I am in the 10th grade, I'm majoring in the medical professions field in high school.
I am in the 10th grade, I'm majoring in the medical professions field in highschool, I'm at a 2.6 GPA, taking 3 AP classes and 1 honor class. What is some advice you could give me to improve my GPA? In the future, I strive to be a neurosurgeon but I'm afraid my grades are going to prevent me from becoming a neurosurgeon and entering a good college, I also want to join the Navy while studying my major, so any suggestions to set my life up for success (such as what classes and majors should I study) and to improve my grades?
3 answers
Laurie’s Answer
Michelle’s Answer
I am really impressed at how ambitious you are and that you are interested in becoming a medical doctor. That is so wonderful and being in the tenth grade now is a good time to focus on plans for your academic route towards a career in surgery.
My advice is to finish your courses this school year and perhaps use the services of a tutor or form a study group at school with some classmates. The reason your GPA may be what it is could be that you are taking a heavy load and the demands for the AP courses are not compatible enough for you to be getting high marks right now because of time constraints. I would concentrate in the next two years on regular human science classes (I never heard of majoring in anything in High School because you get a diploma, not a degree) and maybe a foreign language class, but take it a bit lighter for eleventh and twelfth grades so you can bring your GPA up. Also ask your guidance counselor if you can take credit classes, one or two in summer school. It's important that you get your High School Diploma, however your college undergraduate GPA and degree will be the important focus when applying to medical school. Try not to overload or rush yourself right now. Use your high school subjects as introductions and a baseline because when you get to undergraduate study you'll be familiar with the sciences and have the foundation .
It is competitive, but you must approach your preparation for medical school realistically, know your strengths, focus on time management and take classes that you can understand and your marks will improve. I give you credit because you seem to be committed to your dream. That is why I would advise going to college for undergrad study, get your B.S. degree and than to medical school and than you can think about military service and even serve as a surgeon in the military. Take one step at a time. Medical School requires a lot of sacrifice, focus and dedication.
In your free time, you can participate in science based groups at your school and/or get a part time job in any non-medical position in a hospital just to be in that environment and have the experience of being around the medical field. Don't feel that you have to cram a lot into your life right now, though. That may be why your GPA is not where you want it to be and GPA is a factor when applying to undergraduate colleges. You have time to reach a higher GPA goal.
I hope that this has helped and I wish you all the best !
Angela’s Answer
Firstly, I would recommend arranging your timetable and tasks systematically. Once you have a well-structured plan for your ongoing coursework, consider seeking additional assignments if you feel your grades aren't matching up to your expectations.
Furthermore, it would be beneficial to communicate with your teachers about any gaps in your understanding, stay vigilant about submission deadlines, and if you're not getting all the answers right. Make it a habit to revisit and review your coursework with your instructors, as often, previous assignments are included in tests or finals, which carry more weight than individual textbook exercises.
Consider enrolling in a tutoring program or joining a study group, as these can also contribute significantly to maintaining a strong GPA.
Best of luck on your academic journey.