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Hi, I run a free hugs and "there there"s business. Would you like to be a client? It's college, you will survive. Resilience is probably a more important trait to develop for medical school than a ****ty A in biology. Learn to roll with the punches. Things won't get easier.
 
If need be, retake. After a D in gen chem you will probably end up counting on DO applications anyway since they allow grade replacement.
 
Check out @md-2020 's recent guide. There are plenty of others who aren't science/memorization rockstars who make it work, you shouldn't be too hard on yourself over one test.
 
Check out your school's learning or education center for help with learning styles, test taking strategies etc.



futuredoc520 said:
I don't usually post about things like this, but I feel really stupid. I studied so much for my bio 2 test on animal phys. I came out of the test feeling like I got at least a B, but I got a 75. The average was a 76. Now I'm probably not going to get an A... in bio... the one prereq where memorization is everything.

My GPA is ~3.5. I'm a sophomore and only taking 12 credits (doing research + club + sorority) so getting all As was the realistic goal here. I got a D in gem chem 1 last fall (retook, got an A), so I'm really trying not to screw up again. If I can't get an A in bio how am I going to get through the rest of prereqs...??? Feeling really s****y right now.
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Is your GPA ~3.5 with the D, or are you ignoring the D and replacing it with the A? Because M.D. schools do not do grade replacement. If you were ignoring the D, then I apologize for adding to your discouragement but that's definitely something you need to be aware of.

Now for the encouragement part: you are midway through your 3rd semester of college. You not only have plenty of time left this semester, but you have at least 5.5 semesters left to bring your GPA up (7.5, if you take a 5th year like many people do now, and like it seems you may be on pace to do). That is an eternity, especially when you consider that the 2 semesters you have completed will be greatly outweighed by the ones you have left. Don't let your past disappointments get you down; if you do, you're likely to just depressedly (not a word) mope through school and waste the rest of your chances to succeed.

Lastly, while ECs are very important, your GPA and MCAT are the most important. I would stick with the research for sure, but you should look at how you're spending the rest of your time. What is your role in this club? And what is this club? Many clubs and positions that pre-meds think will be impressive are literally worthless, so I would evaluate that. Same with the sorority. Being a high ranking officer in your chapter or IFC looks good, but I wouldn't recommend wasting a lot of time being secretary or stuff like that.
 
doctorleospaceman said:
If need be, retake. After a D in gen chem you will probably end up counting on DO applications anyway since they allow grade replacement.
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Not true. I had 3 F's my first semester, giving me a 1.0 GPA. Finished with a 3.6cGPA/3.75sGPA according to AMCAS. OP, just stay the course. Just because you have a D in your past doesn't mean much.
 
ofthesaints said:
Not true. I had 3 F's my first semester, giving me a 1.0 GPA. Finished with a 3.6cGPA/3.75sGPA according to AMCAS. OP, just stay the course. Just because you have a D in your past doesn't mean much.
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F's on an AMCAS transcript will still be counted as F's, even if your college "forgives" them. They are not removed by being re-taken, they are averaged into the total score.
 
gyngyn said:
F's on an AMCAS transcript will still be counted as F's, even if your college "forgives" them. They are not removed by being re-taken, they are averaged into the total score.
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I understand @gyngyn. That's why I made sure to add "according to AMCAS" when I listed my GPA. I just don't want OP to feel like he has no chance of being competitive for MD schools just because he had to retake a poor grade and have both of them averaged into his GPA for applications.
 
We all struggle from time to time. If you don't, you aren't human. I'm a 3.85 GPA student who just scored a 60 on my first exam in a class. But, I've been here before and I always stay the course. Just gotta work harder. Keep your head up.
 
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