Freshman Semester 1

[ElusiveVet]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello SDN,
this is my first thread, but I am halfway through my first semester in SJSU, and i just recieved a 68% on my midterm for Chem1a (inorganic chem). I never thought I would ever get this low of a score, because I scored 100%'s on all my quizzes and high B's in my previous tests. However, now my grade has dropped from an A- to a B-, and Im getting really worried about my chances for med schools. I calculated all the possible points I can make up, and unless I get a perfect score on everything, I will not be able to recieve an A- for the semester.
I know freshman year is not extremely crucial, but my advisors told me that because i dont go to a very well known school for biology or chemistry, I have to score an A in chemistry, or med schools will not even be interested in my admission. What do you suggest i do? I realize that I may be overreacting because I just received my score, but some good insight would really be appreciated!

 

[BABSstudent]

Hello.


Sent from my iPod using SDN Mobile app. Please excuse the typos.

 

[Hau5MD]

First of all, welcome! While it is possible, the chances of you aceing every single test/quiz for the rest of the semester is quite low. My only suggestion is for you to work hard and salvaging the rest of semester. As much as it hurts me to say this, while grades do matter upward grade trends nice and freshman grades aren't as important as Junior and Senior grades. Hence forth, figure out what you did wrong, stop worrying and hit the books!

 

[askamsky51]

1. Relax. You have 4 years to panic, 1st term of inorganic isn't worth the anxiety.

2. Your pre-med advisor is an idiot. They genuinely don't care where you took your courses, unless it's to consider you got high marks at a difficult (ie Ivy) institution, maybe.

3. Talk to your professor, let them know your concerns. Start going to office hours if the subject is giving you trouble, or find a tutor (most colleges have a tutoring center). Keep in mind that courses will greatly increase in difficulty from inorganic chemistry. Many of the concepts you learn, especially first term, will become second nature. You'll use these concepts in future courses/mcat. So make sure you have that foundation.

4. Again, chill. You're fine.

edit: Also, this is the pre-med forum. Not that it changes my answer. Just in case you didn't realize.

 

[ElusiveVet]

1. Relax. You have 4 years to panic, 1st term of inorganic isn't worth the anxiety.

2. Your pre-med advisor is an idiot. They genuinely don't care where you took your courses, unless it's to consider you got high marks at a difficult (ie Ivy) institution, maybe.

3. Talk to your professor, let them know your concerns. Start going to office hours if the subject is giving you trouble, or find a tutor (most colleges have a tutoring center). Keep in mind that courses will greatly increase in difficulty from inorganic chemistry. Many of the concepts you learn, especially first term, will become second nature. You'll use these concepts in future courses/mcat. So make sure you have that foundation.

4. Again, chill. You're fine.

edit: Also, this is the pre-med forum. Not that it changes my answer. Just in case you didn't realize.

Thank you alot for this insight! I am definitely going to get on track, and try to score as high as I can on my remaining tests. Should I have posted this in a different forum?

 

[askamsky51]

Thank you alot for this insight! I am definitely going to get on track, and try to score as high as I can on my remaining tests. Should I have posted this in a different forum?

Well the advice for this topic will be generally the same, but the pre-vet forums are here:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=73

 

[487806]

Well the advice for this topic will be generally the same, but the pre-vet forums are here:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=73

For a minute, I thought vet stood for veteran... 😳

Hello SDN,
this is my first thread, but I am halfway through my first semester in SJSU, and i just recieved a 68% on my midterm for Chem1a (inorganic chem). I never thought I would ever get this low of a score, because I scored 100%'s on all my quizzes and high B's in my previous tests. However, now my grade has dropped from an A- to a B-, and Im getting really worried about my chances for med schools. I calculated all the possible points I can make up, and unless I get a perfect score on everything, I will not be able to recieve an A- for the semester.
I know freshman year is not extremely crucial, but my advisors told me that because i dont go to a very well known school for biology or chemistry, I have to score an A in chemistry, or med schools will not even be interested in my admission. What do you suggest i do? I realize that I may be overreacting because I just received my score, but some good insight would really be appreciated!

