Got a D in Biochem II and was not allowed to graduate, how will this affect my application?

[TragicalDrFaust]

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First, is this something that will preclude acceptance into MD or DO school? I had a 3.7 GPA before biochem II, all A's and B's. Biochem II is notoriously difficult at my school but I didn't take that seriously because I'd never struggled with classes before. I also miscommunicated with my jobs and ended up working 30 hours/week the first month of school and taking a full schedule of classes. After I failed the first exam I scheduled office hours with the professor. He told me to "memorize everything" and I would be fine. He offered no other advice. I've talked to students who did better in the class than I did and all of them just copy and recopy their notes to memorize them, for 40+ hours each exam (4 exams total).

I plan to take the class again when it's offered in the spring and treat it like it's a full time job. Is there anything else I could be doing to recover from my biochem II grade? I haven't taken the MCAT yet but plan on taking a similar approach to studying - like my life depends on it.

 

[frog301]

First, is this something that will preclude acceptance into MD or DO school? I had a 3.7 GPA before biochem II, all A's and B's. Biochem II is notoriously difficult at my school but I didn't take that seriously because I'd never struggled with classes before. I also miscommunicated with my jobs and ended up working 30 hours/week the first month of school and taking a full schedule of classes. After I failed the first exam I scheduled office hours with the professor. He told me to "memorize everything" and I would be fine. He offered no other advice. I've talked to students who did better in the class than I did and all of them just copy and recopy their notes to memorize them, for 40+ hours each exam (4 exams total).

I plan to take the class again when it's offered in the spring and treat it like it's a full time job. Is there anything else I could be doing to recover from my biochem II grade? I haven't taken the MCAT yet but plan on taking a similar approach to studying - like my life depends on it.

"X class is difficult at my school" is not gonna fly. How much did it lower your cgpa by?

 

[TragicalDrFaust]

"X class is difficult at my school" is not gonna fly. How much did it lower your cgpa by?

My cGPA is now 3.55.

 

[Goro]

First, is this something that will preclude acceptance into MD or DO school? I had a 3.7 GPA before biochem II, all A's and B's. Biochem II is notoriously difficult at my school but I didn't take that seriously because I'd never struggled with classes before. I also miscommunicated with my jobs and ended up working 30 hours/week the first month of school and taking a full schedule of classes. After I failed the first exam I scheduled office hours with the professor. He told me to "memorize everything" and I would be fine. He offered no other advice. I've talked to students who did better in the class than I did and all of them just copy and recopy their notes to memorize them, for 40+ hours each exam (4 exams total).

I plan to take the class again when it's offered in the spring and treat it like it's a full time job. Is there anything else I could be doing to recover from my biochem II grade? I haven't taken the MCAT yet but plan on taking a similar approach to studying - like my life depends on it.

Your app is proabbly now in deep stasis, since you haven't graduated, and you got a very poor grade in your SR year. You're not supposed to be slacking off in your SR year. This is what it looks like.

And yes, I know that there are schools that state a minimum of 90 credits, but really, how do YOU think that this will look???

 

[TragicalDrFaust]

Your app is proabbly now in deep stasis, since you haven't graduated, and you got a very poor grade in your SR year. You're not supposed to be slacking off in your SR year. This is what it looks like.

And yes, I know that there are schools that state a minimum of 90 credits, but really, how do YOU think that this will look???

I should have clarified, I'm a non-traditional student and I was planning on taking a gap year so I haven't applied yet. I plan on applying next cycle, or the cycle afterwards so I don't have to apply concurrently with biochem II and my other responsibilities.I'm aware getting a D in a senior level class reflects poorly on me but I have been a consistent A/B student otherwise. I would truly appreciate an evaluation of how much trouble this is going to cause me. Obviously it's bad. I was hoping someone with more experience could give me a more specific answer.

 

[Blanky]

Dude you will be fine, Goro and Gonnif did offer correct advice though. You are taking a gap year and will graduate "on time." By on time we usually mean before matriculation into med school. You will need to retake the class and certainly need an A.
- When you explain this in interviews make sure to rehearse a mature response, hit on how you are responsible and how you have grown from this and how it will never happen again.
- Also may be beneficial to add a semester at least of science courses to show solid As.

