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  1. I

    Take Honors Orgo to get in HMS

    My profile: Cornell Engineering (rising junior in Fall 2019) Current GPA: 3.956. sGPA: 3.888. I took the normal Gen CHEM 2080 and was planning to take the normal Orgo I (CHEM 3570) next semester. But now that I have included HMS in my goals, I wonder if I should take the honors Orgo I & II...
  2. chemdoctor

    Snacks while studying?

    Just curious what all of you eat while studying? Adcoms members are welcome to reply as to what they used to eat? Personally, I go to my local Starbucks but if not, I’ll usually have a cliff bar or some type of protein bar, with water (or soda) and maybe some candy
  3. meowhello

    Is Chemistry and Physics harder than Biology? How can I prepare?

    I completed my Freshman year with all A's in my Biology courses: Intro to Biology, Anatomy & Physiology 1/2 and Microbiology so I'm thinking about skipping the introduction classes to Chem and Physics and jump right in to Gen Chem and Phys 1 Sophomore year (this fall).
  4. chemdoctor

    Best Graduate programs for med school?

    As it says in the title, just wondering which ones y'all would recommend? I graduate in a year with around a 3.5/3.6ish GPA. I have the clinical experience, research, etc. I'm obviously taking a gap year so I'll be applying after I graduate but was wondering what graduate degree y'all would...
  5. chemdoctor

    The med school experience?

    Hey all, I know everyone knows about the college experience. But does that exist in medical school too? I stayed at home for college, haven't really dated much in college (at all actually) and always figured I'd do it once I get into an MD or DO program. I know there is a certain period of...
  6. chemdoctor

    Keep making silly errors on exams!

    Hello everyone. What do you guys do about dumb mistakes on exams? Like I misread or some nonsense. I went over an exam and I literally CHANGED MY ANSWER TO THE WRONG ONE. I don’t know how to STOP this How am I going to do well in med school when I can’t stop making silly errors on exams? How...
  7. chemdoctor

    Is this a downwards trend? Do I need a postbacc?

    Post bacc looks low because the generator assumes your GPA is a 0.0 if you did not pursue a post bacc. I’m still in undergrad. Also, the AO GPA for my senior year is low Bc my senior year will be all science classes. Thanks.
  8. chemdoctor

    Those without text Anxiety...

    Those of you that don’t stress or freak out over grades, when you open up the email and see a less than stellar grade, how do you react?
  9. chemdoctor

    Honest Advice: Should I give up on med school

    So I posted something like this last December and nobody really gave me a clear cut answer. Not sure what to do. cGPA is around a 3.4, same goes for sGPA or maybe a bit lower. Last semester, I got a D in Biochem. Got A's in everything else, this semester, didnt retake Biochem but got A's in...
  10. chemdoctor

    PA vs MD/DO

    So, I know there are threads about this, but I'd like some advice from people around here. I'm not the best standardized test taker. Got an 1800/2400 on the SAT etc. I really want to go into medicine. I enjoy the field, etc. I love science. I just have really bad anxiety. Like, waiting for...
  11. chemdoctor

    Competitive for DO?

    I know the DO averages range with GPA as well as MCAT. How can I ensure I’ll be competitive? I’m trying to find a DO physician to shadow
  12. chemdoctor

    Overcoming setbacks?

    How do y’all overcome setbacks? Two years ago I took Orgo for the first time. In six weeks over the summer. Didn’t do well. Had to withdraw :( retook in the fall for a C. Pulled a C in Orgo II as well. Went through a bad semester. Really disappointed and frustrated with my grades. Really mad...
  13. A

    Grade forgiveness effects?

    Hi I didn't take highschool chem and wound up with a D in Chem 1. I'm doing grade forgiveness, which will save my gpa from being affected. However, Im pretty sure the D will stay on my transcripts. How do vet schools factor this in? Do they calculate what my gpa would be with the D in there?
  14. chemdoctor

    SAT - MCAT?

    Just curious. High MCAT scorers, what were your SAT scores? I got a 1650 and an 1800 out of 2400. So not terrible but not great. Wondering if it’s possible for me to get a good MCAT score? Like I know it’s possible but do I have natural limitations I should be aware of? Please let me know...
  15. chemdoctor

    What am I missing in ECs?

    Research: tons of Orgo research. honors thesis. (maybe a pub...), presenting at an national conference soon clinical: medical assistant clinical research (I know many of you say this isn't clinical experience but I talked to an ADCOM on here and was told that what I'm doing in...
  16. A

    Where do I go from a bad semester?

    Hi, I'm a Sophomore. This semester I started off taking Calc 1, Chem 1, and Bio 2 with labs. I ended up withdrawing from Calc. Over half the class failed the first exam and it was just a mess. I thought could manage through Chem 1 without hs / intro to Chem. This was a big mistake, and I'm going...
  17. chemdoctor

    Are these good LORS?

    So for most schools I've seen, they require a minimum of TWO science faculty letters and one nonscience letter. I'll be getting a committee letter (applying next year) LETTERS: Orgo professor (doing research and a thesis with him. May lead to publication... only thing is, got a C in his...
  18. P

    Doubting myself

    Hello all! I am currently taking some post bacc courses as I have a degree in anthropology and a second one in primate behavior and ecology. I specifically chose to go that route to avoid STEM classes, but now becoming a physician developed into a burning passion, I realized I made some...
  19. chemdoctor

    Auditing a class XC on transcript?

    How does this work? I want to audit a class in the summer because I need to refresh the material. Professor said I can, and advisor said an XC will show up on my transcript. Does it affect GPA? Look bad?
  20. chemdoctor

    Presenting at ACS?

