D+ in organic I

[IndigoBoy0]

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I guess I should retake this class? I got a B in the lab (1 credit) but a D+ in the lecture (our professor was evil). I have decent grades in all my other pre-reqs (A- in chem A in bio) and 2 masters degrees (MA International Affairs and MPH global health) and work full time for Hopkins.

Although I thought you needed a C or better for schools, only some schools state this on their site. If you average my lab with the grade (like some schools do in calculating their grades) the grade gets a little better.

Any advice? If I retake it at the same school both grades show up on my transcript (I'm an evening student and this is my last pre-req) I can take it elsewhere but then I'd have to retake the lab.

Please... I need some advice. This is a horrible situation. Somehow I pulled off a B in lab when my colleagues who did better in the lecture did worse in lab.....

I found an "online lecture" and in person lab at a community college for Orgo I - I'm presuming it doesn't show up as online. I took Bio II online and have obtained my transcript and all it says is "Bio II" with no reference to the online class.

I have taken biostats, epi. etc. as part of my public health program. I really want to move onto Orgo II but people are telling me that's not a smart idea.

 

[Altesse]

Unless you feel that you have mastered the material, you should not move on to Orgo II because you probably will not do well in II. So, you will end up with two bad grades instead of one.
You should also keep in mind that you need Orgo for the MCAT so it's better to have a chance at truly mastering the material now.
Good luck with whatever decision you make. With your master's degrees and work experience, if you do well on the MCAT, I don't think Adcoms will be stuck on just one bad grade.

 

[Isoprop]

medical schools expect you to retake any class lower than a C and some require it for prereq classes like organic chem.

 

[Old Grunt]

I'd retake for sure.

Probably not what you wanted to hear, but that D+ is going to close doors for you.

Retake and try a different professor. The good news is that you don't have to retake the lab.

 

[mastamark]

I just want to cosign on the last few posts. Definitely retake. You can't even get your foot in the door with a D+. You definitely don't want to move on to Orgo 2 until you can pass 1, which I am sure you can do with your eyes closed with another professor. You definitely need organic for the MCAT as well. I took the test in May of this year and I had alot of orgo on my BS section, ALOT! Just for a little hope, I didn't pass Orgo one the first time due to some outside issues. I retook it and did very well. I had 2 acceptances this year and will be attending medical school next fall.

Good Luck👍

 

[Isoprop]

also: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=459684

also²: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=2877570

 

[Isoprop]

is that a 'C' and not a 'C+'? I got a B in gen chem I and C+ in gen chem II but the thought of retaking never crossed my mind until i read your post. i'm fine in organic. i'm in the B/B+ range there.

solid C. so C- and below should be retaken (sometimes required).

 

[ChemNerd4]

I agree with everyone else. I didn't do so well my freshman year in an intro to bio class (C-) and retook it my junior year (A) and it definitely brought my GPA up, not to mention it was a big ego-boost knowing that I could do well in it.

Organic was actually one of my favorite classes (see my name) and I found that the best thing that I did was make a crazy amount of flashcards, if you know the reactions backwards and fowards you'll be able to reason through the more complex problems.

Good luck!

(and i wouldn't take orgo II either until you've done I)

 

[IndigoBoy0]

I plan on retaking the lecture component (not the lab - its separate where I'm taking it) but how does that look to ad coms to have the same course show up twice on your transcript from the same school? They put both attempts on the transcript where I'm taking it.

 

[Old Grunt]

I plan on retaking the lecture component (not the lab - its separate where I'm taking it) but how does that look to ad coms to have the same course show up twice on your transcript from the same school? They put both attempts on the transcript where I'm taking it.

Regardless of what your universities transcript policy is, you'll still have to list both classes for AMCAS. There is nothing you can do about the grade now, so there is really no point in worrying about how an ADCOM will react to it.

Purely speculative, but I would think you would get some sympathy if you smoked it on your second try. Lot's of people have been in similar situations as you.

 

[IndigoBoy0]

Thanks for the reply! I have already re-registered for orgo I... hopefully will work out better the second time around. A little frustrating considering I wanted to take the MCATs in August. I'll hopefully take Orgo II/lab next fall.

 

[queenbee]

i just wanted to reiterate, too, that it's better to retake the class and have it show up twice with a better grade the 2nd time than to just take it once with a D+.

in addition, did you have trouble with the class? the material? before you retake the class again, you should rework the way you're studying orgo. there's been a thread before in here about studying for orgo (i think i might've started one myself, actually) and there's been some really good studying tips.

basically, do problems. many of them. over and over again.

 

[brains]

I just want to cosign on the last few posts. Definitely retake. You can't even get your foot in the door with a D+. You definitely don't want to move on to Orgo 2 until you can pass 1, which I am sure you can do with your eyes closed with another professor. You definitely need organic for the MCAT as well. I took the test in May of this year and I had alot of orgo on my BS section, ALOT! Just for a little hope, I didn't pass Orgo one the first time due to some outside issues. I retook it and did very well. I had 2 acceptances this year and will be attending medical school next fall.

Good Luck👍

I'll second that also. I too did bad in orgo 1, but did very well in the lab (which was suprising in itself since the TA hardly spoke English 😱).

Many bad things came up during the semeser. I was laid off from my job in the midst of building our new house, my grandmother passed away from lung ca, my dad had major surgery (leg amputation), and to top it all off, I discovered I was pregnant. It was a very hard time for me in school. I went from making straight A's on every exam in every class to making straight D's. I pretty much have to retake the whole semester🙁🙁🙁

So, OP don't give up. We lived to fight another day right?? Dust yourself off and try again

 

[IndigoBoy0]

Does the study thread include any advice for non-trads to study orgo. Basically I'm working 8:30-5 with a two hour commute each way. I've been told, even by our professor and TA that this is not ideal whatseover for taking organic chemistry however this is the reality. I find I try to cram studying in on the train, etc. but I find the situation difficult and I can't stop working because I have a good job and obviously I need to make a living.

Thanks.

 

[queenbee]

i dug up the thread i created. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=414701&highlight=orgo

i'm also a non-trad that works and goes to school. i would safely assume most people that gave advice on the thread above also are in the same position.

anyway, every free moment i had, i would try to squeeze in a little bit of studying. i would read flashcards and review my notes on the subway during my commute to/from work and school.

otherwise, you really have to just set aside time to do problems. i would try to do problems during my lunch break at work. when i would go to things like bbqs or all-day events, i would still bring my books and try to at least square away an hour here and there to study while everyone was having fun. my weekends were dedicated to studying.

sure, it's difficult when you've got work, but you can do it. just try to find a time you can have some peace and quiet, do problems and stick to a schedule.

good luck!