bad science grades...

[Rx0]

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I have really bad science grades.

C's in GBIO and a D in GChem.

I am definitely retaking GChem and I know I could have done well (I had to miss a lot of classes because my babies and I got really sick this past spring semester).

But what about my biology classes? Should I retake them as well?
I also do not think that it helps that I am attending community college (for tuition purposes. I transferred from CU at Denver)

A friend of mine says that it UCHSC accepts about 2% of students from community colleges.

Any help and advices would be greatly appreciated. I've been wanting to become a pharmacist since 8th grade!

 

[ChemistWiz]

I have really bad science grades.

C's in GBIO and a D in GChem.

I am definitely retaking GChem and I know I could have done well (I had to miss a lot of classes because my babies and I got really sick this past spring semester).

But what about my biology classes? Should I retake them as well?
I also do not think that it helps that I am attending community college (for tuition purposes. I transferred from CU at Denver)

A friend of mine says that it UCHSC accepts about 2% of students from community colleges.

Any help and advices would be greatly appreciated. I've been wanting to become a pharmacist since 8th grade!

Firstly, welcome to SDN


Secondly, retake both, starting off bad in the general sciences will look bad. it doesn't matter if you came from a CC as long as you meet the pre reqs and have a good GPA and PCAT score. So work on that GPA and try to balance your life with school. Good luck👍

 

[chemguy79]

They key thing is understanding why you performed poorly in your classes. Did you not do your homework? Did you perform poorly on exams? Did you have a deleterious personal event? These are big questions to understand before retaking the classes.

In your case, you had a personal event which caused problems. Is there anything that you can do that would prevent that situation from repeating itself? Good luck!

 

[Rx0]

Thanks for the responses.

I really don't plan on retaking anymore classes

But so far, I'm retaking 3 science courses, how bad would that look on my transcript?

 

[rlau929]

Thanks for the responses.

I really don't plan on retaking anymore classes

But so far, I'm retaking 3 science courses, how bad would that look on my transcript?

As long as you improve dramatically, then it shows maturity. Was there any critical circumstances that made you perform poorly, or was it just not doing well?

 

[RickyRicardoFC]

retake both! kill them!🙂 also... pay no attention to those stats...I too (as many people) thought that going to a community college would look bad (as I am Canadian and college here is a joke). Remember that those 2 percent admitted from community college is a STAT, and NOT a quota! If going to a community college is the most cost effective way to get your education and take care of your family... there is no way admissions would think of you any less. Just focus on acing these courses! Goodluck!!

 

[Passion4Sci]

retake both! kill them!🙂 also... pay no attention to those stats...I too (as many people) thought that going to a community college would look bad (as I am Canadian and college here is a joke). Remember that those 2 percent admitted from community college is a STAT, and NOT a quota! If going to a community college is the most cost effective way to get your education and take care of your family... there is no way admissions would think of you any less. Just focus on acing these courses! Goodluck!!

I'd caution against a statement like "There is no way admissions..." because, quite frankly, we have no idea what they think. We can guess, but that kind of statement is dangerous. There are obviously a lot of AdCom that look down on community colleges - Just look at how blatant USC is about it. They may not represent the majority, but what if other colleges felt the same, just weren't so overt about it?

I love the CC system and think it's amazing, but that statement really bugs me because it's patently false.

 

[Rx0]

They key thing is understanding why you performed poorly in your classes. Did you not do your homework? Did you perform poorly on exams? Did you have a deleterious personal event? These are big questions to understand before retaking the classes.

In your case, you had a personal event which caused problems. Is there anything that you can do that would prevent that situation from repeating itself? Good luck!

As long as you improve dramatically, then it shows maturity. Was there any critical circumstances that made you perform poorly, or was it just not doing well?

I'm a mother of two babies who just recently turned 2 and the other will turn 1 in a few days.

So I've been taking care of infants the first year of my school.

It was hard to adjust going to school and taking care of two babies, especially during the second semester (this past spring semester) because we all caught the flu.

I know for sure I could have gotten an A in chem, I averaged out my grades, it was only because I had missed so many labs and exams from my absences. And the only way my teacher would have let me make up the labs and exams were if I had a doctor's note, but I don't have health insurance, so my babies and I had to ride out the flu at home for 3 weeks.
I tried to go to school a few times during those sick days, but I ended up going late or leaving early.

Biology was hard for me, It's going to have to take a lot more studying the second time around.

But I'm thinking, it can only get easier for me to study because my babies are becoming more independent and playing with each other instead of needing my attention the whole time

 

[RickyRicardoFC]

@passion 4 sci
Yeah, my bad... I just mean in that situation. If she were to explain her situation as she has here in her application or in an interview... they won't disqualify her based on the fact that she has kids to take care of so CC is the only way she can take classes and raise her family. That being said... you have to become stronger in other areas... volunteer/work experience because of the bad grades. Yeah, you're right... there's no absolute way of telling what they look for, but at the same time.. do you really think they're that big of monsters? How dare she buckle down and commit/raise her family!

 

[R2pharmD2]

@passion 4 sci
Yeah, my bad... I just mean in that situation. If she were to explain her situation as she has here in her application or in an interview... they won't disqualify her based on the fact that she has kids to take care of so CC is the only way she can take classes and raise her family. That being said... you have to become stronger in other areas... volunteer/work experience because of the bad grades. Yeah, you're right... there's no absolute way of telling what they look for, but at the same time.. do you really think they're that big of monsters? How dare she buckle down and commit/raise her family!

