How do medical schools view C's

[skyeblue0610]

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C's in NON-science classes.

Like I said in an earlier post, the psychology department here is a bitch. We have some of the worst professors and horrible adjunct people.

I plan on working my ass off in my prereq. science classes, I'm spacing them and putting them with classes that are difficult but not horrible.

Is their main focus science classes and then just a general overview of the rest

 

[XerxesMD]

I don't think two or three C's would be a deal breaker, especially in non-science classes. But, in general C's are not looked upon that well so you'll obviously want to keep them to a minimum as your GPA is an incredibly important part of your application.

Spacing Pre-reqs is a good idea, though it wouldn't be bad to show off that you can pull 3 A's in one semester taking Biology, O-Chem and Physics either. This, of course, is easier said than done.

I think their main focus is on science classes, but grades in the other classes will mean something too...if not as much.

 

[jr doctor in sd]

C's in NON-science classes.

Like I said in an earlier post, the psychology department here is a bitch. We have some of the worst professors and horrible adjunct people.

I plan on working my ass off in my prereq. science classes, I'm spacing them and putting them with classes that are difficult but not horrible.

Is their main focus science classes and then just a general overview of the rest

C in PSYCHOLOGY?!

i understand a C in bioengineering or organic chem lab...or even multi variable calc...

but PSYCH?

i got a C in upper division genetics because my idiot academic advisor said hey you passed outta your bio lowers so i think you can do it! it was my second Q at college ever...and it raped me to put it nicely. 😳. looking back id easily get an A now...or at least B+. well there went my rant.

one is ok

 

[nick_carraway]

I had more C's than an applicant would want (a reasonable applicant--not you SDN crazies) and I can say that they hurt. Most--if not all--of my Cs were in non-major science courses and it doesn't look good and the results so far in my cycle are due to my GPA, I'm sure. Even in my only interview so far, I was asked about them.

Just do better from now on. Seriously think about what you've been doing wrong and how to improve your habits. Sure, the faculty could be a part of the story but there's always something to improve.

You don't know how the rest of your academic career is going to look so I wouldn't freak out too much. God forbid that you get another C in the future... or another one... or another one but as long as you stay focused, you might be able to look back without disappointments when you apply because you did what you could.

 

[qtpai]

I have several D's and C's on transcript for Freshman year, but I made up for it later on, and I think their effect on the application process will be marginal. If anything, if you can bounce back strong from a poor start, it looks impressive.

 

[pakbabydoll]

How about 2 "B"s coupled with 4 "A"s?
"B"s in English and Math.

 

[167649]

Like I said in an earlier post, the psychology department here is a bitch. We have some of the worst professors and horrible adjunct people.

C's are bad, but you can get around them. That said, you will never get around them by blaming the department or the faculty for your grades.

 

[elderjack21]

How about 2 "B"s coupled with 4 "A"s?
"B"s in English and Math.

Far worse would be a 70% on a bio lab quizz. j/k


I got a C in a non-science class, and I actually had an interviewer ask me why I got a C, even though it was 8 years prior. That kind of pissed me off.

I got into the school anyway. A couple Cs in non-pre-req classes probably won't hurt you at all.

 

[FutureDoc2012]

I actually had 6-7 C's (ranging from C- to C+s; one was even GenChem1) in my first 2 years of undergrad. No good excuses, I was just immature. My grades were much better in the latter half of college, and I ended up with a little under a 3.4 in an engineering major. I am a "non-traditional" applicant and did well in a postbac program last year. So far, I have been accepted to 2 med schools for next year's class.

Thus it is my experience that no one thing will prevent anyone from getting into med school. Just be positive and do your best to make up for it with subsequent grades and other areas of your application.

C's in NON-science classes.

Like I said in an earlier post, the psychology department here is a bitch. We have some of the worst professors and horrible adjunct people.

I plan on working my ass off in my prereq. science classes, I'm spacing them and putting them with classes that are difficult but not horrible.

Is their main focus science classes and then just a general overview of the rest

 

[DrunkMD]

My sophomore year stank in terms of grades. I didnt earn anything better than a flat B in any of the four science classes I took, including a C+ in Organic Chemistry. I believe the Admissions Committees noticed and I know some of the interviewers did as a couple asked me about my grades in specific classes. In my case, the circumstances surrounding that year made it very difficult to perform well. I didnt feel like I had done poorly enough to need to address it in my personal statement or secondaries, but I was prepared to speak with interviewers about it. I turned it into an opportunity to talk about overcoming obstacles and still performing "relatively well".

