Poor GPA/ Moderately High ACT... how can I get some $$$ for college?

First thing: register with Disability resources/disability services.
Bringing a laptop to bring to class won’t make you stand out at all - MANY students do that nowadays. But registering with Disability will give you the extra time
(Those kids who told you your grades didn’t count were cruel and, most importantly, wrong. Haven’t they ever heard of “levelling the playing field”? You’re fighting with disabilities, they’re not. You deserve accomodations otherwise they have an unfair advantage over you since they don’t have to fight OCD nor ADD.)

Second thing:
As a premed, you don’t have to major in biology; you can major in anything (and biostatistics or bioinformatics would have more professional outcomes than straight biology). Regardless, you’ll need to take these classes over the course of four years
1 semester each of calculus, statistics or biostatistics, psychology, sociology, biochemistry, a course that deals with diversity (+, if you can, neuroscience/cognitive science/neurobiology because so much is happening in the field right now, more in biostatistics, bioinformatics)
2 semesters each of biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, English communication/writing/speech (+ if you can, speaking a language that is spoken by an immigrant group in the US with relevant experience at a clinic).

As a result, you don’t block any major by taking a regular “premed” schedule and deciding during sophomore year.

You could take:
Freshman year, Fall
Calculus
Biology1
English Composition
Sociology
Foreign language or art or other general education requirement

Freshman year, Spring
Biostatistics
Biology2
Chemistry1
English Communication
General Education requirement in arts or humanities

Freshman year, Summer (or Maymester)
Chemistry 2

Sophomore Year Fall
Physics1
Organic Chemistry1
Psychology
one major-related class
one easy class or nothing else

Sophomore Year Spring
Physics 2
Organic Chemistry 2
one major-related class
one easy diversity-related gen ed class

All universities would have these classes regardless of what major they offer (or don’t). It’d cover what you need for premed and doesn’t close any science major. Or you could even spread them out more.

Not exactly. (My older D has a BS in physics. She went to med school and is now a doctor.)

A physics major will only include 3 of the 15 required courses for med school admission–

1 semester of college level math (Calc 1)
2 semesters of intro physics w/labs

NOT included in a physics degree:

2 semesters gen chem w/labs
2 semesters ochem w/labs
1 semester biochem (some medical schools require biochem lab)
1 semester math-based statistics or biostatistics
2 semesters english composition or 2 semesters of writing intensive classes (like literature, history, philosophy,etc)
2 semesters intro biology w/labs
1 semester psychology
1 semester sociology

In addition, some medical schools have additional requirements for additional classes like medical ethics, genetics, human physiology, upper level social sciences or other specific courses.

And I think you’re confused about what medical schools mean by lab experience–they don’t mean a lab class. They mean an independent research experience–which is not a routine part of a physics degree. And while physics research won’t hurt you when it comes to applying to med school (D1 did medium energy particle physics research for 3 years); it won’t help you either. It’s a neutral factor.

Unless you really love physics and will excel in it, I don’t think that’s the right major for you. As WOWmom mentioned, physics major doesn’t include most of the premed prereqs.

I do love Physics. I’m not taking it for medical school, I’m taking Physics because I find it interesting and challenging. I’m not going to college purely to attend medical school, I’m simply considering it as an option.

Additionally, I have an update with good news. I went to the financial aid office at Shepherd yesterday to see what could be done about scholarships. Apparently, they calculate GPA differently from my high school. According to their calculations, my final GPA was EXACTLY 3.00. This made me eligible for the Director’s Scholarship for $500. However since my ACT scores were considerably higher than the President Scholarship requirements ( Mine was a 31, President’s requires a 28), they waived my GPA and gave me that instead! That’s two thousand dollars in my pocket! Naturally, I’m ecstatic. I’ll continue to apply for scholarships and update this thread as more information becomes available.

Wow, congratulations!!
And I’m guessing it means you got into the honors College? ( if you do 't know, ask) .
:slight_smile:
Shepherd is a good university actually so if you can find a major you like there, it’s a great school for you to study at.

@KurisuMakise Great news. Very happy for you. Keep us updated.

End of summer update if anyone was interested.

I’ve registered for all my classes at Shepherd and my first term starts August 28.

In terms of money, this is what I’ve come up with…

-$2000 Merit Scholarship from SU
-$2000 Academic Waiver from the biology department for an essay I wrote
-$1000 in graduation gift money
-$1500 from my summer job

These are not exact numbers, but they’re pretty close. probably more than that. Regardless, 6.5K is not too shabby for only 3 months. Basically pays my tuition for the semester.

@KurisuMakise That is great news. Did you fill out a FASFA? Will you plan to take a loian for second semester? Very exciting for you to be starting in a few weeks!

I did fill out a FAFSA. Also, I’m going to try to get more scholarships from other sources. I shouldn’t have to take out any loans, but it’s not the end of the world if I do. It really is exciting, I actually can’t wait.

Hi @KurisuMakise ,

If you live in West Virginia, I recommend that you and your parent contact the
West Virginia department of Education and the arts , Division of Rehabilitative services as you may be eligible for assistance for college.

http://www.wvdrs.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.displaystory&groupID=84&itemid=2

Congratulations!
What classes are you going to take?

@sybbie719 I actually am in contact with them right now

@MYOS1634 English 101, College Physics w/ lab, Biology, Calculus 1, and a misc first year experience class