I'm sorry, but I have to push back on the whole "I didn't know the final counted for so much." I'm a current UC Berkeley student and we get our syllabi either before or on day 1. In all of them, it has the grade distributions. There is no way you can tie your bad grades to a misunderstanding. Even if I give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you didn't read the syllabus (highly unlikely), this is something that would've been contained after 1 semester.
if you're this person in the video, ignore this comment. Its tough enough to apply knowing you're facing some significant odds so it is necessary to remember that focusing on your past does nothing except waste your future. Make yourself the best applicant you can be today and do the same thing tomorrow. Living in the future or past can only cause regrets and the only way to live is to remain in the present where you control what you do.
@@FBI-ed9ku I appreciate you being supportive, but I really hope she doesn't bring that up during an interview. The excuse falls apart under scrutiny, imagine the interviewers questions, "so you don't read syllabi? So the grades were never brought up, even once? So this problem persisted past 1 semester?" I had a tough first semester at Cal (2.88 gpa), I'm at a 3.5 right now. I have no problem admitting that my shortcomings were my own fault, and I think it's a much better approach.
I did my undergraduate in the UK, if it wasn't for the fact my boyfriend was American I'd be in the same boat. The three exams I sat in May of my final year counted for 1/3 of my total degree - my coursework whilst being important was superfluous, I could still have got a first (4.0GPA equivalent) overall even if I'd not bothered/ got really bad grades. I'm a graduate student and really not used to the constant assessment and the only reason I'm probably so on top is in a bid to maintain my 4.0 and being fully aware that even one mess up and I might completely prevent myself from getting an A in that class.
I agree! I did a Masters, then went into a research doctorate because the masters helped me get a better job while doing a post-bacc AND I plan on using it for my future work as a physician. The doctorate is to help me have that level of protected research where everything isn't on the line like in a post-doc (i.e. I can make mistakes while doing the research dissertation). I'm treating them as extracurriculars and that they will not overcome or overshadow the main aspects of my application, plus focusing on MY STORY.
Huge misconception among premeds is that a basic science masters degree will help their GPA for the purposes of getting into medical school. The GPAs that’ll help you for med school are doing a DIY post bacc or doing masters program (SMP) that is designed for people trying to repair their GPA for medical school
Hello Dr. Gray, Love all your videos! They are always very informative and eye-opening! I live in Canada, Toronto to be specific, and want to ask you if you could make a video on Canadian Medical School application and the differences that may be seen between the American and Canadian, so that when I watch these videos I know which is related to Canadian Applications. I.e., shadowing doctor seems to be unlikely in Canada, but I heard Canadian school looks at research more instead? Best, Karma
Dr. Gray by any chance were you at the medical convention in Tampa in November 2018? I keep watching your podcast and I just realized you look very much like one of the speakers that have talked about interviews.
Hey anyone, I am in my gap year, and I am still studying for the MCAT. I know that I have around 3.2 science GPA. I am also a medical scribe and have 2 years of research under my belt. Has there been anyone who is in my place or situation, and if so did you get accepted in to Medical school of PA school? I'm looking for some motivation, lol.
Not necessarily. The final GPA "number" is not an "end all be all." The trend is VERY important and something most premeds ignore. You can have a 3.0 GPA with a 4.0 GPA over the last 50 credits and be VERY competitive at a lot of schools.
@@MY-hc5fb Just focus on a STRONG upward trend. 40-50 science credits at a 4.0 GPA will make you very competitive no matter how low your previous science GPA was. This isn't easy as it requires you to reexamine your study strategies and mindset but is doable if you put in the effort (unless there are other circumstances like severe health conditions, bankruptcy/near-bankruptcy, etc.).
She had 4 years to figure out how the UC system works. It’s best to quit making excuses and acknowledge why you’re in the situation you’re in. She seems really bright and I’m sure she’ll get into medical school, but let’s not make excuses.
"I thought that the final exam counted for everything." Bruh. You had four years to figure that out. You have access to a syllabus. The excuses, my god.
That isn't an excuse. However, shifting her study strategies she built in Europe for several years to be in alignment with the syllabus here can be tricky.
