going krazy: need to decide w/in next 24 hrs

[ucla_Mdhopeful]

---

Members do not see this ad.

i think i am still uncertain what i should do.
here are 2 scenarios:
1. i am currently taking 5 classes. if i keep all of it, my graduate gpa=3.82
2. if i drop one of it and still have 4 other classes this quarter, my graduate gpa=3.95

i will be done with graduate school, so no more classes. i could either graduate with a 3.95 or a 3.82.

here is the main reason, i am considering dropping the course i didn't do well in to achieve the highest graduate gpa b/c my undergrad gpa is 2.7

the big picture, if i drop the class, it's just 1 class missing from a bunch of classes i've taken.

there will be no "W", no one will ever know if i drop it.

now, what do you guys think? what would you do?

thanks.

 

[Jalby]

Drop the class.

 

[Darth Vader]

Flip a coin. If you are truly 50/50 (which most people are not), the coin will make the decision for you. If you are leaning towards one side, if the coin flips in your favor, you will go with your decision. If the coin does not flip in your favor, you will keep flipping until it does or you will disregard the coin toss and make the decision that you wanted to make in the first place. Try it, it really works.

 

[detm78]

If no one is going to know, then it seems you could totally drop the class, and everything would be fine and good.

Will you be able to graduate with your degree as scheduled if you drop the class?

 

[Scooby Doo]

I am a little confused..but I say DROP the class. Don't listen to people that your GPA won't matter if it's 3.95 or 3.82...

I SAY it will matter.

Hence, DROP the class unless you NEED TO TAKE IT for something. If you can take it another time, or it won't delay anything else; then just wait to take it some other time.

 

[detm78]

Darth Vader,

That's really funny--the coin toss thing. I agree. Hehehe...

Sneezy

 

[detm78]

Darth Vader,

That's really funny--the coin toss thing. I agree. Hehehe...

Sneezy

 

[Lavndrrose]

DROP IT...you don't want to be thinking "what if" later on.

 

[CANES2006]

Here's a question: What are your reasons for staying with the class? All I see are negatives with this option, so just drop the class.

 

[flpostbac]

Is the course a requirement for a degree? If not, why did you enroll in the course in the first place? I understand if the course did not initially meet your expectations, but this doesn't appear to be your motivation.

I may have this completely wrong...but, I don't understand how students can 'pull out' just to keep their high GPA...I've seen it all over this board...this is so shady, and I believe students are missing the entire point of education...

This unfortunately belittles the character of our future doctors. It is especially sad when AMCAS or adcoms cannot detect this character flaw. Stick it out people...in the real world, we can't just pull out when things aren't going our way...might as well build that character now before med school.

 

[Scooby Doo]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by flpostbac:
•I may have this completely wrong...but, I don't understand how students can 'pull out' just to keep their high GPA...I've seen it all over this board...this is so shady, and I believe students are missing the entire point of education...

This unfortunately belittles the character of our future doctors. It is especially sad when AMCAS or adcoms cannot detect this character flaw. Stick it out people...in the real world, we can't just pull out when things aren't going our way...might as well build that character now before med school.•••••OH please. We are accepted based on our GPA and other factors. GPA is an IMPORTANT thing in this decision of the adcoms. I don't consider it a character flaw b/c you decide to drop a class you are not doing well in. I was taking Pchem and I did very poorly on the first test. I am used to getting good grades and this was just not what I was expecting. The material was easy but I just f'ed up. I was also taking biochem at the same time. I debated about keeping both of them but at the last minute decided to drop Pchem and keep biochem. I had already done poorly in both classes on the first exam and I didn't want to do bad in both so I dropped Pchem, and started doing very well in biochem b/c I was taking an extremely light load after dropping pchem. I probably would have received a C or so in Pchem had I stuck it out and a similar grade in biochem. I retook Pchem with a different and much better professor the next year and got an A. So you call this bad?

Oh please.
I think it's worse to try to "stick something out" and do poorly in it.
I think this trait is good in doctors. What if you open up a patient and you see a huge ass tumor. You say, oh uh...then you just keep going and slicing and dicing...then the patients BP falls...but you say, ya know...I'm in here..I started this..I gotta finish this...right? So you keep going..lose your patient...
If you would have just pulled out EARLY and said "I didn't realize it was this bad and I want to take a look at it another time when I am more prepared for this" then things may have been better.

This is a dumb example and people can say all this **** on it..but oh well...

That is totally not true that you can't pull out. Basically, being a human being, it's good to realize when you have bitten off more than you can chew..

