D in final semester

[el799]

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I know what's done is done but I wanted to get some opinions on the following situation

Throughout college I had been a better than average student, earning mostly A's with some B's and one C+. Overall my GPA sits at a 3.6. However, in my final semester (last spring) I received a D in a one credit seminar. To give context, COVID isolation was super hard for me on top of a major death in the family. I am also not the type who does well with online learning so tough semester all around. In that semester I was more focused on Acing my majors hardest class (Statistical thermo) which I did along with a very intense research project that is currently being prepped for submission to a really good journal. Amongst all of the above I let myself slip in a one credit psych seminar I needed to fulfill my last gen ed requirement. To that end, I missed a lot of the work and was not allowed to make it up resulting in a D. I know this isn't good, but is it likely lethal to M.D./Ph.D programs ? Should I explain the above somewhere on my app?

I am currently working in research and plan to take a few courses over the next couple years both because I love learning and to show that I still can do well in courses.

Thanks!

 

[lumya]

I did a post-bac where I was doing pretty well in most of my classes but ended up with a C in the last one in my series. There was an unexpected death of someone I knew and it impacted me more than I realized at the time. I fully expected having to explain it, but no one asked about it actually during any of my interviews.

For my own peace of mind, I ended up taking a couple more high level courses that I didn't really need to end on a high note. For a one credit seminar course, I think if you take a higher level psych course, it won't even register.

 

[proudofmykids]

You have already weakened your application further by being after Labor Day with a not so strong gpa. The 1 credit weighting won’t register mathematically with an effect on your gpa, imho don’t bring attention to it.

 

[LunaOri]

It is by no means lethal! I had a D in organic chem, and was still accepted at several MD schools.

 

[DoctorFate]

It is by no means lethal! I had a D in organic chem, and was still accepted at several MD schools.

Did you retake it and get an A?

 

[YCAGA]

What is your science GPA?

 

[Deltasidearm]

Overall my GPA sits at a 3.6. I received a D in a one credit seminar. is it likely lethal to M.D./Ph.D programs ?

You are already fighting a strong uphill battle to be competitive for MD/PhD programs with a 3.6 GPA, let alone without finishing your program with a failing grade. It's likely not lethal but it certainly doesn't help--especially with the extra-hypercompetitive space of the MD/PhD applicant pool.

Should I explain the above somewhere on my app?

Don't draw attention to a negative that could potentially be ignored or not noticed.

 

[LunaOri]

Did you retake it and get an A?

Nope!

 

[DoctorFate]

Nope!

I am very surprised that worked out for you (in a good way, good for you!). I thought grades below a C wouldn't count for credit and almost all med schools require orgo.

 

[LunaOri]

I am very surprised that worked out for you (in a good way, good for you!). I thought grades below a C wouldn't count for credit and almost all med schools require orgo.

Probably would have been good to retake the course for a better grade, but one bad grade didn’t sink my application.