Help!!!

[Jason110]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Wow, I feel really intimidated by everyone here gleaming with their med school acceptances. Wow! Congrats to all!


Here's my dilemma. I'm an undergraduate biomedical engineering major at Washington University (St. Louis). My GPA after this past semester is 3.62. I have mostly A's in my pre-med classes (two B's). Unfortunately, I received a C in Orgo II this past semester (but an A in the lab). I'm also a rising senior and will take the MCAT this fall. Unfortunately, because of my curriculum, I couldn't take the test any earlier. What are my chances of admission into medical school? What school(s) should I look at? Am I screwed because of Orgo II?

Thanks,

Jason

 

[phar]

It seems like you have not read most of the threads....


one word.....yes, you got a chance.

 

[MichiMO]

I got a C in Org. I...bad case of pnemonia in the middle of a summer course.

These things happen. Don't stress. You seem to have a strong app. Just follow all the advice you will read on this forum.

 

[Mike59]

Firstly, you make yourself look like an ass by using "Help!!!" as the subject for this thread. You're not dying🙄

Regarding your concerns:
- Yes, people get into med school with a C in Organic but it doesn't help
- The average GPA for most students who matriculate is around 3.6 so you're not off the page gradewise
- Buy the MSAR book from aamc.org and look at schools whose numbers are similar to your stats and who have appealing locations/curriculums
- Apply early, you could be ok with the Aug if you have good EC's/Statement and rock the MCAT, but otherwise you could be doing yourself a disservice by taking the Aug MCAT and rushing into the application process.

 

[MichiMO]

Originally posted by MichiMO
Just follow all the advice you will read on this forum.

Okay, that sounds a little nazi. I mean, follow advice on applying early, applying to a range of schools, ect.

 

[Jason110]

some things I forgot to tell you. I have a lot of research experience (Including receivign a couple of competitive research fellowships in radiation oncology). I have also volunteered some at local hospitals. (Not much, maybe 50-60 hours total -- I didn't really keep track of hours), and I've volunteered by tutoring underpriviledged 8th graders algebra on a weekly basis (I enjoy that. I get excited when I breakthrough to them... Maybe just because I'm a nerd.).

Thanks for all your help guys.

Jason.

 

[Jalby]

I think you are screwed. Time to move on.

 

[phar]

Originally posted by Jalby
I think you are screwed. Time to move on.

🙄

Hey jason, welcome to the SDN community.

 

[Samus Aran]

I'd say that because you're in engineering, your GPA shows you've successfully handled challenging courses and I don't think a C will hurt you at all..your admission, of course, will also depend on what your other qualifications are.

 

[Mutterkuchen]

I am currently finishing a masters at Wash U, though I did my undergrad elsewhere. I find amusing the pressure that the advisors and gunners there put on premeds.

Regarding where to apply. . . it all depends on your MCAT. You will be at a disadvantage because of your late test date in August, but if you plan it well, you will be OK. I would first choose the schools you KNOW you will apply to first. Include upper/middle/lower tier. Do your AMCAS and designate those schools. After you have taken your MCAT, decide on what schools you will apply based on your hypothetical MCAT score and get the secondaries for those schools. Then just add the schools, based on your score. Since your AMCAS will already be verified, it will take only a couple of days.

The key is planning.

 

[Jason110]

So a C in Orgo isn't a 'nail on the coffin' as some make it out to be? Also, what weight will my extra-curriculars (described above) have? I'm new to sdn so pardon my questions if they have already been asked.

Jason.

 

[DarkChild]

relax. you're fine. 🙂

 

[phar]

Originally posted by Jason110
So a C in Orgo isn't a 'nail on the coffin' as some make it out to be? Also, what weight will my extra-curriculars (described above) have? I'm new to sdn so pardon my questions if they have already been asked.

Jason.

