B+ in "organic chemistry" for Top 10/20

[angryeggtart]

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My predicament is: I'm a sophomore in college on the pre-medical track. I got a B+ in the "organic chem" equivalent in my school. This is the only B+ I have on my entire transcript throughout college - I have A's in other relevant coursework: calculus, physics I, gen chemistry 1 and 2, human physiology, statistics, computing (I'm minoring in statistics), and gen bio 1 and 2. The lecture part is where I got a B+ (3 credits), and the lab part is where I got an A (2 credits). This track of organic chemistry at my school is just super unique and accelerated, and I just didn't really click with the teaching style until later, when I really started grinding organic chemistry. I am taking some more lighter electives next semester so I can dedicate more time to the next course.

My current GPA is 3.88, and my GPA for my previous 2 semesters have been both 4.0. I know that medical school is still not entirely out of the question for me - if I keep up my current work ethic, I can definitely get into an MD/DO program. However, I am concerned about whether getting into a top medical school is still possible for me (top 10/20 - think Harvard, UCSF, UCLA, Emory, Yale, Duke, etc. ), as I know that I want to specialize in the future and work in research.

Also, if anyone has some good resources on how to get really good at organic chemistry and learning MO theory, that would be awesome 🙂

Thanks a lot!

 

[AJS59]

My predicament is: I'm a sophomore in college on the pre-medical track. I got a B+ in the "organic chem" equivalent in my school. This is the only B+ I have on my entire transcript throughout college - I have A's in other relevant coursework: calculus, physics I, gen chemistry 1 and 2, human physiology, statistics, computing (I'm minoring in statistics), and gen bio 1 and 2. The lecture part is where I got a B+ (3 credits), and the lab part is where I got an A (2 credits). This track of organic chemistry at my school is just super unique and accelerated, and I just didn't really click with the teaching style until later, when I really started grinding organic chemistry. I am taking some more lighter electives next semester so I can dedicate more time to the next course.

My current GPA is 3.88, and my GPA for my previous 2 semesters have been both 4.0. I know that medical school is still not entirely out of the question for me - if I keep up my current work ethic, I can definitely get into an MD/DO program. However, I am concerned about whether getting into a top medical school is still possible for me (top 10/20 - think Harvard, UCSF, UCLA, Emory, Yale, Duke, etc. ), as I know that I want to specialize in the future and work in research.

Also, if anyone has some good resources on how to get really good at organic chemistry and learning MO theory, that would be awesome 🙂

Thanks a lot!

Let's take this a few steps back:

1. You are by no means in a hole here. A 3.88 is still a stellar GPA, even for these top schools. More importantly, you're a sophomore — that means you have a lot of time left still to raise your GPA higher — although at your end of the scale, any improvements are likely to be on the margins
2. Going to a T10/T20 is not at all required for specialization in the future (frankly, you can do that coming from any MD and most DO schools) nor is it a requirement to be able to do research — there are many institutions not traditionally in the "T20" that can still prepare you very well for research
3. Highly recommend the organic chemistry tutor videos for watching different reaction classes, and most importantly practicing as many problems as possible.

 

[Goro]

You're fine!!!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums.

Ask your questions on understanding molecular orbital theory to the MCAT forum. Just kick butt on Organic 2.

You will hear us tell you that grades are important but are part of an overall holistic assessment. Furthermore, "top 10" or bust will involve 30+ schools to consider. A lot of people with super stats will post regularly about how they got ghosted by their 30+ school list (which includes all those top 10s). Don't become that person.

 

[AsclepiusAdvisingLLC]

My predicament is: I'm a sophomore in college on the pre-medical track. I got a B+ in the "organic chem" equivalent in my school. This is the only B+ I have on my entire transcript throughout college - I have A's in other relevant coursework: calculus, physics I, gen chemistry 1 and 2, human physiology, statistics, computing (I'm minoring in statistics), and gen bio 1 and 2. The lecture part is where I got a B+ (3 credits), and the lab part is where I got an A (2 credits). This track of organic chemistry at my school is just super unique and accelerated, and I just didn't really click with the teaching style until later, when I really started grinding organic chemistry. I am taking some more lighter electives next semester so I can dedicate more time to the next course.

My current GPA is 3.88, and my GPA for my previous 2 semesters have been both 4.0. I know that medical school is still not entirely out of the question for me - if I keep up my current work ethic, I can definitely get into an MD/DO program. However, I am concerned about whether getting into a top medical school is still possible for me (top 10/20 - think Harvard, UCSF, UCLA, Emory, Yale, Duke, etc. ), as I know that I want to specialize in the future and work in research.

Also, if anyone has some good resources on how to get really good at organic chemistry and learning MO theory, that would be awesome 🙂

Thanks a lot!

Hardly a predicament, especially if your performance is what you say it is.

Something that strikes me is that you say that you want to go to a top school b/c " I know that I want to specialize in the future and work in research" The first thing I'll say is that you don't need to go to a top school to specialize and work in research. It won't hurt, but it's not necessary. Nor is it sufficient, that is to say just because you go to a T10-20, that you'll be able to specialize and work in research.

Specialization is becoming more and more common. Almost every resident I've worked with is moving towards a specialty via fellowship and/or expecting to do ContEd to specialize.

As for research, this is a little vague. Physicians can work in research with a wide variety of schools, in private or public sector, etc. You don't need to put yourself into a T10-20 for a research job.

That being said- I'm not gonna tell you to not apply to T10-20 if you want to go, but don't think that your only pathway is through a T10-20.

A GPA of 3.88 doesn't even show up on the acceptance grid chart( https://www.aamc.org/media/6091/download ), you're in the broad "Greater than 3.79" I wouldn't worry about it but you're only a sophomore, so you'll want to make sure that you can maintain that high performance for the next few years. If you've got As, then a B+ in Org isn't going to hurt you.

Of course, you'll want to make sure that you've got very strong Orgo foundations for the MCAT. A high GPA will not carry you as far without a good to high MCAT. Check out the chart I linked, if you want to see a rough probability for various GPA and MCAT combos.