 

[Dr. L]

drop the class if you can--you've learned from the class and that's the "true purpose" of education, so why do you need it to negatively effect your GPA

 

[flpostbac]

Well well...while I admire your resolve scoob, I must inform you that the decision to drop is not based on getting a C...this is the same student who's worried about getting an A- which pulls his GPA down to 3.89 or whatever from 3.94 (read earlier post NEED HELPFUL ADVISES ASAP on May 31)

I agree your example is not the best. I believe a 'huge ass tumor' would be detectable by a scan or two. That is why we have radiologists.

 

[md03]

Drop it unless you need it for a degree!!

Like the surgon who starts the operation knowing that the patient has a "huge ass tumor" from prior CT scan, BUT cannot tell from the CT (as it isn't perfect) if the tumor is resectable...The surgeon gives it a good try, does a lot of dissection, only to find the tumor is stuck fast to a very large vein, thus rendering it unresectable. (True story, I scrubbed on what was supposed to be a major resection of a pancreatic tumor by doing a Whipple procedure, but the tumor was stuck to the IMV. I also later learned the patient thought I did the surgery) Anyway, you gave it a shot, but realized that it's better to stop than to push foward. Med school will be stresful enough, save yourself some for now.

 

[psyche]

Am I being a bad sport if I say it doesn't matter a bit which decision you make? Both GPA's are good, as is usually the case with grad school grades. Ad com folks also factor in the course load, so the oh-so-slightly higher GPA you gain by dropping the class might not be worth it. Am I also out of line if I note that dropping a class because you only earned what must have been an A- sounds a little, um, peculiar?

 

[flpostbac]

Ah...thank you psyche...someone else who sees my point. You are not a bad sport for having an opinion.

In response to md03's:
"Anyway, you gave it a shot, but realized that it's better to stop than to push foward."

Stopping at an A- is analagous to not even going into surgery in the first place...

And "I also later learned the patient thought I did the surgery"

how is this relevant?

 

[waiting123]

DROP THE CLASS. There is a significant difference between those two gpa's. If it won't affect your graduation, you might as well go for the higher gpa. I don't see what the point of sticking it out would be besides having "taken another class."

 

[flpostbac]

Which takes me back to the original question, why did he enroll in the course in the first place?

 

[holler79]

DROP THE CLASS...NO DOUBT!!

 

[Scooby Doo]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by flpostbac:
•

Stopping at an A- is analagous to not even going into surgery in the first place...
•••••I doubt this course he is getting an A -

I think his grade in the class is more likely to be a B or B- or maybe even lower. That's a HUGE drop in GPA by standards of having taken a lot of courses. Say he took maybe 20 to 40 courses that were graded. If your GPA is dropping around 0.13 points, then that grade has to be VERY VERY LOW! Def not an A- territory.

As for the difference in GPA's..there is a very large gap there. Adcoms DO notice 3.82 versus 3.95. Like it or not..they will see that..and one little extra class does not seem to counter that GPA drop.

 

[flpostbac]

Scoob,

Are you saying he's lying about his situation (did you read his post...A-)? We don't know if his "graduate degree" is an M.S. (only 10 or so courses where an A- WOULD have this effect) or a PhD. Maybe adcoms notice this GPA difference as you've stated, but that doesn't alter my opinion of such students.

 

[HOSS]

F off Moleculo, the tool bag.

 

[Scooby Doo]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by flpostbac:
•Scoob,

Are you saying he's lying about his situation (did you read his post...A-)? We don't know if his "graduate degree" is an M.S. (only 10 or so courses where an A- WOULD have this effect) or a PhD. Maybe adcoms notice this GPA difference as you've stated, but that doesn't alter my opinion of such students.•••••My bad...I didn't read any of his other posts..I just checked now and it said it would go from a 3.95 to a 3.89..
Not a drastic drop as he indicated here..so I don't know then what he is talking about...

 

[HOSS]

Thank you prof moleculo.

 

[MUN2005]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Moleculo:
• •••quote:•••Originally posted by HOSS:
•F off Moleculo, the tool bag.•••••Your argument is presented clearly and concisely. Your points are organized very nicely and your thesis is presented clearly. I like the personalized touch at the end. Your conclusion summarized your points nicely! All in all, I give your post an A+. Good work!•••••Excellent! <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> Get some ice for that burn!

 

[ucla_Mdhopeful]

thanks everyone.for those who doubt, there are no lies here. the A- will drop the gpa that much. No, I am not at a point of getting a B-. The final is an essay type and if you miss one question, it's over. Know what I mean? the final is friday so i better make the decision quick. i'll let you guys know what i decided so you can rest at peace.