I am deciding what classes to take my sophomore year of college. I know that I am going to take organic chemistry and genetics but I am deciding whether or not to take physics along with these classes. My current gpa is 3.42 and I need to raise my gpa because my grades were not great my freshman year. I know that taking 3 science classes in one semester is too much but I want to show that I can improve. My freshman year I took gen chem 1, cell bio, calc 2, and a gen ed. I got a B- in gen chem, B in cell bio, A- in cell bio, and a A in my gen ed. Second semester I took soc 101, psych 101, gen chem II, intro bio 2, and 5 hrs/week. I received a B in gen chem, gen bio, B+ in psych 101 and A- in soc 101. Over the summer of my freshman year and my sophomore year (right now) i am doing research. I know that these B’s do not look good as a pre-med but I am determined to keep on the path. Saying that, I know that my chances are greatly limited because of my poor performance freshman year. Does anyone have any advice on what I should do in general? Should I take the 3 science courses or take 2 science classes and gen eds?
Thank you
Given that all your Bs are in science classes (gen chem & cell bio), the last thing you should do is overload on science classes next year.
Take only 2 science classes. Maybe take only 1 if your planned 4 year scheduled allows it.
Right now you need to figure out why you’re not making As in your science classes and fix that. Don’t triple up on sciences until you do.
Your current sGPA is only 3.14. Realistically that’s too low to successfully apply to med school and it will take time to fix that. You need to plan on applying only after you graduate to give yourself time to raise your sGPA/GPA.
Agree 200% that “you need to plan on applying only after you graduate to give yourself time to raise your sGPA/GPA.”
It may be easy to think that if I just get straight As from now on I’ll be good, and maybe you will, but as you saw first year, getting straight As is not so easy. Med schools like an upward trend, but every non A grade from now on will make it that much harder for you. So slow down, expect to apply after you graduate as you’ll have more time to raise GPAs, participate in ECs, etc. You don’t need 3 science courses in upcoming semester as med schools won’t put much weight, if any, on a “rigorous” schedule. Why genetics? If it offers you some hope, S finished first year of college with GPAs below 3.2. He waited until after graduating to apply. He’s currently a MD in his third year of residency. Good luck
If I apply after I graduate does that mean I have to take a gap year??
Nothing wrong by taking a gap year, perhaps you should take a post bacc if you cannot raise your GPA to around 3.7. You need all As from now on to pull a MD school admission. Perhaps a DO school is a better bet.
^^At least 1 gap year.** The med school application process takes a full year to happen.
**The reason I say at least 1 is because many post-grad jobs that bio majors get (like research assts, lab managers, medical scribes or TFA) often have a minimum contractual obligation of 2 years. Med school adcomms are not very receptive towards individuals who don’t fulfill their obligations.
Would you rather have a gap year or not get into medical school at all? WIthout knowing your MCAT score, your GPA of 3.42 puts you at the bottom of the 3.40-3.59 GPA range that has a **64% chance of being rejected from every medical school you apply to./b
P.S. Anyone else curious about what kinds of people make up the 3 applicants (none of whom were accepted) with GPAs <2.4 but MCATs >39? They must all be non-trads, right? Would be even more fascinating if they weren’t though.
I apologize if I’m wrong but I interpret your question as you misunderstand a “gap year”.
I assume you applied to college sometime after your high school junior year with intent to go straight into college after graduating high school, right? “Traditionally”, same thing happened when kids went to med school (ie applied to
med school sometime after college junior year with intent to go straight into med school upon graduating college). Today more and more kids are taking a “gap year” or **a period of time between graduating college and the start of medical school **. It could be one year or more. In other words, they don’t apply “traditionally” after junior year, but after senior year of college. They do it for several reasons (eg raise GPAs, ECs, interest in research, etc). In your case, if you’re thinking about applying “traditionally” you only have 2 more years to raise GPAs, ECs, prep/take MCAT etc., which may not be enough time to produce a competitive application, whereas if you slow down, finish college in 3 years, then apply, you better your chances. So yes the year after you graduated and submitted your application and hopefully started med school would be a gap year. It’s not a time to go on vacation as med schools will want to see that you’re doing something constructive. Again I apologize if I misinterpreted your question.
" 64% chance of being rejected from every medical school you apply to."
Rejected? Its more less ended up with NO Interview Invites at all. The lowest average GPA for a MD school(Howard) is around 3.6 this year, below average is almost a kiss of death, unless you have an MCAT 37ish (old). Due to grade inflation, the bar for MD school admission is raising every year.
Thank you everyone to answered my question. I know that my situation does not look good right now but do you believe that if I still have a chance if I can get my GPA to rise high enough before senior year I have a chance? I know that my GPA is not terrific but I am a hard worker and determined. I know that you hear this among many pre meds but I have worked so hard to get where I am right now
I’m not sure that’s mathematically possible. You should use a GPA calculator to see how many As are required to get both your GPA and sGPA up to 3.65+. (Your science GPA-- bio, chem, math & physics classes only-- is just as important, maybe even more important than your overall GPA, to med school admissions.)
Hard work and determination are good qualities for a future doctor to have, but they’re not enough without the academic horsepower to go with them.
Make sure you have a Plan B. (Not a knock on your chances. It’s something I tell all pre-meds, including my own children.)
WayOutWestMom gave you the key pointer “Right now you need to figure out why you’re not making As in your science classes and fix that”. Tell us what are the steps you’re going to take in sophomore year to get A’s in Organic Chem and Genetics - both are notorious hard courses even for students with straight A’s in Gen Chem 1 & 2.