C grade in postbac and chances

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Mytime2017

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Hi all,

I'm currently in a predicament where I need your advice.i completed undergrad 3 years ago with a 3.1 (with upward trend in my sciences such as A's in biochem, etc).

I decided to do a second bachelors to raise my gpa. For the past several years, I ended up receiving nothing less than a b plus with multiple As in upper division sciences.

Today, unfortunately, I received saddening news. As I missed an immunology final last semester because of sickness, I took a make up for the class. I ended up failing the final (I realized that not being in the class for several months impacted my score despite studying appropriately for it) which brought down my grade from a B plus to a C.

I will thus be receiving a C in the course. I would like to know if I have really messed up my chances now to get into med school ( I had a 3.75 postbac until then and have a 40 mcat with an overall gpa of 3.4). I was doing this postbac for academic enhancement reasons(several c's in prerequisites in ug) thus I am very very concerned and worried. Will this essentially ruin my chances of getting into med school? Because of my mcat and high earlier postbac grades, I was even aiming for some top private--columbia, etc. has this grade ruined those chances as well?

Your clarification on what I need to do would be greatly appreciated.
 
Not ideal to have a c in upper level science class as post bacc but all you should is make sure your post bacc gpa ends up high and hope ad coms will Look at gpa s and not individual course selection (at least not until an interview has been granted)
 
Thank you for your response! I definitely plan on taking a couple more courses to balance out this bad postbac grade. Do you think it would be better to request a withdrawal in this case or keep the C ( my school has a policy where we can request a retroactive withdrawal provided we have sufficient grounds)?

Your thoughts would be helpful
 
I guess so but would they really grant u one considering you already took your final?
 
You have a 40 MCAT. You don't have to worry about the C AT ALL, especially with the mostly upward trend. Just get ready to get a ton of interviews.
 
Darkeon: I was told that if I have appropriate documentation (which I have as I missed the original exam due to a medical issue), then I would have a shot (I just took the final and received the grade)

Heartsink: I hope so! I was told that my academic record needed to be improved that's why I'm concerned.

Einsteinm: I hope so! The reason why I am concerned is that I had a low undergrad gpa: several withdrawals and c's. in my postbac, I have this 1 c despite other grades in As and b plus ranges.

Is there anything that I should do to remedy this situation?
 
Oh lmao. I'm clearly in need of sleep. I missed the 40.
Op just apply and get in. Case shut
 
What is your OVERALL gpa now? Is it still below a 3.3-3.4? Do you live in Ca? If the answer is no to both of these questions then I would go ahead and apply. Maybe call your in state school for some better advice. Most people here, including myself, are just speculating. I think the Ivy League is an extreme long shot, but go ahead and apply, can't hurt
 
My overall and science gpa's are both 3.42. Is there anything else that I should do given what just happened?
 
I would apply realistically and broadly, I would call my in state school and see what they think, and I would not let that MCAT expire. What other choice do you have? If you have an unsuccessful cycle, then you might have to do an smp, which are ridiculously expensive. I don't think you're really in a terrible spot though honestly, good luck
 
Thank you for letting me know. I was thinking of just taking more classes until I show a continued track record of more excellence

Do you think it would be a wiser idea to request a withdrawal or should I just keep the bad grade? I'm also concerned because its in a course like immunology.
 
Personally, I'd take the W if possible (especially if you don't have any other W's). It would be easier to explain than a C.
 
Mytime2017 said:
Thank you for letting me know. I was thinking of just taking more classes until I show a continued track record of more excellence

Do you think it would be a wiser idea to request a withdrawal or should I just keep the bad grade? I'm also concerned because its in a course like immunology.
Click to expand...
That's a tough one, I would ask @Goro @DrMidlife @LizzyM ever so respectfully, and see what they think. But honestly, you strike as someone that needs to spend a few days reading on the postbacc forum. Not to be rude, but you should already know the answers to most of what you have asked considering that you're already in a postbacc program. I'm sure you'll be fine, the MCAT says you are certainly intelligent
 
einsteinm said:
Personally, I'd take the W if possible (especially if you don't have any other W's). It would be easier to explain than a C.
Click to expand...

I think I may just opt for that. The reason why I guess I'm concerned is that I do have several withdrawals in the past (including one dropped semester due to a medical issue). I just don't want this to hurt me.
 
Dr. Tyler Durden said:
That's a tough one, I would ask @Goro @DrMidlife @LizzyM ever so respectfully, and see what they think. But honestly, you strike as someone that needs to spend a few days reading on the postbacc forum. Not to be rude, but you should already know the answers to most of what you have asked considering that you're already in a postbacc program. I'm sure you'll be fine, the MCAT says you are certainly intelligent
Click to expand...

