Frak. I messed up. Advice, please!

[potatolatke]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello all,

I'm a reapplicant this year. Last year, I applied very late to three schools with a lowish GPA. So, I decided to get my act together this year and try again. Everything went very smoothly in the Spring, and I got 4 As in upper level science courses including Cell Biology and 1 B (biophysics), which bumped my GPA up to a 3.6. Unfortunately, one of my classes was a distance ed course, which I planned to finish while volunteering abroad during the summer (distance ed courses in my college spill into the break after the formal term). Long story short, I ended up with an F in a <100 level course. The thing is, I sent my transcripts out before I had the F on them. It seems that medical schools can and will rescind any acceptances given evidence of "slacking". My school offers a "second grade only" option which allows one to retake a class and have only the retake be counted in the GPA (but the original grade remains on the transcript for all the Gods to judge). Should I go for the retake or give up now and go MSP/MPH/graduate before going broke from secondaries?

Sorry for any spelling/grammar errors. Haven't slept in days...

 

[DrAwsome]

Hello all,

I'm a reapplicant this year. Last year, I applied very late to three schools with a lowish GPA. So, I decided to get my act together this year and try again. Everything went very smoothly in the Spring, and I got 4 As in upper level science courses including Cell Biology and 1 B (biophysics), which bumped my GPA up to a 3.6. Unfortunately, one of my classes was a distance ed course, which I planned to finish while volunteering abroad during the summer (distance ed courses in my college spill into the break after the formal term). Long story short, I ended up with an F in a <100 level course. The thing is, I sent my transcripts out before I had the F on them. It seems that medical schools can and will rescind any acceptances given evidence of "slacking". My school offers a "second grade only" option which allows one to retake a class and have only the retake be counted in the GPA (but the original grade remains on the transcript for all the Gods to judge). Should I go for the retake or give up now and go MSP/MPH/graduate before going broke from secondaries?

Sorry for any spelling/grammar errors. Haven't slept in days...

Why did you get an F? Did you just not complete it or what? Are you able to talk to the instructor and complete any stuff you did not finish or anything like that?

 

[potatolatke]

I got the F all because of me. Having taken a much more advanced class in the same subject (linear algebra) I thought it was going to be a cakewalk. So, I basically put off the exams until after I came back from my volunteering mission and took them rapid fire in a week. Still thought they were easy and actually thought I aced them. Teacher didn't agree. Yeah.

I am hoping that if I retake the course, bust my ***, get an A, and then update the school with a transcript and a letter in December/January stating: "Look, I messed up, here's proof I can handle this completely non-required course. Sincerest apologies." that interviews/acceptances won't be cancelled/rescinded... Do you think that's a possibility? Also, I was hoping to finish my AACOMAS this month, but since this F (which went on my transcript yesterday) I'm unsure as to whether the schools will take me seriously or not. Do you think I could include a small section in my application somewhere (or call the office of admissions and ask for a note) that I will be retaking the class? Or will I be automatically dismissed?

 

[carnelian]

How did you already send out your transcripts without a grade for that class? If the class didn't show up on the transcript you sent, med schools won't see the F until after you get in (I believe you have to send official transcripts and updates to the school you'll matriculate at). But by that point you would've already retaken the course and (hopefully) gotten an A. I highly doubt med schools would care at that point, if everything else looks good (and especially if you retake the class and ace it).

If you really want to be a doctor, don't let one grade stop you. At least try for it before changing paths. What do you have to lose? 🙂