I'm on a second bachelors - how much will the first drag me down?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the impact of a poor academic record from a first bachelor's degree on future medical or dental school applications. The individual shares their experience of struggling through an English literature degree, achieving a low GPA, and now pursuing a second bachelor's in engineering with significantly improved grades. They express concern about how their previous academic performance might affect their chances of admission to competitive medical schools. Responses highlight that while a strong GPA in the second degree (3.7) is beneficial, admissions decisions also depend on the competitiveness of the applicant pool, extracurricular activities, and personal statements. It is noted that a degree in a relevant field, such as biomedical engineering or biology, may enhance admission prospects, but the previous degree's impact may be minimal if the applicant demonstrates strong performance in their current studies.
vjk2
Messages
89
Reaction score
0
I'm on a second bachelors -- how much will the first drag me down?

I did very badly at my first shot at college. It took me 5 years to barely graduate with an english literature degree. I hated life in college, but I especially hated life after college.

In that time I went up to Physics 2 and Calc 3 and passed with C's. I withdrew from Chem after missing an exam due to my disorganization.

Now I'm back in school in an engineering program. Bachelors.

I'm doing pretty well. I'm taking Chem and am on track to get an A. I'm retaking Calculus 3 and am on track to get an A. The other classes I have are A's from the looks of it. I may even be able to make the deans list, which would be pretty awesome.

So here's the thing. I'm not really feeling the engineering classes right now. I'm enjoying Chem the most. I'm continuing with Chem 2 next semester even though I don't have to so I can keep my options open.

If say, I wanted to pursue dental or medical school, how much would my previous 5 years of misery weigh against me? If say my first pathetic BA was like a 2.8, but my GPA in the second BS is like a 3.7
 
Physics news on Phys.org


vjk2 said:
If say, I wanted to pursue dental or medical school, how much would my previous 5 years of misery weigh against me? If say my first pathetic BA was like a 2.8, but my GPA in the second BS is like a 3.7

It will depend on how competitve the med school is. The only real shoe-ins for most med schools are a 4.0 gpa and respectable extracurriculars. Below that, your admission will depend on the crop of students that year and your application letter and references.

I have a friend with a 3.6 GPA, it took him 2 years of applying to med schools all over the place before he was accepted by one. Not sure if your english lit degree with help or hurt, my guess is neither as long as you have an excellent GPA in you applicable degree. For most med schools, a degree in biomedical engineering, biology, or related will be your best bet.
 
I don't know if anyone on here works for any of the well known defense companies of your country, whichever country you are from?? Also, if you choose to work in one, do you think the engineering education provide from your school would adequately prepare you for the job. What do I mean by that? Well if you work at say Lockheed Martin and you work in the latest iteration of a missile or if you work at Pratt & Whitney, they assign you to work in the team helping out with building the jet...
Hello, I graduated from undergrad a few years ago with a Major in Physics and minor in Electrical Engineering. I tried to get experience working on and testing circuits through my professor who studied Neutrinos, however covid caused the opportunity to go away and I graduated with no experience or internships. I have attempted to break into the engineering industry with no success. Right now I am considering going for a Masters in Electrical Engineering and I need advice on if this would be...
So lately, my interest in the realm of optics/optoelectronics/photonics engineering has grown and I have started to seriously consider pursuing a career in the field. I have done a bit of career research and also have done some learning on the side to gather more knowledge on these topics. However, I have some questions on what a career in these fields would look like, and I wanted to find out more about this area to know what I would be getting myself into if I did make the choice to pursue...

Similar threads

Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
4K
Replies
92
Views
21K
Replies
33
Views
4K
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
3K
Back
Top