Drop Gen Chem II and then take it during the summer?

[bngli]

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Hey guys,
I'm doing very poorly in Gen Chem II and am considering dropping it. If I drop it today I won't have a W on my record. Can you give me some advice on when to take this class after this semester. I was considering taking it this summer, when I would be able to give it my full attention. I guess I could also take it fall semester of my sophomore year, which would push back the sequence of orgo by a semester. Which do you think is the better option. If I don't drop it today, I am thinking I may continue to do bad and will eventually have to drop it and take a W - which seems like the worst option.

This is what my premed schedule will look like:
Freshman fall (17 credits):
Gen Bio II - C+
Gen Chem I - C
Gen Chem Lab - A
English I - A-

Freshman spring (14 credits)
Gen Bio I
Gen Bio I Lab
Calc I

Sophomore fall
Physics I
Physics Lab I
English II

Sophomore spring
Gen Chem II
Gen Chem Lab II
Physics II
Physics II Lab

Junior Fall
Organic Chem I
Organic Chem Lab I
Gen Bio II Lab

Junior Spring
Organic Chem II
Organic Chem Lab II

Couple of things: My school allows us to take Gen Bio II before Gen Bio I. It also makes us wait until sophomore standing and completion of Gen Chem II before we can take Gen Bio II lab. This is the prereq schedule I have devised, do you guys see any causes for concern?

Thanks for the help.

 

[CaptainZappo]

Hey guys,
I'm doing very poorly in Gen Chem II and am considering dropping it. If I drop it today I won't have a W on my record. Can you give me some advice on when to take this class after this semester. I was considering taking it this summer, when I would be able to give it my full attention. I guess I could also take it fall semester of my sophomore year, which would push back the sequence of orgo by a semester. Which do you think is the better option. If I don't drop it today, I am thinking I may continue to do bad and will eventually have to drop it and take a W - which seems like the worst option.

My suggestion is identify the reason(s) for your poor performance. Is it inability to devote enough time to the subject? Is it difficulty with content?

Gen Chem II is typically much more math intensive than Gen Chem I and, thus, many students find it more difficult. If this is the case for you, you will probably find the fast-paced summer course to be exponentially more difficult than the regular, semester course.

I know someone who took Gen Chem II in the summer and ended up with a D, simply because the pace was so unfeasibly fast. She has since taken the course during the regular semester and currently has an A.

 

[BenjaminT]

You need to step up and start doing better than C's in your core sciences. So, the best option is to work harder in the class and pull up the grade.

However, if you only see the ability to either get a W or not get a W, then drop the class. However, it seems early in the semester to be sure that you can't handle it.

 

[exptherainbow]

You need to step up and start doing better than C's in your core sciences. So, the best option is to work harder in the class and pull up the grade.

However, if you only see the ability to either get a W or not get a W, then drop the class. However, it seems early in the semester to be sure that you can't handle it.

I have to agree, C's in early core sciences put you in a challenging position when it comes time to apply for medical school. It's not quite too late to salvage it yet, but you need to identify what's going wrong and fix it ASAP. For a lot of people that means less alcohol more study. A W would be better than another C, but ideally you need to avoid both. Remember these topics are also on the MCAT so you need a firm grasp of them.

 

[exptherainbow]

Also, your schedule seems rather light... you need to plan for any gen-ed requirements your college has. And as far as taking it later, you want to take it as soon as you can (like this summer or next fall) so you can take O-chem in a timely fashion. Remember summer moves faster and costs money.

 

[mouthwash4hobo]

Hey uschopeful,

I feel your pain! I'm also in chem 2 this semester and am going to drop the course because I do not have enough time to devote. Unfortunately, I will receive a W. I'm also taking physics 2 and two other courses along with working about 28 hours/week.

My plan is to read the text at a slower pace, plus review chem 1 topics since I got a C+ in that class last summer. Try to learn the material at your own pace and when you feel ready to tackle chem 2, do it! But, don't over do your schedule. I realized that chem 2 takes a lot of your time.

 

[tttttc]

I'm doing very poorly in Gen Chem II and am considering dropping it

Consider another career. Why do you want to become a doctor anyway?

 

[blackarrowmoose]

Consider another career. Why do you want to become a doctor anyway?

very helpful

 

[BJJ]

Consider another career. Why do you want to become a doctor anyway?

I am horrible in Chem. I got a B (close to a C) in gen chem one and an A in gen chem 2 working three times as hard as the other kids. For intro bio 1,2,cell and animal I have had A's not working as hard. You can't conclude that someone isn't cut out for medical school from the result of one class.

 

[smarttee88]

I am horrible in Chem. I got a B (close to a C) in gen chem one and an A in gen chem 2 working three times as hard as the other kids. For intro bio 1,2,cell and animal I have had A's not working as hard. You can't conclude that someone isn't cut out for medical school from the result of one class.

 

[exptherainbow]

I am horrible in Chem. I got a B (close to a C) in gen chem one and an A in gen chem 2 working three times as hard as the other kids. For intro bio 1,2,cell and animal I have had A's not working as hard. You can't conclude that someone isn't cut out for medical school from the result of one class.

Technically the people on this forum are basing it on two classes - the OP did poorly in both Bio and Chem. A "B close to a C" is not the same as an actual C and the OP is therefore in a much more difficult position that you were.

As for the OP considering a different career, I don't think that it is fair to say that they should consider a different career just yet...

 

[smarttee88]

Technically the people on this forum are basing it on two classes - the OP did poorly in both Bio and Chem. A "B close to a C" is not the same as an actual C and the OP is therefore in a much more difficult position that you were.

As for the OP considering a different career, I don't think that it is fair to say that they should consider a different career just yet...