Advice for finishing prerequisite science courses

[TarheelGirlx3]

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So my freshman year of college I took Gen chem I and II, (B class & B- lab,& C+ class, B- lab), and general biology (B+ class, C lab). After getting these grades I basically gave up on anything science related and didnt take a science class my entire sophomore year. At that point I decided I could do it, and added a BA in bio major. With that I was required to double up on classes in bio to complete the major. I am also a BA in psyc major. My fall of junior year I had 2 4 credit hour bio courses, both on the same day. I think I tried to take on too much too fast because I hadn't worked on my study methods, I did poorly on the 1st exam in each class, basically went into a state of depression, and ended with a C and C+ in the courses killing my GPA. The spring semester rolled around and I told myself I had to do better. At the start of that spring semester I also found out my mom had cancer, and she was receiving treatments at the hospital at my university. Point being, with all that stress I pulled a B- in an upper level bio and an A- in anatomy and physiology. This summer I took a 5 credit hour physiology course online and made an A. My dreams of applying to med school are now in full force, but I still need upper level chem courses and physics. In order to take them I am considering staying at my university and I would have to go part time (no more than 8 hours a semester/summer) and take the courses. If I did well in these, assuming 8 hrs a semester, would that even look good since these are the only courses I have? Any advice here for how I should proceed. I intend to do well for my senior year, which I am about to start. Any help at ALL would be appreciated. I am running out of time, and at this point I don't think a masters is an option because of those poor science grades to begin with, and all I have good to go on right now is 3 courses. Thanks in advance guys!

 

[TarheelGirlx3]

And I should mention, those courses I made a C and C+ in fall of junior year was C in ecology and evolution and C+ in genetics/molecular biology. I am more worried about a poor grade in genetics versus the ecology/evolution. My reasoning was to take a higher level of the same thing and do well to compensate. This semester I am taking a 400 level bio course called laboratory experiments in genetics, for example.

 

[angemon89]

Seems like you will have a hard time getting in anywhere. What's your GPA?

 

[TarheelGirlx3]

3.275..not horrible compared to other people I've seen wanting to apply, but certainly not competitive at this point. After getting the C and C+ my gpa went down to 3.1 and after 1 semester and a summer class increased to where it is now. Just wondering if when I go to take orgo. physics, and other upper level science classes would it look like an upward trend, assuming I do very well? Do upward trends from Cs and Bs to As and Bs with a lower gpa as a result have some merit? Say my science gpa was a 3.2 (hypothetically speaking) because I was making lower grades, then started consistently making As/Bs?

 

[theseeker4]

3.275..not horrible compared to other people I've seen wanting to apply, but certainly not competitive at this point. After getting the C and C+ my gpa went down to 3.1 and after 1 semester and a summer class increased to where it is now. Just wondering if when I go to take orgo. physics, and other upper level science classes would it look like an upward trend, assuming I do very well? Do upward trends from Cs and Bs to As and Bs with a lower gpa as a result have some merit? Say my science gpa was a 3.2 (hypothetically speaking) because I was making lower grades, then started consistently making As/Bs?

An upward trend is better than a flat trend which is better than a downward trend when comparing applicants with the same GPA. Statistically you would not have the same chance with, say, a 3.4 as the applicant with a 3.6 even if your final three semesters are at a 4.0 (some schools choose to ignore older grades if recent course work is very strong, but these are exceptions). The upward trend will, however, improve your GPA (obviously), demonstrate your ability as a student able to handle the science classes, and show willingness to strive for better grades which demonstrates dedication.

You have to get the A, a B won't cut it. A B is a 3.0, so each B you get is moving you away from being competitive. You will also need to show you can handle a full course load. Being able to get a 4.0 when only taking one or two classes a semester won't prove your abilities to adcoms unless you are also working full time. They need to see you can excel with a full course load, which you are not doing by taking two classes at a time unless you are also busy with full time employment.

Perfect your study habits, get a 4.0 for a few semesters in a row as you finish your pre reqs, then start thinking about the MCAT.

 

[TarheelGirlx3]

Thanks, I would be working full time while taking those 8 hours a semester because I would need to pay for them, on top of living expenses obviously. At this point I think that even while making all As, DO would be more realistic, don't you think?

 

[theseeker4]

Thanks, I would be working full time while taking those 8 hours a semester because I would need to pay for them, on top of living expenses obviously. At this point I think that even while making all As, DO would be more realistic, don't you think?

Yes, DO schools are more forgiving of lower grades so they are easier to gain acceptance into when facing GPA repair. It is also faster to improve your GPA at DO schools since retakes replace prior grades, instead of both grades being counted as they are for MD schools.

 

[TarheelGirlx3]

That's what I've been trying to figure out. I saw that you report both grades when you retake one, but does that mean only the highest counts?

 

[Ashley1989]

For DO they take the most recent grade, for MD they factor in both. I'm not sure if this is an accurate way to describe it for MD, but say you get a "C" in a 4 unit class and then retake to get an "A", some people say that when you put in both they will "average out" to a B but thats not exactly accurate, its 4 credits at a "C" and 4 credits at an "A" into the total GPA. Also keep in mind the more credits you have at an average/below average score, the harder it will be to raise up. Say you had 150 credits at a 3.0, it will be harder to raise up to a 3.5 than if you had 50 credits at a 3.0 because each class is only between 3-5 credits. You can always take padding classes that you KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt you will get an A in, but I would say that from now on you can NOT under any circumstances afford to get anything other than an A because that will increase the credit pool at a non competitive average, making it even harder to pull up.

I may be wrong and someone please correct me if I am, this is just my understanding of it. I actually kind of hope I misunderstood it, because I'm doing GPA repair now and man is it depressing. Haha

Also, retake the poor grades and it will do wonders for your GPA for DO. You can do it! 🙂 good luck!

 

[TarheelGirlx3]

Thanks for the help, I think you are accurate in what you said 🙂