Try to do better in future exams. Your premed adviser is a great example as to why they are useless to give advice. They are acting like doctors when they are actually pretty incompetent. Take their advice lightly, and consult sdn for any help.

 

[BABSstudent]

Hello SDN,
this is my first thread, but I am halfway through my first semester in SJSU, and i just recieved a 68% on my midterm for Chem1a (inorganic chem). I never thought I would ever get this low of a score, because I scored 100%'s on all my quizzes and high B's in my previous tests. However, now my grade has dropped from an A- to a B-, and Im getting really worried about my chances for med schools. I calculated all the possible points I can make up, and unless I get a perfect score on everything, I will not be able to recieve an A- for the semester.
I know freshman year is not extremely crucial, but my advisors told me that because i dont go to a very well known school for biology or chemistry, I have to score an A in chemistry, or med schools will not even be interested in my admission. What do you suggest i do? I realize that I may be overreacting because I just received my score, but some good insight would really be appreciated!

Now that you wrote something other than hi, I can respond.

Relax and try to identify where you messed up. Did you not study enough? How about how many days from the test did you study? Cramming the night before doesn't work for freshman because they probably never did that before. Plus, adding a bunch of information to short term memory is never the best thing for tests. A week from the test you should start doing gradual learning (if you haven't done it while actually learning). Pick it up when you are a few days from the test.

And one grade isn't going to kill you. Professors curve and change grades for students they like. Just keep trying and use office hours for your questions. It will all work out in the end if you try hard enough.


Sent from my iPod using SDN Mobile app. Please excuse the typos.

 

[Soccerboy12]

Hey, don't worry too much, like everyone said it is just one grade. I know what it feels like to be in your position, though, since I also received a 68% on my first Chem 1 exam, which is still the worst I have done on any exam to date, but I still ended up getting an A- in the class. Just remember its only the beginning of your freshman so don't get discouraged by one class and just keep working hard.

 

[ElusiveVet]

Hey, don't worry too much, like everyone said it is just one grade. I know what it feels like to be in your position, though, since I also received a 68% on my first Chem 1 exam, which is still the worst I have done on any exam to date, but I still ended up getting an A- in the class. Just remember its only the beginning of your freshman so don't get discouraged by one class and just keep working hard.

Thank you! I definitely wont stop working hard. but it definitely was a good wakeup call.

 

[ElusiveVet]

Now that you wrote something other than hi, I can respond.

Relax and try to identify where you messed up. Did you not study enough? How about how many days from the test did you study? Cramming the night before doesn't work for freshman because they probably never did that before. Plus, adding a bunch of information to short term memory is never the best thing for tests. A week from the test you should start doing gradual learning (if you haven't done it while actually learning). Pick it up when you are a few days from the test.

And one grade isn't going to kill you. Professors curve and change grades for students they like. Just keep trying and use office hours for your questions. It will all work out in the end if you try hard enough.


Sent from my iPod using SDN Mobile app. Please excuse the typos.

Haha your first post seemed like a troll, but i definitely appreciate the advice. Im going to look ahead now and work more on the mistakes I made rather than sulk on the bad grade. thank you!

 

[Bangersandmash]

inb4 Caribbean.

 

[Aerus]

I hold tutoring sessions with some people in my chemistry class right before tests and help them go over HW problems and old test questions. They said that these sessions helped them focus in on their weak points.

My best advice is to find people who seem to know the material well and ask them if they would be interested in doing a study session once in awhile. While you may run into gunner pre-meds who aren't interested in "helping the competition", it never hurts to try. There are definitely people out there who are willing to help you.

Also, go to office hours and ask the professor how you could do better in the course. They might know some extra outside resources you can take advantage of.