C in Orgo = End of the world ??

[Jason110]

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Hey guys,

I'm wondering this. The pre-med deans here at WashU have been pounding this into our brains.

This past year (I'm a rising junior), I took Organic Chemistry (both semesters). First semester I did well in Orgo I (A), however, Orgo II was terrible (C), but I did get an A in Orgo Lab during the past semester.

This past semester was terrible for me. I finished with a lowsy 3.1. I think I took too many classes at once. My overall GPA (after 4 semesters and after this past one), is 3.65.

The pre-med deans keep hammering into students that a C will kill your medical school admissions chances. Is that true? I have heard that a few medical schools will not even look at your app if they see a C in Orgo? Columbia and UMich come to mind. Do any of you know policies similar to this at medical schools? If so, can you let me (and other members of the board) know.

As a BME major, my overall GPA so far is a 3.65. Is that respectable? My GPA might have been higher if I chose another major, because most here concur that BME is one of the toughest majors (Engineering classes + Pre-med classes). Will medical schools consider my major and the undergraduate school I went to when making admissions decisions?

-Jason

 

[Sweet Tea]

I made Cs in both semesters of gen chem (well, C- second semester), and Cs in both semesters of orgo. I graduated with at 3.1 cumulative GPA-- and that's after making 4.0 my junior and senior years. I went back and retook both semesters of orgo after I graduated, made As, and I'm going to med school in 3 weeks.

If this is your only C, you really have nothing to worry about. 🙂

 

[idq1i]

No "X" grade in "Y" class will make or break you when it comes to medical school!!!!! Don't bomb the MCAT (ie score less than 10), and you are set.

My case: first college semester - D in calc, C- in calc-based physics, C in genchem 1. Medical school starts in 3 weeks =)

 

[florence02]

Certainly NOT the end of the world. 🙂 You're majoring in a difficult subject and earning a respectable 3.65. A single C will not kill your chances. You might have to do some explaining, but don't feel discouraged by it! Good luck.

 

[BerkeleyPremed]

I don't think this will really affect your chances at admissions to medical school. The top medical school programs might bring this up in the interview but I seriously doubt that it'll just shut you out of the programs that you mentioned (Columbia and UMich). Just work hard in your junior and senior years to bring that GPA up. Worse comes to worse, you might have to take some postbacc classes after you graduate to bring up your GPA (I doubt you'll have to though). If you just do well in your MCAT, I think you'll do fine.

Berkeley '05


"I want to be the first kid on my block to get a confirmed kill."----Private Joker Full Metal Jacket

"And like that...he's gone."----Keiser Soze The Usual Suspects

 

[zzeyfzz]

Originally posted by Jason110
Hey guys,

I'm wondering this. The pre-med deans here at WashU have been pounding this into our brains.

This past year (I'm a rising junior), I took Organic Chemistry (both semesters). First semester I did well in Orgo I (A), however, Orgo II was terrible (C), but I did get an A in Orgo Lab during the past semester.

This past semester was terrible for me. I finished with a lowsy 3.1. I think I took too many classes at once. My overall GPA (after 4 semesters and after this past one), is 3.65.

The pre-med deans keep hammering into students that a C will kill your medical school admissions chances. Is that true? I have heard that a few medical schools will not even look at your app if they see a C in Orgo? Columbia and UMich come to mind. Do any of you know policies similar to this at medical schools? If so, can you let me (and other members of the board) know.

As a BME major, my overall GPA so far is a 3.65. Is that respectable? My GPA might have been higher if I chose another major, because most here concur that BME is one of the toughest majors (Engineering classes + Pre-med classes). Will medical schools consider my major and the undergraduate school I went to when making admissions decisions?

-Jason

your premed deans are awful. sure, you want to avoid c's at all costs, but one or two will not ruin your chances of getting into med school. a 3.65 is pretty awesome, and when you combine it with a good interview and a good mcat, you'll be set.

my advisor was a little gentler about the issue. he didn't say i was doomed, but he looked down at me and recommended that i show improvement since my own c's in orgo. that grade in orgo lab should help. i was also told to take biochem to show that i could handle chem a little better.

 

[Bounty]

jason110

I got a C+ in the first semster of orgo and a C in the second. In fact my whole sophomore year was pretty crappy and my final science and overall GPAs were lower than yours. But I got ten interview offers (including Columbia) and many acceptances (including two UCs).
Before I applied, I was stressin about those Cs but it turned out to be a non-issue, no one ever mentioned them.

Hope that helps!

 

[cracker69]

i got a C+ in orgo I and a B in orgo II and got into 2 schools. Dont sweat it, just make sure it doesnt become a pattern.

69

 

[myhc]

screw your pre med advisors. an A in orgo I and a C in orgo II pretty much offset each other. i got an A in orgo I and a B- in orgo II and none of interviewers said a word about it. i got into 4 schools. your gpa is great. just focus on doing well on mcats and get your extracurriculars in order and you'll be well on your way.

 

[Dr. Kermit]

I had a C+ in Orgo and a 3 or 4 B-'s in various other science classes on my transcript and still got into med school. Don't sweat it and just do well in your other classes.

 

[deadwood]

To the OP,

I went to Wash U, wasn't a pre-med specifically but did Environmental Science (which is pre-med plus geology) skipped a midterm in Orgo (not the skipable type), got a C- in Orgo I and was accepted to several med schools.

If you haven't figured it out yet, every one of the 'do I have a chance even though [fill in the blank]' posts get the same response; 'one negative event isn't going to end your chance to get into a MD program.' And it's true. In my opinion, occasional failure when you are growing up makes you a better person.

Here's my advice, go down to Blue Hill, have a drink and relax. You're giving me heartburn. Wash U is a great place, try to enjoy it.

 

[drakkan2001]

If you're planning on applying to harvard, yale, columbia, cali schools, the C in orgo will probably limit your chances of getting in. However, if you get a 40+ on the MCAt then you won't have much to worry about.

 

[Can U Feel It?]

In a word: no

One C in any of your classes isn't going to kill especially if it is flanked by 2 A's in your other Semesters of Ochem

 

[gwyn779]

yes, it's the end of the world.


seriously, one bad grade won't ruin everything. i got a least 1 C in orgo, wow, can't remember all my grades....I think that was the only one.
anyway, no one ever asked me about it, I didn't retake the class, and I got into med school my 1st try.

 

[edkahn]

My friend got a C- in Orgo I, and D in Orgo II (he retook it over the stummer at a community college). He is now at vet school, which is a heck of a lot harder to get into than vet school. Just some food for thought🙂

 

[kmnfive]

what about C's in your non science classes???