<p>I'm really bummed about this, but I finished my first year of college with a 2.5 GPA. I've taken the first half of bio and chem (about to finish the second half of bio in the fall of 2009 and chemistry in the spring of 2010), along with random electives and I didn't finish off so well. I attribute it to a.) horrible study habits, and b.) lack of motivation. I also had to withdraw from one class my first semester. My study habits towards the last quarter of the second semester were definitely improving. The last few exams I had showed a lot of progress in comparison to my earlier exams.</p>
<p>I know this looks bad for me, but is there anyway I can turn my situation around? I feel like I am very much behind, and that I will not be able to graduate in time with the required premed classes. Am I destined to fail with a low GPA this early in my college career?</p>
<p>ULTIMATELY what my ACTUAL question is after all this banter ... realistically, should I give up or should I keep working at it? I'm very discouraged from the competition and my feelings of being behind/inadequate.</p>
<p>I would like honest, realistic answers, none of that "you can do anything if you put your mind to it" crap. Please no rude answers either.</p>
<p>So if anyone has any former experience or knowledge to contribute on premed classes/applying to med school, I would very much appreciate it.</p>
<p>After reading that over, I guess the real reason I posted it is I need to hear what people have to say before I can finally admit to myself that the premed path is not the path for me. Help me haha.</p>
<p>People have gotten into med school after a bad first year before you. Learn from your mistakes and try again. Consider retaking the classes if necessary. No one can tell you to quit or not, that’s your choice. I can only tell you that it isn’t too late if you pull things together.</p>
<p>MickeyD is right, of course, but you should note that it would have to be a rather dramatic pulling yourself together. And that retaking classes doesn’t erase the previous grade.</p>
<p>It’s possible, but the odds are pretty overwhelming. At some point – and only you can decide what point – you’ll have to try to salvage the rest of your academic career towards another end.</p>
<p>I agree 100% with everything the above posters have said. Keep in mind you may not get into Harvard Med, but there are a LOT of other less selective–but still great–med schools in the US, so don’t lose hope, and just put your best foot forward. Good Luck!</p>
<p>hey im in a similar situation as you, I finished my first year with a 2.7 gpa due to a) lack of motivation and b) some family issues.</p>
<p>don’t let your first year affect how you do next sem. just think of it as a hard learning and just keep going. im not sure if I will be able to get into a medical school at this point either but its better to imagine yourself as a doctor and work towards it, than to just give up. at least thats how i look at it.</p>
<p>my dream medical school is stanford, which i know that im not going to be able to get into, but if you set a goal like that, then maybe you will be able to find the motivation your looking for.</p>