Can Doing Well in Biochem Make Up For Lower Orgo Grades?

[Dbate]

I just wanted to ask if a person did well in biochem, if it could compensate for less than stellar grades in organic chemistry?

Would adcoms weight biochemistry heavily because it is more directly relevant to medicine or does it not really matter?

I didn't do terribly in orgo: B in Orgo 1 and B+ in Orgo 2. But I did slightly better in Biochemistry: A-.

Would the A- help compensate for the orgo grades?

Btw, right now I am sitting at a 3.57 cGPA, 3.43 sGPA for AMCAS schools and a 3.58 cGPA and 3.44 sGPA for Texas Med Schools

(which was an improvement from a 3.54 cGPA and 3.33 sGPA that I had at the beginning of the semester)--so I am slowly bringing my grades up! 🙂

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[theseeker4]

I just wanted to ask if a person did well in biochem, if it could compensate for less than stellar grades in organic chemistry?

Would adcoms weight biochemistry heavily because it is more directly relevant to medicine or does it not really matter?

I didn't do terribly in orgo: B in Orgo 1 and B+ in Orgo 2. But I did slightly better in Biochemistry: A-.

Would the A- help compensate for the orgo grades?

Btw, right now I am sitting at a 3.57 cGPA, 3.43 sGPA for AMCAS schools and a 3.58 cGPA and 3.44 sGPA for Texas Med Schools

(which was an improvement from a 3.54 cGPA and 3.33 sGPA that I had at the beginning of the semester)--so I am slowly bringing my grades up! 🙂

Getting A's in any upper-level science classes can demonstrate that, despite lower grades in pre-reqs, you can handle science classes. The B and B+ aren't that bad anyway, so you shouldn't have a problem.

 

[Nymphicus]

I just wanted to ask if a person did well in biochem, if it could compensate for less than stellar grades in organic chemistry?

Would adcoms weight biochemistry heavily because it is more directly relevant to medicine or does it not really matter?

I didn't do terribly in orgo: B in Orgo 1 and B+ in Orgo 2. But I did slightly better in Biochemistry: A-.

Would the A- help compensate for the orgo grades?

Btw, right now I am sitting at a 3.57 cGPA, 3.43 sGPA for AMCAS schools and a 3.58 cGPA and 3.44 sGPA for Texas Med Schools

(which was an improvement from a 3.54 cGPA and 3.33 sGPA that I had at the beginning of the semester)--so I am slowly bringing my grades up! 🙂

That's what I did.

 

[Frazier]

there is very little "real" ochem in biochem...so if, for whatever reason, an adcom hopes to see "mastery of organometallic rxn mechanisms" in potential interviewees -- you might be SOL.

that said, luckily i think that ochem is merely a hoop they make us jump through. biochem on the other hand is useful stuff, doing "stellar" here will help your cause.

 

[LPpostbacc]

I totally agree. Any A in a 300-level course won't hurt your cause, and I think biochemistry is as good a class as any to post an A. Orgo is the toughest class in the pre-med curriculum. Adcoms know that. I wouldn't call it a replacement as much as a "softener."

 

[JCTWP46]

I hope so. Made an A in Orgo 1 and Orgo 1 lab, made a C in Orgo 2 and a B in Orgo 2 lab. Then made a B (so close to an A ) in Biochem., which is a 400 level course at my school.

 

[Barcu]

It certainly won't hurt. Getting some A's in upper-division courses will help you out a lot so keep it up.

OChem is just a hoop. It is the most useless of the prereqs. So, it's over and now you can just move on (except when you have to do Ochem on the MCAT).

 

[hiyaman]

It certainly won't hurt. Getting some A's in upper-division courses will help you out a lot so keep it up.

OChem is just a hoop. It is the most useless of the prereqs. So, it's over and now you can just move on (except when you have to do Ochem on the MCAT).

and even then its only 1-3 passages max and pretty basic.

 

[tenndoc]

I was pretty even on both. A/b+/a in I/ii/lab. Then a- in Biochem I and ii

 

[Praefectus]

and even then its only 1-3 passages max and pretty basic.

The Bio section of the 4/13 MCAT had 3 passages and they were kinda difficult. Cross your fingers and hope your luck isn't that bad.

 

[quarrelsometofu]

I wouldn't worry about it. I got a B in both Orgo 1 & 2 (and several other prereqs) and an A in Biochem, and ended up getting multiple 50%+ rides to med school. Adcoms know that many things factor into your grades (courseload, working part-time, extracurriculars, family situations, etc.), and if you prove you know the material on the MCAT, a few Bs won't matter. Just make sure you learn the Orgo topics you didn't do as well on before then, and you'll be golden