A C????? oh man.....

[Beau Geste]

---

Members do not see this ad.

okay guys, I need your help...

I ended up getting a C in Physics II. :cry: The material wasn't necessarily hard (and I'm pulling 11-12 on my practice PS sections) but I've been dealing with chronic hives since last September that have been getting progressively worse. There were many class days I spent in the ER or at my allergist's office getting treated or tested (STILL haven't found the culprit!). I had a B at mid-term so I didn't drop!

So now I have 2 options:

1. Take the C - my only C since freshman year many moons ago (umm 12-13 years ago). Not really affecting my GPA, but it's still a C.

2. Take an incomplete and re-take Physics II next Spring.

My practice MCATs are ranging 33-35 at the moment and I'm doing well in the PS sections.

I'm half tempted to just take the C and be done with it, but I really need advice. The rest of my grades are 2 B's and the rest A's for my post-bacc.

I already e-mailed the prof to see if there's anything extra I can do over the summer, but no response yet.

I'm applying to both osteo and allo schools, but I hate posting in the pre-allo thread with all the jerks over there.

 

[spicedmanna]

okay guys, I need your help...

I ended up getting a C in Physics II. :cry: The material wasn't necessarily hard (and I'm pulling 11-12 on my practice PS sections) but I've been dealing with chronic hives since last September that have been getting progressively worse. There were many class days I spent in the ER or at my allergist's office getting treated or tested (STILL haven't found the culprit!). I had a B at mid-term so I didn't drop!

So now I have 2 options:

1. Take the C - my only C since freshman year many moons ago (umm 12-13 years ago). Not really affecting my GPA, but it's still a C.

2. Take an incomplete and re-take Physics II next Spring.

My practice MCATs are ranging 33-35 at the moment and I'm doing well in the PS sections.

I'm half tempted to just take the C and be done with it, but I really need advice. The rest of my grades are 2 B's and the rest A's for my post-bacc.

I already e-mailed the prof to see if there's anything extra I can do over the summer, but no response yet.

I'm applying to both osteo and allo schools, but I hate posting in the pre-allo thread with all the jerks over there.

Hey, Meg, I'm so sorry about your predicament, and I understand your concern. 🙁

The C will probably stick out, especially since it's in a prereq, but given your other elements, it will probably cause minimal damage to your profile. I honestly think that the worst that will happen as a result of this is that interviewers will probe you about it and ask you to address it. I'm not sure what an incomplete means at your school. I wouldn't take the incomplete if it's a permanent notation on your transcript, because that designation is ambiguous and is open to interpretation, often negative. It has the possibility of appearing worse. If it's only a temporary thing and you can complete the class later with a grade, then it might be worth considering, to get a better grade. But still, it's an incomplete, and it is subject to interpretation. Be prepared to explain it at an interview, though.

I think that retaking the class will have minimal benefit, since you are applying this cycle. You will update them with your Fall grades, I'm sure, but hopefully you'll already be interviewing by then. I just don't see that C as a major sticking point. Anyway, it's hard to predict the impact, since I'm not an adcom. I'd think you should be okay, whether you choose to retake it or not. Of course it certainly wouldn't hurt to retake it for an A (obviously it can only help), if you have the time and feel like it. Chill though. I don't think that the blow to your application is that severe. Just be able to address it if it comes up during an interview.

Good luck. I hope this helps your decision process. Follow your gut on this. Do what you feel will be the most optimal.

 

[bigdog8829]

if you're posting in the d.o. forum with intentions of going to d.o. school i'd be more worried about NOT scoring as high on your mcat bc with those numbers i'd be worried d.o. schools wouldn't take me seriously 🙂

I would just take the grade. I also had one C on my transcript; it was also from junior year. I just took it, and was ready to explain it on interviews. It only came up once out of 6.

 

[Beau Geste]

Thanks guys for your advice. It was really a bummer getting that news today and I freaked out!

I had some C's my freshman and sophomore years of college, too (12-13 years ago!) but I was also dealing with cancer and treatments then. And now the chronic hives really put a damper on my semester.

I was planning to address my cancer in my PS and now I think I should mention my hives, too. It's been pretty debilitating since last September (lots of missed school, hospitalizations and time off of work).

Again, thank you so much for replying to my predicament in such a helpful way. Pre-osteo rocks!

Oh - and I see osteo schools in the same light as allo schools. A doctor is a doctor is a doctor 😀

 

[scpod]

...I'm half tempted to just take the C and be done with it, but I really need advice. The rest of my grades are 2 B's and the rest A's for my post-bacc....

Take the MCAT. If it's good, it's likely that the one C won't matter. You can explain it away due to extraordinary circumstances. Lots of people in med school made a C in one course or another. The ones you made 12 or 13 years ago really don't matter that much at all. Be very careful, though, about trying to explain it in your PS. I wouldn't really recommend that. Save your PS for some really good positive stuff; be prepared to defend your C at interviews. Good Luck !!!

 

[Beau Geste]

Thanks scpod. That's pretty much where I'm at right now in my attitude. I'm glad you could confirm it though!

 

[RollWave11]

i got a number of Cs (of all varieties in sciences classes) as well as a D and I still managed 2 acceptances in DO schools, and 2 in MD schools...dont freak out at all! To make up for it I did an SMP and turned things around. I'd say thats your worst case scenario.

 

[MedStudentWanna]

I was planning to address my cancer in my PS and now I think I should mention my hives, too. It's been pretty debilitating since last September (lots of missed school, hospitalizations and time off of work).

Don't mention the hives in your PS. If you weren't already mentioning the cancer, I'd say do it, but since you are, it'll sound like you're making excuses. Just write about the cancer and defend the C when/if asked about it at interviews.

 

[Beau Geste]

Don't mention the hives in your PS. If you weren't already mentioning the cancer, I'd say do it, but since you are, it'll sound like you're making excuses. Just write about the cancer and defend the C when/if asked about it at interviews.

Thanks for this bit of advice. The last thing I want to do is make excuses 😳.

These hives have been living hell, though - I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy. Ok, maybe my worst, like the incompetent tire and lube guys at walmart .