As a parent, I totally understand where she is coming from. But don't think that they'll automatically give her a free pass since she has kids. If she can't make arrangements to keep up with her classes and take care of her kids (barring a hospitalization, death in the family, etc.), then she really isn't in a good position to be in pharmacy school anyway. That may sound cold, but if it's an issue in undergrad, how much more of an issue will it be in pharmacy school?

 

[Rx0]

@passion 4 sci
Yeah, my bad... I just mean in that situation. If she were to explain her situation as she has here in her application or in an interview... they won't disqualify her based on the fact that she has kids to take care of so CC is the only way she can take classes and raise her family. That being said... you have to become stronger in other areas... volunteer/work experience because of the bad grades. Yeah, you're right... there's no absolute way of telling what they look for, but at the same time.. do you really think they're that big of monsters? How dare she buckle down and commit/raise her family!

I got accepted to intern as a tech at a retail pharmacy startin in August and by the time I apply, I would have about 2-3 years of experience and hopefully, that'll work in my favor.

As a parent, I totally understand where she is coming from. But don't think that they'll automatically give her a free pass since she has kids. If she can't make arrangements to keep up with her classes and take care of her kids (barring a hospitalization, death in the family, etc.), then she really isn't in a good position to be in pharmacy school anyway. That may sound cold, but if it's an issue in undergrad, how much more of an issue will it be in pharmacy school?

I'm not going to try and get a pity admission (not that it would even be possible anyway). I understand how rigourous undergrad and pharmacy school will be.

Honestly, I don't think I'm in a good position to be going to any school. But I'm determined to. I don't want to start school when I'm almost 30. I want to have my career started by then.

By the time I apply to pharmacy school, my babies will be in preschool-kindergarten, and I am hoping that will work in my favor and give me more time to study/work (if accepted..)

I'm not a science person at all. But I am interested in anatomy and how chemicals, environmental factors, medicine, etc., affect the human body. But, if I don't get accepted, I'll be changing my major to psychology and/or english.

But, now that I know what going to school is like while taking care of babies, I know I can do better here on out. And they are becoming more independent-playing together instead of needing my attention the whole day.

SO..if these 3 science classes are the last retakes ever, and all other grades I receive are A's, and B's (hopefully mostly A's) and I kill the PCAT's, I really hope I have a fighting chance at the pharmacy school I want to go to (Yep, I'm only applying to one school ).

 

[Passion4Sci]

I got accepted to intern as a tech at a retail pharmacy startin in August and by the time I apply, I would have about 2-3 years of experience and hopefully, that'll work in my favor.



I'm not going to try and get a pity admission (not that it would even be possible anyway). I understand how rigourous undergrad and pharmacy school will be.

Honestly, I don't think I'm in a good position to be going to any school. But I'm determined to. I don't want to start school when I'm almost 30. I want to have my career started by then.

By the time I apply to pharmacy school, my babies will be in preschool-kindergarten, and I am hoping that will work in my favor and give me more time to study/work (if accepted..)

I'm not a science person at all. But I am interested in anatomy and how chemicals, environmental factors, medicine, etc., affect the human body. But, if I don't get accepted, I'll be changing my major to psychology and/or english.

But, now that I know what going to school is like while taking care of babies, I know I can do better here on out. And they are becoming more independent-playing together instead of needing my attention the whole day.

SO..if these 3 science classes are the last retakes ever, and all other grades I receive are A's, and B's (hopefully mostly A's) and I kill the PCAT's, I really hope I have a fighting chance at the pharmacy school I want to go to (Yep, I'm only applying to one school ).

Putting all your eggs in one basket! Well, on the upshot for that strategy, you can build it into your PS + Supplemental essays if applicable.

 

[phathead]

@passion 4 sci
Yeah, my bad... I just mean in that situation. If she were to explain her situation as she has here in her application or in an interview... they won't disqualify her based on the fact that she has kids to take care of so CC is the only way she can take classes and raise her family. That being said... you have to become stronger in other areas... volunteer/work experience because of the bad grades. Yeah, you're right... there's no absolute way of telling what they look for, but at the same time.. do you really think they're that big of monsters? How dare she buckle down and commit/raise her family!

First off, there are many CCs that are really an extension of high school. I have tutored people who are taking "General Chemistry" at CCs and it is by no means of the same intensity as at a university in our area. You can't make a blanket statement in that case, because the CCs here are not equivalent, no matter what your circumstance.

And my school does not cut me any breaks because I spent most of my first year raising an infant. In fact, they told me they expected me to fail and not survive the rest of the year. Pharm schools can be rather cut throat and, in my experience, some really don't give a rip about your personal life as long as you can survive the program.

 

[Passion4Sci]

First off, there are many CCs that are really an extension of high school. I have tutored people who are taking "General Chemistry" at CCs and it is by no means of the same intensity as at a university in our area. You can't make a blanket statement in that case, because the CCs here are not equivalent, no matter what your circumstance.

And my school does not cut me any breaks because I spent most of my first year raising an infant. In fact, they told me they expected me to fail and not survive the rest of the year. Pharm schools can be rather cut throat and, in my experience, some really don't give a rip about your personal life as long as you can survive the program.

The bolded statement translates into "as you can pay the ridiculous tuition." =]

 

[pharmerbird]

Personally I think you should only retake general biology if you didn't grasp any of the information. You have more prereqs to go to help boost your grade. Take this as a learning experience of the mistakes you did that contributed to the bad grades and push on.