Grade Issues

[A&W]

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I know that grades have siginificance in medical school...especially for those who wish to keep their options open. I just learned about two hours ago that I missed a high pass grade in biochem by 2 points out of 300 total. I am very disappointed, as I understand that I was the first student at the grade cut off so I was very borderline. I just emailed the professor regarding my grade and requested an appointment. Any advice for those stuck with borderline grades in medical school? I never ended up right on the border with my grades in undergrad- so I don't really know what to do or just forget about it?

 

[missMD]

One thing you can do is show the prof your trend of improvement. If your grades steadily improved that is a plus.

Another thing is if you did really well on the final (and it was cumulative) you can always try to make the case that you were able to master the material in the end.

The last thing you can do since you aren't that far off, is to point out a couple of questions that they marked wrong on past exams and hope they decide to give you points. This only works if you can prove that your answer is what is in your required text or if they made a grading error and neglected to correct it on your exam paper.
Good Luck!

 

[tega]

yeah i feel you. i missed an "A" in physiology by 1 point. also.....i was very upset. My professor was also NOT VERY SYMPathetic to my arguments. Especially when many people also failed by 1 point. But it motivated me though...i m currently acing neuro, and microbio comfortably. Cuz i do not want a repeat of last semester.

 

[Wednesday]

We have H/P/F and I know now annoying it is to be on the cusp of that H! But the thing is grades don't really matter that much, not in the first two years. Well, that's what they keep telling us anyway, and I tend to believe it. Apparently in the list of things that residency directors look at, grades in the first two years are pretty far down the list (like 6th or something) after things like LORs, Step I scores, clinical evaluations, etc. If you are doing so well that you nearly honor (or high honor or whatever) that means that you really know your stuff and when you get to Step I your score should reflect it. I wouldn't waste time trying to argue two points, it won't be worth it in the end. Focus your energy on your current classes, chances are if you almost honored last semester, you can definitly do it in the future.

Good luck!

 

[endo]

I know this has been said before, but I think your main goal in the first couple of years should be to learn the material. Don't worry too much about grades -- I'd try to maintain middle of the road if possible. I would study the lecture notes, the text and a USMLE review book on that topic throughout the basic medical sciences. IMHO, working hard in your first 2 years is the best way to kick ass on the boards. And wards for that matter.

-endo (MS4)

 

[A&W]

Everyone thanks for your input.
Yeah, I did meet with the professor and he was very unsympathetic even though our final was cumulative and I got almost a 90% on it. His attitude was like oh well you missed the cut off, that's your problem. Technically he is right, but he also raised the high pass cut off by .7% from what he said the cut off was going to likely be the first day class-exactly what I needed to high pass.
I know they don't care at all but when you have worked over five months like crazy in a class and miss the grade you want by a hair it is hard.
But whatever. I'm just going to work that much harder this semester.