Have I ruined my chances completely?

[marl0nbrand0]

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Hi, everyone. I am new to SDN.

I have just finished a rough freshman year but managed with somewhat decent grades; I received A-'s in Basic Composition, Biology 1050 and 1510, and Nutrition and Food Science, and I have received A's in Intermediate Composition, Anthropology and Art History. during the majority of my freshman year I had to deal with gallstones as well as horrible anxiety and had to be put on a number of medications, not to mention many doctors visits (and hospital visits)

as of now I am feeling somewhat better and have decided to take algebra with trig and philosophy over the summer.Philosophy is an easy class, but I feel as though I am going to fail my math class or at the very least get a C. I am getting help and the subject is not extremely hard; it is that every time I take an exam or a quiz I get extremely nervous. Also, the material that the instructor goes over in class is extremely easy compared to what he gives us on examinations. I failed the first math exam (got a 57%) and have received low grades on quizzes and even homework. I am going to keep working at this class as hard as I can but I am so uncertain about what is to happen.

I'm wondering if having to retake this class will basically ruin my chances of getting into medical school, which is my ultimate dream (and I would be absolutely crushed if I was unable to achieve it). I am doing other volunteer work this summer too, including being a patient navigator at a hospital, shadowing a physician, volunteering with senior citizens and mentally disabled people and tutoring in English.

I'm wondering if having to retake one class will greatly decrease my chances of getting into medical school. 🙁I understand how important mathematics is in physics and chemistry but I have not taken those courses yet in college; I only took chemistry in highschool which was very straightforward.

thanks everyone.

 

[Oxygen206]

I'm wondering if having to retake one class will greatly decrease my chances of getting into medical school.

What? No.

Figure out what it is that you're doing wrong and correct it. Just do better in your next few years. As long as one bad class doesn't make a trend, you're fine.

 

[semicharmed]

just evaluate the class in regards to your general future success-don't think about it in context for medical school. Planning 4 years in advance for medical school is not the best idea. Many many many people come in pre-med and change their mind based on interest and level of science skill.

It is never a good idea to fail a class, med school-dreams or not. I would meet the professor and drop the course if you can (I'm guessing it's a summer class?). Not to be mean, but algebra with trig is going to be one of the easier courses you will need to take on this road. All the more reason to not commit to the future so young and make your career commitments so far in advance.

 

[thlaxer]

As long as your cGPA and sGPA are high by the time you apply, you'll be fine. I got a few C+'s and B-'s on my transcript (in non-prereqs) and noone ever brought them up in interviews as an issue. So don't sweat it, your other grades look great.

And math is definitely important for doing well in chemistry and physics since they're both mostly calculation-based. If you can, I would hold off on taking these two courses until you are more comfortable with your math skills (mainly algebra and trig). If testing anxiety is the main issue, you should get that fixed asap. Your chem and physics professors might write hard exams as well.

 

[neuro nephrons]

1. get off SDN
2. see a tutor
3. study more
4. practice the problems until you can do ALL of them
5. succeed

 

[sliceofbread136]

1. get off SDN
2. see a tutor
3. study more
4. practice the problems until you can do ALL of them
5. succeed

This. Do the whole ****ing textbook if you need to.

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

I had trouble in precalc in college too. Failed the first exam or two, didn't do so hot on the others. Homework grades were "meh". I realized I was about to fail, did nothing but study for precalc for four days before the final (literally nothing but study), got nearly 100 on the final which, thanks the way the class was set up, gave me an A in the class. I then later went on to do calculus II and got an A- in that.

Just work hard at it and make sure you understand everything. Don't just gloss over something and hope it won't be on the test.

If, however, it's impossible for you to get a good grade in the class with the assignments and tests you have left then go ahead and drop it assuming you can still get out with a "W". Just be sure to take the class again and do well so the "W" doesn't carry much weight on your transcript, and only withdraw in the first place if it will be your first or second withdrawal. You definitely do not want more than two "W"s on your entire college transcript. Even two is pushing it.