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- Pre-Medical
Hi Everyone,
Im new to the forum and am looking for some advice regarding a premedical coursework issue that is starting to give me premature grey hair. 🙁 In summary, I currently attend a top-20 university notoriously known for its insane level of competitiveness and difficulty, especially in the sciences. (Not giving any more hints, lol) I was an excellent student throughout high school, and am currently a junior undergrad with a 3.8 GPA in non-science courses related to my non-science major. Im also extremely safe in the extracurricular department.
This is the first year I am taking premedical science courses, (decided to go the pre-med route a bit late), and Im running into a few issues. I am taking both Biology and Chemistry, with laboratory this semester - while Im doing quite well in Biology this year, both lecture and laboratory, mostly because the department and professors are wonderful, I am NOT doing so well in Chemistry, and am potentially borderline failing.
I say potentially, because, there's some uncertainty. A majority of the 200 person chemistry class is failing as well, with a mean of 60 for the first exam, and a mean of 40 for the second exam, with one exam left before the end of the semester. (There is also another 200-person Chemistry lecture that meets at a different time with virtually identical means sensing a theme here). My professor, who has been quite vague about grades and rather unhelpful, (the teach yourself through the text kind of educator), mentioned he will possibly curve the final grades, however, Im not sure how much this will benefit me in the end, and the uncertainty and idea of a failing (or close to failing) grade on my squeaky clean transcript is stressing me to no end.
(Note, Ive been completing the homework assignments, studying relentlessly, attending extra help sessions, this isnt a Im not committed issue, its more of a Im having difficulty with chemistry in general issue and the professors poor quality of teaching and fast pace isnt helping the situation; basically, I have done everything possible to proactively address my chemistry grade situation - it's just Chemistry is "hell" here.)
My questions are:
1) For students who have attended universities with a similar ranking and enrolled in pre-medical science courses such as Intro Chem, is this normal? Were the means for your Chemistry exams this low? If so, did things turn out okay in the end with final grades?
2) While my school is known for its severe grade deflation, are medical schools really going to take this practice into consideration when my science GPA is calculated?
3) I have friends in Organic Chemistry and Physics right now, (hard workers, smart individuals) and they have also informed me that a majority of the course is failing, with means similar to my Chemistry course. Im concerned that continuing down the pre-med path at this university will just result in an accumulation of poor grades that will hurt my chances for medical school and Im also concerned that Im not receiving adequate preparation for the MCAT. To say that I'm discouraged, at this point, would also be an understatement. 🙁
One solution is that I can retake Chemistry next year with a lighter course load and hope for the best. However, I fear that if I do manage to bring up my grade in Gen Chem, Organic Chemistry at this school might be just as ridiculous, and I dont want to demonstrate a negative pattern of failure or require multiple re-takes. Another solution is that I attempt to drop Chemistry, graduate next year without finishing my pre-med reqs, and possibly look into a postbac program at another university closer to home, without such a ridiculous chemistry department and with the opportunity to dedicate my time solely to premedical science coursework. These are big ifs and important decisions, and I'm really not sure which way is the right way to go. 😕
So, if youve actually made it to the end of this post and I havent bored you yet...
Has anyone else encountered a similar situation? How did things end up? What did you do? Am I overreacting like a typical psychotic pre-med, or is this not the way things are supposed to be? I'm hard working and have excelled at this university outside of the sciences, am even doing well in Biology. Chemistry here, just, well, stinks. Id really, REALLY appreciate any type of feedback, suggestions, stories, etc. you might be willing to share and advice to help me make the right decision.
Thank you in advance and have a nice night (morning, lol). 🙂
Im new to the forum and am looking for some advice regarding a premedical coursework issue that is starting to give me premature grey hair. 🙁 In summary, I currently attend a top-20 university notoriously known for its insane level of competitiveness and difficulty, especially in the sciences. (Not giving any more hints, lol) I was an excellent student throughout high school, and am currently a junior undergrad with a 3.8 GPA in non-science courses related to my non-science major. Im also extremely safe in the extracurricular department.
This is the first year I am taking premedical science courses, (decided to go the pre-med route a bit late), and Im running into a few issues. I am taking both Biology and Chemistry, with laboratory this semester - while Im doing quite well in Biology this year, both lecture and laboratory, mostly because the department and professors are wonderful, I am NOT doing so well in Chemistry, and am potentially borderline failing.
I say potentially, because, there's some uncertainty. A majority of the 200 person chemistry class is failing as well, with a mean of 60 for the first exam, and a mean of 40 for the second exam, with one exam left before the end of the semester. (There is also another 200-person Chemistry lecture that meets at a different time with virtually identical means sensing a theme here). My professor, who has been quite vague about grades and rather unhelpful, (the teach yourself through the text kind of educator), mentioned he will possibly curve the final grades, however, Im not sure how much this will benefit me in the end, and the uncertainty and idea of a failing (or close to failing) grade on my squeaky clean transcript is stressing me to no end.
(Note, Ive been completing the homework assignments, studying relentlessly, attending extra help sessions, this isnt a Im not committed issue, its more of a Im having difficulty with chemistry in general issue and the professors poor quality of teaching and fast pace isnt helping the situation; basically, I have done everything possible to proactively address my chemistry grade situation - it's just Chemistry is "hell" here.)
My questions are:
1) For students who have attended universities with a similar ranking and enrolled in pre-medical science courses such as Intro Chem, is this normal? Were the means for your Chemistry exams this low? If so, did things turn out okay in the end with final grades?
2) While my school is known for its severe grade deflation, are medical schools really going to take this practice into consideration when my science GPA is calculated?
3) I have friends in Organic Chemistry and Physics right now, (hard workers, smart individuals) and they have also informed me that a majority of the course is failing, with means similar to my Chemistry course. Im concerned that continuing down the pre-med path at this university will just result in an accumulation of poor grades that will hurt my chances for medical school and Im also concerned that Im not receiving adequate preparation for the MCAT. To say that I'm discouraged, at this point, would also be an understatement. 🙁
One solution is that I can retake Chemistry next year with a lighter course load and hope for the best. However, I fear that if I do manage to bring up my grade in Gen Chem, Organic Chemistry at this school might be just as ridiculous, and I dont want to demonstrate a negative pattern of failure or require multiple re-takes. Another solution is that I attempt to drop Chemistry, graduate next year without finishing my pre-med reqs, and possibly look into a postbac program at another university closer to home, without such a ridiculous chemistry department and with the opportunity to dedicate my time solely to premedical science coursework. These are big ifs and important decisions, and I'm really not sure which way is the right way to go. 😕
So, if youve actually made it to the end of this post and I havent bored you yet...
Has anyone else encountered a similar situation? How did things end up? What did you do? Am I overreacting like a typical psychotic pre-med, or is this not the way things are supposed to be? I'm hard working and have excelled at this university outside of the sciences, am even doing well in Biology. Chemistry here, just, well, stinks. Id really, REALLY appreciate any type of feedback, suggestions, stories, etc. you might be willing to share and advice to help me make the right decision.
Thank you in advance and have a nice night (morning, lol). 🙂