I think in the end, it comes down to the context of the grades and what you have done with your other grades. I would think ADCOMs would worry more about a poor science grade than a nonscience one, but I would still be prepared to explain any poor grades to interviewers. If you plan it out, you could turn it into another positive for yourself by showing how you handled a challenge.

 

[Stroganoff]

C=C=C=C=C=C=C=C=C=C=C=C=C=C=C=C=C=C=C=C=C

C's are the future of nanomedicine. Just say you're ahead of your times. 😎

 

[chizledfrmstone]

How about 2 "B"s coupled with 4 "A"s?
"B"s in English and Math.

You sound really nice but seriously... stop it.

 

[skyeblue0610]

C in PSYCHOLOGY?!

i understand a C in bioengineering or organic chem lab...or even multi variable calc...

but PSYCH?

i got a C in upper division genetics because my idiot academic advisor said hey you passed outta your bio lowers so i think you can do it! it was my second Q at college ever...and it raped me to put it nicely. 😳. looking back id easily get an A now...or at least B+. well there went my rant.

one is ok

That's the thing I usually never get anything lower than an A in psychology classes. But my abnormal psychology professor is horrible....an 8 question midterm AND 8 question final😱who does that

 

[Mia]

an 8 question midterm AND 8 question final😱who does that

My math midterm had 4 questions.

 

[pakbabydoll]

You sound really nice but seriously... stop it.

I'll stop I promise. I did bad in high school so I am worried about slipping again. I am getting better though 😀

 

[ajswiss]

What about "W"s?? How are THOSE looked upon??

 

[Jolie South]

I don't have any "C"s, but I do have a "D" in 2nd semester organic chem from undergrad. It does bring up red flags and I have been asked about it in interviews. Since I retook the course this year and got an "A", I guess it doesn't matter too much. But, I have been invited to several interviews and have a couple of acceptances.

If your GPA is low, low grades are obviously not good. However, if you have an otherwise ok GPA and have a few Cs here and there I bet you'll get by. That being said, DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO AVOID MORE Cs!

 

[J1515]

That's the thing I usually never get anything lower than an A in psychology classes.

hah...I never got anything lower than an A+ in any psychology class. I beat you.

 

[SketchLazy]

C's in NON-science classes.

Like I said in an earlier post, the psychology department here is a bitch. We have some of the worst professors and horrible adjunct people.

I plan on working my ass off in my prereq. science classes, I'm spacing them and putting them with classes that are difficult but not horrible.

Is their main focus science classes and then just a general overview of the rest

Same way they do with all your other grades...with their eyes...

Is psychology your major? If it is, then I think it would look real bad. If it's not, then I think you're good. However, be ready to talk about them without putting blame on the department.

What about "W"s?? How are THOSE looked upon??

W's are okay too as long as your retake is a good grade. But too many repeats and they'll think you were inflating your GPA.

 

[skyeblue0610]

Is psychology your major? If it is, then I think it would look real bad. If it's not, then I think you're good. However, be ready to talk about them without putting blame on the department.

As bad as it sounds the department is full of so so instructors. But this abnormal guy is really a piece of work. In a class of 25, we had 14 people drop the class because the average grade was a C.

Everyone is retaking next quarter. I don't see why considering he's teaching it again😱

I can still make a B barely by getting all 8 questions right on the final

 

[rickthetwinkie]

As bad as it sounds the department is full of so so instructors. But this abnormal guy is really a piece of work. In a class of 25, we had 14 people drop the class because the average grade was a C.

Everyone is retaking next quarter. I don't see why considering he's teaching it again😱

I can still make a B barely by getting all 8 questions right on the final

Is he horrible or is he just hard? There's a difference, you know.

 

[dentstd]

....nursing school for you guys!!!!

 

[SketchLazy]

i got a C in upper division genetics because my idiot academic advisor said hey you passed outta your bio lowers so i think you can do it! it was my second Q at college ever...and it raped me to put it nicely. 😳. looking back id easily get an A now...or at least B+. well there went my rant.

Sounds like you took it with Nesbitt...