BioChem advice please

[jmart]

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I'm currently taking biochem. I got off to a very rough start and got about a 54% on my first midterm which is worth 30% of my final grade. That wascurved up to a D. I don't think I did so well on my second one either. I petitioned to take the course pass/fail which was denied and I was just told I would be allowed to withdraw. This is my first W. I might be able to stick in the class and get a C- but I'm not sure right now. Should I stick with the W and retake it? Do I even have to retake it? THe problem with retaking it is that, that means I wouldn't get to mol gen before the MCAT and I really need that for the bio section. I might have to take biochem later down the road. How would all of this look?

 

[jash0624]

I'm currently taking biochem. I got off to a very rough start and got about a 54% on my first midterm which is worth 30% of my final grade. That wascurved up to a D. I don't think I did so well on my second one either. I petitioned to take the course pass/fail which was denied and I was just told I would be allowed to withdraw. This is my first W. I might be able to stick in the class and get a C- but I'm not sure right now. Should I stick with the W and retake it? Do I even have to retake it? THe problem with retaking it is that, that means I wouldn't get to mol gen before the MCAT and I really need that for the bio section. I might have to take biochem later down the road. How would all of this look?

A W is better than a C. Mol gen = Molecular genetics? I don't see why you would NEED that for the bio on the MCAT.

 

[cnoevil]

I'm currently taking biochem. I got off to a very rough start and got about a 54% on my first midterm which is worth 30% of my final grade. That wascurved up to a D. I don't think I did so well on my second one either. I petitioned to take the course pass/fail which was denied and I was just told I would be allowed to withdraw. This is my first W. I might be able to stick in the class and get a C- but I'm not sure right now. Should I stick with the W and retake it? Do I even have to retake it? THe problem with retaking it is that, that means I wouldn't get to mol gen before the MCAT and I really need that for the bio section. I might have to take biochem later down the road. How would all of this look?

tough it out and take your licks....i'm taking biochem right now without a curve and most people could not get a B even if they aced the final. We don't have the option of taking it with someone else since this teacher is the only biochemist at our school. Most schools recommend that you take at least one semester of biochem before you start. Biochem is a difficult subject and its not going to be any easier the second time around so stick with it and do your best. A C- or C is not going to kill your app...

 

[ColumbiaGuy]

Personally I would take the W if it is truly your only one and also assuming that you can buckle down and really redeem yourself next time. You definetely don't need Molecular Genetics for the MCAT, but I would recommend taking that and biochem (if you do drop it) before med school. Most schools are accepting of 1 to 2 W's but more than that is a red flag. A C- can really damper a GPA and it looks bad especially at the end of your degree when you should be accelling before med school starts.

 

[xpinchx]

I'm guessing you're either 3rd or 4th year. Showing a decrease in grades over time looks pretty bad even if your GPA is decent. If you really think you could buckle down and try harder next time, retake it. If not, cut your losses and try to finish strongly.

 

[ClockworkDoc]

You really should not need upper level courses to take the MCAT. Use the Kaplan complete review and Exam Krackers to study for the MCAT, I found them very helpful. Take a W and repeat. Protect that GPA.

 

[PEN15]

I got a C in biochem when I took it in my sophomore year. I wish I had taken the W because that sure killed my GPA; not like my GPA was that good to begin with.

 

[cnoevil]

I got a C in biochem when I took it in my sophomore year. I wish I had taken the W because that sure killed my GPA; not like my GPA was that good to begin with.

and now you are an m1 who got a C in biochem...ppl need to chill the f-out. To all of those 3.7+ types, good luck getting a W approved in med school.

 

[maygrl110]

Take the W!!! No problem with one W if you retake it and prove that you can do well...it would hurt so, so much more if you allow it to damage your GPA...that's what counts the most along with the MCATS...how many W's you have is secondary to that. I had 4 W's and never was even asked about it at my interviews and I did fine (most were in PE courses, really stupid of me)...but only one was in a real science course-O chem lab. I retook it my last semester and did well, proving that I could do it. Then, you would just explain to the schools that you were having a tough semester and couldn't give this course the necessary time/attention it deserved, but retook it and did well. It's no biggie to have a W...don't worry!

 

[jmart]

Im offically going to take the W, I'm just not sure what to do about next quarter. The professor is supposed ot be a lot worse. I was supposed to take the MCAT this summer but I couldn't give it my all due to taking my last o chem. My bio section was very week and I didn't know any of the genetic on there. If I don't take mol gen now I will have to wait until next fall to take it.

 

[PEN15]

and now you are an m1 who got a C in biochem...ppl need to chill the f-out. To all of those 3.7+ types, good luck getting a W approved in med school.

I also have a W in genetics 🙂 ... I know quite a few people who got into a US allo school with a C or a W here and there. It's no big deal. I also know people who have high GPA's and got in nowhere. This whole process is very random.