first year flunk

[Geeepa]

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Hi All, was wondering if, after flunking first year, I should drop any courses I think I will get lower than A- in if I am planning on become a Dr.? I'm in a math/chemistry program, so these are difficult courses... Also, (and I should say that this could be the bain of my wanting-to-become-a-doctor existence) what are thoughts on repeating introductory chemistry for a *wince* 3rd time? I may have to cross-register to do so, but having an F in year 1 first term, year 2 got a D+ first term (C second term). I'm taking analytical as well as organic this year (200-level courses), and am on the path to getting at least an A in each of them. Do medical schools south of the '49th or abroad require more than a D or C in "prereq.'s"? and do they average the repeats, and use that average???

 

[Greonis]

You definitely want to have better than a C in all of your prerequisites, although that does not necessarily mean that you have to retake the introductory sequences. Demonstrating mastery in an upper level elective that covers similar material (in your case, I believe that analytical chemistry can substitute for one semester of general chemistry) will be just as effective at demonstrating to schools your proficiency with the material. If you get an A in analytical chemistry and can subsequently receive high grades in similar electives (such as physical chemistry), you probably won't have to worry about retaking the general chemistry sequence.

How the grades are processed depends on which route you take. Allopathic schools will average old grades and new grades together when calculating your GPA, while osteopathic schools will "forgive" your older grade, eliminating it from the GPA calculations. Therefore, assuming that your performance in retaken courses is superior, you'll have a noticeably higher GPA in the osteopathic system than you will in the allopathic system.

As for your initial question, the difficulty of your two majors is unlikely to afford you a lot of forgiveness from medical schools. Therefore, you will only want to take courses that you are very likely to receive a high grade in. Don't drop any courses at this point (unless there would be no record of the drop), but from this point onward, do your best to only take courses that you are likely to receive an A in.