C in Public Speaking

[TheAmericanStig]

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This is my first post on SDN and I was unsure if it belonged in WAMC, please feel free to move it if there's somewhere it would feel more at home.

I'm a sophomore in a US state school, with three semesters under my belt. I have a 3.32 overall GPA and haven't taken the MCAT yet. I just recently discovered that last semester I got a C in my 1000-level Public speaking course (required for my major). Basically I'm really concerned that this could severely hurt my chances of getting into med school, and would like anyone's advice on how bad this looks to med school admissions. The C happened due to the professor's absence policy, which knocks half a letter grade off per absence for any over 2, otherwise I believe I would have gotten a B in the class. Am I overreacting, or is this cause for concern as far as admissions chances? This has realy hit home for me and I'm going to really "crack down" and try for as close to straight A's as I can get for the remainder of my time here.

Other potentially relevant information:
-Double-majoring in Microbiology and Biochemistry
-Currently in a good research position, hopefully will be publishing as lead author at least once or twice before the end of undergraduate
-Don't have any volunteering/shadowing at the moment, but I'll be fixing that in the coming months
-Have a good track record with standardized tests, and will be studying very hard for the MCAT, so I believe I should be able to do reasonably well on it
-3.32 GPA, all A's and B's except the discussed C as well as two others, each in 1-credit hour classes (a major intro class and a lab for a a low level chem course)

My dream is to go to University of Michigan for med school, what do you guys think of my chances of going there, or being able to get into med school in general? Thanks in advance for your time! 🙂

If there's any other relevant information that could help, please feel free to ask!

 

[WedgeDawg]

gonna move it to pre-allo

 

[Conflagration]

A single C is not a death knell. (The GPA is a little weak, but even with that you could theoretically apply if your MCAT shows some promise. You have a year to fix it, and you should be able to get it up to a safer 3.4-3.5.)

The problem with trying to project a person's likelihood to attend one school is that it doesn't take into account the other factors at hand- what do your co-applicants look like stat-wise that particular cycle, your personal statement and secondaries, and just general variability of the adcoms from year to year. What speaks to one of them one year may not be the same next year. You could just have a rough interview over there. It all really depends on the luck of the draw.

 

[TheAmericanStig]

A single C is not a death knell. (The GPA is a little weak, but even with that you could theoretically apply if your MCAT shows some promise. You have a year to fix it, and you should be able to get it up to a safer 3.4-3.5.)

The problem with trying to project a person's likelihood to attend one school is that it doesn't take into account the other factors at hand- what do your co-applicants look like stat-wise that particular cycle, your personal statement and secondaries, and just general variability of the adcoms from year to year. What speaks to one of them one year may not be the same next year. You could just have a rough interview over there. It all really depends on the luck of the draw.

Appreciate the advice. Yeah I suppose the upside of this is that it's scared me into really taking my coursework a lot more seriously (had an easy time of it in high school, kinda affected my attitude towards studying, etc. in college for a while), which I think should help bring up the GPA a bit.

 

[TheAmericanStig]

Something I forgot to mention:

According to university policy, I could theoretically appeal the grade, as her attendance/grade policy wasn't in accordance with university policy. However I feel like this has a low chance of success and could just make a lot of faculty members dislike me. However the university also allows undergrads to retake two courses over four years, and replace the lower grade with higher ones. However this only replaces the grade for the sake of GPA calculations, and both grades remain on your official transcript. I've heard elsewhere that admissions work out your GPA on their own so it doesn't seem like this would do much good for me.

 

[Dr.Sticks]

Why not take a gap year?
You will have more time to improve the GPA and shoe you aren't a C student.

 

[TheAmericanStig]

Why not take a gap year?
You will have more time to improve the GPA and shoe you aren't a C student.

Appreciate it, though I'd rather not if I can avoid it. If I don't get accepted though, I'll probably end up taking some more classes or getting a master's before reapplying.

 

[ciestar]

Appreciate the advice. Yeah I suppose the upside of this is that it's scared me into really taking my coursework a lot more seriously (had an easy time of it in high school, kinda affected my attitude towards studying, etc. in college for a while), which I think should help bring up the GPA a bit.

I've got another reason for you. UMich's average GPA is around a 3.8.

 

[NotYou20]

Appreciate it, though I'd rather not if I can avoid it. If I don't get accepted though, I'll probably end up taking some more classes or getting a master's before reapplying.

I recommend you wait on beginning to volunteer. You need to figure out how to do well in classes first. Why are you opposed to a gap year or two? I'm not asking for my benefit but because you should really examine why it's important to avoid, because taking one helps a lot of people.

 

[longhaul3]

The C is not going to hold you back, I don't think. The 3.3 GPA will, unfortunately.

P.S. I think it's admirable that your Microbiology and/or Biochemistry major requires a public-speaking course.

 

[TheAmericanStig]

I recommend you wait on beginning to volunteer. You need to figure out how to do well in classes first. Why are you opposed to a gap year or two? I'm not asking for my benefit but because you should really examine why it's important to avoid, because taking one helps a lot of people.

