Hi guys, this is my first post here. I was wondering how bad it would look to medical schools admission committees if I had two withdrawals in Organic Chem 2. I go to a traditional 4-year college and my GPA is above a 3.6 overall and I feel like the rest of my schedule this semester is fairly challenging. I withdrew from organic 2 in the spring of 2009, but I am retaking it now and currently have a C+ so far in the course. The only reason I am thinking about withdrawing is because I don't want a C in ochem 2 and I haven't had a C in 2.5 years of college. Any opinions are appreciated.
2 Withdrawals in the same class...
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W's in the same class is not good. But, you can make something up as to why you dropped it a second time. Family problems, etc.
A C+ is a C+. If you take it again and get an A, then I think you will be fine because it looks like you were not trying to get out of the class.
A C+ is a C+. If you take it again and get an A, then I think you will be fine because it looks like you were not trying to get out of the class.
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I'd finish out and do whatever it takes to make it a B-. As said, 2 Ws in 1 class is going to make an adcom wonder and if you've already withdrawn once and are getting a C+ 2nd time around, what makes you so sure you'd do any better a 3rd time? I'd stick it out. Your GPAs good so this won't hurt you terribly (although itll certainly make a dent). Maybe you could take 1 sem biochem class later and ace it to show you can excel in related areas that rely in part on chem concepts.
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I'd say 2 W's in the same class, particularly an important class like Organic, might raise some red flags. Even if you got an A when you took it a 3rd time, it might be an A*, since it was your 3rd time seeing some of the material.
This is just conjecture though. Personally I'd stick with it and see if I could jump into the B range.
This is just conjecture though. Personally I'd stick with it and see if I could jump into the B range.
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W's are bad in general. Worse in a class like ochem. Terrible if you do it twice for the same class. I'd take the C+ and move on. That is provided that you don't have some extenuating circumstance for withdrawing (family death, illness requiring hospitalization, etc.)
plus your gpa could probably withstand ONE C+.
plus your gpa could probably withstand ONE C+.
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When you say that you have a C+ so far in the course, it makes me think that it means that you still have room to improve that. E.g. a C+ is not necessarily what you'd be left with if you ace the rest of the exams. So my advice is to give it everything to bring that C+ to some kind of B (B- perhaps?). I would say put in the work to get it to a B- even if it means slightly neglecting another class. Its not a situation I would want to be in whatever the outcome, but you have to go for the one that is least damaging. And that is the B grade. Dropping it again would create some issues. Also, do not make up stories/lies. Always tell the truth and hopefully someone will eventually see you for who you are and accept you. Learn how to explain the situation so that others understand what you were going through, but do not resort to lies. There's always a better way with the truth.
Also, maybe you should look into some O Chem review books offered by MCAT prep companies. It may be an effective way to prepare for the class although I thought the textbook by Wade was good.
Point is that you're doing something wrong and that you need to figure out what this is by trying something different.
Also, maybe you should look into some O Chem review books offered by MCAT prep companies. It may be an effective way to prepare for the class although I thought the textbook by Wade was good.
Point is that you're doing something wrong and that you need to figure out what this is by trying something different.
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When you say that you have a C+ so far in the course, it makes me think that it means that you still have room to improve that. E.g. a C+ is not necessarily what you'd be left with if you ace the rest of the exams. So my advice is to give it everything to bring that C+ to some kind of B (B- perhaps?). I would say put in the work to get it to a B- even if it means slightly neglecting another class. Its not a situation I would want to be in whatever the outcome, but you have to go for the one that is least damaging. And that is the B grade. Dropping it again would create some issues. Also, do not make up stories/lies. Always tell the truth and hopefully someone will eventually see you for who you are and accept you. Learn how to explain the situation so that others understand what you were going through, but do not resort to lies. There's always a better way with the truth.
Also, maybe you should look into some O Chem review books offered by MCAT prep companies. It may be an effective way to prepare for the class although I thought the textbook by Wade was good.
Point is that you're doing something wrong and that you need to figure out what this is by trying something different.
Also, maybe you should look into some O Chem review books offered by MCAT prep companies. It may be an effective way to prepare for the class although I thought the textbook by Wade was good.
Point is that you're doing something wrong and that you need to figure out what this is by trying something different.
N
njbmd
Unless the OP dropped everything else, outside problems won't "wash" in this situation. Two drops in organic is a huge red flag. If the OP struggled the first time around, he/she should have cut a "wide-berth" for Organic the second time around and aced it.
Two withdrawals in the same class will look exactly like withdrawing to avoid a low grade as the OP is considering withdrawing because they are likely to receive a low grade. The question is can the OP recover from two withdrawals to avoid low grades? This will depend on rest of their application which is yet to be filled in.
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If you literally ace it, I'd expect your outstanding performance in a related and more advanced course to at least partially allay the concerns over your trouble with ochem 2. It would certainly make a good impression. Of course, if you end up withdrawing from biochem after this episode of dubious performance in ochem 2, it will only confirm and reinforce their fears.