    Hello. I was wondering if anyone had presented at ACS? How is it? How is the presentation? Mine will most likely be a poster... How did y'all list this on your application? TYI! Super excited to be presenting my research!
  21. chemdoctor

    Content Review for Psych/Sociology

    Hello everyone! I have began serious MCAT prep and plan to take the exam as soon as I feel confident. I am having lots of trouble on the Psych/Sociology portion. I took these classes but although I found them easy, I never really retained the information Anyone know a good book for thorough...
  22. chemdoctor

    LOR from a professor you got a C with?

    Does it look weird to do this? What if the professor knows you and you worked with him on projects?
  23. chemdoctor

    MCAT BOOK HELP!

    I ordered Princeton Reviews "3rd edition" but the Bio and CARS books are "2nd edition" WTF!! What does that mean?! Did Amazon mess up?! Do I need to return them to get the 3rd edition?? (I know it prob doesn't make a difference but I'd like to get what I Paid for)! please help TIA
  24. chemdoctor

    What do you look for in research?

    A question to you all, when applying to medical school with research under your belt, what is the most common thing for an applicant to have? Naturally I assume it is at least a semester's worth of commitment, however, what is suppose to come out of that commitment? I believe publications are...
  25. chemdoctor

    Will adcoms view this negatively?

    I'm taking 12 credits at my four year institution, but my school won't let me take some 2000 level courses that I want to take (science courses) So, I'm taking them at a local CC. I can't take the upper division electives of these courses at my four year institution, and need this so I don't...
  26. chemdoctor

    EXAMKrackers or Kaplan or Princeton Review?

    Ordering a full box set. Shelling out over $100.00 Ideally would only have to buy one. Leaning towards Princeton but... TIA
  27. chemdoctor

    Which class to take?

    Wondering which class to take between these two. Upper division Neuro course (good professor, however only two exams make up the grade. Not the best test taker, but an easy course) Biochem II (good professor, four exams (less weight on each exam), but would prob need a bit more study time...
  28. chemdoctor

    Is this OK?

    Working on having a back up plan B. In order to do this I need to take some science courses. However, my alma Mater institution won’t let me take them because they are “2000” level courses and I’m already deep into my undergrad degree. I want to take them at a local CC but is that OK? I...
  29. chemdoctor

    Did Poorly AGAIN switching to another career. Advice?

    Hello everyone. Some of you know me on here but I’m in my Junior year (first semester) and did terribly this semester. Was kind of already on a path to “reinvention” but alas it didn’t work out. Needed an upwards trend but it’s crushed now. Biochem I: didn’t do well on the final. Likely...
  30. chemdoctor

    How to effectively know you've done good research?

    For those of you that have had interviews, I assume you've had some research experience? What kind of stuff should you be able to directly articulate and elaborate on, to show that your research experience wasn't just sitting around doing nothing? I've been doing research for the better part...
  31. chemdoctor

    Being up to date on scientific discoveries?

    What magazines are y'all reading? I feel like I'm not on point or up to date with a lot of scientific advancements. I just read whatever's on CNN. Any apps or magazines y'all can recommend? Maybe for some new chemistry discoveries?
  32. chemdoctor

    More Research?

    Been doing research for a bit in the Orgo lab. Going well, got my own project. Really wanna do research in a genetics lab. Upset that I may not be able to be in that lab. Would it help my app to have more research? Prob not right? I mean I’m moderately productive with research in my current...
  33. chemdoctor

    Finals Support Thread!

    Hey everyone. This is just a support thread for all of you to do well on your finals! What final are y'all most stressed about? For me, it'd definitely be Biochem and my upper level Neuroscience course. Try not to stress too hard. Do as well as you can everyone!
  34. chemdoctor

    Applying both MD and MD/PhD?

    just curious as to how many applicants apply to both. Also, what kind of research productivity do MD/PhD programs look for? I’m a while from applying but just curious. Have any of you done this before? How is it being in the program?
  35. chemdoctor

    What does case by case mean on MSAR?

    I was looking at some schools and noticed that it said "case by case"/ Obviously, it means that it depends but what does it depend on? Stats?
  36. K

    Spring Semester Class Schedule

    Hello, I'm a current freshman, and I'm looking for some advice on what classes I should enroll in this spring. The two options I'm thinking of are.... Linear Algebra (2) Chem 2 (5) Physics 1 (3) Differential Equations (3) English (3) For a total of 16 credit hours or Replace Differential...
  37. M

    Career Choices..

    Hi all, Bear with me here as I bring you up to speed for my question. I am a current P2 in pharmacy school and am having some serious reconsiderations for my career path. In high school, I shadowed a pharmacist and thought 'well this isn't too shabby' and from those 3 hours I foolishly decided...
  38. AortaSorta

    Changing my major to... Chemistry?

    Hi all! Forgive me if I don't do this correctly, this is my first time on this site. I was accepted as a high school senior into a 5-year PA program. I was projected to get a degree in Human Bio in 3.5 years and a masters in Physician Assistant Studies in 5. I'm a sophomore now, and after...
  39. chemdoctor

    Best Books

    Hello all, I made a post earlier about the best prep course. Now I'm wondering what MCAT BOOK SET you all would recommend? I'm leaning towards the Princeton Review newest edition that's around $135 on Amazon (comes out in a few weeks) But, i've also heard of KAPLAN being great... I feel...
  40. F

    Retaking a Chemisty Class

    How does the AAMC calculate gpa if I retake a class. I couldnt find a lot of info online. I wanted to retake gen chem (I got a B-) but I want to graduate and retake it in another college. My college has horrible chemistry teachers and people fail or do really poorly. Does it make a difference if...