Gen Chem: What's worse a W or a C-/D

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tikanisynaru

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So I'm taking the whole year of gen chem in one summer course and I have been having such a hard time with it. Maybe it's the math, the fast pace of the course, or how abstract the concepts are, or maybe a combination, I'm not sure, but I have been struggling.

I've been working so hard too, working with peers and meeting tutors, and staying as late as possible in office hours, and yet I'm still not where I'd like to be. Basically, we're a little over the half way point now and I have three test grades: 70, 75, 65 and this next test on monday is going to be a killer seeing as I don't understand kinetics at ALL!

So here is my question:

What is the smarter decision? Withdrawing from the class with a W, or trying to do my best with keeping up with the material and receiving somewhere in the C-D range for the entire 8 credit course? You see after this test, essentially I'll have a day to decide to stay in or withdraw because the deadline is the 28th.

What should I do? Does a W on the transcript look bad? Has anyone else been in a similar situation? And why is it that I have such a hard time with chemistry? Could somebody point me in the right direction of some useful study sites for gen chem and Kinetics?

Please, I'm so frustrated with myself and I feel like such a failure. I'm normally an A student, so I'm doubly frustrated.

I appreciate any advice. Thank you.
 
Take the W, doesn't affect your grade, and you can take it at a later time with at least some background knowledge of it already.

It's your grade, your education, take the W whenever you feel like you can't handle the course or it will result in a grade your displeased with and ruins your GPA that takes a lot just to bring it up.
 
Either way you're taking the class again. Take g the w.
.
 
Take the W and then try again in the school year.

C- and D are both failing grades for a prerequisite, so you will have to retake anyways.
 
absolutely take the W unless you have a bunch of them already
 
Agreed, withdrawal. You can say something like "I ended up feeling like the compressed format didn't do the material justice" or something if it comes up.
 
when you withdraw, some schools ask for an explanation and it could come up during your interview but it may be better than having the bad grade.
 
inb4 search option suggestion
 
W doesn't affect GPA.
A C or D will affect it greatly.
Btw, kinetics isn't hard at all. Honestly, just do the practice problems in your book, look up kinetics online or find someone who explains it well on youtube.
The reason why I did excellent in chem is because I did practice problems everyday to reinforce my learning. I also loved chem, and unlike other pure math classes, it's all applied. I'd say take the W.
 
HK35 said:
inb4 search option suggestion
Click to expand...

I'm all for a good lashing for nonsensical posts, but we've all been in the position of a confused premed trying to make sense of options. Recommend the search option but at least offer some constructive criticism.

I agree with most of the posts above. Figure out why you have trouble with the course, take the W, re-take and get an A. Keep all your class/test materials and study them to see patterns in what you were doing wrong. Fix it.
 
Ah okay thank you, this definitely clears the situation up for me.

I'll see how I do on the test on Monday, and if it does not work out, I'll just withdraw.
 
you're lucky as balls to take so many tests and withdraw....
 
I am tutoring a few dozen summer chemistry students at the school where I work. They are hating life right now. I caution students against taking chemistry or physics in the summer. Unless you are very bright, have a strong aptitude, and lots of time to study, you're going to struggle. Even if you get that A, the class moves so fast that little of the information will be retained.

I did general chemistry in summer also... I had to do it if I wanted to apply this year. So I understand that concern. You can be done with all of general chemistry in 10 weeks, and I understand the appeal of that. It won't even come back to bite you in the ass until you start preparing for the MCAT. At that point, your weakness will be revealed, and you will have to do an intensive review.

Obviously doing this in the summer is not working for you. You should drop and take it in the fall.
 
You're clearly right. Math, algebra, and problem solving (using equations and determining what to do next) are really not my strong points. I'm really so much more of a bio anatomy person. It was probably a mistake for me to take chemistry this summer.

And it's only a six week course.
 
So I got a 70 on this week's test, making my average test grade a 70. My projected grade range has gone up from the D i thought earlier, to the C+/ C range, which changes the situation quite a bit.

I have two days to decide to withdraw or not. Should I?

There are only 2 more weeks left in the course.