I'll definitely get in touch with those users. I have looked at the postbac forum and spoke to a postbac advisor. I guess the main reason why I'm concerned is because this grade is unfortunately in a postbac class where I was doing the postbac for academic enhancement. I could not find anything on this explicitly.

Thank you once again for all of your responses!
 
Mytime2017 said:
I'll definitely get in touch with those users. I have looked at the postbac forum and spoke to a postbac advisor. I guess the main reason why I'm concerned is because this grade is unfortunately in a postbac class where I was doing the postbac for academic enhancement. I could not find anything on this explicitly.

Thank you once again for all of your responses!
Click to expand...
I'll admit your situation is unique. People don't generally get straight A's and then one see in a post bacc program
 
The question adcoms will ask is "Can this person handle the rigors of medical school"? You didn't get the C because of lack of intelligence, but rather due to an illness. Just mention it on the interviews that 40 got you if anyone asks.
 
Apply broadly and I think you'll be okay with either a C or a W in that class. I wouldn't expect on a spot at Columbia or equal schools though - your cumulative GPA is well below their 10th percentile of matriculants.

If you explain anywhere in your app or in interviews why you had so many withdrawals and low grades, be prepared to talk about why that won't be a problem in med school. I don't know if the health issue you had that resulted in the C in immunology is the same issue you had during your first bachelors degree, but if it is I hope it is better controlled now. Med school will be tough. Failing too many classes could mean repeating a whole year of coursework. It seems your postbac has demonstrated that you'd be able to handle it, but the one C/W does bring back some doubt.

In any case, good luck! I don't think you'll have much difficulty getting into a med school if you apply broadly. (Also, have you considered applying DO? If any of the postbac classes you've taken have been repeats of classes you failed, that could make your AACOMAS GPA much higher.)
 
@cactus8910: I'm grateful to your response. Do you think it's more advisable that I just take a withdrawal then as that can be easily explained with minimal gpa damage?

Also do you think taking additional classes until I get to about a 3.5 would make me competitive at those schools? I see that columbia's gpa for bottom 10th is roughly a 3.45...or is it not worth the risk?
 
I'd take a W in any class that I had less than a B- in, personally. A C will bring down your GPA and raise questions. A W raises only raises questions - and if you can provide an adequate answer (you were sick) I feel like it will be ok. Life happens sometimes.

I'm just a post bacc premed so take my opinion with a grain of salt...but I'd take the W and provide an explanation if asked.
 
I suspect that this one setback will not be lethal, given that you're acing everything else.



Mytime2017 said:
Hi all,

I'm currently in a predicament where I need your advice.i completed undergrad 3 years ago with a 3.1 (with upward trend in my sciences such as A's in biochem, etc).

I decided to do a second bachelors to raise my gpa. For the past several years, I ended up receiving nothing less than a b plus with multiple As in upper division sciences.

Today, unfortunately, I received saddening news. As I missed an immunology final last semester because of sickness, I took a make up for the class. I ended up failing the final (I realized that not being in the class for several months impacted my score despite studying appropriately for it) which brought down my grade from a B plus to a C.

I will thus be receiving a C in the course. I would like to know if I have really messed up my chances now to get into med school ( I had a 3.75 postbac until then and have a 40 mcat with an overall gpa of 3.4). I was doing this postbac for academic enhancement reasons(several c's in prerequisites in ug) thus I am very very concerned and worried. Will this essentially ruin my chances of getting into med school? Because of my mcat and high earlier postbac grades, I was even aiming for some top private--columbia, etc. has this grade ruined those chances as well?

Your clarification on what I need to do would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
 
Goro said:
I suspect that this one setback will not be lethal, given that you're acing everything else.
Click to expand...

Goro: I really appreciate your response, do you think I should also withdraw instead of taking the c? Will a withdrawal look as lethal as a C?
 
Goro said:
W >>>>>>>C
Click to expand...
Goro: I guess I'll just the w then.

How do you think I can possibly rectify this? As it's an immunology class, will the fact that I withdrew raise flags even though I've aced genetics, biochem, and other upper divisions sciences? I'm also concerned as immunology is a class taught in med school and I don't know how an adcom will view this given that I have had w's in other sciences (all when I was much much younger and have since rectified)?
 
Definitely take the W. It will be viewed better than a C. Can you just ignore it and not take immunology or take it at a local school? I dont think anyone is going to care if you have not taken it; I mean, it isnt even one of the major recommended classes. I have only taken the required 2 bio classes (introA and introB) and I am currently doing very well.
 
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