Does a "bad" grade in summer course hurt med school chances?

[jxu14]

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Hi,

I'm new to this forum and I have a question that hopefully hasn't been asked before. I just finished my first year at a well-respected university and I'll still be taking the rest of the required premed courses this fall in my sophomore year.

Anyway, I took physics over the summer at another university close to home and got a B+. I've heard that generally, summer courses are supposed to be really easy and most people I've talked to (and googled) told me that an A should be "no problem" if it's a summer course. So I was expecting an easy A, didn't get it, and now I'm wondering is it worth it to retake the course during the fall semester at my year-long university?

Do medical schools look down on getting a B+ at an "easier" institution especially when the course is taken over the summer? By easier, I'm only basing it on rankings, so the summer university's ranking < my university. Frankly, I thought the physics course was pretty hard considering the average was barely a C-... Is it worth it to retake the course to get an A which I'm not even sure I can get (Physics is my weakness and the curve is pretty bad at my university)? And if it matters, my overall GPA without the summer course is a 3.59 which I'm definitely looking to bring up in the next few years; although, my university doesn't count the summer course into my GPA.

Thanks!

 

[flatearth22]

Ya dun goof'd OP. Not only did you get a B+ but you got it at a lesser university than your own AND during summer session. That's a hatrick of red flags right there.

On the bright side, I hear the weather in the Caribbean is nice.

 

[CodeBlu]

You're fine OP.

 

[ash914]

In all likelihood that "easier" institution won't be looked at any differently that your main UG university. Plus, a single B+ isn't going to hurt you.

 

[NickNaylor]

You're screwed.

 

[orthomyxo]

Read this thread, OR ELSE: Answers to Your Stupid Questions

 

[Mahliah]

Tell me how the beaches are in the Caribbean.

 

[jxu14]

...Oh, I guess it was a stupid question, sorry. Was panicking and really thought that med schools would equate it to a D or F considering all the easiness factors.

 

[drdan83]

Yup, that B+ is really gonna hurt you bad.

I suggest becoming a PA.

 

[orthomyxo]

...Oh, I guess it was a stupid question, sorry. Was panicking and really thought that med schools would equate it to a D or F considering all the easiness factors.

There are no "easiness factors." I don't know why people think that summer courses are supposed to be easier. If anything, they're more difficult since it's the same amount of material taught twice as fast. Use your noggin, people.

 

[flatearth22]

There are no "easiness factors." I don't know why people think that summer courses are supposed to be easier. If anything, they're more difficult since it's the same amount of material taught twice as fast. Use your noggin, people.

But...you don't generally take as many summer classes so you can really focus on the class that you do take. Some people do better if they only have to focus on one class even if it's going at a fast pace with lots of info.

 

[orthomyxo]

But...you don't generally take as many summer classes so you can really focus on the class that you do take. Some people do better if they only have to focus on one class even if it's going at a fast pace with lots of info.

I understand that. What I'm trying to get at is that there is nothing inherently easy about summer classes. I don't think any adcom is going to think any less of you for taking them, as opposed to regular semester-long courses, provided you do well. That being said, OP needs to stop freaking out over a B+.

 

[ttothemac]

lol @ this thread

And no, you'll be fine

 

[ACal]

You said your GPA is 3.59, which isn't even that far off from a B+ (3.4 in most cases). So it's barely below your average grade in school.
Also I don't think medical schools weigh grades from different universities. I mean a 3.6 is a 3.6, unless the schools are vastly different, maybe like MIT and Chico State (you probably don't even know where that is...)
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[gettheleadout]

Read this thread, OR ELSE: Answers to Your Stupid Questions

How big does it have to be?

Don't sweat it OP, anyone can be a beloved member of SDN, we just appreciate it when people search.

 

[Juicec]

Your average GPA is a 3.59 and your worried about a B+? I don't get it, obviously you've gotten grades lower then that in the past. Furthermore, no one cares about university rankings, especially when it comes to stringent premed prereq's like physics.

Also, where the heck did you hear summer classes are supposed to be easy? Holy crap my summer course seems like a living hell and with average of ~30%. I'd hate to see what the hard version of it would be.

Also, this question has been asked 40 bagillion times.