I'll keep that in mind, perhaps I'll focus on GPA for this semester and start volunteering/shadowing over the summer and next semester. Thanks for the advice, I'll look into the idea of taking a gap year. Honestly my only opposition to it currently is just a desire to move along with the "conventional" path of going to med school, but I haven't researched at all or thought about it seriously. I'll make sure to look into it.

 

[TheAmericanStig]

The C is not going to hold you back, I don't think. The 3.3 GPA will, unfortunately.

P.S. I think it's admirable that your Microbiology and/or Biochemistry major requires a public-speaking course.

That's good to hear actually. I'm reasonably confident that with some hard work I can finish out undergrad with mostly all A's (shooting for straight A's but being realistic). With 5 semesters remaining I expect this should be able to bring me up to around a 3.6. Not ideal considering ciestar's figures, but perhaps considering research, a hopefully high MCAT, and adequate volunteering I expect I could have a (small-ish) shot at U Mich, and from what I've read, a decent chance elsewhere.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[ciestar]

That's good to hear actually. I'm reasonably confident that with some hard work I can finish out undergrad with mostly all A's (shooting for straight A's but being realistic). With 5 semesters remaining I expect this should be able to bring me up to around a 3.6. Not ideal considering ciestar's figures, but perhaps considering research, a hopefully high MCAT, and adequate volunteering I expect I could have a (small-ish) shot at U Mich, and from what I've read, a decent chance elsewhere.

Thanks for the advice!

Having a high MCAT gives you a shot almost everywhere!

 

[libertyyne]

If you are a michigan resident a 3.6 and 516 + with a good well rounded app will buy you an interview. If not, perhaps aim lower?

 

[candbgirl]

But you need the five semesters of almost straight As to reach that 3.6 so you just might be looking at a gap year to reach that GPA. You'll need it to apply. A C won't derail you but your current 3.3 will, especially for Michigan. Are you a Michigan resident? Lots of med schools in Michigan so be realistic.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

 

[ciestar]

Here's the thing about dream schools: they can really let you down. I got an interview to where I thought was my dream school (interactions afterward changed my mind) and got rejected. That was a blow I had trouble getting over.

(So basically, be open-minded)

 

[TheAmericanStig]

Thanks for the advice guys, looks like I may need to be shooting a little lower and working hard on the GPA in the meantime (unfortunately not a Michigan resident). I'm not too bothered by it, I never thought I was a shoe-in anyway for U Mich and there's obviously plenty of other schools out there I would be delighted to be accepted to. Thanks to everyone everyone that helped me out, I really appreciate all of you guys!

 

[Goro]

Hyperacheiver eh?

No one will care about a single C.

It's a pre-med delusion that every course you ever take has to have a good grade.

This is my first post on SDN and I was unsure if it belonged in WAMC, please feel free to move it if there's somewhere it would feel more at home.

I'm a sophomore in a US state school, with three semesters under my belt. I have a 3.32 overall GPA and haven't taken the MCAT yet. I just recently discovered that last semester I got a C in my 1000-level Public speaking course (required for my major). Basically I'm really concerned that this could severely hurt my chances of getting into med school, and would like anyone's advice on how bad this looks to med school admissions. The C happened due to the professor's absence policy, which knocks half a letter grade off per absence for any over 2, otherwise I believe I would have gotten a B in the class. Am I overreacting, or is this cause for concern as far as admissions chances? This has realy hit home for me and I'm going to really "crack down" and try for as close to straight A's as I can get for the remainder of my time here.

Other potentially relevant information:
-Double-majoring in Microbiology and Biochemistry
-Currently in a good research position, hopefully will be publishing as lead author at least once or twice before the end of undergraduate
-Don't have any volunteering/shadowing at the moment, but I'll be fixing that in the coming months
-Have a good track record with standardized tests, and will be studying very hard for the MCAT, so I believe I should be able to do reasonably well on it
-3.32 GPA, all A's and B's except the discussed C as well as two others, each in 1-credit hour classes (a major intro class and a lab for a a low level chem course)

My dream is to go to University of Michigan for med school, what do you guys think of my chances of going there, or being able to get into med school in general? Thanks in advance for your time! 🙂

If there's any other relevant information that could help, please feel free to ask!

 

[Malkin.12]

You are wasting your emotional drive. Only worry when you have too! Who cares if you got a C in public speaking, it's not going to touch your science GPA at all. Kind stupid post. You are worrying about nothing. You wouldn't be the first one to get a C anyways lol. Just learn from it because we can't reverse time and fix our previous mistakes. Peace out

 

[AttemptingScholar]

Thanks for the necrobump, Malkin...

OP, if this hasn't been clarified to you yet (and you even bother to check this old thread). AMCAS and AACOMAS (the application services) have their own way of calculating GPA to standardize the GPA sent to medical schools. Under these systems, retaken classes do not replace the old grade. Both grades will be reported.

Something I forgot to mention:

According to university policy, I could theoretically appeal the grade, as her attendance/grade policy wasn't in accordance with university policy. However I feel like this has a low chance of success and could just make a lot of faculty members dislike me. However the university also allows undergrads to retake two courses over four years, and replace the lower grade with higher ones. However this only replaces the grade for the sake of GPA calculations, and both grades remain on your official transcript. I've heard elsewhere that admissions work out your GPA on their own so it doesn't seem like this would do much good for me.