Advice on Grades, please?

[Madministrator]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi all. Earlier this year, I ended up withdrawing from school for a semester to take care of a family crisis that required my immediate attention. During that semester, I had withdrawn from all my classes (including organic II, physics II, and some other random classes). Before this happened, I had semesters with GPA's 3.73, 3.35, and 3.84. However, the semester with the dip is the semester I first took ochem. Long story short, I did well up to a certain point and then bombed the final. I ended up with a flat C in the class and resolved to work harder. I was doing this perfectly fine in ochem II, but then my family crisis came up.

Is this going to look like a serious problem? Because now my AMCAS record will reflect A- in inorganic lecture and lab, a C in ochem I lecture and A in ochem I lab, and a W for ochem II no lab grade yet. I have yet to take inorganic II.

My overall GPA stands at 3.66 at the moment with a 3.4 BCPM. At the time I had to leave school, I was a second semester sophomore. When I return, I fully intend to push out some 4.0 semesters as well as a definite A in ochem II. But will that be enough? I am starting to feel like even if I end up getting the 3.8 I want before I graduate, there will be a perceived inadequacy in my chemistry grades. I would rather not take physical chemistry, but it is starting to look like I might have to. Thanks.

 

[bobodylan41]

if you come back and do as good as you say you will then you be perfectly fine. Just got to do some explaining on you applicaiton

 

[bigDee]

Hi all. Earlier this year, I ended up withdrawing from school for a semester to take care of a family crisis that required my immediate attention. During that semester, I had withdrawn from all my classes (including organic II, physics II, and some other random classes). Before this happened, I had semesters with GPA's 3.73, 3.35, and 3.84. However, the semester with the dip is the semester I first took ochem. Long story short, I did well up to a certain point and then bombed the final. I ended up with a flat C in the class and resolved to work harder. I was doing this perfectly fine in ochem II, but then my family crisis came up.

Is this going to look like a serious problem? Because now my AMCAS record will reflect A- in inorganic lecture and lab, a C in ochem I lecture and A in ochem I lab, and a W for ochem II no lab grade yet. I have yet to take inorganic II.

My overall GPA stands at 3.66 at the moment with a 3.4 BCPM. At the time I had to leave school, I was a second semester sophomore. When I return, I fully intend to push out some 4.0 semesters as well as a definite A in ochem II. But will that be enough? I am starting to feel like even if I end up getting the 3.8 I want before I graduate, there will be a perceived inadequacy in my chemistry grades. I would rather not take physical chemistry, but it is starting to look like I might have to. Thanks.

There's nothing you can do now but try and make the best grades you can. The fact that you dropped all your classes that semester looks better than just dropping ochem by itself because it's obvious now that you had something come up where you had to up and leave everything rather than you dropping it cause you suck at it. You'll be able to explain the situation in your interview. Get a 3.7+and apply when you can.

 

[NYCMS2]

So this "family crisis" actually had nothing to do with your bad semester?

My advice: stop making excuses, start making As.

And don't write about the crisis in your PS. From this point forward, make As; no need to explain anything (unless a secondary asks about a gap in your education).

 

[Madministrator]

I was doing well and on track for a 3.8+ again that semester, but I can see what you mean. Why do you think I shouldn't address what happened in my PS? It has a lot to do with my reasons for pursuing medicine.

 

[NYCMS2]

I was doing well and on track for a 3.8+ again that semester, but I can see what you mean. Why do you think I shouldn't address what happened in my PS? It has a lot to do with my reasons for pursuing medicine.

If your family has something to do with your motivation, so be it. I personally find most of PSs I read with this theme a bit cloying, but whatever.

I am saying don't use this crisis as a way to explain poor grade performance when by your own timeline it didn't.

 

[Madministrator]

Wait, what do you mean?

I take complete responsibility for that C in Ochem I. Definitely my mistake with not being fully prepared for the final. It's Ochem II that I had to leave school in.

 

[NYCMS2]

Wait, what do you mean?

I take complete responsibility for that C in Ochem I. Definitely my mistake with not being fully prepared for the final. It's Ochem II that I had to leave school in.

Why did you mention the grade drop in conjunction with a family crisis / dropping out of school in your first post? I can't be the only person who read the original post who thought you were planning to discuss the absence and grade drop in your PS.

Look, whatever...when you restart school, make As. That is my advice.

Otherwise, what are you asking? Bad grades in pre reqs are a problem - but you obviously know that. What advice do you expect other than to make As?

Or are you asking for advice on how to explain your grades, your dropping out?

Good luck. One bad grade will not sink your chances, but you have to really knuckle down now and not make any more Cs...or Bs either, for that matter...you need to make As from here on out.

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

So this "family crisis" actually had nothing to do with your bad semester?

My advice: stop making excuses, start making As.

And don't write about the crisis in your PS. From this point forward, make As; no need to explain anything (unless a secondary asks about a gap in your education).

This OP.👍