in medicine for you, just like it is for me. Your profession is what’s most important, not your “dream undergrad school.”</p>
<p>I have had a lot of help from people about my problems over your issue, and from what I have learned, I guess I can help you too…</p>
<p>Its hard - I know. I wanted to go to Cornell too. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Many people have dreams that they cannot reach, potential that goes overlooked, heck even kids who do get in might not even succeed in life. </p>
<p>You say you are depressed - so am I. I needed people on these boards to help me out and tell me to get the hell out of my room and seek help. I did and while things haven’t drastically changed, I am doing something rather than sitting here. </p>
<p>I think you are a lot tougher than you give yourself credit to be. The most famous people nowadays weren’t the people who always succeeded in life, but learned from their mistakes and worked harder. Try for Cornell undergrad transfer - dont get in - try again next semester - dont get in? - try again for grad school. Keep fighting, keep believing that you can do it. </p>
<p>Until than, just enjoy life. If you work hard and are still depressed when you get into Cornell, what is the point? The meaning of life is to be happy. We try to gain that by earning honors and awards, but what we are simply doing is pursuing our path of happiness. No one ever said that you have to be depressed and on the ground to rise up to the challenge. You can still smile when you receive that crappy grade.</p>
<p>I hope I have helped you - I really do. But if you still feel the way you do - I am sorry - I know how hard it is. My final piece of advice? Stop planning so far ahead - if one thing goes wrong, things starts becoming overwhelming. Take life one step at a time.</p>