Horrible grades in Premed courses?

[Meticulouslykiwi]

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Hey everyone!

I'm currently a freshman premed and for the past semester, I've received a cumulative 3.6 GPA, but I received a B in Anatomy and Physiology and a B+ in CHM. This semester, I've tried extremely hard, I practiced, went through each and every problem, but my first two exams in Chemistry II were a 79 and a 73. As for BIO, I got a 72 for my first exam.

I love A+P and Bio, I love medicine, but I'm starting to question whether it is for me since I'm faring so poorly in science courses. From my current performance, I'm pretty sure that I'll end up with B's again this semester and looking in the future, my courses will only increase in rigor, which means that it is unlikely that I will have an A average BCPM GPA. Should I drop out of premed?

I am extremely lost and I'm disappointed in myself. Please help me out and offer any advice you may have!

 

[ScottTenorman54]

Different courses require different study methods, that's something that will become more and more evident as you go through college. This is very much something you can overcome, you're nowhere near washing out. Aside from changing your studying, the thing you should consider is whether you can deal with this kind of stress recurring throughout the rest of your life. Chances are you'll hit several roadblocks just like this one many times on the road to medicine, and you need to decide whether you have the resolve to power through them every time. If not, that might be an indication that premed isn't for you. But a couple of chem and bio grades definitely aren't. You can take some comfort in the fact that your situation isn't unique; tons of freshmen are in the same predicament as you. Some of them will adapt and continue, others will drop. You've gotta decide. But if you ask me, I think you belong in the former group.

 

[jb94mg]

Maybe try to lower your intake of pre-med classes and see if that helps? Maybe a better idea would've been to take only one pre-req per semester this year since you're a freshman. I wouldn't give up yet if this is really what you want to do. Look into study strategies, reflect on how effective yours may be, maybe post yours on here so we can critique them, etc.

Also, anatomy and physiology seems like a fairly advanced course to take as a freshman. I'd guess most take it as sophomores or juniors.

 

[Meticulouslykiwi]

Different courses require different study methods, that's something that will become more and more evident as you go through college. This is very much something you can overcome, you're nowhere near washing out. Aside from changing your studying, the thing you should consider is whether you can deal with this kind of stress recurring throughout the rest of your life. Chances are you'll hit several roadblocks just like this one many times on the road to medicine, and you need to decide whether you have the resolve to power through them every time. If not, that might be an indication that premed isn't for you. But a couple of chem and bio grades definitely aren't.

Thanks for answering! I'm prepared to accept the stress and the challenges. In fact, I find life unchallenging if I'm not stressed or challenged because I thrive on challenges. If I didn't have family responsibilities and financial drawbacks, I'd definitely stick with premed even if I'm performing poorly at the moment. I'm currently doubtful because I cannot take the risk of not getting into medical school. My mother's health is declining due to extremely long arduous hours and my parents are helping me with my undergrad tuition, so I don't want to tell them I've failed after four years. I'm worried that if I'm performing this terribly in entry level science courses, I'm not going to fare any better in upper level courses, which will ultimately lead to a low BCPM GPA. Do you think I'll be able to turn around in upper levels with the right study skills even if I'm doing poorly in entry levels (I know you can't exactly say, but what're your thoughts?)

 

[Meticulouslykiwi]

Maybe try to lower your intake of pre-med classes and see if that helps? Maybe a better idea would've been to take only one pre-req per semester this year since you're a freshman. I wouldn't give up yet if this is really what you want to do. Look into study strategies, reflect on how effective yours may be, maybe post yours on here so we can critique them, etc.

Also, anatomy and physiology seems like a fairly advanced course to take as a freshman. I'd guess most take it as sophomores or juniors.

Thanks for answering! Yeah, taking A+P freshman year wasn't a good idea. I study every day for 1-2 hours for CHM, working through the assigned book problems. I've asked the professor almost every question I didn't understand. I did everything I could possible do to study, but I still didn't do well. What do you suggest that I change?

 

[ScottTenorman54]

Thanks for answering! I'm prepared to accept the stress and the challenges. In fact, I find life to unchallenging if I'm not stressed or challenged. If I didn't have family responsibilities and financial drawbacks, I'd definitely stick with premed even if I'm performing poorly at the moment. I'm deciding because I cannot take the risk of not getting into medical school. My mother's health is declining and my parents are helping me with my undergrad tuition, so I don't want to tell them I've failed after four years. I'm worried that if I'm performing this terribly in entry level science courses, I'm not going to fare any better in upper level courses, which will ultimately lead to a low BCPM GPA.

Why don't you describe your study methods in as much detail as you can and we'll see if we can get you some feedback? Bio as well as chem.
Re: the family issues - any chance you can major in something that'll provide a solid backup job if the worst happens and you aren't able to get into med school? So basically, not a bio/chem/biochem/psych/soc/anthro major...something financial, maybe.

