C in General Chemistry 2

[Amelia Frenc]

So I just took my Gen Chem 2 Final and I failed it pretty badly. This came as a surpirse to me as i have been maintaing a good B average all semseter and truly though this final will help me get the A I wanted. I am worried because this C dropped my overall GPA down to a 3.47 and even worse for my science GPA.

So I want to know if anyone has any advise on
1. If I should retake the class or not and
2. How this can affect me when I apply for medical school


I know that I can learn from my shortcomings this semester and I'm going to work harder next semester and learn from my mistakes. But even after dealing with my own disappointment I'm worried about the impact of this mistake could make when the time comes for me to apply medical school

PS: I am a Biomedical Sciences major( pre-med) and I just finished my freshman year.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[acslater99]

1. Don't retake, a C is fine.
2. No this will not effect you in any way whenever you apply to medical schools.

Brush this off and focus on getting A's in your upper level course-work.

 

[Balo]

Only retake it if you believe you can get an A and also feel that you had a weak understanding of the material. Otherwise, move on and just try to do better in Orgo (that's a lot more tough, though, for a lot of students).

 

[HomeSkool]

Only retake it if you believe you can get an A and also feel that you had a weak understanding of the material.

I disagree with this advice. Don't retake it even if you think you can get an A. If you retake it, adcoms will expect an A, and anything less will throw your academic abilities into question since you couldn't even get an A the second time through the material. And if you do get an A on the retake, adcoms won't be impressed. If you want to get your GPA up (and you should), take different courses. If you feel like your grasp of the Gen Chem 2 material was tenuous, audit the course. Retaking the course for a grade only exposes you to risk with no hope of any payoff whatsoever.

Read this: HomeSkool's Simple Rules for Retaking Courses.

 

[Balo]

I disagree with this advice. Don't retake it even if you think you can get an A. If you retake it, adcoms will expect an A, and anything less will throw your academic abilities into question since you couldn't even get an A the second time through the material. And if you do get an A on the retake, adcoms won't be impressed. If you want to get your GPA up (and you should), take different courses. If you feel like your grasp of the Gen Chem 2 material was tenuous, audit the course. Retaking the course for a grade only exposes you to risk with no hope of any payoff whatsoever.

It is a gray area in the pre-med path, for sure. I do agree that it's a bit lackluster if you don't get an A, but I also don't agree with just auditing. While auditing might not affect your grades, I do wonder if students who do that would be motivated to put in the work to reinforce the concepts, plus, the student will no doubt focus more on other classes being taken at the same time that actually count. As for why I mentioned the weak understanding bit, I got that from a professor who advised me on a similar situation.

Personally, I wouldn't retake since you were doing okay for most of the semester (thus showing you have a decent grasp of material generally), and would move on, but I also know that some people are convinced that they will do well and want to try again. It's up to you.

 

[Goro]

I disagree with this advice. Don't retake it even if you think you can get an A. If you retake it, adcoms will expect an A, and anything less will throw your academic abilities into question since you couldn't even get an A the second time through the material. And if you do get an A on the retake, adcoms won't be impressed. If you want to get your GPA up (and you should), take different courses. If you feel like your grasp of the Gen Chem 2 material was tenuous, audit the course. Retaking the course for a grade only exposes you to risk with no hope of any payoff whatsoever.

Read this: HomeSkool's Simple Rules for Retaking Courses.

Agree 100% with my learned colleague.

 

[Pagan FutureDoc]

Don’t retake a C, it’s fine for 90+% of schools. If you need a boost in your sGPA, take an upper division course.

The only time you should retake a C in a prereq is if you are accepted to a school that requires a C+ and they won’t give you an exemption. Then Retake it over the summer.

 

[Nedsson]

Totally agree with previous posters. Don't retake it. As a bonus, most of the material in Orgo is not really related to the concepts in Gen Chem 2 (which are more calculation intensive). However, DO go back and find what you struggled with...because a number of the concepts in gen Chem 2 are tested quite frequently on the MCAT (acid/base in particular, but also kinetics...which will also be part of biochem when you take it). The problem isn't the grade, the problem is the gaps in your knowledge that might fatally undermine your future efforts. Good luck!

 

[3toedsloth]

I disagree with this advice. Don't retake it even if you think you can get an A. If you retake it, adcoms will expect an A, and anything less will throw your academic abilities into question since you couldn't even get an A the second time through the material. And if you do get an A on the retake, adcoms won't be impressed. If you want to get your GPA up (and you should), take different courses. If you feel like your grasp of the Gen Chem 2 material was tenuous, audit the course. Retaking the course for a grade only exposes you to risk with no hope of any payoff whatsoever.

