Didn't do so hot in Orgo, options?

[rsulliva1026]

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I'm a sophomore and just got my grade back for Orgo II, C+, Orgo 1 B-. Obviously not what I want, but I didn't deserve any better. I had 19 credit semesters both semesters, worked in the fall, and this semester I took Orgo II, 2 300 level bio classes, an intro bio class, a lab, and an elective. Got all straight As in everything except one 300 level bio (A-) and Orgo so my overall GPA isnt that bad. Looking at around a 3.6 this semester with a 3.65 overall. Not great but not awful.

I'm just really bad at chemistry, intro chem I got B+/A-. Its because I don't put the time into chem that I should, I admit it, but I didnt have the time for it this semester. My schedule couldn't handle all those classes so I accepted orgo as collateral damage on my GPA and focused on other things. I've since devised a way to fix my study habits, and I've lightened my schedule to the fall to just physics, anatomy, and sociology classes for my second major.

Where should I go from here? I could have done a lot better, I believe I was fully capable of an A in both of them, it was never that I didn't understand the material per se, I just never had enough time to practice it like I should have.

The way I see it I can retake orgo I and II next summer (this summer I'm already taking 12 credits and research and volunteering), graduate and take them post bac during a gap year, or ignore them and just get my GPA up and hope no one notices.

Suggestions?

 

[cheechootrain]

I'm a sophomore and just got my grade back for Orgo II, C+, Orgo 1 B-. Obviously not what I want, but I didn't deserve any better. I had 19 credit semesters both semesters, worked in the fall, and this semester I took Orgo II, 2 300 level bio classes, an intro bio class, a lab, and an elective. Got all straight As in everything except one 300 level bio (A-) and Orgo so my overall GPA isnt that bad. Looking at around a 3.6 this semester with a 3.65 overall. Not great but not awful.

I'm just really bad at chemistry, intro chem I got B+/A-. Its because I don't put the time into chem that I should, I admit it, but I didnt have the time for it this semester. My schedule couldn't handle all those classes so I accepted orgo as collateral damage on my GPA and focused on other things. I've since devised a way to fix my study habits, and I've lightened my schedule to the fall to just physics, anatomy, and sociology classes for my second major.

Where should I go from here? I could have done a lot better, I believe I was fully capable of an A in both of them, it was never that I didn't understand the material per se, I just never had enough time to practice it like I should have.

The way I see it I can retake orgo I and II next summer (this summer I'm already taking 12 credits and research and volunteering), graduate and take them post bac during a gap year, or ignore them and just get my GPA up and hope no one notices.

Suggestions?

In my opinion, there's no need to retake Orgo II. For Orgo I, I'm on the fence. You can take a chance and retake it to improve that C+ to an A+ but that's a tricky train to ride. But what I do suggest is taking other chemistry or science courses to further show that you can handle the heavy sciences and that this was just a result of bad time management and immaturity.

 

[TexasSurgeon]

In my opinion, there's no need to retake Orgo II. For Orgo I, I'm on the fence. You can take a chance and retake it to improve that C+ to an A+ but that's a tricky train to ride. But what I do suggest is taking other chemistry or science courses to further show that you can handle the heavy sciences and that this was just a result of bad time management and immaturity.

+1

OP I am in the same boat as you (look at the threads I made). Just gotta keep plowing forward and beast all science classes from here out. Grades and school come first above all else.

 

[rsulliva1026]

Orgo 1 was the B- and 2 was the C+. Originally after last fall I was going to just do well in orgo 2 and let orgo 1 be bygones but I feel like I cant anymore.

I really don't want to take other chemistry courses, upper division ones at my school are notoriously hard and even the people who get As on orgo do poorly. I'm going to be taking a lot of biology courses and will likely do well in them as I have been, but I feel like I need to prove that I can handle the chemistry required for medical school and should retake at least orgo I which I can guarantee an A in.

 

[TexasSurgeon]

Orgo 1 was the B- and 2 was the C+. Originally after last fall I was going to just do well in orgo 2 and let orgo 1 be bygones but I feel like I cant anymore.

