How do med-schools view failing remedial/developmental classes?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

dcsurgeon

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2012
Messages
47
Reaction score
1
Some of you may remember my sob story: Mother with a drug addiction, because of this dropped out of high school freshman year, GED, blah blah blah.

Anyways, when I took my placement tests starting at my CC, I placed into college level courses in everything (and into honors courses in English), but I found out that since I was literally only in high school for like three months, I SUCK at math.

So I had to take developmental courses. They are tech-based, go at your own pace math courses where you work through units before moving onto college level math courses.

If you're for example, a liberal arts major, you do units 0-5.
If you're a science major like me, you do units 0-9.

The course does not apply to your GPA, you either get an S (satisfactory), U (unsatisfactory), or R (re-enroll). They only expect you to make it through a maximum of four units, each time you take the class. So someone like me getting through 0-9 would be expected to take the class 2-3 times.

The first time I did great, got through 0-4 (which is five units), and got an S. Great teacher helped immensely.
Second time and third time, have not been so good. Second was a U, third will probably be a U or R.

It's not that it's hard, it's that I'm being an idiot and spending time doing other things, and focusing on other classes. My GPA is high (3.86) but it's taking forever to catch up in these math courses.

After I pass all ten units, I have to take Pre-Cal1, Pre-Cal2, one semester of Cal, and one semester of Statistics before I can get my Associates from CC and go on to a University for my BA.

SO, my question is, how do adcoms view developmental classes like this? Are they going to treat that U as an F, or do they not care?
 
If you're not getting an overall letter (A-F) or numerical grade then it should be treated as Pass/Fail and not be factored into your GPA. This isn't to say "failing" a course wouldn't catch a reviewer's eye, of course.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile
 
If you're not getting an overall letter (A-F) or numerical grade then it should be treated as Pass/Fail and not be factored into your GPA.

Yes, I know this (even typed it above), but I'm wondering how adcoms view those courses.
 
Yes, I know this (even typed it above), but I'm wondering how adcoms view those courses.
Adcomms will NOT fault you for getting in solid foundation work before attempting college math courses, especially because you have an atypical precollege background. Don't dive into PreCalc until you're really ready. Good college math grades will prove you got it. Stop the distractions and focus.

Look at it as a great eventual med school Secondary essay topic for "A Challenge You Overcame."
 
I agree with gettheleadout. You will be fine, don't worry
 
Top