<p>Hi, I am a Microbiology, Immunology, Molecular Genetics (M.I.M.G.) major in UCLA. I just became a second year, and I am questioning if I can really succeed in medical field.</p>
<p>I have few questions:</p>
<li><p>M.I.M.G. major in UCLA is known to have the lowest GPA, our average GPA is at high 2.0’s maximum. Do medical schools consider the difficulty and crazy curves when considering admission?</p></li>
<li><p>I currently only have 3.4 GPA from my first year. Is it even possible for me to get in medical school which such a low GPA like this?</p></li>
<li><p>What kind of job opportunities are available for me if I fail to be admitted into medical school?</p></li>
<li><p>Does anybody know about foreign medical school, such as the ones in Sweden or other countries in Europe? I am very much interested in studying abroad, and attending medical school in Europe.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks for reading, and please, help me to see my path more clearly.</p>
<p>1) I would say no because it is your choice to pick such a difficult major. Also, there are plenty of Engineer majors, which is a very difficult major, who have no problem getting a high enough GPA to get accepted into med school.
2) Of course it’s possible (don’t listen to mitan_da1). If it’s only your first year, you have room to bring it up closer to a 3.6. There are also many more important factors (MCAT is just about as important as GPA) that can make you a good applicant.
3)sorry, I can’t answer this.
4) While it is difficult to get matched in the US after leaving it, it could be different for European schools as opposed to Caribbean schools. I would ask a premed advisor about this as well as any other questions you have.</p>
<p>M.I.M.G. for Microbiology/Immunology/Molecular Genetics… that’s a mouthful. This is all one major?
I feel like at the undergraduate level achieving a solid understanding even one of those three fields would be a difficult thing to accomplish in four years.</p>
<p>I think Mitan was trying to scare you. You need not worry about a 3.4 in one year of college being detrimental. Science offers a rich tapestry of opportunities and ignorant naysayers might not point this out to you but there are many many options in drug discovery, biomedical research, green technology, academic research, public health, science policy, scientific consulting, patent law, agricultural biotechnology and on and on. I wouldn’t worry and obsess over your undergrad gpa. It is important but so is life experience. You should be interested in gaining research experience, clinical volunteering, extracurricular (make them relevant) activities and so on. No medical school admissions committee wants to see more mediclones with a high gpa, good mcat and no individuality. Don’t you think that they are interested in producing graduates with a high level of social function that can treat patients and interact professionally with colleagues? You should be happy to know that the super competitive, back stabbing nature of pre meds in student doctor network and other forum boards, does not find its way into the classes of legitimate medical schools.</p>
<p>When you got a 3.4 GPA, does your school turn B+ grades (87-89) into a 3.0? If so, medical schools will recalculate your GPA in a + - scale, which <em>might</em> help your GPA, even though it averages out most of the time.</p>
<p>A 3.4 GPA is not bad at all. It could be a lot, lot worse. You have time to improve, remember the national average is a 3.5 or so. If your major is truly rigorous and difficult, it will help your critical thinking skills on the MCATs.</p>
<p>Science is a booming industry, I wouldn’t worry too much about finding a job. You are far from screwed if you decide medical school is not for you. Business majors, on the other hand, ARE screwed.</p>