Read this: HomeSkool's Simple Rules for Retaking Courses.

Agree 100% with my learned colleague.

Two adcoms have advised the opposite of what I would do, so take that into consideration as you listen to my perspective.

I think you should retake it. I agree that it is absolutely required that you get an A the second time around. Not an A minus, but a solid A. If you don't, your chances at med school are significantly decreased, as your academic abilities will be called into question. I totally agree with this part.

But you should do it, and get that A. General chemistry concepts are weighted very heavily on the MCAT, and a solid conceptual understanding of gen chem sets you up to do well on the most important test you'll take in undergrad as well as in other chemistry coursework. Getting a C means you don't fully understand it. Retaking it will lay the foundations necessary to do well on the MCAT. The A will also boost your gpa a bit, which is always good.... and I don't know about you, but auditing courses has never really motivated me to give it my all. I think it's like that for a lot of people.

If you can't get an A the second time around, you should seriously think about whether med school is the right path for you at this time in your life.

 

[timephone]

First of all, I wouldn't feel too bad about getting a C in the class. I know a senior Chemistry major who got a C in Gen Chem 1 his first time around. You're a freshman, and freshman year is usually difficult for everybody.

If I were you, I'd concentrate on doing well in Organic Chem. As other posters above have mentioned, Gen Chem 2 topics will be relevant on the MCAT and during Biochem, but for the most part are not super important. Definitely for MCAT you should be familiar with acid/base equilibria, differences between first and second order reactions, and understanding rate constants qualitatively. Also a general understanding of electrochem. The enzyme kinetics and acid/base equilibria you do in Biochem will probably be a lot simpler than how it's covered in Gen Chem 2.

I would just accept your C and move on to Orgo 1 and 2, then Biochem. During your Junior year, when you're prepping for MCAT, then I would consider retaking Gen Chem 2--both as a refresher and to get an A. By that point your study skills will likely be better.

 

[chemphysicsinstructor]

So I just took my Gen Chem 2 Final and I failed it pretty badly. This came as a surpirse to me as i have been maintaing a good B average all semseter and truly though this final will help me get the A I wanted. I am worried because this C dropped my overall GPA down to a 3.47 and even worse for my science GPA.

So I want to know if anyone has any advise on
1. If I should retake the class or not and
2. How this can affect me when I apply for medical school


I know that I can learn from my shortcomings this semester and I'm going to work harder next semester and learn from my mistakes. But even after dealing with my own disappointment I'm worried about the impact of this mistake could make when the time comes for me to apply medical school

PS: I am a Biomedical Sciences major( pre-med) and I just finished my freshman year.

It is the policy of some colleges/universities to NOT allow students to retake courses if they get a C- or better. Also, financial aid may not pay for you to retake a course. Please carefully check the policies at your school and at the least, ask an academic advisor.

Whether or not you retake the course, you MUST study the material and clearly and thoroughly understand it as you WILL need to know it for later courses (such as organic chemistry and biochemistry) as well as for the MCAT.

 

[chemdoctor]

If you can't get an A the second time around, you should seriously think about whether med school is the right path for you at this time in your life.

really? He should give up on med school if he can't get an A the second time around??

 

[863168]

@3toedsloth Terrible advice. Chemistry is reviewed in MCAT prep for the MCAT test. Having the OP invest time and money by taking it again will hurt them and their application. The fact that adcoms are encouraging the student to advance and perform in Organic/Biochemistry should be seen as a blessing.

 

[chemdoctor]

@3toedsloth Terrible advice. Chemistry is reviewed in MCAT prep for the MCAT test. Having the OP invest time and money by taking it again will hurt them and their application. The fact that adcoms are encouraging the student to advance and perform in Organic/Biochemistry should be seen as a blessing.

I completely agree. Retaking this class, poses more risks than rewards in my opinion. And even if the OP obtains an A, their overall grade would end up being averaged into a B. AMCAS doesn't do grade replacement or anything like that... It is important to instead do better in the upper division courses.

 

[deleted916225]

Don't retake

 

[GypsyHummus]

If you have the time, audit the class during the summer if you can or do an online "course" where you are not graded. That way you dont have to spend tuition level amounts of money to review the concept, dont have to risk the possibility of not getting an A on the retake, and get a refresher on the material. Big wins all around.

The people in the dental and optometry forums recommend "chads videos" for gen chem and organic.

 

[jd989898]

I think you've received great advice thus far. Never retake a C+ or better. Do your best to redeem yourself by acing ochem and/or biochem.