I really don't want to take other chemistry courses, upper division ones at my school are notoriously hard and even the people who get As on orgo do poorly. I'm going to be taking a lot of biology courses and will likely do well in them as I have been, but I feel like I need to prove that I can handle the chemistry required for medical school and should retake at least orgo I which I can guarantee an A in.

I feel you. I may do this as well. The question is, when?

 

[rsulliva1026]

Next summer. I stay on campus for the summers to work and volunteer so it shouldn't be a problem for me. Hopefully you find a time for it too!

 

[Daodejing]

I wouldn't advise re-taking. AMCAS will average your grades anyways, I believe. Take biochem and beast it.

Also, B+/A- in gen chem does not mean you're really bad at chem...give yourself a little credit..

 

[survivordo]

Don't retake. Plow forward, your GPA is fine.

Survivor DO

 

[def1]

I probably would not retake.

The only thing I'd be worried about is how organic chemistry is going to effect you on the MCAT. My bio score def dropped a few points due to organic, I wish I would have spent more time on it.

 

[DoktorO]

I probably would not retake.

The only thing I'd be worried about is how organic chemistry is going to effect you on the MCAT. My bio score def dropped a few points due to organic, I wish I would have spent more time on it.

Organic chemistry is getting the boot in the 2015 edition of the MCAT.

 

[TexasSurgeon]

Organic chemistry is getting the boot in the 2015 edition of the MCAT.

It needs to get the boot from prereqs also. At least Orgo 2 does.

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

If you didn't get a C- or lower, don't retake a course. A C+ and B- aren't going to end you, especially not in the course that pre-meds typically do worst in. Med schools don't even care about orgo II very much seeing as how many of them allow you to substitute it with biochem instead. Speaking of biochem, do well in it and no one will care how you did in orgo. The only reason med schools care about orgo to begin with is because it's the pre-req to biochem, and therefore in the absence of an undergrad biochem course grade, orgo is the best predictor of how you'll handle med school biochem.

So, here's your five step plan:
1. Be happy you never have to take orgo again
2. Take biochem and do well (it's different enough from orgo that just because you did (not) do well in orgo doesn't mean you won't do well in biochem)
3. Destroy the MCAT BS section to prove that orgo grade seriously means nothing
4. Apply to med school
5. Get accepted

 

[gimghoul]

I'm a sophomore and just got my grade back for Orgo II, C+, Orgo 1 B-. Obviously not what I want, but I didn't deserve any better. I had 19 credit semesters both semesters, worked in the fall, and this semester I took Orgo II, 2 300 level bio classes, an intro bio class, a lab, and an elective. Got all straight As in everything except one 300 level bio (A-) and Orgo so my overall GPA isnt that bad. Looking at around a 3.6 this semester with a 3.65 overall. Not great but not awful.

I'm just really bad at chemistry, intro chem I got B+/A-. Its because I don't put the time into chem that I should, I admit it, but I didnt have the time for it this semester. My schedule couldn't handle all those classes so I accepted orgo as collateral damage on my GPA and focused on other things. I've since devised a way to fix my study habits, and I've lightened my schedule to the fall to just physics, anatomy, and sociology classes for my second major.

Where should I go from here? I could have done a lot better, I believe I was fully capable of an A in both of them, it was never that I didn't understand the material per se, I just never had enough time to practice it like I should have.

The way I see it I can retake orgo I and II next summer (this summer I'm already taking 12 credits and research and volunteering), graduate and take them post bac during a gap year, or ignore them and just get my GPA up and hope no one notices.

Suggestions?

You did better in Orgo than I did. You're allowed to screw up in something as long as your application is otherwise good.

A good MCAT forgives a lot.

 

[TexasSurgeon]

If you didn't get a C- or lower, don't retake a course. A C+ and B- aren't going to end you, especially not in the course that pre-meds typically do worst in. Med schools don't even care about orgo II very much seeing as how many of them allow you to substitute it with biochem instead. Speaking of biochem, do well in it and no one will care how you did in orgo. The only reason med schools care about orgo to begin with is because it's the pre-req to biochem, and therefore in the absence of an undergrad biochem course grade, orgo is the best predictor of how you'll handle med school biochem.

