D+ on my Transcript

[hitbhnotsure]

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Hello! I just finished my first year of my undergrad as a premed and I received a D+ in one of my online elective courses. I have received A's in all my other classes including core science classes like Orgo and physics. I am currently retaking the class in order to get a better grade, and show improvement. However, I am worried that this D+ on my transcript is going to ruin my chances of getting into an MD. How much will this affect my chances of getting into MD schools?

Also another issue i had was that i am in a 7 year bs/do program so I would be applying to medical school next summer. i know this will significantly lower my chances itself. however, my mom gave me an ultimatum where if i were to switch to the 8 year track, i would have to tell her with 100% confidence that i will get into an md school or i won’t be able to go to medical school. with the d+, is this even a chance worth taking? i would rather be a doctor, but i dont want to shut out any opportunities or cut my youth short

 

[Hollow Knight]

Literally doesn’t matter my guy, chill 🙂

 

[Rachapkis]

Literally doesn’t matter my guy, chill 🙂

I saw your tagline "effort beats talent" and thought of this video clip.

 

[LizzyM]

What was the topic area of the elective course? I see no point in repeating the course to get a better grade... it would be more impressive to take something else than to repeat material and do better the second time.

 

[hitbhnotsure]

What was the topic area of the elective course? I see no point in repeating the course to get a better grade... it would be more impressive to take something else than to repeat material and do better the second time.

it was ent in stem. i just wanted to make sure the med schools saw improvement i guess. how much do you think would raise red flags

 

[LizzyM]

it was ent in stem. i just wanted to make sure the med schools saw improvement i guess. how much do you think would raise red flags

entrepreneurship in STEM? (ent can also mean ear, nose & throat but that doesn't seem to fit).

Schools don't care if you improved in something so tangential to medicine. Move on, learn something new.

One hiccup is small potatoes in the larger scheme of things. If it was a 3 credit course you have lost ~8 points out of the 480 points you could have earned if you take 120 credits with the potential to earn 4 points per credit. (of course, you have the option of taking >120 credits and many student do) Your one-year GPA might look dire but that one bad grade will be diluted the more courses you take.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Also another issue i had was that i am in a 7 year bs/do program so I would be applying to medical school next summer. i know this will significantly lower my chances itself. however, my mom gave me an ultimatum where if i were to switch to the 8 year track, i would have to tell her with 100% confidence that i will get into an md school or i won’t be able to go to medical school. with the d+, is this even a chance worth taking? i would rather be a doctor, but i dont want to shut out any opportunities or cut my youth short

You're in a BS/DO program, but you still have to apply separately to medical school? Or next year is when you need to inform the program if you're intending to apply out to MD schools? Kinda confusing, so I feel like additional details could be helpful.

Regardless, idk what to tell you. A D+ is obviously damaging to your overall GPA, but is not necessarily lethal in and of itself. If you were really aiming for MD all along then I'm not sure why you're in a BS/DO program, as it sounds like it's structured in a way where you don't really have a good opportunity to assess your competitiveness for MD before you have to apply out. I generally find BS/DO programs kind of scammy, because they try to lock in students who likely would be able to apply and get into "better" schools if they went through the process normally. But now that you're in and you've taken this hit to your GPA, you really have to decide if it's worth taking the risk to aim for MD (and jump through all the other EC hoops, do the MCAT, etc) vs if you would be happy just getting your DO and becoming a physician. These are value judgements that depend on you, your values, your ideal specialty, and your risk tolerance.

The one piece that I wouldn't allow to influence your decision is an ultimatum from your mom. Making decisions out of fear often leads to regret.