difficult situation

[WildcatUK]

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What do you all think I should do?

I have a 3.5 GPA and have applied to several schools this year. I graduated last may and took 2 courses this fall to finish my prerequisites. The problem is that I did very poorly in one of those classes, which happened to be cell biology. This course is only required for one of the schools I applied to and is an upper level elective for others. I got a D in the class. What should I do? I feel like I have totally messed up my chances of getting accepted to any school. I have never gotten a D before. The only excuse I have is that my father was diagnosed this semester with cancer and was in the hospital for a while. I also took these two courses at a different university than the one I graduated from. Any ideas or thoughts about how to handle this situation? Any words of comfort?

 

[Myotis]

Could you retake it in the spring? I'm sure most schools would be understanding of the situation with your father. Sometimes life hits you at the wrong time, but that doesn't mean things can't work out. I would contact the schools and explain to them your situation, and also see about retaking the class in the spring.

And, random question, did you go the the University of Kentucky is the name WildcatUK for another reason?

 

[WildcatUK]

yeah, it is for Kentucky

 

[HopefulAg]

Just retake the course and in the 'special circumstances' section of VMCAS, explain the grade and retaking of the course.

Or, don't apply to schools that require that class, but since Kentucky (I didn't even know they had a vet school) is your In-State that's probably not an option.

But a 3.5 GPA, especially one with a D weighing it down, does not put you out of the running. Most schools will average the two grades (and I think some take the better) so at worst you're looking at a C, maybe a B if they round up (not sure how decimals work in that situation).

 

[sumstorm]

If you have a plan of action to fix the grade, contact the schools. I would ask for a phone meeting with someone in admissions, if you are able to stay calm while discussing this. You don't want to gush or cry or get really upset. Explain as succinctly as you can, including your plan of action. Let them know that you wanted to be sure they received the information in a timely and accurate fashion, and ask if there is anything else you need to do for them.

 

[flyhi]

but since Kentucky (I didn't even know they had a vet school)

they don't

 

[WildcatUK]

KY doesn't have a vet school. They contract with Auburn and Tuskegee. I've already applied this cycle so should I send a letter to the schools I applied to explaining the situation now. Tennessee is the school that requires Cell Biology. I was thinking of withdrawing my application there and not retaking the course because I don't need it for Auburn and some of the other schools I applied to. Do you think I should retake it even if it is not a required course?

 

[HopefulAg]

they don't

Didn't think so, but I don't know where all 28 are so I wasn't sure either.

KY doesn't have a vet school. They contract with Auburn and Tuskegee. I've already applied this cycle so should I send a letter to the schools I applied to explaining the situation now. Tennessee is the school that requires Cell Biology. I was thinking of withdrawing my application there and not retaking the course because I don't need it for Auburn and some of the other schools I applied to. Do you think I should retake it even if it is not a required course?

Depends on if you want to applying to TN I guess. I wouldn't withdraw the application though. I mean you've already payed to submit it right? Though in all honesty you'll most likely get rejected because I think you have to have at least a C in pre-reqs. But I'd re-take the course if I were you. I wanted to apply to TN but couldn't because I don't have cell bio but am taking the course next semester. Whatever expands your options and gives you a better chance of getting in is never a bad thing.

 

[david594]

KY doesn't have a vet school. They contract with Auburn and Tuskegee. I've already applied this cycle so should I send a letter to the schools I applied to explaining the situation now. Tennessee is the school that requires Cell Biology. I was thinking of withdrawing my application there and not retaking the course because I don't need it for Auburn and some of the other schools I applied to. Do you think I should retake it even if it is not a required course?

The kicker is that just because the other school's dont require it, doesn't make it good away. They will still see that in the last class you took before vet school you got a D, and that it was in material that is important to your career.

 

[lalzi22]

I had a situation my freshman year and got a D in calc, and I have been invited for many interviews. I believe that as long as you plan accordingly (maybe take it over again), and be ready to explain your circumstances, the adcoms won't take it too terribly. I mean, they are human beings, not robots looking to kill your dreams based on a bad grade. Good luck!

 

[Caninerepro]

Yeah but as David pointed out -- both Cell and Molecular Bio really are about like a first year Physiology class, if probably a bit simplified. So... a difficulty there now will probably show that you can't handle actual vet school level courses. Also remember you will be expected to manage 26+ credits worth of Cell level classes at once, each semester, whether your Dad is sick, you get pregnant or whatever. Not to be nasty or anything, but that is the way things might be seen by ad coms. That said, I as well choked in Cell my first time through (C+) while experiencing some relationship woes, so I retook it with an A, and took some grad level follow-ups to prove I could ace them as well. That may actually be your best bet for the other schools who don't ask for Cell as a pre-req. Good luck!

 

[sumstorm]

Yeah but as David pointed out -- both Cell and Molecular Bio really are about like a first year Physiology class, if probably a bit simplified. So... a difficulty there now will probably show that you can't handle actual vet school level courses.

Well, hopefully there won't be a new, unexpected diagnosis of cancer with hospitalizations in the immediate family, which could affect a lot of student's ability to handle any particular course. I know I dropped from an A+ to a C in a course that I loved and thought was easy when my husband was hospitalized in my Sr. year of undergrad. It wasn't even just the stress of the hospitalization, it was talking with doctors, and trying to juggle time. What really killed my grade? We had to write reviews of various articles read during the semester. They had to be turned in the day after the article was assigned in class. I failed to turn one in because I left it in my husband's hospital room. I am sure it would have been excused (could have turned it in late), but I didn't take the time to deal with it because dealing with my husband's illness was more important. I probably should have withdrawn from the course to give myself more time, but that would have delayed graduation and affected financial aid. Maybe that reflects poorly on me, or maybe it suggests that my priorities were balancing my family/personal life with my academic life and sometimes family has to come first. That is true in and out of vet school, and in and out of our careers.

 

[aspiringDVM]

Whoooohoooo KY! 😀
As others have suggested, I'd retake the course. Even if it's not required for Auburn or Tuskegee, it's an important upper level bio course that will be relevant to your future studies and career (as opposed to a course where you'll likely never see the material again, ie French literature or classical mythology).

ETA: And no, we don't have a vet school, which is just stupid. I mean, we're the horse capital of the world, and no veterinary college?!