 

[carrots28]

I struggled my freshman year. So long as you show that you improved over time (upward trend) you should be fine. Focus on making study improvements. Reach out to teaching staff. They are more helpful than you think. No need to feel embarrassed everyone goes through a rough patch. What you learn from it is more important.

 

[jb94mg]

Thanks for answering! Yeah, taking A+P freshman year wasn't a good idea. I study every day for 1-2 hours for CHM, working through the assigned book problems. I've asked the professor almost every question I didn't understand. I did everything I could possible do to study, but I still didn't do well. What do you suggest that I change?

I'm not sure. If you're working out problems and reading the chapters for General Chemistry, that should be helpful. Make sure you know your units, how to do dimensional analysis (this is huge in physics and gen chem), how to solve various types of problems you might see on an exam, etc. For biology, I usually try to read the chapter ahead of the class, take good notes and review them, maybe make flashcards, and so on.

 

[Meticulouslykiwi]

Why don't you describe your study methods in as much detail as you can and we'll see if we can get you some feedback? Bio as well as chem.
Re: the family issues - any chance you can major in something that'll provide a solid backup job if the worst happens and you aren't able to get into med school? So basically, not a bio/chem/biochem/psych/soc/anthro major...something financial, maybe.

For Bio, I write the facts down on a white board as I read over the information in the book. Afterwards, I'd go over it and read it over and over again until I understand the concept and remember the facts. For Chm, I think I'm not spending enough time getting the concept, but I''m definitely spending plenty of time (around 2 hrs per day) working out homework problems. I'd also like to mention that I work until 11PM after I get out of class on Fridays and 12PM to 11PM Saturdays, so that may inhibit my studying efficiency , but I study after I get off of work for around 3 hours.

I've thought about majoring in something non-liberal arts, but I'm horrible at math. I'm not exaggerating at all when I'm saying horrible ! So engineering, accounting, marketing, anything math related is out of the question for me.....🙄

 

[blackroses]

For Bio, I write the facts down on a white board as I read over the information in the book. Afterwards, I'd go over it and read it over and over again until I understand the concept and remember the facts. For Chm, I think I'm not spending enough time getting the concept, but I''m definitely spending plenty of time (around 2 hrs per day) working out homework problems. I'd also like to mention that I work until 11PM after I get out of class on Fridays and 12PM to 11PM Saturdays, so that may inhibit my studying efficiency , but I study after I get off of work for around 3 hours.

I've thought about majoring in something non-liberal arts, but I'm horrible at math. I'm not exaggerating at all when I'm saying horrible ! So engineering, accounting, marketing, anything math related is out of the question for me.....🙄

Reading things over and over again is a terrible way to study. It's quite low-yield when it comes to recalling or understanding information. Bloom's taxonomy may help you understand why this technique isn't working for you:

The words inside the light bulb are the type of studying you're doing, the words next to the light bulb describe the level of thinking you're achieving. The higher order your thinking skills are, the better you understand something. When you read something, you're maybe hitting the "recognize" portion of the knowledge level, and pretty much nothing else. That's why your study method isn't working for you - you're barely even meeting the criteria for the lowest order of thinking skills.

For many classes, the application level is as high as you'll need to go to get a good grade. To hit this level, I would highly recommend reading a section of your book (or reading a section of your lecture notes) - and I mean a small section, probably <1 page, that covers only a single concept - and turn it into a single sketch of a system or concept. This forces you to identify the important features, how they relate to each other, and how they relate to other concepts. If you do this, DO NOT simply redraw an image from the textbook/notes. This just bumps you right back down to copying information and doesn't force you to think about it at all.

 

[ciestar]

For Bio, I write the facts down on a white board as I read over the information in the book. Afterwards, I'd go over it and read it over and over again until I understand the concept and remember the facts. For Chm, I think I'm not spending enough time getting the concept, but I''m definitely spending plenty of time (around 2 hrs per day) working out homework problems. I'd also like to mention that I work until 11PM after I get out of class on Fridays and 12PM to 11PM Saturdays, so that may inhibit my studying efficiency , but I study after I get off of work for around 3 hours.

I've thought about majoring in something non-liberal arts, but I'm horrible at math. I'm not exaggerating at all when I'm saying horrible ! So engineering, accounting, marketing, anything math related is out of the question for me.....🙄

That right there is memorizing, my friend. Unless their are things that you simply have to memorize (here's looking at you kidney; but equations, other random values, etc), this will not be effective. First of all, you have to be able to reproduce those facts. When you read it over and over again, do you remember it? Can you actually apply your facts? Based on what you're saying, it doesn't sound like you are. You can regurgitate information you read in a book all you want, but that will not help you unless you can apply it. Exams are not simple regurgitation (and med school is FAR from that). They require you to be able to answer second/third order questions. This demonstrates understanding of the concept. When you can actually teach a concept, beginning to end (not just spitting out facts), you'll then know you've mastered the material.

