Does a 3.0 in Biochemistry raise questions?

[aspiringphysician190]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello SDN,

I am a junior at a large public university and I have a 3.9 GPA overall. I am possibly going to finish in my biochemistry course with a 3.0 this semester, and I am nervous that this will raise questions when I am applying to medical schools in the summer. I have no excuse, except for that this class was very hard for me. I studied a lot, and am usually a close to 4.0 student, but have struggled with this course (my school grades classes 4.0, then 3.5, then 3.0, etc.).

I know that I have a solid overall GPA and a 3.0 would not move this down very much (I would still have a 3.9), but I am nervous that since this is a core science class that it will raise questions.

Any advice you can give will be extremely helpful. Thank-you.

 

[JMilo]

I sure hope you have a solid back up plan. Your chances for MD are slim to none.

 

[HomeSkool]

I shall endeavor to answer your question in the form of a play.

Curtain rises. INTERVIEWER and YOU sit in chairs opposite one another.

INTERVIEWER: What happened in biochem?

YOU: I worked hard and found the material very challenging. You may also notice that I killed biochem on the MCAT.

INTERVIEWER: Interesting. Last night I had dinner at a charming Italian restaurant.

Exeunt all. Curtain lowers.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using SDN mobile

 

[actioncat]

Oh, haven't you heard? One B and your chances for medical school are out the door

As I'm sure everyone else is going to say, you're fine.

 

[altblue]

How To Apply

 

[JMilo]

In all seriousness, it would only raise questions if you draw attention to it like a neurotic pre med. As long as you do not write about it in your personal statement, or use it as a topic in a secondary that asks "what is an obstacle that you have overcome", you will be fine lol. Chill.

 

[de Ribas]

Hello SDN,

I am a junior at a large public university and I have a 3.9 GPA overall. I am possibly going to finish in my biochemistry course with a 3.0 this semester, and I am nervous that this will raise questions when I am applying to medical schools in the summer. I have no excuse, except for that this class was very hard for me. I studied a lot, and am usually a close to 4.0 student, but have struggled with this course (my school grades classes 4.0, then 3.5, then 3.0, etc.).

I know that I have a solid overall GPA and a 3.0 would not move this down very much (I would still have a 3.9), but I am nervous that since this is a core science class that it will raise questions.

Any advice you can give will be extremely helpful. Thank-you.

wouldn't really mean much.

 

[Catalystik]

I am a junior at a large public university and I have a 3.9 GPA overall. I am possibly going to finish in my biochemistry course with a 3.0 this semester, and I am nervous that this will raise questions when I am applying to medical schools in the summer. I have no excuse, except for that this class was very hard for me. I studied a lot, and am usually a close to 4.0 student, but have struggled with this course (my school grades classes 4.0, then 3.5, then 3.0, etc.).

I know that I have a solid overall GPA and a 3.0 would not move this down very much (I would still have a 3.9), but I am nervous that since this is a core science class that it will raise questions.

Any advice you can give will be extremely helpful.

When your GPA is that high, it is unlikely anyone will microanalyze your transcript. Even if they do, an isolated B is not a problem.

Do not use this grade as the fodder for an essay on, "Tell about a time you failed and how you handled it."

 

[HomeSkool]

Do not use this grade as the fodder for an essay on, "Tell about a time you failed and how you handled it."

"This one time, I got a B, and I failed to recognize it wasn't a big deal..."

 

[lol_new_user]

OP I promise you that med schools DO NOT HAVE the time to really look at each individual class. They calculate your overal sGPA, cGPA and basically put you in buckets. Your overall GPA speaks to your ability to handle challenging material and omg you didn't FAIL. you frickin got a B. Do you know how many Bs successful med school students (and yes, even those at top 20) have had in their undergrad? I assure you 90% have had at least 1.

 

[aspiringphysician190]

Thanks everyone!

