C = MD or W = Better chance at residency?

[Guero]

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Here's a scenario: During the adjustment to medical school in the first semester, a student failed the first few molecular and anatomy tests as s/he learned how to study. S/he is also interested in pursuing competitive specialties. Which of the following two options would you advise?

(1) Encourage the student to continue making As/Bs on the remainder of the tests to pass with two Cs and to try to compensate for those Cs with good grades throughout the remainder of medical school.

(2) Encourage the student to take the dean's offer to withdraw without penalty, taking a W on the transcript, and returning next year, pulling off the As/Bs the student believes s/he is capable of making.

(3) Other, please specify.

 

[Guero]

Personally, I'm thinking I'd recommend moving on and taking the C. That's an expensive W when 2 Cs during the first-semester probably wouldn't matter all that much if the rest of the student's grades and USMLE are all legit...

 

[thefritz]

Personally, I'm thinking I'd recommend moving on and taking the C. That's an expensive W when 2 Cs during the first-semester probably wouldn't matter all that much if the rest of the student's grades and USMLE are all legit...

Hands down, for so many reasons that aren't even worth mentioning, don't withdraw. Passing basic science courses is literally all that matters.

 

[Stellar Clouds]

You won't have to explain a C in a basic science course during residency interviews. You will however have to explain why it took you an extra year to graduate.

 

[theseeker4]

Hands down, for so many reasons that aren't even worth mentioning, don't withdraw. Passing basic science courses is literally all that matters.

You won't have to explain a C in a basic science course during residency interviews. You will however have to explain why it took you an extra year to graduate.

Both of these. Taking an extra year is a huge red flag to competitive specialties. Passing, but not "honoring" all the basic science courses, is not.

 

[CodeRedDew]

Definitely just go with the C. In the grand scheme of things, it won't matter at all.

 

[notbobtrustme]

take the Cs and move on. First year is awful and it's better to just plow through it.

 

[alpinism]

You won't have to explain a C in a basic science course during residency interviews. You will however have to explain why it took you an extra year to graduate.

This.

#2 is in no way a good option unless the student has some personal or family issues preventing them from focusing on school.