Thank you for your response.
 
I'd withdraw but continue to go to class as if you didn't. You payed for the seat initially, finish the course out and come back better prepared next time. (I'm sure your prof will be fine with it). I've heard far too many stories of students withdrawing out of courses and not taking advantage of professors who were fine with them sitting through the remainder of the course. I for one would never want to be one of those guys having to take a course for the 3rd time.
 
If I retook the class again I would retake it during the school year at a much slower pace, but even then I don't think I could make an A, a B or so.

Right now if I absolutely had to decide, I'd say I'm leaning more towards staying in the class just so I can get it over with and move on to organic chemistry. I could instead focus on upper level bio courses instead of retaking chem again?

But I'm so stressed! :scared:
 
If you really don't think you can get an A or B if you retake during the year, then you should stick it out and take the C now. It doesn't make much sense to withdraw and then do it all over again just to get the same C later.

BUT if you think you could get the A or B if you retook the class based on knowing the material better the second time around or knowing how to study more efficiently for the class then it's going to be better for your GPA to retake for a potentially higher grade. A lot of people withdraw, retake, and do better assuming they were able to figure out what went wrong the first time.

good luck with whatever you decide!
 
Stay in the class until the second to last exam. If there is any chance of getting a B-, stay enrolled otherwise get a W. This will give you 2 benefits. First, you can retake the course without hurting your GPA from this summer course. Second, you will be ahead of the class as everything the teacher teaches will be a review lesson for you, making it easier for you to understand and hopefully, you will succeed.
 
take the w. there is very little glory in trying and sucking, especially w/r to a pre req grade

- i didnt take the w and while ultimately it was ok, it was a b**** to deal with
 
doc44ever said:
Stay in the class until the second to last exam. If there is any chance of getting a B-, stay enrolled otherwise get a W. This will give you 2 benefits. First, you can retake the course without hurting your GPA from this summer course. Second, you will be ahead of the class as everything the teacher teaches will be a review lesson for you, making it easier for you to understand and hopefully, you will succeed.
Click to expand...

Leave the advice for the college kids. Any college student knows that there are drops dates which in the summer are usually the first two weeks or so. If one drops after that they would receive a WF and that still counts as an F. Your suggestion would have the OP receive a WF.
 
My calculus professor told me as he put this on the board.

Pointed to the W and said "you can explain that", then he pointed to the F and D and said "you can't explain that".
 
D might as well be an F, there is no way around that, in the sense that you will still have to retake the course regardless. And it holds barely any benefit, a mere 1.00 GPA value. D is only "good" if it is pass the withdrawal date, at which point "At least it's better than a 0.00"

C- is slightly more of a gray area. Depending on the class, it might actually be enough to technically pass and get credit for it, so if it is some really tough and non-prerequisite class, then you might give it a worry-free pass. But since this is General Chemistry, it will probably look bad even if the C- is enough to move on to the next Chemistry class, especially because it is a prereq.

Considering this is a prereq chemistry course, your best option would be to take the W, even if you have a couple already on your record. Simply because it's not a Fail nor a Pass, it's "anything", there is no evidence that you were in fact doing poorly in that class and that is why you withdrew.

W's are a godsend in college, they are your chance to lie in the face of Medical Schools, and get away with it. :meanie:

Important though, make sure to do well when you repeat the course. W only looks okay just as long as you either change your major where the class is no longer a requirement or you get a B/+ or even better a solid A. Either way it will show that you actually did something about it and improved your performance.
 
tikanisynaru said:
If I retook the class again I would retake it during the school year at a much slower pace, but even then I don't think I could make an A, a B or so.

Right now if I absolutely had to decide, I'd say I'm leaning more towards staying in the class just so I can get it over with and move on to organic chemistry. I could instead focus on upper level bio courses instead of retaking chem again?

But I'm so stressed! :scared:
Click to expand...

That sounds pretty feeble to me.

I read that and I think, this guy **** the bed on his first shot.

He now has a second chance to do well, but rather than try again he is just going to leave the ****ty bed as is, stick a bow on it, and hope that it has no impact on his chances at getting an acceptance.
 
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