Organic is a weed out class. C in organic is good(i swear) and medical schools don't frown upon students with a C in organic because they know the class and how some organic professors can be too geeky and idiots. Trust me, i know one. Anyway, you got 3.6gpa.....you are in good shape thus far............STUDY YOUR BUTT OFF FOR THE MCAT(this should be your concern......how many cups of coffee do i need till august)


Here are my organic grade ratings.
F----stop drinking beer and doing crack you little assoh. study SN1/2 mechanism, IRs and NMRs crap.

D----done

C----good.

B----very good.

A in organic is excellent...off course this 😱 i belong here.😉

 

[~EnnI~]

Originally posted by phar
Organic is a weed out class. C in organic is good(i swear) and medical schools don't frown upon students with a C in organic because they know the class and how some organic professors can be too geeky and idiots. Trust me, i know one. Anyway, you got 3.6gpa.....you are in good shape thus far............STUDY YOUR BUTT OFF FOR THE MCAT(this should be your concern......how many cups of coffee do i need till august)


Here are my organic grade ratings.
F----stop drinking beer and doing crack you little assoh. study SN1/2 mechanism, IRs and NMRs crap.

D----done

C----good.

B----very good.

A in organic is excellent...off course this 😱 i belong here.😉

i wouldn't consider a C as "good" but average. still, you can get by with a couple of C's...otherwise, as phar says...keep studying the mechanisms and reactions...

 

[Desdemona]

You're totally fine. But don't take my word--this is my first ever post where I am drunk as I write this. Do I have any typos?

 

[Desdemona]

I think I'm still really drunk..I'll let you know tomorrow when I read this sober. I don't think one C will kill you. Especially in organic, everyone knows that is really hard. Worst case scenario, you take it again and do better., this time you'll be able to get an A. The second time around will be much easeier. Don't choose you're schools until you get your MCAT scores back, and that way you'll know where to apply based on the schools' averages. OK, that's my advice, I think I should go to bed before I pass out.

 

[Jason110]

How will admissions view my extra-curriculars (described in a previous posting) since I haven't had any published papers (yet) or minimal 'clinical' time. What about that C in Orgo? Should I retake that class, or not bother -- it's only offered in the spring?
Your advice is much appreciated.

Back to MCATs,

Jason.

 

[~EnnI~]

Originally posted by Jason110
How will admissions view my extra-curriculars (described in a previous posting) since I haven't had any published papers (yet) or minimal 'clinical' time. What about that C in Orgo? Should I retake that class, or not bother -- it's only offered in the spring?
Your advice is much appreciated.

Back to MCATs,

Jason.

well, it's really up to you to retake the class. remember though...if you do retake it and get an A, it'll average out to be a B on AMCAS (along with the old C grade). do you think it's worth going through o-chem again? it's your call. your EC's are ok. i say you should work on building your EC's. you sound great in terms of research but in other areas, nothing really stands out.

but, as soon as you work on your EC's IMO, then you're good to go...😉 your gpa's good, and hopefully you'll do really well on the MCATs. have you considered applying next year?

 

[snoopdizzle]

No one expects you to be perfect. Apply all over and see what you get. It'll surprise you and much as the rest of us where you end up.

 

[Jason110]

Originally posted by ~EnnI~
well, it's really up to you to retake the class. remember though...if you do retake it and get an A, it'll average out to be a B on AMCAS (along with the old C grade). do you think it's worth going through o-chem again? it's your call. your EC's are ok. i say you should work on building your EC's. you sound great in terms of research but in other areas, nothing really stands out.

but, as soon as you work on your EC's IMO, then you're good to go...😉 your gpa's good, and hopefully you'll do really well on the MCATs. have you considered applying next year?

EC's IMO???

 

[pwrpfgrl]

EC = extracurriculars
IMO = in my opinion

you are stressing out over nothing. unless you're trying to get into Harvard or another top 10, you'll be fine. just do well on your MCATs and keep volunteering. you'll get plenty of interviews, relax!!

🙂

 

[Jason110]

Hey y'all,

It's a couple of months since some of your posts. Thank you so much for quenching my fear of medical school. Now that the MCAT is drawing near, I'm wondering what score would make me a competitive applicant, given the other information for an MD program? Would I be better off if I apply next year, instead?

-Jason