 

[boogiecousins94]

I got a B- in biochem (which counts at as 2.7 at my school) but a 131 on the MCAT section. As long as you do well on the MCAT portion I think it'll alleviate any doubt

 

[Goro]

OP I promise you that med schools DO NOT HAVE the time to really look at each individual class. They calculate your overal sGPA, cGPA and basically put you in buckets. Your overall GPA speaks to your ability to handle challenging material and omg you didn't FAIL. you frickin got a B. Do you know how many Bs successful med school students (and yes, even those at top 20) have had in their undergrad? I assure you 90% have had at least 1.

And you know this how?

I look at classes taken by each interviewee I encounter.

If you go into the interview feedback section of SDN (a really great resource), you you'll see that a very common question, especially at Top Schools) is something like "What's up with that C in Orgo?". This is because like a black spot on an opthe4rwise white canvas, a lower grade in a sea of A's attracts attention.

I agree 100% that OP needs to pop some Xanax, but SDNers are strongly advised that "they don't have time to do that" is not a realistic view of the Admissions world.

 

[lol_new_user]

I look at classes taken by each interviewee I encounter.

I meant at the initial screening level, pre-interview. By all means interviewers of course, have time. But at the interview level, you have a chance to explain.

I'm re-reading the question now, and OP says "raise questions". I wasn't clear whether he meant at the interview stage or the pre-interview screening stage. At the interview stage, yes an explanation must be made. but at the pre-screening stage, i don't think admissions people are scrutinizing that closely. Unless I'm heavily mistaken, and then, I have no idea how they're judging my app or the courses I've taken.

 

[Goro]

I meant at the initial screening level, pre-interview. By all means interviewers of course, have time. But at the interview level, you have a chance to explain.

I'm re-reading the question now, and OP says "raise questions". I wasn't clear whether he meant at the interview stage or the pre-interview screening stage. At the interview stage, yes an explanation must be made. but at the pre-screening stage, i don't think admissions people are scrutinizing that closely. Unless I'm heavily mistaken, and then, I have no idea how they're judging my app or the courses I've taken.

I agree; screeners will not care; interviewers may or may not take note. But in no way will a single bad grade, even an F, be lethal.

 

[aspiringphysician190]

I agree; screeners will not care; interviewers may or may not take note. But in no way will a single bad grade, even an F, be lethal.

Even at a top 20 school?

 

[DBC03]

Even at a top 20 school?

Everyone has their own definition of top 20, so take this with a grain of salt, but I have an interview at NYU and got a D in one of my classes. I still think they made some kind of mistake in the admissions office on this one, but that doesn’t mean I won’t take advantage of it.


Sent from my iPad using SDN mobile

 

[Goro]

Even at a top 20 school?

I hope that you're sitting down when you read this, but even Really Top Schools will take students who have less than a 4.0 GPA.

Now have an inhaler handy, because schools like Vandy, Columbia, BU, Dartmouth, UCSF, Case, Mayo, Duke and Pitt will reward reinvention and accept people who cratered their UG schooling.

 

[Catalystik]

I agree; screeners will not care; interviewers may or may not take note. But in no way will a single bad grade, even an F, be lethal.

Even if it was earned during the last term of school before applying in a med school-relevant class?

 

[HomeSkool]

I hope that you're sitting down when you read this, but even Really Top Schools will take students who have less than a 4.0 GPA.

Now have an inhaler handy, because schools like Vandy, Columbia, BU, Dartmouth, UCSF, Case, Mayo, Duke and Pitt will reward reinvention and accept people who cratered their UG schooling.

I may have screwed around a bit as a freshman, I may have earned a 3.22 in one of my first two semesters, I may have graduated with a 3.81, and I may have gone to one of the med schools that Goro listed there. You can prove nothing.

Here's my point: Goro is right: top schools expect excellent applicants, not perfect ones. Worry less about a single grade and more about how your application looks globally. Don't lose sight of the forest for the trees.

 

[Goro]

Even if it was earned during the last term of school before applying in a med school-relevant class?

In this scenario, that's more concerning.

 

[HomeSkool]

This is because like a black spot on an opthe4rwise white canvas, a lower grade in a sea of A's attracts attention.

Get C's in a bunch of classes, though, and that first C looks a whole lot less conspicuous.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using SDN mobile