Can I get into medical school with a C in organinc chemistry?

[Trutren]

I received a C in Orgo I and a C+ in Orgo II, but I finished up with an A in Biochemistry. My GPA is a 3.77, my sGPA is a 3.49, and my MCAT score is a 515. I have two other Bs on my transcript, and I may get two or three more B's this semester which would drop my GPA to a 3.6 ish and my sGPA to a 3.35 ish. Have I got a shot?

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[parrotlet2016]

Yes, you can get into medical school with a C in Ochem. I would be more worried about your decreasing sGPA.

 

[weanprednisone]

Agree with parrotlet2016 above. You MCAT is solid. Be ready to explain your sGPA to some schools during your cycle. But orgo C/C+ should have no problem.

 

[longtimelurker2015]

The two C's are not the issue; the final sGPA might be. sGPA of 3.35 will be fine for DO (and if you retake those classes and take advantage of grade replacement, then all the better), but you're cutting it short for MD. Certainly students with sGPA between 3.3 and 3.4 get into a host of different MD Schools, but you'll be in the bottom 10 percentile of most accepted students at virtually every School. That MCAT will help somewhat, but I recommend taking some additional upper-level science courses and getting straight A's in them to increase your sGPA if you can.

 

[Lawpy]

To add on what's been mentioned, the science GPA is very important. Why? From the AAMC Survey, medical schools consider science GPA to be the most important academic factor (even more important than the MCAT).

Note the footnote: "Variables are ordered by overall mean importance rating"

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

I got a couple Cs in prereqs, be ready to explain with a good reason and you'll be Ok. Your mcat is respectable enough to ward off most fears. If you have the time retake the OChems do it, but if not you gotta apply with what you got.

The A in biochem will help

Edit: to be clear a good reason is something like "I wasn't prepared for the learning style associated with orgo, and struggled in the class as a result. However after visiting my schools learning center I was able to identify my weaknesses and overcome them, earning As in upper level chemistry courses like biochem."

 

[MilaKunisDoe]

I have two other Bs on my transcript, and I may get two or three more B's this semester which would drop my GPA to a 3.6 ish and my sGPA to a 3.35 ish.

It ain't over til it's over. Just meet with your professors at the end of the semester and grade grub the hell out of them....works for me..........sometimes.....

 

[takeurmeds02]

Medschool is out of the question for you. Find another profession.

 

[Dr.Sticks]

You could get in with 2 Fs and a 2Cs provided you take over 50 classes with all As
From what I'm reading it's not individual grades unless it's an important subject, rather it is the overall science and your overall of all classes

 

[WedgeDawg]

Yes, you just need to work on getting your sGPA up to ~3.5 or so if possible (for MD).

 

[Spector1]

I know people that have done it but its not great

 

[Cookiess]

You can get into med school with two C's. However, med schools look at your year-to-year trends for your overall GPA and science GPA. The bigger concern for you would be a slight downward trend from 3.49 sGPA to 3.35 sGPA. That's a noticeable drop, in addition to the issue that a 3.3 sGPA might be on the lower end for MD schools.

Do your best to finish this semester strong and to maintain your sGPA where it is currently at.

 

[deleted407021]

I got a C in ochem I and improved in ochem II. Got accepted to all the schools in interviewed with.

Your overall GPA trend is more critical than individual grades.

 

[Thaz]

So I am in a similar boat. I am in a post bacc program that turned into a second degree. I was doing well in all my classes but I will get a C+ in cell biology. Should I retake this class? Or just push forward and focus on the MCAT. sGPA is like 3.6

 

[studentdocftw]

A bit strong, rather absolute and too curt, dont you think, besides being utterly wrong

I believe it was your typical, sarcastic "Nope" response that is found in all of these neurotic threads. Now what would be mind blowing is if your response was sarcastic as well, in which case, what actually is life?

 

[parrotlet2016]

So I am in a similar boat. I am in a post bacc program that turned into a second degree. I was doing well in all my classes but I will get a C+ in cell biology. Should I retake this class? Or just push forward and focus on the MCAT. sGPA is like 3.6

Push forward. It's not a core prereq and as long as your other science classes are up to par (grade-wise) you'll be fine. MCAT matters more than a single class.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Your C is not the issue. Your 3.3 sGPA on the other hand is an issue, especially the significant drop.

 

[TX_MD12]

Why is sGPA more important than MCAT which is the ultimate equalizer?

 

[TX_MD12]

@gonnif Thanks for the reference. It seems counterintuitive for admissions committees to view GPA with more importance than a standardized test since GPA is very relative to the grading system and course difficulty of a university. I would venture to say that biochemistry at Harvard would be slightly more difficult than biochemistry at Michigan State. Doesn't really make sense.

 

[Espressso]

@gonnif Thanks for the reference. It seems counterintuitive for admissions committees to view GPA with more importance than a standardized test since GPA is very relative to the grading system and course difficulty of a university. I would venture to say that biochemistry at Harvard would be slightly more difficult than biochemistry at Michigan State. Doesn't really make sense.

This. x 100

Do medical school adcoms differentiate between schools that use pass/fail systems for their science courses? It always blew my mind that friends at other universities would get a B- in OrgoII and end up with an A on their transcript.

 

[KinesiologyNerd]

I did.

 

[TX_MD12]

The reasoning behind this is a the MCAT is a single exam with sufficient preparation strategies to make it possible for someone to do well. An sGPA covers multiple terms and is more likely to give a more realistic assessment and evaluation of an applicant's academic ability

That makes sense. However, I've received advice from here that consisted of "well if you do well on the MCAT, you can make up for a lower sGPA." It doesn't sound like this is the case though. Also, is there any ability to explain a lower sGPA through having a grading system that was not +/- therefore high B's result in lowering the gpa?

 

[GrapesofRath]

In reality which is most important "sGPA vs MCAT" is going to vary from person to person in admission. The difference between the two in terms of numerical weight that was given in the study is the equivalent to 2-3 people out of a survey of 120 saying the value the sGPA over the MCAT more. It was something like 4.8 vs 4.7 in importance rating. In other words, not important at all.

Best bet is to simply assume theyll be given roughly equal weight. There are schools going through MSAR where it appears from median stats and 10th/90th percentile GPA's that there is more weight given to the GPA. Those tend to be more outliers though and those few schools could easily account for the negligible difference in scores an MCAT vs GPA was given in that survey as an example and why trying to analyze minute differences like this is a bad idea.