Getting B, probably C in General Biology I

[htdt]

Hi,

I am a second semester freshman. I got an almost perfect 4.0 last fall with with all A's Gen Chem I, Calc, Freshman Writing and Stat. This semester I am taking Gen Chem II, Intro to Psy and General Biology I. The Bio class I take is intended for pre-med, it worth 6 credits and it is FREAKING HARD. I think I'll pull off A's in all other classes but I'll be lucky to get a B in Bio. I might even get a C, I don't know. What would the effect of having this C in Biology be? Am I screwed? Should I retake this class later in my college career? I feel really depressed now🙁

Thank you very much for your input

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[eleveneleven]

Hi,

I am a second semester freshman. I got an almost perfect 4.0 last fall with with all A's Gen Chem I, Calc, Freshman Writing and Stat. This semester I am taking Gen Chem II, Intro to Psy and General Biology I. The Bio class I take is intended for pre-med, it worth 6 credits and it is FREAKING HARD. I think I'll pull off A's in all other classes but I'll be lucky to get a B in Bio. I might even get a C, I don't know. What would the effect of having this C in Biology be? Am I screwed? Should I retake this class later in my college career? I feel really depressed now🙁

Thank you very much for your input

You'll be fine, even if you get a C. One won't prevent you from getting into even the best medical schools. Figure out what went wrong and make sure not to do that again. Do well in the rest of your courses and don't make this a habit.

 

[UTKpreMD]

Holy crap a 6 hour bio class? That does sound like hell. Keep in mind college classes are typically designed so that you spend 3 hours outside class for every 1 hour credit. So theoretically (though people typically don't follow this) you should be spending 18 hours a week on just this class. A 15 hour semester should be 40-45 hours a week so you're basically working a full time job +overtime to attend class. It all depends on how bad you want it. I bet if you put in this amount of time you can still pull a good grade. It's all about mentality!

 

[IniestaDeMiVida]

Have you talked to the professor about ways to improve?

 

[Cookie Queen]

I got a C+ in Orgo II, got into a good MD school, and got residency interviews at top tier institutions (there is light at the end of the tunnel!!). One poor grade won't ruin you. The more important part is that you have a good understanding of what you did wrong and how you will change it.

I went to a great high school, took several AP classes, but never actually learned how to study. When I went to college I was in over my head and simply didn't have the study skills necessary. I talked to several classmates who were doing well and asked them how they studied. Then I tried pretty much every study technique someone told me about until I found what combination worked for me. Some hand-copied every set of notes right after lect to solidify, some read each chapter three times (before lecture, immediately after, then week before exam), some did tons of flashcards, some took detailed notes from the book, study groups, independent study, etc. If you're thinking medicine you're going to be studying the rest of your life, so find what works for you (which may not be what works for your roommate). Finding sustainable study habits are far more important than any single grade.

 

[goofball]

Got a C in one term of Orgo.

Still going to medical school.

Don't worry. Also, some places don't like it if you retake Cs. But DO some higher level coursework and succeed in it to prove yourself competent.


For example, I got an A in the next term in my Organic Chemistry sequence.

 

[JustinD]

This happened to me during one of my chemistry classes where I was barely making a B half way through the course because it was all new to me.

I wound up putting in some serious dedication the second half and especially finals week and got an A.

Assuming your on a normal college schedule your only half way done, so its not over just yet!

 

[WantonWonton]

I got a C+ in first quarter physics and biochem along with a few Bs in other classes but still received interview offers from highly ranked MD programs. I addressed why I got those grades in my personal statement (family stuff). As long as you address what you learned from this experience, you shouldn't worry about it. It doesn't have to be some life-changing experience, just show how you matured.
Rather than retake the class (as long as you end up with a 3.8 upon applying, you should be pretty competitive), I would focus on pursuing extracurricular activities that would make you stand out as an applicant. Also, you can choose some bio-related upper division classes later on, get As in those, and that'll show that you're capable of mastering the subject.

 

[wonderdog]

even if you get a C. One won't prevent you from getting into even the best medical schools. Figure out what went wrong and make sure not to do that again. Do well in the rest of your courses and don't make this a habit.

Gen Chem I, Calc, Freshman Writing and Stat

This happened to me. I got a C in Bio I, but from then on...all A's. Meet with some sort of Academic Advisor to go over study habits. There is a lot of memorization in Bio I. Perhaps, you could use some techniques to help you memorize a great deal of information. Gen Chem I and Stats, in my opinion, didn't require that much memorization.

 

[htdt]

Hey all,

So I just when back to this thread that I started more than a month ago. I have been studying like crazy ever since and I just made an A for the 2nd test (90%) 😀. With a C- for the 1st test and now an A, I am basically looking at a B. Again, a B is 3.00 in term of GPA and this is a 6 credits class, so a B would still pull my GPA down. There will be no more exam from now on, just the final which will worth 35% or so. I am now less depressed than I was a month ago, but still, I don't think I can be happy with what I am getting...

 

[Loveless]

3 hours outside class for every 1 hour credit.

3? I've never heard anything but 2 for 1 from my professors. 3 for 1 is really pushing it if you ask me.