So, here's your five step plan:
1. Be happy you never have to take orgo again
2. Take biochem and do well (it's different enough from orgo that just because you did (not) do well in orgo doesn't mean you won't do well in biochem)
3. Destroy the MCAT BS section to prove that orgo grade seriously means nothing
4. Apply to med school
5. Get accepted

I second this. +X OCD

 

[premed3445]

If you didn't get a C- or lower, don't retake a course. A C+ and B- aren't going to end you, especially not in the course that pre-meds typically do worst in. Med schools don't even care about orgo II very much seeing as how many of them allow you to substitute it with biochem instead. Speaking of biochem, do well in it and no one will care how you did in orgo. The only reason med schools care about orgo to begin with is because it's the pre-req to biochem, and therefore in the absence of an undergrad biochem course grade, orgo is the best predictor of how you'll handle med school biochem.

So, here's your five step plan:
1. Be happy you never have to take orgo again
2. Take biochem and do well (it's different enough from orgo that just because you did (not) do well in orgo doesn't mean you won't do well in biochem)
3. Destroy the MCAT BS section to prove that orgo grade seriously means nothing
4. Apply to med school
5. Get accepted

I agree. You'll waste a lot of time and energy having to take O chem again, when you could be focusing on biochem or another science course instead. If you retake the course, AMCAS will average the grades, giving a marginal improvement in science and cumulative GPA, but if you take a different science course with about the same number of credits (and do well in it), you'll have a greater improvement in cumulative and science GPA. If you've kept your exams and homework/practice work over O chem, assess what you've been deficient in and then go over those areas, then ace that MCAT BS section.

Med schools understand if you've had downturns in GPA, as long as you turn it around and demonstrate an improvement. A positive trend is a plus.

 

[Josh7]

Good GPA with large course loads. Think you'll be fine as well as you do well on the BS section of the MCAT

 

[TexasSurgeon]

Good GPA with large course loads. Think you'll be fine as well as you do well on the BS section of the MCAT

Don't BS the BS.


...sorry I had to say that...

 

[rueby25]

I'm a sophomore and just got my grade back for Orgo II, C+, Orgo 1 B-. Obviously not what I want, but I didn't deserve any better. I had 19 credit semesters both semesters, worked in the fall, and this semester I took Orgo II, 2 300 level bio classes, an intro bio class, a lab, and an elective. Got all straight As in everything except one 300 level bio (A-) and Orgo so my overall GPA isnt that bad. Looking at around a 3.6 this semester with a 3.65 overall. Not great but not awful.

I'm just really bad at chemistry, intro chem I got B+/A-. Its because I don't put the time into chem that I should, I admit it, but I didnt have the time for it this semester. My schedule couldn't handle all those classes so I accepted orgo as collateral damage on my GPA and focused on other things. I've since devised a way to fix my study habits, and I've lightened my schedule to the fall to just physics, anatomy, and sociology classes for my second major.

Where should I go from here? I could have done a lot better, I believe I was fully capable of an A in both of them, it was never that I didn't understand the material per se, I just never had enough time to practice it like I should have.

The way I see it I can retake orgo I and II next summer (this summer I'm already taking 12 credits and research and volunteering), graduate and take them post bac during a gap year, or ignore them and just get my GPA up and hope no one notices.

Suggestions?

I got accepted with the exact same grades in Orgo, as well as one other poor bio grade, so my gpa was lower than yours (3.5c, 3.3s). I had a 31Q MCAT, so nothing special. Went to my state school.

Make sure you do well on the MCAT. Can definitely retake the C+ if you make it an A, but you might be better just taking an upper level science class (like Biochem) and doin well in that. Don't worry too much about it. Orgo is essentially useless for med school, with the exception of some acid base stuff and Biochem. You won't ever have to do a synthesis, etc.

Good luck.

 

[Benedictus123]

Do well on the MCAT and don't bother retaking - AMCAS doesn't care either way and you have to report all grades.

Your GPA is alright, but why are you taking so many classes per semester?