Having to retake Chemistry 1?

[ctxmike]

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Hi.

So, I just transferred from my state school to a top university recently, where I began my pre-med requirements as a Sophomore. Unfortunately, what I didn't realize, is that my current university expects most of its students to have a strong foundation of Chemistry when starting (expecting most of them to be Freshmen fresh out of AP Chem). There is even a general chemistry assessment that you take before the class. When I took the exam I did poorly on it, but not wanting to wait another year to begin Chemistry, I still recklessly decided to take the course. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed very quickly and ended up dropping it.

There's a chemistry prep course that I plan on taking my second semester and I plan on retaking Chemistry 1 my Junior year. My question is: how adversely do you think his will effect me when I apply to medical school? Could I even use it to my advantage to show my determination?

Thanks for any help.

- Mike

 

[bravofleet4]

well obviously there's no way you could apply to medical school your junior year. You wouldn't have met your org. chem requirements. So the earliest you could apply is your senior year. however, couldn't this also get in the way of you taking some upper division bio courses b/c they might require org chem as a pre-req or corequsite?

in any case, no medical schools don't care when you've completed your pre-req's. there are a lot of non-science majors coming into medical school. just make sure not to put other things on hold your junior year like looking for comunity service and extracurricular service.

 

[ctxmike]

well obviously there's no way you could apply to medical school your junior year. You wouldn't have met your org. chem requirements. So the earliest you could apply is your senior year. however, couldn't this also get in the way of you taking some upper division bio courses b/c they might require org chem as a pre-req or corequsite?

in any case, no medical schools don't care when you've completed your pre-req's. there are a lot of non-science majors coming into medical school. just make sure not to put other things on hold your junior year like looking for comunity service and extracurricular service.

I've already done about 30 hours of shadowing and a little more than 60 of volunteer work. I understand that I will most likely have to do some post-bacc work to finish Biochemistry and maybe one other biology course (provided I get in, I'll have a year to do this, anyways). I was wondering, however, if dropping Chemistry 1 will raise a serious red flag when my application goes before an adcom?

 

[kexy]

if you don't get any more W's, and if you earn an A when you retake it, it won't be a problem at all. but more than 1 or 2 W's=BIG red flag, or that is my impression at least. congrats on the top university 🙂

 

[Forthegood]

I've already done about 30 hours of shadowing and a little more than 60 of volunteer work.

Be careful with that sort of attitude. It is not the quantity, but the quality that matters. Was any of it special? Did it change your take on medicine? Did any experience stick out to you? That is what matters and what will be asked during interviews. Make sure you have good answers.

I understand that I will most likely have to do some post-bacc work to finish Biochemistry and maybe one other biology course (provided I get in, I'll have a year to do this, anyways).

So you will apply senior year, after graduating? With what degree?

I was wondering, however, if dropping Chemistry 1 will raise a serious red flag when my application goes before an adcom?

It will probably not during their initial evaluation of your app. It will probably be brought up during the interview. So consider how you will answer if asked.

 

[ctxmike]

Be careful with that sort of attitude. It is not the quantity, but the quality that matters. Was any of it special? Did it change your take on medicine? Did any experience stick out to you? That is what matters and what will be asked during interviews. Make sure you have good answers.


So you will apply senior year, after graduating? With what degree?



It will probably not during their initial evaluation of your app. It will probably be brought up during the interview. So consider how you will answer if asked.

Thanks for the reply.

1. I didn't mean to appear complacent in my response. Half of the hours were typical patient transportation, while the other half I volunteered in a children's cancer center, working on art projects with the kids. The latter was definitely eye-opening and much more intriguing.

2. I will be graduating with an English degree, which worries me even more, considering how I will only have the essential parts of my pre-requisites done when I apply, perhaps worsening the blow of that "W".

3. To be honest, I simply was overwhelmed and panicked, thinking the pre-med route was going to ruin my GPA, and thus, my future. So instead of getting help, I instead resorted to dropping the course. I've spent the last 2 months trying to convince myself I want to be a lawyer or a professor, but I simply cannot shake my passion for medicine. I'm afraid, though, that if I'm this candid with the adcoms during an interview, it'll draw me as a poor candidate.