 

[Goro]

Dude you will be fine, Goro and Gonnif did offer correct advice though. You are taking a gap year and will graduate "on time." By on time we usually mean before matriculation into med school. You will need to retake the class and certainly need an A.
- When you explain this in interviews make sure to rehearse a mature response, hit on how you are responsible and how you have grown from this and how it will never happen again.
- Also may be beneficial to add a semester at least of science courses to show solid As.

This. You need to show that the D was a fluke.

Be forewarned that med school will be a lot harder.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

This. You need to show that the D was a fluke.

Be forewarned that med school will be a lot harder.

I'm not sure if a full time job + a full class load is that much easier than medical school. I put in probably 55hours a week during the first two years of work. That's counting studying. He's probably pushing above that after studying.

 

[Blanky]

I do 26 hours ER plus 12-14 credits I don't think I'm spread thin, but a lot of this has to do with time management and building up what you can handle.
One semester I did 40hrs and 15 credits and felt like I was going to melt but you get stronger.
Last semester was 26 hrs ER, 12 credits, and MCAT prep and that was bad news.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I do 26 hours ER plus 12-14 credits I don't think I'm spread thin, but a lot of this has to do with time management and building up what you can handle.
One semester I did 40hrs and 15 credits and felt like I was going to melt but you get stronger.
Last semester was 26 hrs ER, 12 credits, and MCAT prep and that was bad news.

And I would say chances are you'll preform better than I did. We all have inherent limitations, I after a long day on rotations come home and feel like going to bed and at most could study 2 hours. Other people did rotations and read through stepup2medicine twice. Your tolerance and work ethic is probably not the norm is what I'm saying.

 

[kamakazi5]

I should have clarified, I'm a non-traditional student and I was planning on taking a gap year so I haven't applied yet. I plan on applying next cycle, or the cycle afterwards so I don't have to apply concurrently with biochem II and my other responsibilities.I'm aware getting a D in a senior level class reflects poorly on me but I have been a consistent A/B student otherwise. I would truly appreciate an evaluation of how much trouble this is going to cause me. Obviously it's bad. I was hoping someone with more experience could give me a more specific answer.

Goro is an adcom member and gonnif has professionally helped non-trads for many years. You aren't going to get better advice anywhere.

As someone else mentioned you have a great opportunity to take a few more upper levels and show this was a fluke.

 

[Goro]

I should have clarified, I'm a non-traditional student and I was planning on taking a gap year so I haven't applied yet. I plan on applying next cycle, or the cycle afterwards so I don't have to apply concurrently with biochem II and my other responsibilities.I'm aware getting a D in a senior level class reflects poorly on me but I have been a consistent A/B student otherwise. I would truly appreciate an evaluation of how much trouble this is going to cause me. Obviously it's bad. I was hoping someone with more experience could give me a more specific answer.

You already have gotten your answer.

Be very careful on the CARS section of the MCAT.

My school has rejected people who bombed the last year of college. If I were reading your transcript, I would think that either you goofed off, or that you got caught cheating, and an F or a D was offered in exchange for not getting an IA.

That's how bad it is.

 

[TragicalDrFaust]

Goro is an adcom member and gonnif has professionally helped non-trads for many years. You aren't going to get better advice anywhere.

As someone else mentioned you have a great opportunity to take a few more upper levels and show this was a fluke.

I meant no offense to the people replying. I'm aware of goro and gonnif's qualifications. I was asking for specific advice. I know it doesn't look good. I want to know if it looks so bad I shouldn't bother applying, or what steps I can take to reverse the damage I've done to my application. Taking more upper levels is the kind of advice I was looking for.

 

[TragicalDrFaust]

You already have gotten your answer.

Be very careful on the CARS section of the MCAT.

My school has rejected people who bombed the last year of college. If I were reading your transcript, I would think that either you goofed off, or that you got caught cheating, and an F or a D was offered in exchange for not getting an IA.

That's how bad it is.

I asked a question that I didn't feel was answered beyond telling me what I already know so I asked for clarification. Otherwise, I appreciate your feedback.

 

[JustaDO]

I want to know if it looks so bad I shouldn't bother applying,

Read post #4

I was asking for specific advice

Read post #8, #9

I would truly appreciate an evaluation of how much trouble this is going to cause me.

How can one truly "evaluate" exactly how much trouble this will cause you?

 

[TragicalDrFaust]

Read post #4
How can one truly "evaluate" exactly how much trouble this will cause you?

When goro told me that it looked like I either goofed off or failed because I was caught cheating, that was the kind of evaluation I was looking for.