 

[Meticulouslykiwi]

That right there is memorizing, my friend. Unless their are things that you simply have to memorize (here's looking at you kidney; but equations, other random values, etc), this will not be effective. First of all, you have to be able to reproduce those facts. When you read it over and over again, do you remember it? Can you actually apply your facts? Based on what you're saying, it doesn't sound like you are. You can regurgitate information you read in a book all you want, but that will not help you unless you can apply it. Exams are not simple regurgitation (and med school is FAR from that). They require you to be able to answer second/third order questions. This demonstrates understanding of the concept. When you can actually teach a concept, beginning to end (not just spitting out facts), you'll then know you've mastered the material.

Can you explain a bit more on how I should be studying? I understand the gist of what you're saying, but how should I study in order for it to be effective? Thanks!

 

[Meticulouslykiwi]

Reading things over and over again is a terrible way to study. It's quite low-yield when it comes to recalling or understanding information. Bloom's taxonomy may help you understand why this technique isn't working for you:

The words inside the light bulb are the type of studying you're doing, the words next to the light bulb describe the level of thinking you're achieving. The higher order your thinking skills are, the better you understand something. When you read something, you're maybe hitting the "recognize" portion of the knowledge level, and pretty much nothing else. That's why your study method isn't working for you - you're barely even meeting the criteria for the lowest order of thinking skills.

For many classes, the application level is as high as you'll need to go to get a good grade. To hit this level, I would highly recommend reading a section of your book (or reading a section of your lecture notes) - and I mean a small section, probably <1 page, that covers only a single concept - and turn it into a single sketch of a system or concept. This forces you to identify the important features, how they relate to each other, and how they relate to other concepts. If you do this, DO NOT simply redraw an image from the textbook/notes. This just bumps you right back down to copying information and doesn't force you to think about it at all.

Thank you! We're going over the phylogeny of animals section right now, so I think the only way I can memorize the facts is through rote memorization. I will definitely implement your suggestion into my studying after this section though! 😀

 

[ciestar]

Can you explain a bit more on how I should be studying? I understand the gist of what you're saying, but how should I study in order for it to be effective? Thanks!

Use that whiteboard in a different way! If you're a learning who learns best by writing it out as you go, fine. After that, start explaining it to yourself. Draw! Talk it out! You can get creative with it, but this is you actively learning it, requires you to think it out.

 

[blackroses]

Thank you! We're going over the phylogeny of animals section right now, so I think the only way I can memorize the facts is through rote memorization. I will definitely implement your suggestion into my studying after this section though! 😀

That's what you've been doing this whole time. How's it been working out for you? 😉

 

[Meticulouslykiwi]

That's what you've been doing this whole time. How's it been working out for you? 😉

Haha, okay, I'll start using the strategy from now on, thank you so much!

 

[Dagrimsta1]

SO check this out, Bio 1+2, chem 1 and biochem I got B-'s. It's all about what you do about those grades.. I bounced back with A's in orgo and upper level bio courses. B's are bad grades, they just aren't that great.

 

[RogueBanana]

I'm sorry OP, there's nothing you can do at this point. The B's and C's will forever stain your transcript, med schools will never take you.

We're gonna have to put you down. 🙁

 

[Meticulouslykiwi]

I'm sorry OP, there's nothing you can do at this point. The B's and C's will forever stain your transcript, med schools will never take you.

We're gonna have to put you down. 🙁

Awhh, I guess I'll just take my B's and no C's and pave my path to medical school then. 🙁😉

 

[Meticulouslykiwi]

SO check this out, Bio 1+2, chem 1 and biochem I got B-'s. It's all about what you do about those grades.. I bounced back with A's in orgo and upper level bio courses. B's are bad grades, they just aren't that great.

I don't think I'd fare any better in O CHM , you're possibly an outlier for the grade increase in O CHM- at least from what I've heard abt O CHM at my particular university

 

[Dagrimsta1]

I don't think I'd fare any better in O CHM , you're possibly an outlier for the grade increase in O CHM- at least from what I've heard abt O CHM at my particular university

O chem has very little to do with chem 1+2, at least I thought. No pointless equations or stupid unpredictable metal cations. Straight Hydrocarbons (at least for the beginning) god bless

 

[TXMED_1695]

You need to figure out the best methods for your brain to maximum your mental retention. I spent hours learning about different retention methods, and it paid off big time. Go to youtube and do a search for memorization techniques and you will find a lot of helpful videos..

 

[Meticulouslykiwi]

O chem has very little to do with chem 1+2, at least I thought. No pointless equations or stupid unpredictable metal cations. Straight Hydrocarbons (at least for the beginning) god bless

Hehe, I'll have to wait and see!